All right, let's get right to it. Studying for this passage, there was a verse that just punched me in the face, and I'm eager to pay it forward. It's further down, but I want to start there because it really frames in something that we need to talk about, or it sets a tone for the eagerness in which we need to listen. I think this is. So we're gonna. We're in first John, so go ahead and turn there. We're in chapter two. We're getting towards the end of chapter two. We're looking at 18 through 27. But I want to. I want to jump down to verse 26, because this is what he said. He said, I write these things to you. Now, that's a phrase we've heard before. We get the motive behind John in writing this letter. We've heard in chapter one that I write these things to you that. So that your joy may be complete. So he cares for our own contentment and peace and joy. Then further down, he says, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. So he cares for our holiness. And there's a connection between joy and holiness. And we looked into this. I think it's this point. He says, I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. That's a wild thought. I mean, think about that for a second. That there are those who are trying to deceive you, like putting strategy and effort and thought behind fooling you, tricking you, leading you astray. And we just. Last week, we looked at three verses that really challenge us in our relationship with the world. Calling us not to love the world because we live in this world. And this world promotes values and priorities and passions that are contrary to the things of God, that undermine the things of God. And we just kind of take it in all the time. Like, that's just the air that we breathe. And then you get to this text, and it feels like, okay, it's one thing to say we live in a world where sin kind of abounds. I'm a sinner, you're a sinner. Sinful things get promoted in our world. It's like, okay, I get that. But this takes it to another level to say that there's agency behind that. It's not just that sin exists and sin gets celebrated. Like, there's strategy and effort and thought behind deceiving us. That. That's wild. Like. Like, if we could just get him to believe this, or if we could just get him distracted here. If we could just sidetrack her with this. Like, there's strategy and thought behind that. Like, seriously let that sink in. There are those who are trying to deceive you. Have you ever thought about that? Did that just kind of blow my mind? Is anybody with me there? Has anybody read C.S. lewis wrote a book called the Screwtape Letters. We've mentioned it before in here. It's about some lower level demon writing to, I think maybe his uncle, Wormwood. One of them is Wormwood. I don't remember which one, but. But he's looking for advice on how to deceive this guy that he's been assigned to. Like, what's the best way to go about distracting him, pulling him off course, lying to him. Now that's fiction. This isn't. I mean, John saying, hey, I want you to be aware there are those who are trying to deceive you. Can you imagine like the strategy meetings around that effort to you? Because I would say it's. It's both people. Because, like, who are the those? I would say it's both people and spiritual beings. Because in Ephesians 6, Paul tells us that we need to be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Like, he's got schemes, he's got plans. Like he's got a game plan and strategize. And then here in our text, John is saying, there's those that are trying to deceive you. He's talking about false teachers. So, so what's the, like, what's the strategy meeting behind, like, trying to deceive you? Like, you know, you, you know your personality, you know, your schedule, you know, your temperament, you know, the things going, like, if people are like, all right, what's the recon? What's with Matthew? Like, what, what's he up to? What's he doing? What's he got going on in his life? What can we trick him with? What can we deceive him with? How can we distract him? Like, there's thought behind that, like a plan. It's like we're get him into this television show, right? And we're not going to get really worldly into about the fifth or sixth episode when he's already committed to the plot. And then we're gonna, it's gonna be a character really likes. And it's just like so many different, like, crafty ways that, that people are thinking about deceiving us. And if the devil's got schemes, he's smarter than you. Like, we're playing checkers and he's playing chess. Like, does that create an angst in anybody? Of, like, there. There are those that are trying to deceive us. Just let that sink in. What are we supposed to do if that's the case? What's the hope that we're supposed to cling to? Is there any comfort that we're supposed to find? Is there any direction and instruction if that's the world that we live in? Well, John's gonna give us that, but I want us to kind of feel that tension too. So John, chapter two. We're gonna start in verse 18. If you're looking at your Bible, the section is titled Warning Concerning Antichrist. So, you know, it's going to be a fun day. So starting in verse 18, we're going to work through verse 27. You guys ready? All right, children, now again, this isn't a demeaning term. John is like a father figure. It shows his concern for these churches that he's writing to. I'm concerned for you. I love you. This is a father figure type of term of endearment. He says, children, it is the last hour. It's been a long hour. It's been a lot. I mean, if this is like 2000 years ago, that's a long hour. The coming of Christ. Let's understand how it talks about the last hour, the last day. In the New Testament, the coming of Christ brought on the last days. So Hebrews, chapter one, it's. That book