Standing Firm When You Are Surrounded By Deception

Jul. 06, 2025

Background:

There is so much deception and lies that we can not keep track of what we lied about last
We tend to feel isolated and surrounded by being attacked from the perimeter
Society as whole has allowed for the distortion of truth on every level- it is everywhere
Everything must be held in balance
We as believers must always seek the absolute truth because we have been entrusted to proclaim
We should never be okay with where we are right now

Key Sermon Points:

1. We must know our worldview

A set of beliefs or constructs that inform our decisions
Examples: Christian nationalism, republican, democrat, far left, and far right- ways to categorize our worldview
If we are okay with what is going on around us, then there is something wrong with our view
If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in them
The lust of the flesh is an appetite of what appeals to our nature- what do I want more of
Lust of the eyes eventually makes it to our feet satisfying the appetite of our bodies (Genesis 3:6-7 & James 4:1-5)
The pride relates to the current condition of the U.S., which is not of the Father
We put our confidence in materialistic things, which pushes God out of our lives completely
God is our Father - we should come to Him like children
Worldliness finds a love for things that are fleeting
We should concentrate on the things that are permanent
The world in this context means an organized system or people that are in rebellion to God
Deception is the act of causing someone to believe things that are not true
Influencer, user agreement, connected, worldwide, artificial intelligence, TikTok - how much of our time are we giving to these things?

2. We must understand the position of the Antichrist

The antichrist is already here
Antichrist - against Christ
The last hour is something only God knows
The false teachers that rise up are the antichrist
These antichrists were right in the midst, they were once with us
We must see things other people do not see
Once they are gone, it is easier to see that they were not of us
We need committed people around us
The more we get grounded in the Word, our discernment will increase (Hebrews 5:14)
There are all different levels of growth in the church, and we must remember what we have learned (1 John:2-12-14)
A mockery of the Trinity (Revelation 13:1-6, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10)

3. We may need to stand against those who are around us

We have proclaim and live for Christ, we must be separate
We must appropriate Jesus
Anyone that only views Jesus as a prophet, then that is the spirit of the Antichrist

4. We must stand firm on the promises of God