"See to it..."

March 16, 2011

“See to it…”

Blessings Folk!

I continue to be struck by a Word of the Lord.

Over the past several week on our local tv broadcast I have been covering the answer that Jesus gave to his disciples when they asked the following…

Matthew 24
3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Jesus gave a long answer...check the “red-letter” edition Bible.

He started by give us a strong command/instruction twice, related to two things.

Matthew 24
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you.
 5 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.

See to it no one misleads you.

We have a role.
We have responsibility.
We can not/should not blame others.

Yet, most do not take the Words of Jesus to heart.

Deception is arising, especially within the professing Body of Christ.
This is nothing new.
We have been forewarned in the Word, especially 2 Peter, Jude, Romans 15, 1 Corinthians 10, 2 Timothy 3, Galatians.

False teachers and false prophets are arising in abundance.

They look great.
They are slick.
They have wonderful, exciting books.
They always have large, “successful” churches.

Beware.
Watch the big smile.
Watch the one who says “love wins”...all are already saved. (Haven’t heard that one? Very prominent. Even more so now with Rob Bell’s new book...reading it...outright heresy and universalism&hellipWinking
Watch the one who exalts all the “God is doing in our church”, etc. etc.

How do we “see to it that no one misleads” us?

Know the Lord.
Know His Word.
Abide in the Lord.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Most professing believers would agree with this.
Few actually practice such.

Do you know the Lord?
Do you know the Word?
Do you abide in Him?
Do you live filled with the Spirit?

You can not do this through someone else.
You can not do this through affiliation with an organization.

It is between you and God.

Jesus had one other similar Word in answering the questions….

Matthew 24
 6 "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

See to it that you are not frightened. (Luke 21 says “terrified&rdquoWinking

Again, we see the same.

We have a role.
We are responsible.

We are not to be frightened/terrified.

Are you?

Then you are not trusting in the Lord.
You are allowing other things to be “god” in your life.

Fear and anxiety have no place in the life of the true believer.

Again.

If you are consumed and bound by fear and anxiety, then you are not trusting the Lord.

So…
As the earth shakes…
As liars lie…
As mockers mock…
As wars and rumors of such build…
As the world responds in despair...

See to it no one misleads you.
See to it that you are not frightened.


I’m reminded of one our favorite worship songs...Brian Doerksen’s “Hope of the Nations”…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37NYEIo7sEI

Jesus, hope of the nations
Jesus, comfort for all who mourn
You are the source of Heaven’s hope on earth
Jesus, light in the darkness
Jesus, truth in each circumstance
You are the source of Heaven’s light on earth
In history You lived and died
You broke the chains You rose to life

You are the hope living in us
You are the rock in whom we trust
You are the light shining for all the world to see
You rose from the dead conquering fear
Our Prince of Peace drawing us near
Jesus our hope living for all who will receive


Fear not.
Our Hope is Victorious.

Blessings!


The “Answers” episodes can be viewed here… click episode archives...
http://www.answers.blip.tv