starts off with, you know, it used to be that God spoke to us through his prophets, but in these last days, he spoke to us through His Son. So think of it like a chapter or, excuse me, a book. And this is the unfolding narrative of God's redemption. And the last chapter is a long chapter, but we're in the last chapter. And after the last chapter, it's the back cover. Like, there's nothing more. Like, Christ has come, and he's going to come again, and that's the end. So. So we're in this last chapter. He's in these last hours. So he says, children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that Antichrist is coming, so now many Antichrist have come, Therefore we know that is the last hour. So he's talking about Antichrist, singular, is coming in the future. So there is an Antichrist, a deceiver, a. A bad guy that's going to eventually come. But then he also talks about Antichrist, plural, who's already come. So not just that, there is one future deceiver. And we're just kind of fine until that happens. He's like, no, there's a whole lot of deceivers that have already come and are already wrecking havoc. And he says, we know this because. Or excuse me, we know that it's the last hour because we see this. We see this deception. It says, therefore, we know that it's the last hour. Like, this kind of stuff confirms what time it is. And that's. That's what he's calling us to. So if. If John is saying, hey, guys, my children, it's the last hour, you got people that are trying to deceive you. This is a call for them to dial in. Let me date myself. Do you guys remember when the Chicago Bulls were good at basketball? All right, you've seen the documentaries. That team would huddle up and someone in the huddle, before they go out and play, they would yell, what time is it? And then what would they say? Game time. All right, we got some bowl fans, right? And then they'd do a little who or whatever, and then go. They do their thing. And then in the 90s, they could do their thing. That's what John's doing. Do you know what time it is? Yeah, I didn't expect that response. But yeah, we go, let's do this right. But John's like, it's the last hour. Dial in. Like, focus in here. And if John is calling them to that 2,000 years ago, how much more does that apply to us? Do you know what time it is, guys? Like, there are people trying to deceive you, and it's intensifying. You gotta dial in. In fact, here's how Paul puts it in Ephesians 5, look carefully then how you walk or how you live. Not as unwise, but as wise. Okay? Why? Making the best use of time? Because the days are evil. Same thing. Like, dial in here, There are people trying to deceive you. This is the last days. It's intensifying. You gotta dial in. And when John talks about Antichri that's coming, or Antichrist that have already come, deception is their game. Like, that's what they do. Now, due to time, I'm not going to go to all these. But if you're a note, take, like, write these verses down and you go back and read them again. But Revelation 12, 9, Revelation 13, 14 second. Thessalonians 2, 9 and 10, Matthew 24, 11, Matthew 24, 24. Okay, just. You guys are like, you're going too fast. It's recorded. You go back. But I've went over every hour. Well, it's 11 o'. Clock. We can do it. All right, let's go. Let's read them. You laughed. All right. Revelation 12, 9. And the great dragon was thrown down that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan the what? Deceiver of the whole world. Let's go to the next one. Revelation 13:14, very next chapter. And by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast. It what deceives those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. Do another one. The coming of the lawless one. Another name for the future Antichrist is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked. What deception for those who are perishing because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved. Here's another one. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Same chapter says this. The false Christ and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray if possible, even the elect. So this is like their game is deception. And it seems like there's an intensifying success of deception as time goes on. Because this is what Paul says in second Timothy. But understand this, that in the last days. So there's that phrase again. There will come times of difficulty for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not loving, good, treacherous influencers. Oh, I'm sorry, that's not in there. Reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. It seems like there's a greater growing success of deception happening in the next chapter. He says this for the time is coming in this reference, kind of to the end when people will not endure sound teaching to have itching ears. They will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. Like there's this growing level of success when it comes to deception. And here John's warning these people he cares about and the warning applies to us all the more. Do you not know that there are those that are trying to deceive you? So what do we do? Is John's going to give us some direction and some comfort here. So let's look into this more. This is verse 19. They which is referring to the Antichrist, plural, or the false teachers. They went out from us, but they were not of us. Here's what he's saying, these are fake Christians. Like, they were part of this group. They were inside the church before they went outside the church. They were deceiving from within. They kind of take the name of Jesus, but they're not teaching the right things about Jesus. So they went out from us, but they were not of us for or because if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. That's an important statement. If, kind