If I were the Devil

Part TWO

· Prophetic Words are an important aspect of Scripture: Some come true quickly, others take years (1000’s) to come true.

· When God makes a prediction, or a promise…it will come to pass.

· Prophetic words about ALC (many). About Humboldt county?

· Let me read a prophetic word given to the country by a radio commentator in 1965.

Those oppose to God follow after the Devil

· The Spirit of Deception – deception is a very serious issue today.

o According to bible, the end times will be marked by widespread deception, counterfeit miracles, and the appearance of false prophets.

o Each of these evils will contribute to an atmosphere that will deceive an untold number of people throughout the world.

o Almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus warned us about this time period:

§ Matthew 24:24 (NLT) "For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones."

§ What's most interesting about this passage is not that false messiahs and false prophets will appear in the end times. We've witnessed such people firsthand in every generation since Christ first spoke these words.

§ What stands out concerning these false prophets and false messiahs is that their great signs and wonders will be so amazing they will be capable of deceiving God's chosen ones (if such were possible). These aren't everyday signs and wonders. They must truly be astounding to have such an affect!

§ These signs and wonders will deceive people who believe they are supernatural acts of God. Instead, they will be of satanic origin. Paul revealed the reason for this deception in his letter to Timothy:

§ 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT) "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths."

§ In the last days, people will be fooled because they want to be. Although this seems counterintuitive, it's true. People will believe in the signs and wonders they witness because they want to believe the lies and false promises that accompany them.

§ Counterintuitive defined: contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless true).

§ Ultimately, a lot of people will be hoodwinked by a master of deception who will feed their itching ears with exactly what they want to hear. In the years leading up to Christ's return, the world will be misled by the greatest false prophet in human history, the Antichrist.

· Deception: By The Antichrist

o Spiritual deception will be rampant during the seven-year rule of the Antichrist. According to the prophet Daniel, the Antichrist will be a master of deception: Daniel 8:25 (NLT) "He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning."

o Like every false messiah before him, the Antichrist will convince his followers he is the answer to the world's problems.

o But, Pastor Danny…I didn’t realize I was being deceived. MY FRIEND, WE SHOULD KNOW THE WORD ENOUGH NOT TO FALL Victim.

o The Lost: They are not innocentvictims.

o Paul tells us that those who become caught in the Antichrist's web of deceit will be guilty because they freely choose to enjoy evil while denying the truth: 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (NLT) "He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth."

o Those who will be deceived are not innocent victims. They will not be condemned simply for being tricked. Instead, they will be condemned because, knowing the truth, they chose evil instead.

o Revelation 13:14 (NLT) "He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching."

o Revelation 16:13-14 (NLT) "And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty."

o These passages make it clear that demonic forces will perform astounding miracles in the last days. But what will these miracles be? And if "even the elect of God" could be fooled by them, how can average people protect themselves from being deceived?

o What about us? THE BELIEVERS IN GOD…are we out of danger…w/out excuse? They will lose the blessings of the Lord

o Let me be plain – The Bible said, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

PAUL HARVEY’S – “If I Were the Devil” – part 2 - See the book On Fire Illustrations and Stories page 64

Closing - We need to have a short season of pray against the spirit of deception over you, our families, and this church (Music and prayer).

Altar Call

Fruitland – 09/25/22