Daily Devotional | Watch for Deceivers | 2 Timothy 3:13 | Pastor Jim Cymbala

[music] [music] >> Jumbo. Jumbo. >> Jumbo. Jumbo. >> Jumbo. Jumbo. Whenever I say jumbo, I feel like saying Whenever I say jumbo, I feel like saying Whenever I say jumbo, I feel like saying jumbo italiano, but it doesn't go. jumbo italiano, but it doesn't go. jumbo italiano, but it doesn't go. That's the jumbo is Swahili. Italiano is italiano. Italiano is italiano. Italian. So, jumbo, good morning. Hello. Italian. So, jumbo, good morning. Hello. Italian. So, jumbo, good morning. Hello. Remember to go to our website for the Remember to go to our website for the Remember to go to our website for the Fresh Wind Fresh Fire conference in Fresh Wind Fresh Fire conference in Fresh Wind Fresh Fire conference in October. Second through the 4th, Friday October. Second through the 4th, Friday October. Second through the 4th, Friday through a Sunday. through a Sunday. through a Sunday. Great Bible teachers. We're going to Great Bible teachers. We're going to Great Bible teachers. We're going to have Michael Youssef here, Pastor Willie have Michael Youssef here, Pastor Willie have Michael Youssef here, Pastor Willie Rice, Rice, Rice, uh others. The music, Alvin Slaughter is uh others. The music, Alvin Slaughter is uh others. The music, Alvin Slaughter is going to be with Carol Cymbala, Susan going to be with Carol Cymbala, Susan going to be with Carol Cymbala, Susan Petri. Petri. Petri. The music track, you'll learn about it The music track, you'll learn about it The music track, you'll learn about it all if you just go to the website and all if you just go to the website and all if you just go to the website and look up Fresh Wind Fresh Fire look up Fresh Wind Fresh Fire look up Fresh Wind Fresh Fire conference. conference. conference. It's for every leader, assistant pastor, It's for every leader, assistant pastor, It's for every leader, assistant pastor, board member, deacon, missionary, want board member, deacon, missionary, want board member, deacon, missionary, want to be a missionary, hungry for God. to be a missionary, hungry for God. to be a missionary, hungry for God. That's one side. Everyone involved in That's one side. Everyone involved in That's one side. Everyone involved in music, but wants more God. Worship music, but wants more God. Worship music, but wants more God. Worship leader, choir member, choir director, leader, choir member, choir director, leader, choir member, choir director, worship team member, musician.

worship team member, musician. worship team member, musician. Going to practice not only sessions, but Going to practice not only sessions, but Going to practice not only sessions, but practice with the choir on Friday night practice with the choir on Friday night practice with the choir on Friday night and [snorts] then and [snorts] then and [snorts] then sing on Sunday with the choir. sing on Sunday with the choir. sing on Sunday with the choir. We had hundreds and hundreds last year We had hundreds and hundreds last year We had hundreds and hundreds last year when we did this conference. We hope you when we did this conference. We hope you when we did this conference. We hope you can come. On Sunday to see 400 or more can come. On Sunday to see 400 or more can come. On Sunday to see 400 or more standing up on that platform singing, standing up on that platform singing, standing up on that platform singing, it was like a train coming at you. it was like a train coming at you. it was like a train coming at you. Amen. Amen. Amen. So, So, So, we're reading 2 Timothy 3. You know, we're reading 2 Timothy 3. You know, we're reading 2 Timothy 3. You know, what kind of advertisement is this for what kind of advertisement is this for what kind of advertisement is this for Christianity? Christianity? Christianity? You know, in marketing terms on Madison You know, in marketing terms on Madison You know, in marketing terms on Madison Avenue, Avenue, Avenue, you keep it upbeat and you show all the you keep it upbeat and you show all the you keep it upbeat and you show all the benefits of that car, that computer, benefits of that car, that computer, benefits of that car, that computer, that new cell phone. that new cell phone. that new cell phone. You don't say things like this. You don't say things like this. You don't say things like this. Paul's telling Timothy, Paul's telling Timothy, Paul's telling Timothy, uh uh uh Now, in fact, everyone who wants to live Now, in fact, everyone who wants to live Now, in fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be a godly life in Christ Jesus will be a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Wow, there's a We talked persecuted. Wow, there's a We talked persecuted. Wow, there's a We talked about that yesterday. There's a great about that yesterday. There's a great about that yesterday. There's a great drawing card.

