DAY 43: Take Heed!

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” - Matthew 24:4,5 

At first glance, this seems to be a warning against the Antichrist... but it isn’t. It’s a warning to look out for deception that would come through charismatic people! 

“Take heed” basically means: to see, to discern. In the current “Christianity Lite” environment we find ourselves in, people are so afraid of judging that they throw out the Biblical command to be discerning! The end result? DECEPTION. I’ve never met a believer yet who believes they are deceived, but I’ve met a LOT of deceived believers!! THAT is what makes deception well... deceptive! 

This passage says that MANY will come in Jesus’ name saying “I am the Christ” and deceive MANY. Again, this seems like a warnign against the Anti-Christ, but that’s simply because we don’t understand the meaning of the word “Christ”. Christ simply means “Anointed”. In plain English, this is someone coming to you in Jesus name, claiming to be gifted or graced by the Holy Spirit. 

That could be ANYONE in our Christian experience. 

In my years in ministry, I have seen MANY people coming to believers, in Jesus name, claiming to be anointed to teach, preach, pray, heal, help with finances, help with administration, etc. Charlatans all over the world have bilked the church out of MILLIONS of dollars, simply because they claimed to be anointed. 

THIS is why Jesus commanded us to TAKE HEED. 

Today, you’re going to take about 15 minutes and evaluate your associations. Ask yourself who is influencing you, in your spiritual life, in your finances, in your career or with your kids. It could be through a blog, a radio show, at church or in person. Then, be honest and TAKE HEED... See! 

At any point in your life or with any person where you have violated your conscience or simply entered into agreements or associations and BLINDLY ACCEPTED “truth” simply because someone commanding or charismatic said it, you are PRIMED for being deceived or you may already be deceived! Ask the Holy Spirit to ILLUMINATE the teachings, practices, doctrines and lifestyles of those who are influencing you and compare them to the CLEAR dictates of Scripture. Does it line up? 

Anyone worth their salt in the Kingdom would be glad you took the time to do this. 

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” - Acts 17:11