Mass Deception

[0:00] My message tonight is mass deception. Mass deception. I put to you we're witnessing deception on a global scale.! 1 John 5 verse 19 tells us about this.

[0:14] ! 1 John 5 verse 19. We read there, And we know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness. It says we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

[0:30] That's quite a statement isn't it really? When you think about that, just that simple statement. We know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

[0:42] 1 John 5 verse 19. Now there's some similar threads to what I talked about this morning in some ways because there's a degree of similar content to a degree.

[0:53] But I put to you there's a sinister power that's once in control. One's in control of the masses. And you think well could that be possible?

[1:05] Look back in history to know what has been possible. To know how many masses of people have been swayed through the silver tongue of Hitler for example and Goebbels and all the things that went on in time past.

[1:19] How a whole populace, a whole population could be steered and swayed and hypnotised and weaponised to be following this leader.

[1:30] And we see that in cults as well where this particular charismatic type of people, they sometimes can draw people together even though their doctrine is really wacko, totally wrong and crazy teaching.

[1:44] But likewise too the sinister power that we read off through the word of God as we know as the person who is Satan is likewise wanting to control the masses, the mass deception.

[1:58] And many are ignorant of what is going on such that they don't pay any thought to this that they're completely unawares of this happening. There's this sinister world power that ultimately wants totalitarian rule, to assume totalitarian rule of the planet.

[2:14] We know the Bible calls him small g, the God of this world. The Bible foretells of an antichrist to come. What's more, a multiple number of antichrists.

[2:27] It talks about more than one antichrist. It talks about antichrists, plural. And it talks of multiple false prophets, plural. We see that, for example, in Matthew 24 from verses 4 through 5.

[2:41] Matthew 24 from verse 4 through 5. And Jesus answered and said unto them, as he was on the Mount Olivet, it was more of the discourse to the Israel.

[2:54] But likewise we can see the application for us today, take heed that no man deceive you. The Lord Jesus says, take heed that no man deceive you.

[3:07] He goes on, verse 5 of Matthew 24. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. Some will profess to be Christ.

[3:19] He says, there will be many, and they shall deceive many. And then Matthew 24, 11. Likewise, similarly it says, And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.

[3:34] Many, multitudes. A multiple number shall be deceived. I put to you, it's one of the hallmarks of the last days. Deception, deception.

[3:47] It's one of the apparent signs of the end of the ages, as it were. So, as we're escalating towards the coming of the Lord, there will be this hallmark of deception.

[4:04] And we're being fed lies by the mainstream media. I was actually reading a story today, just today, and I'll quote, Forget fake news, now we've got fake politics, fake government, fake democracy, fake life.

[4:18] The world even sees it. There's a fakery, there's a fraudulent deception that is going on, and even worldly people can see. As we know, the term that's been coined not that long ago, fake news.

[4:34] There's this sense of, there's things that we're being fed, which is fake. It's not true. It's called facts, but it's fiction. It's fake. And we're constantly barraged with these messages.

[4:46] As we know, just walk through the shopping centre or through a fast food place. Not that any of you spiritual people go to fast food places, but you have those big screens and the rock music and the flesh there and the words that are bombarding you.

[5:06] Messages are being constantly presented to our minds and thinking, aren't they? It's almost you can't escape it. And I believe in telling the truth in days of falsehood.

[5:17] We need truth in such a time as this, where there's deception abounding, where there's counterfeits in every which way, counterfeit Christ, counterfeit prophets. The big question is, who will rise up in such a time as this?

[5:33] And Psalm 94, 16 presents that question. Psalm 94, verse 16. Who will rise up?

[5:45] It says, who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Of course, it's our Lord speaking. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

[5:58] It's a question. It's a challenge. It's a stirring exhortation. Who will rise up in days of deception? When we need to speak up, we need to rise up, we need to stand up.

[6:11] Who will declare what is actually going on in such a time? And we see that we're presented with this reality that the God, small g, of this world has blinded many.

[6:26] As it reads in 2 Corinthians 4, verse 4. And I apologise, I'm doing a lot of multiple texts here. I had hoped to present it on a screen, but I neglected to bring the device to do that.