drawing card. drawing card. Serve Jesus and live close to him, and Serve Jesus and live close to him, and Serve Jesus and live close to him, and you're going to face pushback. It is you're going to face pushback. It is you're going to face pushback. It is what it is. What What do you want God to do? Make up What What do you want God to do? Make up verses that you like and I like, or does verses that you like and I like, or does verses that you like and I like, or does Do you want the truth? Do you want the truth? Do you want the truth? He gives us the truth. He gives us the truth. He gives us the truth. But followed by not only will be But followed by not only will be But followed by not only will be persecuted, persecuted, persecuted, while evildoers and impostors while evildoers and impostors while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and will go from bad to worse, deceiving and will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. being deceived. being deceived. Now, there's a picture where we need Now, there's a picture where we need Now, there's a picture where we need endurance. endurance. endurance. You suffer rejection, persecution, You suffer rejection, persecution, You suffer rejection, persecution, depends what country you live in, what depends what country you live in, what depends what country you live in, what century you live in. century you live in. century you live in. There were Christians who were burned at There were Christians who were burned at There were Christians who were burned at the stake. Read Fox's Book of Martyrs. There are Christians who basically lived There are Christians who basically lived out their life just facing out their life just facing out their life just facing small bricks being thrown at them. small bricks being thrown at them. small bricks being thrown at them. And uh And uh And uh Methodist preachers who lost their sight Methodist preachers who lost their sight Methodist preachers who lost their sight because they were preaching out in the because they were preaching out in the because they were preaching out in the open, open, open, and rotten eggs and manure, feces was and rotten eggs and manure, feces was and rotten eggs and manure, feces was thrown at them, got in their eyes, got thrown at them, got in their eyes, got thrown at them, got in their eyes, got infected.

But they endured. They kept on keeping But they endured. They kept on keeping on. on. on. While persecutions will go on, evil, While persecutions will go on, evil, While persecutions will go on, evil, listen, evil evildoers and impostors will go from bad evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, to worse, to worse, deceiving and will and being deceived. deceiving and will and being deceived. deceiving and will and being deceived. So, who would they deceive? So, who would they deceive? So, who would they deceive? People People People with false teaching about salvation or with false teaching about salvation or with false teaching about salvation or God or even come in the church and try God or even come in the church and try God or even come in the church and try to and impostors. to and impostors. to and impostors. Impostors, not what they seem. Impostors, not what they seem. Impostors, not what they seem. They're wearing sheep's clothing, but They're wearing sheep's clothing, but They're wearing sheep's clothing, but don't look too close because if you just don't look too close because if you just don't look too close because if you just remove that little bit of remove that little bit of remove that little bit of fuzz, fuzz, fuzz, there's a wolf. there's a wolf. there's a wolf. Impostors. Impostors. Impostors. Evildoers. Evildoers. Evildoers. Going from bad to worse. No, the world's Going from bad to worse. No, the world's Going from bad to worse. No, the world's going to get better. Well, look, believe going to get better. Well, look, believe going to get better. Well, look, believe what you want. I'm just reading the what you want. I'm just reading the what you want. I'm just reading the scriptures. scriptures. scriptures. They're going to go from bad to worse, They're going to go from bad to worse, They're going to go from bad to worse, these evildoers and impostors. these evildoers and impostors. these evildoers and impostors. Deceiving and being deceived.

Deceiving and being deceived. Deceiving and being deceived. They're going to be deceivers. Liars, deceivers, deception, Liars, deceivers, deception, chicanery, And they're going to go from bad to And they're going to go from bad to worse. worse. worse. And we have to be on guard against them, And we have to be on guard against them, And we have to be on guard against them, not hypercritical of everyone, not hypercritical of everyone, not hypercritical of everyone, not disagreeing and and cutting off not disagreeing and and cutting off not disagreeing and and cutting off fellowship with other Christians who fellowship with other Christians who fellowship with other Christians who believe differently about second believe differently about second believe differently about second secondary matters. No, that's not what secondary matters. No, that's not what secondary matters. No, that's not what it's saying here. It's saying there's it's saying here. It's saying there's it's saying here. It's saying there's people who are going to deny salvation, people who are going to deny salvation, people who are going to deny salvation, deny the Jesus presented in the Bible. deny the Jesus presented in the Bible. deny the Jesus presented in the Bible. Like what I said the other day, Like what I said the other day, Like what I said the other day, no, if you suffer if you serve Christ, no, if you suffer if you serve Christ, no, if you suffer if you serve Christ, you're never going to go through you're never going to go through you're never going to go through persecution and suffering. Now, that's a persecution and suffering. Now, that's a persecution and suffering. Now, that's a false teaching. There's another way to false teaching. There's another way to false teaching. There's another way to get saved other than Jesus. get saved other than Jesus. get saved other than Jesus. If anyone preaches another gospel, let If anyone preaches another gospel, let If anyone preaches another gospel, let him be accursed, Paul says in Galatians him be accursed, Paul says in Galatians him be accursed, Paul says in Galatians chapter 1. chapter 1. chapter 1. You know, like that kind.

