Posted in Every-Member Ministry, Family, Youth Ministry
Tom Heck, who serves in our high school ministry, sent this note to the group today. He mentions the new video curriculum they're using and gives a great encouragement to our young adults (and the rest of us!). I hope it encourages you as well.
Daniel
With The Truth Project launch this week, I found Matthew 24:4 very helpful. "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you." Deception can be avoided or else Jesus would not have said this. Satan can only deceive those who allow him to do it.
Ephesians 6:11 tells us to "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Putting on the whole armour of God will protect you from the deception of the devil. Just wearing part of God's armour will not fully protect you. Many Christians have been running around with the helmet of salvation on but nothing else. There is more to overcoming the devil than just being saved. We have to understand our righteous position in the Lord. We also must possess faith, know the Word, and understand the gospel of peace. I hope you see the TRUTH is imperative so we are not deceived!
The Christian life is a constant struggle against Satan, who is trying to corrupt us. Most Christians are aware of the warfare, but they don't know where the warfare is occurring. The battle is in our mind. Just as the serpent didn't come against Eve with brute force, but rather used words to deceive her, likewise Satan tries to corrupt us through thoughts contrary to the TRUTH, the gospel of JESUS. Satan's original tactic was deception and that is still his method of operation today.
One of the characteristics of children is that they are easily deceived. They are gullible. One of the things that must take place to move from childhood into sonship in Christ is spiritual discernment. This comes from being grounded in the Word of God.
The way to recognize deception is NOT to analyze all the false claims the world and the devil throws at us, but rather to become so familiar with what is genuinely TRUE that a counterfeit will be easily recognizable. Anyone who is truly grounded in the Word of God will not be deceived.
Do yourself a favor in prep for Sunday evening, find three verses where Jesus uses the word TRUTH in one of the gospels. Hint: The book of John will make your search easier. Bring these to your group break outs to discuss.
Tom Heck
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