[6:39] 2 Corinthians 4, verse 4 tells us that of the vast bulk of humanity that are lost, it says of them, 2 Corinthians 4, verse 4, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

[7:02] The God, small g, of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not, talking of the lost, lest the light should shine unto them.

[7:13] The light of the glorious gospel. So, it's incumbent on us who have that gospel message to speak up. And speaking up will cost you, but we dare not be silent.

[7:26] We know we must speak up. It's incumbent on us as ambassadors for Christ. We dare not be silent. And I can tell you that it's not unusual to face attack. As a preacher, I find that's normal.

[7:38] It's almost like when I get attacked, it's ho-hum. It's normal. And, you know, when you're a Christian, an active Christian, you speak out for the Lord, you try to, God helping you declare truth, you can expect to be attacked and lambasted and criticised.

[7:59] And, you know, we've had our fair share of criticism. Maybe some of it's warranted. But, nevertheless, we must not let that deter us when we face attack, when we face criticism, when we face contrary responses.

[8:17] Because there's counterfeit gospels. And it's no wonder that there's confusion abounding. Because there's multiple issues. And I was talking with someone just before about an issue where there is controversy in the sense that some Christians see it from different angles, different viewpoints on various matters.

[8:35] And there's multiple questions where Christians can take a different view on some matter or other. The question is when it becomes false doctrine. That is an issue.

[8:46] When it becomes a counterfeit gospel, and we must certainly speak against that. We must counter that. And the reality is even in our day, as someone has said, atheism is a religion.

[8:59] It's almost like atheism is a religion these days. It's a faith. People believe in it. They believe in Darwin's book. They believe in Darwin's theory such that they regulate their life according to that philosophy, that there is no God.

[9:14] It's a substitute for God. So it is in effect a belief system as much as it's an unbelief system, even atheism. And so in such a situation, when we encounter such counterfeits, when we encounter such contrary doctrine, may we be as Daniel, who braved the lion's den, who withstood even the authority of his day.

[9:38] When he saw that the authority of his day was false and wrong, he would not cave in to his higher responsibility unto the Lord. To faithfully stand strong in his prayers, in his dedication to his Lord, in his conviction of his faith, he would not be deterred.

[9:57] And friends, tonight I put to you there's increasing signs of persecution, arising persecution of Christians across the world today. We're somewhat immune to it in this land.

[10:10] But the reality is many of our brothers and sisters in other lands are getting slain for their faith in Christ. And the media doesn't tell us of this. It majors on other matters that might be more isolated events of other faiths.

[10:24] But the Christians who are getting slaughtered as a routine happening are not reported in the regular media. A quote recently that I read was, The hard left reprobates hate God, therefore they loathe and hate us.

[10:41] They hate us in the same way the Nazis hated the Jews, and when they can, they will act on this hate. That's a quote from a book that's telling of the rising war against Christianity.

[10:52] There's people noticing that. There's people writing articles about such an issue. There's a rising war against Christianity. And as I say, it's almost like we're a little removed from that in this land, in this state.

[11:08] But nevertheless, it is happening. And it's escalating more and more so as militant secularists and humanists and leftists in this godless, heathen society are taking charge.

[11:20] They're taking leadership. They're making ungodly laws and rules and governance that is anti-Christ. It's anti-Christian. And it's all part of the arch deceiver's plan.

[11:33] Ultimately, they're readying his plan. We see in 2 Thessalonians 2, where it reads of the mystery of iniquity. It talks about the wicked being revealed.

[11:45] In 2 Thessalonians 2, from verse 6, the wicked, capital W, speaks of a man, speaks of anti-Christ. It speaks of that anti-Christ intent that is taking over this planet.

[11:59] We see in 2 Thessalonians 2, from verse 6, People understand that potentially to mean the Holy Spirit or the church.

[12:13] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work. There's an intent of iniquity of sin, an overpowering of iniquity that already does work.

[12:25] Only he who now letteth or hinders will hinder or let until he be taken out of the way. Now, my understanding is that which hinders is the church.

[12:35] It will be taken out of the way. It will be taken. And then shall that wicked be revealed, verse 8, Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

[12:49] Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved.

