WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JANUARY 30, 2025
TOPIC: LET NOBODY MISLEAD YOU
BY T. O. BANSO
“Jesus told them, ‘Don’t let anyone mislead you’” (Matthew 24:4 New Living Translation).
Have you ever followed the wrong direction someone gave you? You never got to where you desired until someone else gave you the right direction.
Maybe someone lied to you in the past but you assumed he was telling you the truth. You acted upon what he said, but later discovered it was a lie. You didn’t get the expected result because you had been misled.
Many people have suffered because they were misled and parted with their hard-earned money to invest in the wrong businesses or to make the wrong purchases. Some even entered into marriage based on a lie their partners told them. The marriage broke down thereafter, and they still live with the scars of the deception.
People can be misled in different ways. The consequences could, sometimes, be fatal. Sometimes, they might not be that serious. However, when it involves the salvation of someone’s soul, the consequences could be eternal. The Bible says Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). But many people are being misled today to believe they can get to heaven by following other ways. They are listening to Satan in whom Jesus said there was no truth but lies. Lies are consistent with Satan’s character; he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). He has human agents he speaks through too.
Don’t let Satan mislead you. Only one way leads to salvation. There is only one way to be saved. There is only one name by which we can be saved. Peter put it this way: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 New King James Version).
Satan’s lies are not limited to salvation. He could mislead you about other things God has said in the Bible. Don’t let him. That’s why you should know the Word of God so that when he comes up with a lie, you will easily detect it, and he won’t be able to mislead you.
You’ll recall that he tried that with Jesus after fasting for forty days and forty nights. He wanted to mislead Jesus and even twisted the Word of God by saying, “It is written” (Mathew 4:4). But Jesus knew the Scriptures very well and replied to each of his lies appropriately with the Word of God. To the first temptation, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4 New King James Version).
When he tempted Jesus the second time, Jesus replied, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’” (Matthew 4:7 New King James Version). Again, in verse 10, Jesus responded to Satan’s next temptation by saying, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (New King James Verses). Satan tried to mislead Jesus; he will do the same to you, too. Please don’t be ignorant of his devices.
Don’t let Satan mislead you. In Matthew 24:3, the disciples of Jesus came to Him privately, asking Him to tell them what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age. “Jesus told them, ‘Don’t let anyone mislead you’” (Matthew 24:4 New Living Translation). Note the phrase “Don’t let anyone mislead you.” The New King James Version says, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” That was Jesus’ opening statement. He continued: “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (verse 5 New King James Version). Jesus also said in Mark 13:6 that many would come in His name, saying, “I am He” and would deceive many.
He said further, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand” (Mark 13:21-23 New King James Version). Jesus gave this warning so that nobody would mislead us. Let nobody deceive you. Beware of false christs.
Luke 21:8 says a similar thing: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them’” (New King James Version). You have been forewarned. Let nobody mislead or deceive you. John 8:32 says you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Let the truth you’ve been told save you from being misled.
1 John 4:6b talks about the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Those possessed by the spirit of error will try to mislead you but let truth protect you. In Acts 20:30, the Apostle Paul says that in the church, some people will rise speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Beware of false teachers. Paul also says false teachers who do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their bellies or appetites will, by smooth words and flattering speech, deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16:18). They will preach lies. Don’t let them mislead you.
They could have access to huge finances so that they are everywhere – on the radio, television, internet, etc. They could be popular and have a large following, but don’t let them mislead you. Don’t let anyone deceive you with persuasive words or fine-sounding arguments (Colossians 2:4). Paul says further in verse 8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (New King James Version).
Let nobody mislead you. Don’t listen to strange doctrines or teachings. Reject whatever is inconsistent with the Bible. “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them” (Hebrews 13:9 New King James Version). Paul says in Ephesians 5:6 not to allow anyone to deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Let nobody mislead you. Satan misled Eve to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:1-7). Don’t be deceived as Eve was (2 Corinthians 11:3). 1 Timothy 2:14 says Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression. Satan can use anyone to mislead you. It could be those you have some relationship with or a stranger. Be careful.
Fake prophets have misled many people with lies. They took advantage of their situation. Many are yet to recover from this. Some lost precious things, including their homes or marriages. As Jesus warned, beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15).
King Ahab of Israel would not have died in the battle at Ramoth Gilead if he had not allowed himself to be misled by his 400 prophets. King Jehoshaphat, too, nearly died. If they had listened to Micaiah’s prophecy, the tragedy would have been averted (1 Kings 22:1-37).
Don’t let false prophets mislead you. In Revelation 2:20, Jezebel, a self-proclaimed prophetess, misled the servants of God by teaching and seducing them to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. Don’t let any prophet or prophetess tell you to do what the Lord forbids. No prophet’s word is superior to the Bible. Don’t let any spiritual leader cause you to err and lead you on the path to destruction (Isaiah 3:12; Jeremiah 23:13).
Let nobody God has not sent mislead you by speaking for God what is not true or right. Whereas God still has genuine prophets, some self-proclaimed prophets are just creative and bold liars, fabricators of lies! “‘Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ says the Lord, ‘and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:32 New King James Version).
Love the truth, not lies. Jeremiah 5:30-31 says, Love the truth, not lies. Jeremiah 5:30-31 says, “An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” (New King James Version). Don’t be a victim of false prophets who have led many astray because of money and other worldly things. They do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their bellies or personal interests (Romans 16:18).
Don’t be a victim of false prophets who have led many astray because of money and other worldly things. They do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their bellies or personal interests (Romans 16:18).
If you are born again, obey the Word of God and follow the Holy Spirit. It’s not everything people tell you that is true. It may sound good, but it may not be true. In your relationships – family, business, social, and ministerial – let nobody mislead you.
Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it? Only God and anyone He tells what is in another person’s heart can know it. You could have been misled in the past. Prevent a recurrence by carefully considering the facts, refusing to act hastily, and seeking wise counsel. Above all, obey the Word of God and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Let nobody mislead or deceive you.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, deliver me from people’s deceit. Help me to differentiate between lies and truth. Expose to me the deceit of the people around me and those I relate to. Holy Spirit, show me the right way; let me not be misled. Help me to make the right decisions always. Satan, you will not mislead me: I shall not be a victim of your lies in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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