Fighting Modern Day Deceptions With Bible Truths

It is imperative that we read the bible as much as possible especially in these days, praying always for the understanding. Not a scripture a day on your Telly, but spending a couple of hours a day really believing that reading it, is earth-shattering life changing. 

We are in the formula of the great deception and/or falling away and it is being founded and grounded on a foundation of lies with the intention to deceive, if possible, even the A+ Christians known as the elect. We will have to do our due diligence when we hear anything that confront our current understanding of the scriptures. Deception is coming and the falling away narrative is currently being released in small palatable bites and most everybody is eating. Now what I am not saying is that if a teaching is presented and you haven’t even been taught the subject matter that you simply discard it as false. Nope, the Pharisees did this and made their beds in hell.

Proverbs 25:2 - It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

We should be diligent searches of the truth and lies, but knowing the truth so that when the lies are discovered we do not fall for them. The scripture I want to talk about is a point of question by some because of what the traditions of men state. Jesus, because He knows what is in man, already included a warning about what might be said about what He just said about John in the following verse and yet it is still happening. We will present it shortly:

John 21:21-25 - 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Hello, this is Ken Your Podcast Preacher. Welcome back to my podcast Deep Waters. This podcast is brought to you by Friday Strengths Ministry, where we believe working together on our strengths is the effect of working out the will and calling of God and into our lives. Thanks for joining me. Let's open up in prayer. Blessed be the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose you and him before the foundation of the world. That you should be holy and without blame before him and love, having predestined you to adoption as your son or daughter by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, which he purposed in himself, to the praise of the glory of his grace, and which he made you accepted in the beloved. In him you have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound towards you in all wisdom and prudence. Having made known to you the mystery of his will, that in the dispensation and the fullness of the times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth in him. Ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, and the knowledge of the mystery of him, and to the deepest knowledge of him that you are willing and able to receive, that the eyes of your understanding would be open wider, and that you would be enlightened to who he is, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in you, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards you who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he worked in Christ and raised him from the dead, and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, that he would grant that you would be strengthened with might through his spirit, in the inner man, in and through your spirit and heart, consistently walking in the spirit so that you would be able to stand against the appetites of your flesh, the corrupted spirit of this world, the devil and his demons, in and through any and all fleshly desires and temptations. I pray that your love may abound more and more in all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be real about your Christianity, and undefendable until the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which are by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, to the glory and praise of God. I ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work, strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints who walk by the Spirit and in the light. I pray that your hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love and unity, and that you would attain to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which has been given to each of my listeners by Christ Jesus, that you are enriched in everything by him, in all utterance and all knowledge, so that you do not come short in obtaining or operating in your calling and purpose, nor in using any spiritual gifts or talents to perform mighty miracle signs and wonders, and that we would do the greater works of Jesus yet to be accomplished, that we would be found eagerly waiting for the continued revelation of our Lord Jesus, who will confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the near coming of the day of our Lord. God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus. Okay, so now therefore, my brothers and sisters in Christ, when things get tough, think about whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, whatever things are of a good report. If there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things alone. I pray that in these very end of end time days that you would let your love be without hypocrisy. Show people your faith by your works and service and love, hate and loathe what is evil, cling to what is good and righteous, be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor, giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent and fully engulfed in spiritual fire, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, walking in the