[13:07] It says, When this wicked shall be revealed, ultimately the Lord shall consume him with the spirit of his mouth. He shall destroy him with the brightness of his coming. When Christ comes, he shall destroy the wicked, this man, the wicked, the anti-Christ.

[13:20] But his coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. So if we see, as I've seen, there's a church in Elizabeth that's got this big sign, Signs and Wonders.

[13:36] Signs and Wonders may not be of God. It talks about lying signs and wonders here in 2 Thessalonians 2. And it's all deceivableness of unrighteousness.

[13:47] They receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved. Verse 11. This is 2 Thessalonians 2. Verse 11. And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

[14:07] The point I'm making in referring to this passage here is it's all part of the anti-Christ plan, that there will be a strong delusion, that there will be a people who will not have the love of the truth that they might be saved.

[14:21] They'll be damned because they believe not the truth. People would rather believe a lie these days. And unknowingly they believe a lie. And so we're caught to, as I talked earlier today, of soberness, of vigilance in such a time as this.

[14:37] The world is perishing. And we're in the last hour, as it were. The Bible speaks about the last time or the last hour. It could be put the last hour.

[14:50] The world is perishing. I put to you the signs are escalating. And it's almost like we're at the edge.

[15:01] At the edge of a greater escalation. When the Battle of Britain broke out, Churchill used a memorable phrase to describe the heroic resistance of the nation as their finest hour.

[15:21] This is our finest hour, he said. Our finest hour. This deception, this battle for truth, should galvanise us. It should galvanise us.

[15:32] It should awaken us. It should make us want to rise to the fight. To face this ongoing combat ahead with the world, the flesh and the devil.

[15:43] Many will be ignorant about what is happening. The call from scripture is strong and clear. We must declare our loyalties and stand fast and show our true colours as to whose side we give allegiance to.

[15:59] We see in 1 John 2 of the words that speak about this, the ungodliness that seems to prevail on our planet.

[16:10] And 1 John 2.15 it says, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.

[16:31] And the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. Little children, it is the last time. Again, I could put to you, it is the last time.

[16:45] The word time, you can translate hour. It's like it's the last hour. Some people like to kind of say it's just a few minutes to midnight, as it were. The clock's ticking as to where things are up to.

[16:58] And it's almost like, of course in John's day, it was further back in time than what it is now. But it's that sense there that there's limited time. It's the last time. There's a running out of time.

[17:10] And you have heard that the Antichrist shall come. Even now, there are many Antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time, the last hour. So it's like we're in this last hour, this last quadrant of time, this last segment of time, and the world is in real trouble.

[17:31] And John says there are many Antichrists. We see stories at times of different cults and different movements today, where some people do actually claim to be Christ's return.

[17:43] In fact, I saw there's some Asian woman who says she's Christ. So it doesn't matter whether you're male or female these days. You can be a Christ if you want to. It's almost the intimation, isn't it?

[17:54] There are many Antichrists. Of course, we know they're all false Christs. And may we be alert to recognise the signs. May we be opening our eyes and reading the handwriting on the wall, as it were, that judgement looms.

[18:08] It's close. There are many Antichrists. Now, I saw a somewhat tongue-in-cheek article lately, and some of you may snigger at this, and you may want to block your children's ears when I say this, but you might think this is so extreme.

[18:23] But for me to say this, may someone be offended by such a statement, and I'm sorry if you still believe in him today, but I agree with this article that says that one of the Antichrists today is called Father Christmas.

[18:38] Father Christmas is actually an Antichrist. Now, the word Antichrist means against, but it can also mean in place of, alongside of, in place of.

[18:48] Of course, we know the biggest Antichrist is the Pope himself, because he is Antichrist. He is in place of Christ. He calls himself the Vicar of Christ, as if he was Christ, Christ in person, as it were, and he speaks ex-cathedra, as if he can speak infallibly.

[19:09] Of course, we know that is false. Other Antichrists we could consider in the world's thinking of today, for example, might be the Force in Star Wars, where it's almost this airy-fairy, fuzzy-wuzzy Force, some supernatural's mystical power.

[19:25] And of course, you've got all the cartoons and the kids' movies these days have got this magic in them. It's an Antichrist. It's a substitute. It's a standing in place of Christ.

