18/05/2026
SUNDAY 17 MAY 2026
The Rise of Deception:
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders” (Matthew 24:24a).
Deception will intensify before Christ returns. False teachings, counterfeit miracles, and misleading spiritual movements will confuse many people.
Not every spiritual experience comes from God. Believers must test every teaching and remain grounded in Scripture. Emotional excitement without biblical truth can lead many astray.
“Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (The Great Controversy, p. 553).
Only those rooted in God’s Word will remain secure.
1. Study the Bible consistently.
2. Test teachings carefully by Scripture.
3. Pray for spiritual discernment.
1. Lord, protect me from deception.
2. Help me discern truth from error.
3. Keep me grounded in Your Word.
_STUDY YOUR RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL_
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GUARD AGAINST DECEPTION_PASTOR C.O.__Sunday, May 17th 2026._
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_*📖 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).*_
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Genesis chapter 3 exposes a recurring and dangerous pattern of deception that has persisted throughout history. It begins with Eve faithfully recounting to Satan what God had said about the tree of knowledge of good and evil that was in the garden of Eden: _*“...We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”*_ (Genesis 3:2-3).
Then Satan responded, _*“...Ye shall not surely die”*_ (Genesis 3:4). He contradicted God directly. But it didn’t end there. The next verse reveals something deeper as Satan continues, _*“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil”*_ (Genesis 3:5).
With that statement, Satan moved from contradicting God to accusing Him of deception. It’s the same thing today; those who are masters of deception accuse others of misinformation. Satan accused God of misinformation. His suggestion was that God knew the “real truth” but withheld it from Adam and Eve. This is the master of deception pretending to tell the truth.
This pattern of satanic manipulation of truth through subtlety echoes in other biblical narratives. For example, in 2 Samuel 13, we see a similar deception at play. The story began with Amnon, the son of King David who developed a lustful obsession for his sister Tamar.
The Septuagint clarified that this was a lust-driven love, not genuine affection. His obsession intensified, and he became sick with longing. The danger emerged when Amnon's friend Jonadab, described as “a very subtle man,” intervened. Jonadab was a cunning advisor who manipulated Amnon into destructive actions that ultimately led to tragedy and death.
You must guard your heart against deception by staying with what God has said in His Word. Refuse Satan’s contradictions and perverted truths. Reject every voice that questions the veracity of God’s Word. When your heart is established in God’s truths, you become unmovable, discerning and protected. You recognise deception for what it is and you remain grounded in the integrity of God’s Word.
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: Dear Father, thank you for your Word that keeps me established in truth. My heart is guarded by your wisdom, and I walk in discernment by the Holy Spirit, who secures my path in your light, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*
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FURTHER STUDY
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The "spirit of deception" to demonic or false influences that oppose God's truth. Rooted in Satan (the "father of lies"), it manifests through false teachings, spiritual counterfeits, and worldly allurements designed to lead believers astray, distort God's Word, and create confusion.
Key ; The Origin of Deceit: In Genesis 3:1-4, the serpent introduces the pattern of twisting God's words and planting seeds of doubt.The Nature of Satan: Jesus states that Satan "is a liar and the father of lies".
in John 8:44.False Prophets: 1 Timothy 4:1 warns that in later times, some will abandon the faith by following "deceitful spirits and things taught by demons".Masquerading as Good:
2 Corinthians 11:14 notes that Satan masquerades as an "angel of light," meaning deception often looks harmless or divinely inspired.
to Recognize and Overcome It Test the Spirits: 1 John 4:1 commands believers to "test the spirits" to discern whether a teaching aligns with the truth of Christ.
The Word of God: The primary defense against spiritual deception is grounding yourself in Scripture. In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus combated the devil's temptations by correctly applying God's Word.
Spiritual Discernment: Believers are encouraged to pray for discernment and rely on the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Truth) to guide them into all truth and expose falsehood.
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*_YOU'RE BLESSED_ Bormac, Amb DrAmarachi Lovelyn Onuoha THE LIGHTS OF BELIEVERS ASSEMBLY MINISTRY INT'L & Ambassador Flashpoint HUB Services