of that. If then the then's not there, but it's applied. If they had been of us, then they would have continued with us. Here's what John is saying. If they were real, they'd still be here. If they were real, they'd still be here. In other words, God keeps his own. He doesn't save anybody and then lose them. Like, if he's going to take out a heart of stone and put in a heart of flesh, that's your new heart and that's going to exist until he comes and returns. Like, he's going to save everybody from beginning to end. He doesn't fail in saving anybody. Or you could say it this way. Salvation is proven through perseverance. Salvation is proven through perseverance. Now, there's a doctrine called the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. And maybe we can get into that more in the beyond the Message podcast. But we see this, like, if somebody professes Christ and then they turn away from Christ, like they were here for a while, then they're just gone. And they don't have any kind of practicing faith in their life. It's like, well, did they lose their salvation? No. Because what does John say? If they were from us, they'd still be with us. They didn't lose something they didn't have. It's like, were they just wandering and they'll come back? Maybe. Maybe I pray that's the case. Or did they never have it? Evidently, because that's what John says. If they were of us, then they would have continued with us. And that is not what happened. But then he says this, and I think this really challenges us a little bit. He continues on to say, they went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us, but they went out. That it might become plain that they all are not of us. Guys, whenever there's separation in church, whether the church initiates it and be like, hey, we're not doing this anymore, and remove somebody or somebody that just comes to church a lot, it's like, it's gotten a little bit too comfortable. I don't like it. And they kind of pull away and leave the church. Like, that's hard because you love people and you want what's best for people. But it's not bad. It's hard, but it's not bad. In fact, John is saying, this separation was helpful. It brought clarity. It made plain we're not with them. We don't teach the things that they teach. We're not saying that Jesus didn't have a body and just kind of had a spirit. And. And you can do whatever you want in the body. That's not us. We think it matters what you do in the body. We're writing this so that you will not sin. Like, Jesus did have a body. I was there. I touched him. Like, it made this clear separation. And that was helpful. So listen, don't overvalue unity when truth has to be compromised in order to keep it. Don't overvalue unity when truth has to be compromised in order to keep it. In fact, when John writes the book of Revelation and you get the letters to all the churches, one of the critiques to the churches is you tolerate things you shouldn't tolerate. Why are you tolerating that? That's not okay. There is a distinction that needs to be made, and you're refusing to make that distinction. And John saying, hey, this isn't fun. Like, these are people trying to deceive you. But I'm thankful for this distinction because it makes plain that's two different teams. Not. Not our team. And he continues with this distinction. Look at verse 20. But you. So this is in contrast to the false teachers, because in verse 19, they went out from us. Then you get down to verse 20, but you different than them. But you have been anointed by the Holy One and you have all have knowledge. We don't talk like this much when we think of anointing. We tend to think of a special particular leader. Like, oh, they're anointed. That guy's anointed. Like, there's an anointing there. And I get that because that's good Old Testament understanding of anointing, because that's what you do to a king or a priest. It was somebody who is anointed for a special work of God. But we need a better New Testament understanding of anointing. And this is good news for every Christian because John is saying, you as it applies to all the believers. You have been anointed by the Holy One. Now, I think Holy One here refers to Jesus Christ. The New Testament often refers to Jesus as the Holy One of God. John specifically uses that phrase quite a bit. So when he says, you've been anointed by the Holy One, I think he's saying, you've been anointed by Jesus. Well, what does that mean? What does it mean to be anointed by Jesus? I think the clearest interpretation of this is the giving of the Holy Spirit. Let's look at some things that John says in his Gospel that kind of point to this. John 14. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper, the Holy Spirit, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth. Now, I want you to remember that phrase, spirit of truth, because that's going to come into play later. Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be, will be in you. So he's going to, like I'm going to ask the Father, he's going to give you the Holy Spirit. And being initiated by Jesus. Here's another passage. But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name. So again, this is kind of the Holy One of God. Jesus Christ is behind this giving of the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. We're not going to come back to this, but I want you to Write down John 14:26 to really understand the work of the Holy Spirit, which will come up later, that he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. All right, here's another one. John 15:26. But when the helper comes, which is the Holy Spirit, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth. So there's that phrase again. Who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. So again, this sending of the Holy Spirit is initiated by Jesus from the Father. One more. