The Secret Power Of Lawlessness Series

GOD’S DIRECT COVERING

“THE SECRET POWER OF LAWLESSNESS”

LESSON: TWO

I: Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matt 24:4

A. Deception is a scary thing: Why?

a. When a person is deceived, they believe with all their heart that they are right when, in reality, they are wrong.

1. When the disciples asked Jesus about His return, Jesus warned His disciples, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”

B. Two Important Question

a. We must ask two important questions;

1. First, what is the root cause of deception?

2. Second, why is this deception able to run its course unchecked?

b. To answer the first, the root cause of deception is none other than what we discussed in the previous lesson;

1. “Disobedience to divine authority, or lawlessness.”

2. James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.”

N> Scripture is saying, “when a person hears the Word of God yet does not

obey, deception enters.”

N> This person is living under the conviction that they are on target when

they are living in error;

N> Where there is no true submission to God’s authority, which includes

the authority of His Word, the door is opened to deception.

c. Why will deception run rampant in the last days?

1. Paul told us many will be deceived, “Because they did not receive the love of the truth?” II Thess. 2

1b. To love the truth is not just to enjoy hearing it, but to love

obeying it;

2. God spoke to Ezekiel and said, “"As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.'

My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Ezek 33:30-32 NIV

N> Many in church love good preaching and teaching but when it comes

down to reality, they still love their own ways more than they love Gods;

** Paul told Timothy, “For men shall be lovers of their own

selves,…more than lovers of God; 2 Tim 3:2, 4

N> I must love truth more than anyone or anything in my life.

N> And I must passionately desire His will more than my comfort or life;

II: The Secret Power of Lawlessness:

A. There is another factor to consider in understanding why lawlessness is so rampant in our day:

a. 2 Thess 2:7 says, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:”

1. Iniquity means, “To violate the law, or to be lawless:”

2. Notice that this iniquity is a “mystery,’ meaning, it’s work is very silent and almost undetectable;

1a. The mystery is hidden in its secret power;

N> Lawlessness would not be effective if blatant, to a believer, so it comes

wrapped in a religious cloak and is subtle and deceptive;

B. Satan is the master of deception, even he can be transformed into an angel of light;

a. Satan led 1/3 of the angels in heaven into rebellion;

1. He deceived millions of angels in a perfect environment;

2. Why do we foolishly think, he cannot mislead us, in this earthly environment, in which he is called the prince and power of the air:

1b. Even Jesus said that in the last days, “if it were possible, they shall

deceive the very elect.” Matt 24:24

b. Paul told the church, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Cor 11:3

1. Paul compared the vulnerability of believers to the deception of Eve.

1b. Eve lived in a perfect environment, free from demonic rule

and influence.

2b. She walked in the very presence of God, unhindered by her flesh.

2. By understanding his tactics with Eve, we expose his best weapon; we gain understanding of how he deceives us as well as why so many fall into disobedience;

1b. Eve was beguiled into disobedience, but Adam knew exactly what

he was doing;

2b. Some people in the church transgress Gods Word, fully aware of

what they are doing;

3b. Others, are deceived like Eve.

** Ignorance has opened them to deception, the secret power

of lawlessness;

N> Ignorance is a breeding ground for deception.

** God said, “Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because

they have no knowledge.” Isa. 5:13

N> Knowledge of Gods ways and His spiritual laws guard us from the

enemy’s deceptions.

C. So how did the serpent deceive Eve?