You know, like that kind. You know, like that kind. And while they deceive others, they get And while they deceive others, they get And while they deceive others, they get deceived themselves. Now, there's an deceived themselves. Now, there's an deceived themselves. Now, there's an interesting thought. interesting thought. interesting thought. The more you lie and deceive, The more you lie and deceive, The more you lie and deceive, that spirit of deception that spirit of deception that spirit of deception enters you and now you're deceived. You enters you and now you're deceived. You enters you and now you're deceived. You start to believe the lie start to believe the lie start to believe the lie that you're preaching, teaching. Oh, that you're preaching, teaching. Oh, that you're preaching, teaching. Oh, I've I believe that I've met people who I've I believe that I've met people who I've I believe that I've met people who have so long deceived people out of have so long deceived people out of have so long deceived people out of their money. You know, these con artists their money. You know, these con artists their money. You know, these con artists that are on Christian television with that are on Christian television with that are on Christian television with their seed faith. their seed faith. their seed faith. They've done it so many times now they They've done it so many times now they They've done it so many times now they actually starting to believe it. actually starting to believe it. actually starting to believe it. Of course, they believe it while they're Of course, they believe it while they're Of course, they believe it while they're going to the bank to make a deposit. going to the bank to make a deposit. going to the bank to make a deposit. No withdrawal. No withdrawal. No withdrawal. We're talking deposit. We're talking deposit. We're talking deposit. So, that's a warning to all of us. You So, that's a warning to all of us. You So, that's a warning to all of us. You can start to deceive. And you believe it, you get deceived. And you believe it, you get deceived. Deceived and being deceived. Deceived and being deceived. Deceived and being deceived. In that dark realm of lies away from In that dark realm of lies away from In that dark realm of lies away from God's truth.

God's truth. God's truth. So, these impostors will wear sheep's So, these impostors will wear sheep's So, these impostors will wear sheep's clothing. clothing. clothing. In the Bible, they'll look like sheep In the Bible, they'll look like sheep In the Bible, they'll look like sheep but they're wolves, ravenous. but they're wolves, ravenous. but they're wolves, ravenous. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> I tell you about the time I was in >> I tell you about the time I was in >> I tell you about the time I was in the prison at Angola, Louisiana State the prison at Angola, Louisiana State the prison at Angola, Louisiana State Penitentiary and my friend Warden Burl Penitentiary and my friend Warden Burl Penitentiary and my friend Warden Burl Cain was then the warden. Now he's Cain was then the warden. Now he's Cain was then the warden. Now he's working as the commissioner of all working as the commissioner of all working as the commissioner of all prisons in Mississippi. prisons in Mississippi. prisons in Mississippi. So, he lived on the grounds and he So, he lived on the grounds and he So, he lived on the grounds and he gave me a bedroom up in the second gave me a bedroom up in the second gave me a bedroom up in the second floor. floor. floor. He and his wife stayed there and He and his wife stayed there and He and his wife stayed there and I stayed there. But I stayed there. But I stayed there. But Burl was a little different. He had a Burl was a little different. He had a Burl was a little different. He had a wolf in the front yard instead of a dog. wolf in the front yard instead of a dog. wolf in the front yard instead of a dog. And the wolf was in the pen. And the wolf was in the pen. And the wolf was in the pen. And when I came in the day before, I And when I came in the day before, I And when I came in the day before, I noticed there's a wolf in the front noticed there's a wolf in the front noticed there's a wolf in the front yard. And that wolf ran toward me but yard. And that wolf ran toward me but yard. And that wolf ran toward me but there was there was there was a fence so he couldn't get at me. But he a fence so he couldn't get at me. But he a fence so he couldn't get at me. But he looked at me as if to say looked at me as if to say looked at me as if to say Mhm, you know what I'm saying.

