God’s Warning

By Derek Prince

In Matthew 24 Yeshua [Jesus] gives a prophetic preview of conditions in the last days. He begins with a warning against deception:

“Take heed that no one deceives you.”

In verse 11, he repeats His warning:

“Then many false prophets will arise and deceive many.”

Deception is the greatest single danger confronting believers in these last days.

Again, in Matthew 24 Yeshua [Jesus] addresses His warning to the apostles whom He Himself had chosen and who had been with Him throughout the 3+ years of His ministry, If these needed such warning, how can any believer today imagine they are immune to this danger?

Yet far too many believers seem to feel that the warning against deception does not apply to them. Their reaction is, in fact, an indication that deception is already at work in their lives.

In Thessalonians 2:9-10 Paul reaffirms the warning against deception in connection with the rise of antichrist:

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the Truth, that they might be saved.”

Many charismatic believers have the attitude that any message or ministry accompanied by supernatural signs must necessarily be from God, but this is not true. The Bible indicates that satan can also produce various kinds of supernatural signs. The glib acceptance of everything supernatural as being from God actually opens the door to deception.

There is only one sure safeguard against deception: it is to “receive the love of the Truth.” This goes beyond merely listening to sermons, or even reading the Bible. It implies an intense and passionate commitment to the authority of Scripture that affects every area of our lives. It produces within us an instinctive reaction against any message or ministry that is not faithful to Scripture.

God offers to each of us this “love of the Truth.” Are we willing to receive it?

Shall we take His warning seriously or shall we ignore it?