peace of God, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, that is each other, and that you would be given the hospitality. May the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like minded towards one another, according to Christ Jesus, that we learn to be of one mind and one accord, striving to get along no matter what disagreements we may encounter, operating completely and fully in love, always striving for the working out of God's specific will for each of our lives, while working in partnership with each other within the church and the Holy Spirit, as He manifests His miracle signs and wonders through the daily activities of our ministry and kingdom work, and while we also go out preaching the gospel in word and deed. Let us love and serve one another, our enemy, and those who wouldn't expect us to do so, considering each person better than ourselves. Bind up any words and thoughts that are contrary to the love of God, or which would set you back in your Christian walk. Guard your hearts from anything that would hinder the growth of your character. Never forget that you can do all things in Christ, and never forget this means all things. Ah step out in faith today and walk with God, and with each other, being assured that nothing will separate you from Him as long as you abide in Him. Call those things that don't exist as though they do. Remember the faith of God of which we have, created the universe by the Rama and Logos Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. All you need for this life is invisible until you apply your faith to receive it, but make sure your request to God is without fear, doubting, or unbelief. Never forget that He is in you is greater than He that is in the world. Be more than a conqueror today, submitting to the will of God in everything. Never forget that you can do all things through Christ who will strengthen you to this very day. Let each of us express uncompromising love towards one another in humility, while maintaining a teachable spirit, seeking to grow no matter how much it challenges our current thinking. I pray that God will give you the revelation within this message that He intends you to receive with the understanding, now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. The title of this message is Fighting Modern Day Deceptions with Bible Truths. It is imperative that we read the Bible as much as possible, especially in these days, praying always for the understanding and the wisdom to apply the understanding. Not a scripture day on your tally, but spending a couple hours a day really believing that reading it is earth shattering, life changing. We are in the formula of the great deception and or falling away, and it is being founded and grounded on a foundation of lies with the intention to deceive, if possible, even the A plus Christians known as the elect. We will have to do our due diligence when we hear anything that confronts our current understanding of the scriptures. Deception is coming and the falling away narrative is currently being released in small palatable bites, and most everybody is eating. Now what I am not saying is that if a teaching is presented and you haven't been taught the subject matter, that you simply discard it as false. Nope, the Pharisees did this and made their beds in hell. Proverbs twenty five two. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. And I think the Bible says that we are kings and priests. We should be diligent searchers of the truth and lies, but knowing the truth so that when the lies are discovered we do not fall for them. The scripture I want to talk about is a point of question by some because of what the traditions of men state. Jesus, because he knows what is in man, already included a warning about what might be said, about what he just said about John in the following verse, and yet it is still happening. John twenty one, twenty one through twenty five. Peter seeing him said to Jesus, but Lord, what about this man? Peter was talking about John. Jesus said to him, If I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me. Then the saying went on among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but if I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? This is the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. John is simply referring to himself, since he wrote this scripture in the book of John. Verse twenty five, and there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written amen. I came across someone who, in his book, inferred that John would live until the return of Jesus. In fact he, that is the two thousand year old John, is one of the main characters. I'm not saying the author believed this, but when he references from the Bible, I had to investigate. Now I looked up what these statements meant in the original Greek using Google AI. Since I don't entirely trust the AI data collection process, I included a Google search which I know can be equally fallible. Below are the AI results. In the original Greek, John twenty one, twenty two through twenty three acts as a sharp grammatical correction designed to debunk a literal rumor regarding the Apostle John's immortality. The original Koan Greek text for these verses reads The meaning of the passage hinges entirely on three specific Greek grammatical nuances. The first, the conditional shift. In verse twenty two, Jesus used the particle en meaning if or if ever, paired with the present subjunctive verb thilo, I will slash