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper, the Holy Spirit, will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. So again, this idea of Jesus sending the Holy Spirit, giving us the Holy Spirit. Now stay with me. What is the outcome of this anointing? Look at verse 20. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have what knowledge? There is an attainment of knowledge that comes with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It's like, well, knowledge of what? Now, one side, I think John is throwing a jab at the Gnostics because Gnosticism was all up into knowledge and we want to know. And they thought they had this special enlightenment. And he's like, you want to talk about knowledge? You don't have knowledge. You don't have the knowledge that matters. These people, they, they have the knowledge. Okay, well, what is that? What's this knowledge that these anointed people have? Let's look at verse 21 through verse 23. I write to you not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it. And I just stop here. This will come up later. I write to you not because you don't know, but because you do know. But I'm still writing to you. You drag like you know it. Let me tell you it. I know you know it. Let me remind you of it. So they still need told. They still need reminded. So I write to you not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it. And because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar? But he who denies that Jesus is the Christ, this is the Antichrist. He who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. So he goes right to like, all right, here's what you know. There's something you know about Jesus Christ. You, you get Jesus Christ, right? That, that's coming from this anointing. Now it seems like every cult messes with the nature and deity of Jesus Christ. It's not always this, like, outward denial. It's more of a distortion that's pretty deceptive. Like, they don't. That's what the Gnostics were doing, right? We believe in Jesus, he doesn't have a body. It's like you start distorting, like your theological Jenga tower is coming down because the forgiveness of sins comes through the shedding of blood. And if he doesn't have a body, where's the shedding of blood? Like, he needs a body. So. So you're just like twisting who Jesus is. And every cult just seems like mess with the nature and deity of Jesus Christ. We believe in Jesus, just didn't have a body. We believe in Jesus, he's just a prophet. We believe in Jesus, he's just not the eternal God. He's the first person that God ever created, and he's the brother of Satan. And they got some family dysfunction they got to work out. We Believe in Jesus. He's a God. Just like someday you'll be a God and you can have your own planet. Like, there's just this kind of twisting and distorting of the nature and deity of Jesus Christ. Islam believes in Jesus Christ. Mormons believe in Jesus. Jehovah Witness believe in Jesus. Now you talk to people, it's like, oh, yeah, I believe in Jesus. Okay, what about Jesus do you believe? What exactly do you believe? Because that matters. So what is it that these people that have been anointed by the Holy One, what do they know that other people don't know? Because Christ means anointed One. So Antichrist means that they're against the anointed One, but also they themselves aren't anointed. They don't get it. That's what John's saying. Like, you don't have this knowledge that comes from this anointing. So you could say, okay, these antichrists are against Christ. It's like, well, yes, but kind of overtly. Because remember, John said, these people came from us. If you talk to them, they'd be very pro Jesus. So what does John mean when he's like, you're denying the Son? Because let's be fair to them for a second. Maybe they would say, no, we're not. And John says, yes, you are. So, so what is it that they're denying about Jesus? What is it that they're not getting right about Jesus? Not just theologically, but. But behind that, there's something that John's pointing out that they don't know. Think of it like this. Do you think the devil knows about Jesus? Do you think demons know about Jesus? Do you think demons know more about Jesus than you do? So here's in Luke 4, and in the synagogue, there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, ha. I think that's funny. Like the ha. It's not ha ha. It's just one ha ha. Kind of alarmed at this interaction with Jesus. He says, what? What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? So already he knows you're stronger than I am. Like, he knows that. He says, I know who you are, the Holy One of God. He gets that right. What does it get wrong? What are these false teachers getting wrong? What does Satan get wrong? What do demons get wrong that you have to be anointed to get right? Because they know Jesus. Here's what they don't know. They don't know him. As precious. They don't know him as treasure. They don't know him as worthy of their worship. They don't know him as worthy of their whole life. And that kind of knowing, you got to be anointed for that kind of knowing. Let me put it this way. Anointing precedes that kind of knowing. I mean, this is the conversation with Nicodemus. Like, hey, you're of flesh. You need to be born of the spirit. You need to have your eyes open to. To the beauty of Jesus Christ. You need help to get there. You need supernatural empowerment to see Jesus as precious, to see Jesus as a treasure, that he would be your passion and desire for life, that he is worthy of your worship. Has anybody in here been anointed like that? Where you see Jesus as precious, that you want to please him in your life, that he's your treasure? Anybody? Okay, so what do we do? Because