True Help

Mark 13:21-23 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”
 
JESUS continues his warning of Jerusalem’s upcoming destruction. He has said the elect – the church – must flee to the mountains when signs of Jerusalem’s destruction begin to appear. This would be evident when Rome’s army devastated Judea and lay siege to Jerusalem. Now he warns the church to flee Satan’s signs of spiritual warfare through false Christs – false Messiahs – and false teachers.
    What would a false Messiah do when Rome was on the march? People claiming to be Messiah could lead a call to arms and urge Jerusalem to resist, denouncing Jesus’ instructions. Under Satan’s power hey would be convincing. If someone offers a solution when our minds are fearful and uncertain, we may too quickly follow, even if our action is against God’s Word. That’s why Jesus warned and affirmed his message, “False prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible.” Satan’s purpose is to destroy the church and repulse God’s authority on earth with his authority. He will use demonic power through false teachers to do so. Moses, Paul and John warn us as in 1 John 4:1 “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  We test the spirits when we consider what we hear and what God says. Jesus assures the elect if they remain true to him they will be under the Father’s protection.
    Jesus offers you two key lessons. First, be prepared to know the difference between the false and the true teachers. Look around, and you’ll quickly see how liars prevail upon the innocent They add their own words to God’s Word, or they subtract from God’s Word. Knowing God’s Word is the only way to discern false and true teachers.
    Jesus’ second lesson is to live courageously and confidently in God’s Word. You will be attacked because you are the Lord’s elect. Some of you have experienced physical attacks. All of us are under spiritual attack. Our sin nature does not let us rest comfortably in Jesus. Our natural desire is to believe the liars. That’s why we must continually pursue Jesus, knowing we are his forever: Psalms 33:20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Keeping this in mind as you keep your daily habit to know the truth will build our spiritual defense. Jesus wanted the early church to erect its defenses on his Word. Those who were true to his instructions lived.   
     The lesson is obvious for us today. The church that survives today is the church that believes all Jesus says.
    Confront the conflict. Look to the LORD for your help. Know his Word. Believe his Word.