[19:36] Of course, you've got people like Superman and the superheroes. Then you've got actual physical people like Hitler, for example. They were dictators virtually worshipped. And then we've got in North Korea, this man, again, he's virtually worshipped.

[19:51] They're paying homage to him, as if he was some kind of god. And even in times past in America, as I've referred, there's these Messiah-type figures like Barack Obama.

[20:03] It's like there's a whole populace who was swayed by his slogans and his propaganda machine. And it's interesting how such people can rise to power. Is it possible there could be mass deception?

[20:16] Just like there was in Hitler's day, just like there was in other places and times where whole swathes of people went and flocked to follow, to believe in, to worship virtually a man or a woman.

[20:33] And it's interesting, even like pop idols are virtually worshipped today, aren't they? People virtually worship them. Even when they're accused and found guilty of some horrendous, abominable crime, people still love them and worship them and play their music and adore them and want to follow them.

[20:51] Still, total mass deception, isn't it? Mass deception. As I say, the Pope is another figure who just dominates the world stage. People look to him as the representative of Christianity.

[21:04] Shocking. One day, virtually everyone will fall into line with a mass deception. It says in Revelation 12, verse 9, of the end times, it tells of the great dragon cast out, that old servant called the devil, serpent called the devil, and Satan, it says, which deceiveth the whole world.

[21:23] It says the dragon, the serpent, the devil, or Satan, which deceives the whole world. He's cast out. He was cast out into the earth and his angels with him.

[21:35] It says that Satan, Satan will deceive the whole world. Mass deception. The Bible tells it will happen. And think of the antichrist spirit that's at work even today in modern life, in the media, in politics, in schools, in intellectual circles, in Freemasonry.

[21:56] It's kind of weaved its way into many things. And in days of evil, people will be crying out for a man of peace to save us from this mess that we're in.

[22:07] A man of peace. And such a man is Satan's substitute for the Lord Jesus Christ. We know, I mentioned earlier today that I was talking with a fellow yesterday, a Muslim, and he was saying, yes, we believe that Christ is coming.

[22:24] Their Christ is coming. They believe it. And we know, to me, it seems very possible that the Muslim Christ will be the antichrist.

[22:42] That's another question. I might have them after me after this is broadcast on the internet. So I have to go into hiding. But no, really, there is that reality that we're facing this antichrist, this antichrist plural.

[22:55] We're talking about mass deception on a global scale. The word tells us of such a time that the antichrist will come. It tells us of a corruption that's in the world through lust.

[23:06] It tells us that we're living in a world of rebels against God. It tells us of Ephesians 2 verse 2 that the prince of the power of the air is a spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.

[23:18] It's like how even our nation has been hijacked. We're like a ship floundering in these stormy seas without a rudder or without a compass to guide us. Most of all without a captain, the captain that we need.

[23:31] It is the last hour. It is the last time. It is our finest hour. We don't have much time left to speak out, to be counted. As the battle lines are drawn, as we face much opposition to the truth, in every circle of life, do we just blend in and go along and just follow?

[23:49] Do we fall in with what's popular? Go along with peer pressure? Just yearn for the approval of the world? Follow the lemmings off the edge?

[24:01] These are days of spiritual anarchy with every man doing what is right in his own eyes. The Bible tells us judgment must begin where?

[24:15] At the house of God. The house of God. That should make us want to be right, shouldn't it? If judgment must begin at the house of God, let's make sure that we're straight, we're in accord, that we're in alignment with God's word because deception is the hallmark of these days.

[24:43] Delusion. Now, I've got to tell you tonight that this church is threatened. We've actually found termites. No joke.

[24:54] Sister Jackie found termites in the back room here. So we're under threat. But worse than that, spiritual termites is a problem, isn't it? Spiritual termites, you know, things can get white-handed.

[25:06] Political parties can get white-handed. Churches can get white-handed by error. And we've got to be mindful. I know when I hear something, I try to question when I hear something that I think is not right.

[25:24] Ephesians 4, it says that, we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

[25:37] But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head, even Christ. No more children. Let's not be childish.

[25:48] Tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. It's like the kind of the way Christians think these days. Oh, what's the latest top of the pops in Coorong?

[26:00] What's the latest Christian rock video or the latest Christian newfound teaching that we can jump on the bandwagon and go along with? Termites all around us.