want. The nuance in Greek grammar and Ian clause sets up a third class conditional sentence. This structure denotes a hypothetical or speculative scenario. It does not state a reality. The meaning, Jesus is not making a prophecy that John will live until the second coming. He is using a rhetorical what if scenario to highlight that John's ultimate fate is completely irrelevant to Peter's personal calling. The second, to remain versus to live. Jesus states if I want him, men until I come. The nuance the verb menign literally translates to abide, to stay or to remain, while it can euphemistically mean to stay alive. It carries a strong sense of waiting or enduring in place. The meaning, the early church conflated, remaining with not dying. In verse twenty three, the text switches to the verb apotniski, which means is dying to highlight this exact misinterpretation. That sounds like what I just did to that Greek word. The author painstakingly repeats Jesus' phrase word for word at the end of verse twenty three to prove that Jesus chose a word of conditional waiting, meaning not a word of absolute immortality. three, the blunt contrast, the nuance. This is an idiomatic Greek phrase that translates literally to what towards you. The meaning it is a blunt semitic idiom meaning what is that to you? Or how does that concern you? And this is what Jesus was really saying to Peter. By combining a sharp idiom with the imperative command see moi echoluthi, you follow me, the Greek syntax draws a harsh, distinct line between Peter's path and John's path. So summary of the original text purpose? The Greek text functions as an intentional somatic fact check. Yes, they did fact checking even in Jesus' day. Because the early Christian community lived under immense pressure, oral rumors easily collapsed Jesus' unconditional statements into definitive estological promises. By emphasizing the conditional if and the open ended remain, the original Greek shifts the reader's focus entirely away from guessing timelines and placing it back onto the immediate active duty of discipleship. So, pardon my mispronunciations of the Greek language, I truly have enough issues with the English language, but only include the Greek or Hebrew as in other messages to prove I did look for the original and intended meaning of the scriptures presented. The Google take on this scripture is as follows. In the original Greek, these verses are a direct rebuke of Peter's distraction and a deliberate correction of spreading a church rumor. Jesus tells Peter to stop comparing his own journey to John's and instead focus on his own calling to follow. The specific Greek term used clarify exactly what Jesus and the author John meant. Remain or tarry in verse twenty two, Jesus says, If I want him to remain until I come, the Greek word used is menin, meaning to stay, to abide, or to continue. Yes, there will be some redundancy, but bear with me, it's good. What is that to you? Jeter challenges Peter with teprose, which literally translates to what is it to you? He effectively cuts off Peter's curiosity about John's future. You follow me. Jesus emphasizes personal discipleship by saying kappa, circa, lambda, and simoi a koluthi. The si is placed emphatically, meaning you follow me. Jesus did not say that he would not die. In verse twenty three, John explicitly corrects an early church misunderstanding. The Greek word for did not say are oichen. John clarifies that Jesus merely proposed a hypothetical condition, if I will, to teach Peter a lesson, rather than making a prophetic promise. In continuing to examine the meaning of the scripture, I looked up the direct interlinear translation, word for word for these verses. The Greek text of John twenty one, twenty two through twenty three records Jesus questioning Peter's concern for John stating, If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me. A rumor subsequently spread among believers that this disciple would not die, while the text corrects by clarifying that Jesus only presented this as a hypothetical, not a guarantee. I also looked at the context of what Jesus was saying to be sure as to what his intention was in this statement, if I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? In context of Peter's earlier calling in John twenty one, centers on restoration and reinstatement. Before Jesus questions Peter about John's future, he confronts Peter about his recent failures and commissions him for ministry. The mirror of the first call. The events in John twenty one intentionally mirror Luke five where Peter was first called. The failed fishing trip. In both stories, Peter and his disciples fished all night and catch absolutely nothing. The miraculous catch. At Jesus' command, they cast the nets again and catch an overwhelming amount of fish. The recognition, this miracle causes Peter to recognize Jesus, prompting him to jump out of the boat to reach him. Reinstatement at the charcoal fire. Jesus sets up a charcoal fire, Anthrachea on the beach, which specific detail appears only one other time in the Gospel of John, the fire where Peter stood when he denied Jesus three times. Sitting by this new fire, Jesus asked Peter three times, Do you love me? Three affirmations. This gives Peter a chance to affirm his love three times, canceling out his three denials. This, by the way, is how you cancel out curses in some cases. A new mandate. With each affirmation, Jesus gives Peter a pastoral command, feed my lambs, tend my sheep, and