No Time to be Led Astray

Take a look around. Everyday, it becomes more and more evident that we are in a spiritual WAR. These are by far the most perilous times we’ve ever seen, wouldn’t you agree? Even the unspiritual person can see that there are clear and obvious opposing forces. Friends, this is no time to be led astray. 

A few weeks ago, I was reflecting on a time in my life where I was so easily led astray; so naive to the severity of the spiritual atmosphere. What I did not realize is that the battle is real, whether you choose to recognize it or not! 

“The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬ ‭AMP

From social media, to broadcasted news, and every example that you could think of, the enemy is persistent in his efforts to lead people astray. In fact, The Bible says that if possible, even THE ELECT would be deceived!

“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones).” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭24‬ ‭AMP

It’s simple. In times like this, we must be on guard, sober-minded and vigilant. The enemy is doing anything he can and using anyone who allows themselves to be used by him to accomplish his agenda. There is simply no time to be led astray by the enemy and his tactics. 

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV ‬

So what does that mean for us as the body of Christ? It means we must stand on spiritual business! It means we don’t have time to be led astray by what may be going on around us, or even by our own feelings and emotions. For the Word calls us to be steadfast and unmovable!

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Let’s turn to, 2 Timothy 3:1-7. 

“But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].(2) For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, (3) [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, (4) traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them. (6) For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses, (7) always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”‬

These verses hit close to home, wouldn’t you agree? All of the examples named in verses 2-5 are SO evident in our society today. Lovers of self, lovers of money, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, etc. It’s REAL, y’all.

But I want you to pay special attention to verse 6-7 which inspired this devotional. It reads: 

For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses, (7) always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭6-‭7‬ ‭AMP‬ 

We don’t have time to be weak, we’re in a war! We don’t have time to be easily swayed by our various impulses, we’re in a war! All throughout the Bible, the Lord encourages us to be strong, to be weary of deception, and to stand on the truth of His Word.

Friends, we do not have time to be led astray; not by people, not by the things of this world, or even within ourselves by the working of our flesh. Be released from the chokehold of worldliness and come into the realization of the spiritual atmosphere. 

“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

This is war.

Be strengthened, be encouraged, and be on guard.

Let’s pray: 

Father God, 

Thank you so much for your darling son Jesus Christ. For it is because of His blood that I am saved. Thank you Father for opening our eyes to the severity of the spiritual atmosphere. Father, I repent and ask your forgiveness for the times I have been led astray by the things of this world or even my own flesh. As I seek you Lord and grow in relationship with you, I pray Father that you would continue to open my eyes and ears of understanding so that I may be sober-minded and vigilant to any tactics of the enemy. Thank you Lord for your ever-lasting grace and mercy! It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, 

Amen.