[26:15] Every wind of doctrine. Let's not get blown off course. These termites are slowly eating away, weakening the church. There's modernism, scepticism, humanism, liberalism, worldliness, neglect, indifference, apathy, a lack of interest and concern, false doctrines.

[26:35] It seems like doctrinal confusion abounds where we see many false ideas being foisted on people. And these false ideas are becoming mainstream. I referred to a preacher this morning.

[26:49] one of the big teachings these days called lordship salvation. It's a spiritual termite. It's wrong.

[27:01] 2 Corinthians 11, 13, it tells of false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

[27:13] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness whose end shall be according to their works. It's interesting that scripture there, 2 Corinthians 11, those are false apostles.

[27:26] You know, someone who's an apostle, they're looked up to, they've got a major kind of following, you know, they're making big impact. They've got like a nationwide influence.

[27:45] There's people like that today. The people with a global influence on TV. They're apostles, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. But they're deceitful workers, it says. And so Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

[28:00] You know, there's many religions that have been started today by supposed apparitions of an angel of light, giving golden plates from some supposed return of Christ to America and such laughable evil doctrines.

[28:16] or even like Ellen White with her supposed visions and dreams and her utter false doctrine that she purports.

[28:27] And, you know, likewise, we could name other religions too where angels supposedly manifested. Truly, it's a mass deception on a global scale.

[28:39] And we're told that this would happen. We're told to be not deceived, to take heed. Revelation 17 tells of a conglomerate religion during the tribulation.

[28:50] That there'll be a conglomerate religion. I know someone was telling me lately about, you know, the goings-on in New Zealand where they had an interfaith kind of gathering. interfaith.

[29:00] Now, a memorial of people who died of itself is not something wrong. But when it's an interfaith, when there's people kind of worshipping, pretending to worship the same God, it's not the same God.

[29:16] The God of the Koran is not the God of the Bible, as much as some famous preacher thinks it is. No, it's nothing to do with it. It's a different God. And so, it's telling us in Revelation 17 of this conglomerate religion during the tribulation.

[29:34] There's confusion about the very message of salvation, the most fundamental doctrine, such that some would teach the very gospel is in such a way that it's works-based.

[29:47] If salvation is works-based, you could just very easily just go along with the Jehovah's Witnesses, with the Mormons, with virtually every other religion, that it's by your works.

[30:01] The Bible's so clear on that one, that it's not by works of righteousness that we have done. It's not of works, lest any man should boast. The minute we try to add works, it's wrong.

[30:17] It's not to say our faith shouldn't be working, our faith shouldn't be active, our faith shouldn't be impacting, our faith shouldn't be converting, changing us and transforming us, but the faith is what saves us.

[30:34] It's not faith plus works that saves you. The minute you say that, it's false doctrine. It really is. It's not works-based. We can't get it by works and we can't keep it by works.

[30:47] It's only by his grace through faith. There's much confusion about the Holy Spirit. Again, when we were door-knocking yesterday, I was accosted by a man who just wanted to talk about his supposed tongues.

[31:02] And that was all that mattered to him. And we were there not to talk about that. But to keep the main thing, the main thing, salvation. salvation. And in 1 Corinthians 14, 36, 3, it says, For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

[31:22] And these doctrines just bring confusion. Just confusion. The word tells of a downward trend. In 1 Timothy 4, verse 1, it says, Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, but in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

[31:42] Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, seduction, spirits that are deceiving, doctrines of devils, it says. Now the devil comes in the garb of a Bible teacher.

[31:56] We know there's people, well-meaning people, who also go knocking on doors and introduce people to another gospel, whether it be the gospel, another testament, or whether it be those that are Jehovah's Witnesses, so they claim, but we know they're not.

[32:14] And they would come to people and they would encourage them and offer them Bible classes. And I was looking at a Christadelphian hall lately and they've kind of taken the name Christadelphian off and it just says Bible Centre or something.

[32:29] They're changing it. They're just kind of making it look more Christian, so people will be sucked in. We're facing the sustained attack of Satan today, a mass deception, so we must all remain ever watchful.

[32:43] As deception and confusion abounds, many are being misled and even the faithful can fail. But thank God this does not write us off.