feed my sheep. Something we should all do, at one level or another. The new command, follow me. Jesus concludes this restoration by predicting how Peter will die as a martyr. He then issues the exact same command he gave Peter three years prior. Follow me. This creates the immediate setup for verses twenty two through twenty three. Immediately after being told how he will die and being ordered to follow, Peter turns around, sees John, and asks, Lord, what about him? Jesus' response in the subsequent verses is a reminder that Peter's sole focus must remain on his own renewed call, and this is true for us today. I have seen where Christians compare themselves to other people's ministries and never get launched into their own because God didn't call them to do other people's ministries, but to do their own thing. He didn't wire you to complete other people's ministries, but he did wire you to complete your own ministry, and your goal is to find out what that is for you and stop comparing yourself to other people. Alright, so in continuation with the breakdown, I decided to look at how different English translations interpret these phrases just to be absolutely clear. Different English translations interpret the key phrase in John 21, 22 through 23 by balancing literal word for word accuracy with modern thought for thought readability. The differences in general fall into three translation philosophies formal equivalence, literal word for word, dynamic equivalence, thought for thought, and paraphrase, functional modern idiom. If I want him to remain until I come, the translation choice here hinges on whether to keep a classic word tarry, use a literal remain, or clarify the meaning as stay alive. So we have four categories the translation style, Bible version, how it translates the phrase, and the focus and nuance. So the formal or literal King James Version, if I will that he tarry till I come, uses the archaic tarry to mean wait or stay. Then we have the formal, literal English standard version, ESV or NSAB. If it is my will that he remain until I come, modernizes the verbs while strictly retaining the Greek structure. The dynamic or thought, NIV, if I want him to remain alive until I return, explicitly injects alive and changes come to return, to epitomize immediate comprehension. And then the paraphrase, the message, if I want him to live until I come again, converts a passive remain into the active and direct live. So two, what is that to you? The idiom is handled either as a direct rhetorical blunt questioning or translated into the modern conversational idioms of concern and boundary settings. Keep in mind again, Jewish idioms are the same as American idioms, meaning something like it's raining cats and dogs. It doesn't literally mean it's raining cats and dogs. In the Bible there are lots of Jewish idioms, hundreds, in fact. So if you're a teacher, yes, you have to go through this kind of research to find out what these things really mean. You don't want to teach in error because, as the Bible says, we will be held to a stricter standard, and we don't want to cause any sheep to stumble. The literal sharpness, versions like the ESV and the King James Version stick strictly to the short Greek idiom. What is that to you? This preserves the direct, slightly jarring tone of Jesus' response. The focus on relevancy, the Holman Christian Standard Bible renders it what is that to you? As for you, follow me. It adds the emphasis on Peter's personal boundary. In modern idiom, God's Word translations often the phrasing into modern parlance. How does that concern you? You see, so now when you read some of these different translations, you kind of get a clearer picture that Jesus is really saying what I do with John is irrelevant to you and to your ministry. Three, you follow me. In the Greek text the word for you, si is fronted for heavy emphasis. Translators attempt to signal this emphasis in different ways. Adding punctuation, the message inserts an intentional m dash to mimic the Greek vocal stress. You, hyphen, follow me. Adding transitional words, the new living translation emphasizes the personal focus by translating to surrounding context as what is that to you? As for you, follow me. Traditional directness. Most formal translations like the NSAB rely on exclamation points to show the commands wait. You follow me exclamation point. Four. The rumors spread among the brothers. In verse twenty three handles how early Christians communicated. The cultural term older and formal versions use the brethren or the brothers, which accurately reflects the literal Greek text. Gender inclusive nuance, the Christian Standard Bible, translates this as brothers and sisters, to capture the factual reality of the early church community layout rather than just literal males. Defining the rumor, while literal versions say this saying went out or this account went out, dynamic translations like the NIV and NLT call it exactly what it evolved into the rumor spread. Yes, they had rumor and gossip problems back there two thousand years ago, just like we do today. So why all this hub podcast preacher? Because as I stated in the introduction of this message, the great deception and her falling away will be founded and grounded on a lie with the intention to deceive, if possible, even the A plus Christians, which represents the average Christian. We will have to do our due diligence when we hear stories that confront our current understanding of the scriptures. This means