The Coming Apostasy

The Coming Apostasy

1Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

As events unfolds, it becomes clearer to those who are passionate about Christ's kingdom matters that we are in the days when end time prophesies are hatching and coming to reality like never before.

We are being forced to see why we need to prepare ourselves for the final onslaught before the break.

One prophesy that's in contention seriously at this time is that of the falling away or the great apostasy of belivers departing from the faith. But if what Apostle Paul said here is anything to go by, it means 'some' would definitely fall away. Falling away of believers is something in serious contention in many folds right now.

But it is clear and wise believers would rather find out how not to fall away rather than argue whether it is possible or not. Obviously, if it isn't possible then it won't be necessary to prepare against it, and if it is true those who aren't prepared become vulnerable to the forces that'll be responsible for the falling away.

In preparing, the root cause of the falling away is what we need to identify. In the scripture passage quoted we'll see both the forces that'll be responsible and the process of the falling away from that we can deduce the strategies to apply in order to remain!

Its easy to notice that a potential victim will first give heed to deceiving spirits and demonic doctrines. These attack the foundation of people's knowledge and faith in God and in Christ. The King James Version of the Bible renders it 'seducing' spirits, meaning they come with attractive messages that appeals to the senses with the intent of luring the believer to unwholesome satisfaction of carnal appetites promising no consequences.

So in preparation we must be careful the kind of messages we pay attention to. We must be sure that seducing spirits or deceiving spirits aren't appealing to our carnality to give our consciences the permission to do what's obviously contrary to the Word of God.

Secondly, we'll see that doctrines of demons too will be in free flowing mode. What are doctrines of demons? One, they would be such teachings that creates more faith in demonic activities than in the activities of God, His Christ and of His Spirit. The doctrines of Christ focuses on bringing faith into the heart of hearers towards Christ so that they can call on God and be saved, Romans 10, but the doctrines of demons will promote faith in demonic powers, exploits and activities instead of showing forth the praises of God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Two, doctrines of demons would be those doctrines perpetuated by demon spirits. Lying spirits are everywhere mounting church podiums and televisions to turn scriptures upside down, dividing the scriptures wrongly in order to deceive.

How do we prepare against these? Simple, we must get our doctrines right. These days, Bible study classes have become unpopular and scanty. The average Christian hardly knows what the Bible says on important issues of their spirituality and relationship with God. Culture, traditions and social trends fill the mind and lives are lived on them rather than on Christ and His word.
The believer must begin to seek the truth of Christ beyond whatever is served on the pulpit, we must be like the Berean Christians in the days of Paul who would have personal researches to find out if what they were told were true. Acts 17:10-12

That scripture passage also tells us how the victim will react after taking heed to seducing spirits and the doctrines of demons.

They'll become vocal about it. They'll speak lies in hypocrisy. They'll become mouthpieces to those demons and their doctrines having been emboldened by their seared consciences. A seared conscience won't feel sin anymore. A seared conscience can't feel bad for pride, sexual or covetous sins. A seared conscience will preach errors with boldness and justify carnality with pride.

Whoever would embolden your heart against the sins of fornication, adultery, lying, stealing, injustice, wickedness and other works of the flesh is a dangerous person controlled by demons to prepare one for the coming apostasy, please avoid such!

After the verbal expression of their thoughts they'll assume some level of leadership to command people and dictate what people practice.

They'll attack the institution of marriage and cast all sorts of doubts on what people eat. When the marriage institution is maligned and people don't see reason to marry, the temple of God which is our bodies is desecrated by sexual immortality thereby setting the people up for destruction as they defy the temple of God 1Corinthians 3:17

The answer is to seek and to know the truth and also to believe the truth without wavering.

Many liars are already gone out empowered by seducing and deceiving spirits and the believer must be fully harmed with the truth to remain standing as we expect the coming of Christ. May He meet us alive and remaining! 1Thessalonians 4:17

I pray God grant us understanding and grace to keep standing. We shall not be part of those who draw back and fall away, rather we shall be part of those who believe on to the saving of the soul in the mighty name of Jesus!

Have a great day!

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Be part of

Grace Missions International's

Special Leaders and Ministers' conference for August 2015

Theme
Power for Ministry: Understanding the Manifestations of the Spirit

10am prompt
This Friday, 7th August 2015
@
HAVILAH PLACE, #46 DF Street, Shagari Federal Estate, Mosan Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. (Opp. Bobcat Hotel, after 2nd Roundabout...off mosan busstop Ipaja Rd

Come with colleagues, you'll be glad you came...
Remain blessed!