[32:56] And when you think, I don't know, it's an important subject, should Christians be faithful? Yes! But we know when we're not, God's grace makes up for our lack.

[33:07] For example, we think of the failures of noble characters. Noah, he failed. Used of God, a man of God. In Hebrews 11, he's named as a saved man.

[33:17] Of course, we know he was a saved, justified man. But Noah fell. He evidently fell into a sin.

[33:29] Genesis 9. Moses, he failed. As we know, he struck the rock and he yelled at it or whatever he did.

[33:41] In a sense, he disobeyed what God, God said speak to it, didn't he? But he struck it and he kind of, he went, he did something of his flesh and he failed. David failed. We know he failed.

[33:53] Adultery, murder effectively. And then Peter failed as he said, oh, I never knew him. I don't know him. You know, you're a Galilean.

[34:03] No, I don't know what you're talking about. And then he started cursing. So Noah, Moses, David, Peter, you might think, I failed. I'm a failure. God can still use you.

[34:15] And God restores us as he restored them. We can be encouraged by that. But sometimes we can put a yoke on ourselves that the Bible doesn't put on us. And friends, I urge you today just to come to wrap this up here with a message that we can take to heart.

[34:34] In such a time when things are being shaken all around us, when everything is getting shaken in this world where it seems that that deception just is so widespread, we can't, we can be feeling overwhelmed by it, by the fact of that.

[34:55] And I think the message for us is the same that came in Acts 11, Acts 11, where it says, I believe this is Paul speaking, and they sent forth Barnabas, Barnabas is speaking rather, Acts 11, 23, who when he, Barnabas, came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord.

[35:25] Barnabas saw the grace of God, he was glad, he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. When we sing deception, let's cleave unto the Lord.

[35:36] Let's hold fast to him. Let's be alike to Noah's day, as it seemed like they were a tiny remnant in a vast sea of doomed men. Let's be in the minority, even if it's just eight of us saved.

[35:49] Let's just be that minority that believe and act on God's word. In a world of lies that we have the truth and we'll hold it fast. That we'll be the truth tellers, that we won't just keep it to ourselves.

[36:02] We'll be truth tellers, we'll be communicators of this truth, because it's too precious a message to hold to ourselves. And when there's an abundance of bad teaching, we need to bring healthy teaching, as I talked this morning.

[36:17] What sound doctrine means, sound doctrine means healthy teaching. You know, you might, I know some of you look like you've been to the gym and you're all healthy and strong. You've probably got a healthier diet than I have.

[36:29] You're not going to go down to the fast food place on the way home tonight. But God wants us to be healthy, spiritually healthy, doesn't he? So have that healthy doctrine, a healthy doctrine.

[36:41] This is sound doctrine, healthy doctrine. It's healthy teaching. It's a healthful thing for your soul. It'll keep you wholesome and whole. Healthy doctrine, sound doctrine to combat false doctrine.

[36:53] 1 Thessalonians 5, there's another exhortation in such a time, prove all things, hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5, 21, hold fast that which is good.

[37:05] And don't be afraid to prove all things. Test things. Test the spirits. Try the spirits. What is of God? What will stand the test? In days of an ever increasing cultural conformity, we need to be not afraid to be counter-cultural.

[37:23] Counter-cultural. Just because everybody's doing it, doesn't make it right. We can be counter-cultural. Dearly beloved, 1 Peter 2, 11, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

[37:38] In a world of mass deception, there's fleshly lust, there's corruption that is in the world. There's a war going on and it's against your soul. In a world of mass deception, we need to stand apart and be God's called our people.

[37:52] You've got a holy calling and you've got a part to play as the rescue crew. What we have is too important to hold it back. We must impart it.

[38:04] We're part of the rescue crew. Sometimes there's a bit of a modern day parable someone's penned about the rescue station where there's a picture of a church that had everything just, all the bells and whistles and everything was just fine and dandy.

[38:22] The technology was working perfectly. Everything was just right and it was just a little holy, like a holy club. A church can be like a bit of a holy club, a holy cloister.

[38:34] And look, we should be a holy people. And I'm not denigrating that. But more than just being a holy gathering, we should be a holy army, a holy invading force that the gates of hell will not prevail against us.

