King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Delusional Leaders
Date: Friday August 26, 2011
Chapters: Jeremiah 41-44, Proverb 26, Psalm 77
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-august-26

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 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 received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - II Thessalonians 2:7-14.

The antichrist is a person with Christlike abilities that deceives people into thinking that they are following Christ. The antichrist is real and lives today, he has several people working for him, people such as pastors, popes, priests, evangelists, etc., spiritual leaders who know just enough Scripture to make one believe that they are of Christ, but are really of Satan. Those who know and accept the true Gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, are saved from eternal damnation. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” - Romans 10:9.

Those who believe the lies of the antichrist and deny the true Christ face the same fate as the antichrist. God sends all who reject the Gospel, leaders and followers alike, strong delusion, a strong belief that they really believe what they are teaching. It is that delusion that will send them along with Satan into the lake of fire. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” -Revelation 21:7,8.

Sadly, it is these delusional, proud, know it all, envious leaders that have the most influence on the people. Even more sadder is the fact that these leaders are the ones who cause so much destruction and suffering of our nations and even in our lives. After the Babylonians left Jerusalem, a small remnant of people, including Jeremiah, were left in Judah and Jerusalem, a man named Gedaliah was placed in charge. However, a man named Ishmael claimed to be of the royal seed, believed that he should have been next in line to the throne before Nebuchadnezzar took charge, and he killed Gedaliah. That death did not place him in charge, instead it sent leaders looking for help from God.

“Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you. Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.” - Jeremiah 42:1-6.

In very difficult circumstances, we must fix our eyes upon God for direction and we must open our hearts to obeying His instructions, no matter what He instructs us to do. Jeremiah acts as an intercessor for these people, a middle man that speaks to God on their behalf. While our faith and obedience plays a good part in God granting our requests it is good to have an intercessor standing before Him also on our behalf. Jesus is our intercessor, He is the one who goes before God and pleads our case before Him. However, only those who know the Son can reach the Father. “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” - Matthew 11:27.

God is quick and willing to accept any person who comes to Him with a sincere heart, non matter what wrong they have done in the past. Although these people lived in sin and rejected God at one time God was willing to help them. Ten days after Johanan and the people went before Jeremiah God answered them.

“If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land. But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,..Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.” - Jeremiah 42:10-13,16.

Sadly, we learn that they did not obey God's instructions, they did go to Egypt, they even dragged Jeremiah and his scribe with them. All the Jews that followed Johanan, except for a few that escaped out of Egypt, died just as God warned them. Leaders come and go, but true leaders live by every Word of God, false leaders will claim to be very spiritual, and in tune with God, but when the Word of God comes to direct them, they reject it, in fact, do the opposite. That is why we must hold on to the truth of the Gospel as well as every word that God has to say to us. To know His Word personally and to abide by it is the only way that we will know whether or not we are being deceived. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” - II Timothy 3:16,17.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, because of Your amazing grace we are able to say no to ungodliness and yes to righteousness, no to lasciviousness and yes to self-control, no to the lust of the flesh and yes to the Spirit. We want to be quick to obey the Scriptures and discerning when anyone adds to or takes away from Your absolute truths that are to be followed in every generation. We want to align our desires with Yours, rather than trying to align Your truths with our desires. Lord, transform me day by day to be more like Your Son, help me to be able to discern the truths from the lies and to live in obedience to Your instruction, no matter how strange it may seem. You always know what is best for me and I love You for that. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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