you gotta have the scriptures in you in order to even get there. Your ignorance of what the Bible says does not give you permission to challenge other people. If you bring up a challenge, it has to be based in Scripture. This is important, and I expect that you would even do this with the messages that I teach. Deception is coming and the falling away narrative is currently being released in small palatable bites on TV and on most social media sites. Well, perhaps in newspapers as well, but I don't know if they even have that form of media anymore. Anyway, it is apparent from my discussions and research that most everybody is buying into this false narrative. Let's look. The concept of falling away, often translated as apostasy before the return of Christ, is primarily stated in Second Thessalonians two three. In this verse the apostle Paul writes, let no one deceive you by any means. That means TV, social media, your laptop, your computer, or by tablets, even by gossip or those things that might happen in some churches, which is that people speak in ignorance about what they think they know about the Bible, and yet they don't have any practices in place to actually read the Bible. They simply tell you things that they've heard from other people, but never confirm them. This is dangerous and causes a lot of splits, and we ought not be doing this. By the way, this also means me. For that day the return of Christ will not come unless the falling away comes first. And the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. New King James Version. Other related passages in the New Testament that describe the same widespread turning away from the faith include Matthew 24 10. Jesus prophesying about the end times, stating, and then many will be offended and will betray one another and will hate one another. Ladies and gentlemen, I see this in today's culture. And it's not just relegated to non-believers. I've seen it happen in Christian circles. And it's really unfortunate. First Timothy 4 1. Paul writing to Timothy that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. Giving heed, right? What does giving heed mean? It's like giving credit to something. So when you listen to lies spouted from the father of lies and doctrines of demons, and then perpetuate those lies, you're giving heed to them. What you're saying, even if it is in ignorance, is that I believe the devil over God. And I know that's strong, but it is what's happening, and it will happen more and more. In fact, this is how the great apostasy happens. It will not be based on truth, it will be based on a lie or a half truth mixed with a lie. It's the same tactic that Satan used when Jesus was in the desert. They weren't fallout lies, they were partial scriptures taken out of context. It is important to understand that Paul is talking to you and I, not to non-believers, but to you and I, the non-believers already deceived. Look, the current alien narrative, which is not fully rolled out yet, and but when it is, it will be defined as a doctrine of demons by the serious and sober Christians. More on this in future messages. My caution in these days, where there is a lot of spiritual movement, is to test the spirits and compare what they say with the Bible. There are other supporting texts and works, but they should not lead you away from what the Bible states, but simply support it. Listen, Satan is going to release deception upon deception, and God Himself states that it is possible that the strong Christians can be deceived. And so if you're not a strong Christian, or if you're one of the more than 50% of Christians who don't read their Bible at all, is talking about you. Don't allow it to be you or anyone in whom you know. Be watchful and discerning in these very days, abstaining from any fear, as we were not given a spirit of fear, but we were given a sound and stable mind. We have the strength of God, and we can do all things in Christ who strengthens us. Let's close in prayer. May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before your God and Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Now may the God of peace, the one in whom we call wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, may He Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. To our Lord of Lords and our King of Kings, to our high and lifted up great high priest, who has once and for all paid the price, that you might see and hear God. May He hear and respond to our prayer. To our God we stand and pray as He too always lives to make intercession for you while seated at the right hand of the Father. May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations. Forever and ever, amen. Well that's it for today. Remember it's not what you find wrong or disagree with regarding these messages, but what you can take away from it. Together we can do more to impact the kingdom than if we work alone. Let's flip the script and still kill and destroy the works of the enemy and create space for the light of light to shine through into people's lives. Plan a seed and click on the like and subscribe button. Repost on your social media platforms to help us make disciples. Link this message out or teach from it in your Bible study, your life or cell group. And yes, even in your church. You can be assured it comes from one call to teach. And although imperfect, you have the word of God to use to test everything I say. Let's build this ministry together. Thanks and see you next time in Deep Waters.