[38:50] We should be mobilised as an army would be mobilised with the message that we need to declare, with the truth that we need to impart, with the safety we need to communicate to the world all around us.

[39:01] It's a church without walls in the sense that we have something too precious that we cannot hold it back. We must impart it. We must be truth tellers. You know, see, the sense of this rescue crew was of this kind of rescue station, this kind of surf life-saving station, and they used to have lots of lectures about rescuing the perishing, you know, rescuing all that.

[39:26] They had all the manuals and the procedures all written down and everyone was well-schooled in how to save the sailors who were shipwrecked out there and, you know, drowning out in the sea.

[39:42] They had all the procedures just so exactly how they should go step by step and they were so well trained. But the problem was they didn't actually go out onto the sea.

[39:52] They didn't actually go out with the rescue boat and haul the drowning in. And a church can make that mistake too, where they get so inwardly focused that it becomes just a little club rather than a crusade, rather than a rescue station that's actively doing what God has called us to do.

[40:14] And so let's be a part of that. There's some good responses I've heard from people that have been reached. And we've already got some leads of people. I've got someone was asking, I was asking this morning for someone, a woman to go and minister to a contact that we made and we've already made that contact.

[40:31] We've already got that happening. And so we're believing that not only will we see people reached and touched, but that we can see them saved and won. And by God's saving brought into the church as he draws them to himself.

[40:47] We must counteract error with truth. To be those truth tellers that our world needs desperately. To be a people who will walk worthy. And friends, I'm just wrapping up here.

[40:59] In Colossians 1, it talks about Paul's prayer for the Colossians. He says, He says, We do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

[41:13] That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness.

[41:28] He says that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. We should have a desire, a yearning for holiness, for right living.

[41:40] And I was talking with a brother before. We need to have that. That should be our earnest intent. Increasing in the knowledge of God. That we're going forward in our faith.

[41:51] That we're strengthened with God's mind. With his glorious power. And yet, when the rubber hits the road, I'm speaking for myself, we can feel inadequate.

[42:02] It's so, I can feel so lacking, so inadequate, so weak, so unworthy. And I was talking with another brother lately who was feeling like that.

[42:13] He was feeling so unworthy that he didn't feel that he could serve. That's the devil. That you would feel so unworthy that you will not serve. Every Christian has a place to serve.

[42:25] Every Christian has a gift to give, to use, a calling, to minister. Every Christian has a service to render. And being a servant, really, it's the opposite of pride.

[42:39] It's not. I was talking with someone, and I'm not sure if they're going to hear this, but that they didn't want to lead something. And really, in a way, the Bible doesn't talk about people being the leader.

[42:50] It talks about people being the servant. And if we just have a heart of a servant, the one who will be a chief, let him be a chief servant. We should be serving. Our heart should be to serve.

[43:01] And if we all have that heart of a servant, no one's big noting themselves above another. We're all brethren. We're simply to serve. Being a servant is the opposite of pride and arrogance or wanting to elevate ourselves, wanting to be the big shot, wanting to be the top dog.

[43:16] It's a new mindset we should have as a church body to be servants together. And God only asks us to be servants. And for his glory, he can use you.

[43:32] I was talking with a sister lately. You're a teacher. Teach. Men of God, rise up. Women of God. Of course, women can teach women.

[43:46] There's opportunities. There's ministries. There's mature Christians here. We all have something we can give, we can do. I'm not meaning to preach works here or condemnation or make anyone feel like I'm putting anyone down here.

[44:01] I'm wanting to lift you all up. But everyone can do something. And it's finding that. And sometimes we might think, well, as I say, I'm a failure. Think of those men of God who are failures that I talked about before.

[44:14] Moses, David, Peter, Noah. God can use failures. You've failed, put it behind you and move on. God's forgiven you and he'll take you forward. You might say, oh, I'm just too ordinary.

[44:26] There's nothing about me. I'm not qualified enough. I haven't been to the Bible school or got the certificates on the wall or just don't know enough. God uses the ordinary.

[44:37] The ordinary, the ordinary Christian, the average garden variety Christian. God uses the ordinary. Let it not stop you. The ordinary, God uses the ordinary to carry out his extraordinary plan.