there are people that are trying to deceive us. They're trying to undermine that. That there is strategic, thoughtful efforts to say that you don't need to live for Jesus, that he's not worthy of your worship, to make your life about something else. So what are we to do? Well, first off, take comfort. You have been anointed and God keeps his own. Because if they're of us, what can be counted on, then they would have continued with us. Have you been saved? There's nothing that can unsave you. God keeps his own, so take comfort in that. He who is in you is stronger than he who is in the world. John's gonna get to that later on. Isn't that awesome? All right. There's more to it than that. Because there is a way in which truth becomes a directive. You know what I mean by that? Like, you don't give a command. You just say something. That's true. True. But a directive is implied with it. So let's say the situation. Your situation is you're thirsty. Like, you're really thirsty. You're coming in after a hot day, long day of work, and you're thirsty. And I get up here and I say we have drinking fountains. Drinking fountains are in the hallway. Drinking fountains have buttons, push buttons, get water. Right? All that's true. But what's the directive that's applied or imply? Go get a drink. Right? If you're thirsty. And that applies to you. Go get a drink. And I didn't tell you to go get a drink. I just said some true stuff. Right? But there's a directive that's implied. So if the situation is, you guys know what time it is. There's people trying to deceive you. And then John says, you have been anointed by the Holy One of God. You all have knowledge. What's he saying? Abide in him, run to him, take refuge in Him. You'll find safety in him, like he's called. So. So there's a way in which a truth becomes a directive. Let me go a little bit deeper. Obedience to that directive becomes a validation of your faith. Right? Because if I say there's drinking fountains, how do I know if you believe me or not? If you're thirsty, you go get a drink. And Jesus is saying, hey, there's people trying to deceive you, this situation. And I tell you that you can trust Christ and you've been anointed and there's safety in him. How do I know if you believe that? You run to Christ. You abide in Christ. So there's a directive that he's calling us to, what does it mean to abide in Christ? What does it mean to take refuge in Christ? Let's read this. Verse 24. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And. And this is the promise that he made to us. Eternal life. He made a promise. He keeps his promises. Eternal life. Then he says this right next to us. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. You see the tension? Eternal life. I promise. Guys, there's. There's people trying to deceive you. Feel the tension. I got you. I promise. Take refuge. There's people trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you receive from him abides in you. And you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and is no lie, just as taught you, abide in Him. So the call is clear, abide in Him. But let me address some things that are said there because I think on a just a quick reading, we can make some false conclusions. Here's what it doesn't mean. John is not saying that you don't need anybody to teach you, because you could read that and be like, I don't need anybody. It's me, me and God. Me in the Spirit. That is not what John is saying. In fact, that is more in line with the traits of the false teachers who have separated from the community of God. They have been taught. That's why John says, you know, let what you've heard from the beginning abide in you. What's. What did they hear that was teaching that was given to them? John's teaching them in writing this letter. He's teaching them now. So he's not saying you don't need teachers. What he's saying is you have no need for these false teachers that are promising you more and new revelation. You don't need that. Like, don't jump into all this. Like, well, have you heard this? I'm going to add to it and kind of expound. He's like, no, let's go with the old stuff, right? This is what you need. Christianity is over 2000 years old. If anybody comes out with some new idea, that's a bad idea, right? Run from that. John's like, you don't. Don't go on to this other new stuff. So what do we need to do? Go back to verse 24. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. Now, what did they hear from the beginning? Like, what, What. What does he referring to? Well, you don't. You might not even need to turn your page. Maybe some of you do. But look at chapter four, verse six. Here's what John says. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us. Whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth. You've heard that phrase before. And the Spirit of air. All right, so who's we and who's us? He's saying, you want to know if you're from God, Listen to us. That's a bold statement. Who's us? It's the apostles. Remember how this letter started? I was there with Jesus. I walked with Jesus. I touched Jesus. I hung out with Jesus. You can trust me. So here he's like, listen to us. Listen to the apostles. Look to the founders of this faith. You need to dial in here that these new teachers stay grounded here. And these are the people who wrote the Bible. So listen. Don't put the Spirit at odds with the Word. Don't put the Spirit and the Word at odds. The work of the Spirit is not to expound the Word of God, or to change the Word of God, or to adapt the Word of God. The Spirit of God works through the Word of God. The Spirit grows our understanding of the Word. The Spirit strengthens our practice of The Word, the Spirit increases our confidence in the Word. And if you want a deeper, connected, intimate relationship with the Father and the Son that happens through the Spirit, through the Word, that's how. That's how we do it. Look back at verse 24. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. And you get this if then statement again. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. You see it. There is a relational abiding that comes from a word abiding. Like you want to be close with the Father and the Son get in the Word and the Spirit works to draw you close. Like that's where it's at. If you think, like if your pursuit of spirituality or closeness with God is one that's done on your own, kind of looking inside, looking in for answers, searching your own heart and feelings, maybe walking by a stream, lighting a candle like you're being deceived. The truth is not found within. The truth was given, revealed to us by God through His Spirit and His Word. And we don't have intimacy with God apart from His Word. And John is calling us. Pursue abiding with the Father and with the Son through having the Word abide in you. That you live it, you know it, you're guided by it. So here's what I want us to remember. The Word of God is the way the people of God take refuge in God. The Word of God is the way the people of God take refuge in God. Now, why did I say refuge? Why not say abide? Because that might be better. It works. The Word of God is the way the people of God abide in God. That's true. You could argue it's better because that's the word John uses. And John's better than I am. Okay? And it fits because that's what it means. Like, abide means to stay. So he's like, don't go off with these false teachers. Stay here. But. But here's why I want to use the word refuge. Because I want to pastorally drive home what we saw last week and what we see this week. Worldliness is a real threat. Deception is a real threat. There are those trying to deceive you. And if that's the case, where are you going to run? Where are you going to find safety? Where are you going to find protection? The Word of God, or abiding in God through His Word, take refuge, guys. Do you. Do you think you need God? Or do you think you needed God Like, I know I'm a sinner and I needed forgiveness and Jesus paid the penalty on the cross and I needed that. And I'm super thankful. Or do you still feel like, no, I need God today. I need him every hour, every minute. I know what time it is. People are trying to deceive me. This world's all around me. Like, I need you now. Like, just like justification protects us from the wrath of God, that his wrath will pass over us. We've been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Abiding protects us from the deceptions of this world. I was listening to an interview by Ben Sasse. He's. He used to be a senator from Nebraska, and he was recently diagnosed with stage four terminal pancre, pancreatic cancer. He's given like three months to live. If you got three months to live, I'm interested in what you have to say. And in that interview, he was asked, what are your regrets? What are your regrets? And his answer really was profound. He said, I wish I would have took the Lord's day more seriously. What? Because here's what he was saying. When you get a terminal cancer diagnosis and you've been given three months to live, it teaches you really fast what's important and what's not important. But then he said, but you know what? I would have got that same lesson every Sunday if I would have went to church more. Every Sunday, I'm reinforced what life's about and what life's not about. What's important, what's not important. But when you stop abiding, when you kind of pull out of that and you, you know what time it is, it's so easy to be deceived. It's so easy to start making life about things life's not really about. It's so easy to get your priorities out of whack. And when your priorities are out of whack, your pursuits are off and your passions are off. And pretty soon you're just spending a life foolishly. And you might realize it if a doctor says, hey, you only got three months to live. Or you could realize it right now. Guys, don't. Don't just take comfort in the gospel. Also take refuge in the gospel. If you just take comfort in the gospel, it often just leads to complacency. Hey, I'm a sinner. I'm forgiven by Jesus. His grace is sufficient. This is awesome. I'm good. Praise God. I don't really need to go to church. I don't really need to read my Bible. I don't really need Christian community. His grace is sufficient. It's like you're just taking comfort in the gospel, but you're not taking refuge in the gospel. And John would say, do you know what time it is? You know that those are trying to deceive you. If you believe that Christ is king, run to him. If you believe this world is corrupt, take shelter in his word. Guard your priorities with it. Guard your passions with it. Because if you don't, it's going to come real slick, like, pretty soon you're going to fall in love with the wrong things and you're going to be devoted to the wrong things and be ambitious about the wrong things. Church I pray that we know what time it is. I pray that we act like we know what time it is. Amen. Let's pray, Father. If there is, and there likely is, if there is pride anywhere in this room that thinks we're not in danger of being deceived, we're not in danger of falling in love with lesser things, making this life about things that don't last, by your spirit, wake us up from our drunken stupor. Help us see you as who you are. By your anointing, give us the knowledge that you are worthy of it all. You are worthy of our worship. You are worthy of our lives. You are worthy of our devotion. And we would run to you through your word to know you. And we would run to you through your word to find protection from the brokenness of this world. Pray in your name. Amen.