And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them (Luke 21:8)
This relates directly to one that we have already discussed in length in Matthew 24:4. We must make sure that those who are our spiritual leaders are following the examples and doctrines set by Christ. We do this through comparing their actions and their teachings to scripture. It is for this reason that Paul wrote to Timothy, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15). The apostle Peter wrote this as a warning: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of (II Peter 2:1-2). It is important that we understand that not everyone that identifies themselves as being a preacher sent by God is actually of God.
An in-depth study of II Peter 2 does give a list of traits that many false prophets show; the third verse of the chapter, And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not (II Peter 2:3). clearly teaches the one thing they all have in common – they want to make merchandise – or get rich – off of the deceit they use on others. That reference to wealth may not only include monetary riches, but riches of power over others.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon (I Corinthians 3:10)
This is something that we all must pay attention to when we are a part of any ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter if you are a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, a song leader, or any other place within the church, it is important that we pay attention not to disturb the foundation upon which everything else has been laid. David wrote, The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted (Psalms 18:46). Everything we do is supposed to exalt and bless the rock of our salvation. When our efforts bring others to accept the Lord Jesus Christ, we bring honor. When our efforts cause others to rejoice in our God, we bring honor and blessings to God. When our efforts bring division, hostility, backbiting, and drive others away from God, we are still building on that foundation laid by the Lord Jesus Christ and shaped by the apostles through the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is very important that we take heed of what we are adding to the work of the local congregation, lest we damage the efforts of others and bring shame to the work of Christ.
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (I Corinthians 10:12)
This one is a dire warning from the apostle Paul and is easy for anyone who has overcome a temptation to do. When we achieve a spiritual victory over a trial or temptation, we should direct our praise and honor to God; however, there are times when instead of being Christ-focused, we become very “I” focused. We begin to take pride in our victory, forgetting the warning that is offered by Solomon: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). Within Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome, he wrote, Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee (Romans 11:18-21). There is nothing more dishonoring to God than when a Christian will elevate his or herself above the Jewish people, a people God has named as his own. As Christians, we are made heirs to the promise through that line of David of a Messiah. We should never hold ourselves above others just because we have been redeemed by His blood.
Paul also issues a similar warning about holding ourselves above others in his first letter to the Christians at Corinth: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:9-11). When we see the fallen state of the lost world around us, we are not supposed to elevate ourselves above others, as if acting as our own pasts are somehow behind us; instead, we are to be mindful of where we came from as sinners, and have compassion on others through the bringing of God’s message of redemption and His love for them.