[44:51] For example, like Moses and his rod. Just a simple shepherd's rod. You know, it wasn't anything outstanding as men would reckon it. It was just a piece of wood, a little stick, a shepherd's rod.

[45:04] And with that, he turned it into a snake. He turned the Nile to blood. Other plagues, it was the rod. He parted the Red Sea with the rod. He brought forth water to drink with the rod.

[45:17] And he won a battle for Israel, holding up the rod. God uses the ordinary. Think of that. God uses the ordinary. God uses the ordinary.

[45:32] God uses the ordinary like David with his sling, with five stones, with just one stone. He killed the giant, Goliath. God uses the ordinary. And so, brother, sister, don't put yourself down that you cannot.

[45:45] Take your stand. God uses the ordinary like the widow of Zarephath, the flour and the oil that kept replenishing itself. God uses the ordinary like the lad with five loaves and two fishes to feed the thousands.

[45:59] Five thousand were fed. Potentially more with women and children. We face many attacks. Let us not hold back. And let us realise that God uses the ordinary.

[46:12] God uses the weak. In a world of mass deception, we need to rise up. Whilst we're outnumbered. Whilst we might be counted as a laughing stock. We can expect to be a persecuted minority.

[46:25] We'll be mocked as they were mocked, as unlearned and ignorant men. People will criticise you when you dare to say something for God. When you dare to do something for God.

[46:36] Don't be deterred. As you serve God, you'll encounter some who are unteachable. Some who are ungracious. Really it's a cosmic battle.

[46:49] We've battled not against flesh and blood. It's the enemy blinding the minds of people. And our heart goes out to them. People held captive. You know, it's been said, I liken it to there's a syndrome, like a psychological syndrome, a psychological phenomenon called the Stockholm Syndrome.

[47:08] Where someone who might be a hostage can be so enamoured with their captors that they regard them as their friends. And they express empathy and sympathy.

[47:21] They have positive feelings. You know, they've been kept hostage so long that they got to know the captors as kind of like, they've got these positive feelings towards them. Such that they would defend and identify the captors.

[47:31] It's almost like the devil is like that. There's this Stockholm Syndrome in that people are held prisoner by the devil. They've been in his control so long that they think he's their friend. That they think that his way is satisfactory.

[47:46] But they're not even aware that they're held prisoner. They're captors. They've received not the love of the truth. And they're so fooled by Satan, by his deception on a global scale, that they actually think that he's someone fit to follow.

[48:02] To close 1 John 5, 19, it says, And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. It was the same in Noah's time. But God saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, and he brought the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

[48:20] Noah preached the saving message. He preached right living. He preached judgment to come. He preached in effect the Christ, the ark of safety, the only shelter, the only place of refuge, the only saviour, the ark.

[48:33] People had to be in the ark. But yet, people gave many excuses. Many today are going to give excuses why they're not a Christian. And in a world of lies, they're blinded.

[48:46] We need to broadcast authentic Christianity, the authentic gospel in such a time. Because there's a mass deception. And friends, let's be that people.

[48:56] Let's not be like the rescue station, that it's all theory, but we put it into practice. Let's be not deceived. Aware that there are many antichrists.

[49:06] And they're all around us in many forms and fashions, in different media. And it's a hallmark of the last days. So we should be encouraged when we see such things, that it's another sign.

[49:20] Our Lord is coming. So let's lift up our eyes. Our redemption, Christ is coming. Let's be prepared for our saviour's returning. Let's know for sure, I am saved.

[49:32] I know him. He's mine. I am his. He's purchased me. He's made me his own. He's adopted me into his family. I am his for eternity. By his saving grace, by his mercy, I belong to the saviour.

[49:47] He owns me. I'm his purchased possession. Because he's paid everything that had to be paid for me. That can be your confession of faith, as you trust him, by his mercy and grace.

[50:00] Let's pray. Lord, we thank you that your word is the word of truth. In a world of lies, we have the word of truth. And Lord, we have the message of the truth, of the one who is the way, the truth and the life, the Lord himself, our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.

[50:16] Lord, we thank you for your saving mercy. Lord, help us to be alert and aware and mindful and to be a people who are truth tellers in a world that desperately needs truth.

[50:27] In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.