Mhm, you know what I'm saying. Mhm, you know what I'm saying. The next morning I'm having breakfast The next morning I'm having breakfast The next morning I'm having breakfast and his wife is serving me coffee, and and his wife is serving me coffee, and and his wife is serving me coffee, and the door opens. the door opens. the door opens. And he comes up comes in with a leash And he comes up comes in with a leash And he comes up comes in with a leash Burl Cain with a wolf, not a not a dog, Burl Cain with a wolf, not a not a dog, Burl Cain with a wolf, not a not a dog, not a puppy, not a uh not a puppy, not a uh not a puppy, not a uh um um um not a a toy poodle. not a a toy poodle. not a a toy poodle. I'm talking wolf. I'm talking wolf. I'm talking wolf. And the wolf is so strong that I see his And the wolf is so strong that I see his And the wolf is so strong that I see his arm, you know, bracing to hold that arm, you know, bracing to hold that arm, you know, bracing to hold that thing. And she gets mad, and she goes, thing. And she gets mad, and she goes, thing. And she gets mad, and she goes, "Burl, how many times I told you don't "Burl, how many times I told you don't "Burl, how many times I told you don't bring that wolf in here?" And I was bring that wolf in here?" And I was bring that wolf in here?" And I was going, "Yeah, that would be a good idea. going, "Yeah, that would be a good idea. going, "Yeah, that would be a good idea. You know, I'm from Brooklyn. We usually You know, I'm from Brooklyn. We usually You know, I'm from Brooklyn. We usually don't have wolves while we're having our don't have wolves while we're having our don't have wolves while we're having our Cheerios or Cheerios or Cheerios or corn flakes." corn flakes." corn flakes." And the wolf is there. He said, "No, And the wolf is there. He said, "No, And the wolf is there. He said, "No, I'll get rid of that. I just want to I'll get rid of that. I just want to I'll get rid of that. I just want to show Pastor Symbol my wolf." show Pastor Symbol my wolf." show Pastor Symbol my wolf." And the wolf came toward me, and I was And the wolf came toward me, and I was And the wolf came toward me, and I was very uncomfortable. I wanted to say to very uncomfortable. I wanted to say to very uncomfortable. I wanted to say to him, "I vote with your wife. Get the Get him, "I vote with your wife. Get the Get him, "I vote with your wife. Get the Get the wolf out of here." the wolf out of here." the wolf out of here." But a wolf is not a dog. A wolf is a But a wolf is not a dog. A wolf is a But a wolf is not a dog. A wolf is a wolf.

wolf. wolf. And he came toward me as far away as And he came toward me as far away as And he came toward me as far away as the the camera is from me. the the camera is from me. the the camera is from me. And he had those shiny eyes, and he And he had those shiny eyes, and he And he had those shiny eyes, and he looked at me. looked at me. looked at me. And they say that wolves can know if And they say that wolves can know if And they say that wolves can know if you're afraid. you're afraid. you're afraid. And that sets them off. They They can And that sets them off. They They can And that sets them off. They They can feel fear. They say that about some feel fear. They say that about some feel fear. They say that about some dogs. He was feeling my fear. He was feeling my fear. And he just looked at me in that shiny And he just looked at me in that shiny And he just looked at me in that shiny light. light. light. Oh, I was so happy when he walked out. Oh, I was so happy when he walked out. Oh, I was so happy when he walked out. But see, he was a wolf But see, he was a wolf But see, he was a wolf acting like a wolf. Paul says, "Timothy, got to be careful Paul says, "Timothy, got to be careful now. Teach and protect the people now. Teach and protect the people now. Teach and protect the people because wolves will come all dressed up because wolves will come all dressed up because wolves will come all dressed up like sheep. like sheep. like sheep. And they'll go, "Hi. Praise God. How are And they'll go, "Hi. Praise God. How are And they'll go, "Hi. Praise God. How are you? Been thinking about you lately." you? Been thinking about you lately." you? Been thinking about you lately." Oh God, give us discernment to separate Oh God, give us discernment to separate Oh God, give us discernment to separate not only wheat from chaff, not only wheat from chaff, not only wheat from chaff, but wolves but wolves but wolves from true men of God, women of God. God from true men of God, women of God. God from true men of God, women of God. God bless you. See you tomorrow.