In later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits

1 Timothy 4 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, ³ who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴ For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; ⁵ for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

In pointing out these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have been following. ⁷ But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; ⁸ for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ⁹ It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. ¹⁰ For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.

¹¹ Prescribe and teach these things. ¹² Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. ¹³ Until I come, give your attention to the public reading, to exhortation, and teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was granted to you through words of prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. ¹⁵ Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

In Matthew 24:4-5 Jesus warned of false teachers and prophets, of those who would come in His name, but mislead many:  “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.”  These are present and active today in our society and in the church. Their misleading deception is that while they acknowledge that Jesus is Christ, they say that He is different today than He was. They say that He would tolerate, accept and even embrace the immorality of today’s culture. It is sometimes said that time heals all wounds, but time did not heal the wounds of Jesus suffering and sacrifice. On the cross Jesus prayed that sinners would be forgiven because they didn’t know what they were doing. Luke 23:34 says: Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”  In Matthew 7:13-14;21-23 Jesus says: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it… Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”  Those who knowingly choose to follow the wide way, the way of the world; those who choose to continue in immorality and lawlessness, believing that Jesus Himself would embrace the very sin He died to redeem us from, are deceived or deceivers. They neither know Jesus, nor will they be known by Him.  

Today’s text says: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. Surely we are in the later times. These that the Spirit warned of are not mislead by false teachings in the church. These fall away paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teaching of demons. They are hypocrites and liars, seared in their own conscience. The very things they accuse others of doing, are the things they themselves have done and are doing. While marriage has not been forbidden, it, God ordained marriage between a man and a woman, certainly has been under attack and has been devalued, and at times even penalized by policies and programs in our current society, culture and government. Today there are hypocrites who make rules and mandates for others, yet do not follow them themselves. There are hypocrites who say they value every human life, yet their policies and programs lead to millions of innocent deaths and the places where their policies are enacted are filled with violence and lawlessness. There are even those today who advocate not only abstaining from foods, but actually outlawing them. It is not wrong for a person to have their own opinions and convictions, but to impose them on others is more than hypocrisy. It is tyranny. Galatians 5:1 says:  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. In John 10:10 Jesus says: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.” Any spirit that seeks to put people in bondage is an antichrist spirit.It is demonic.

In Matthew 24:9-14 Jesus says: “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” We are in the later times. The text says: In pointing out these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have been following. But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things…  in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe…  give your attention to the public reading, to exhortation, and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.  

Revelation 22:20-21 says:  He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.