Are You Being Led Away from the Fear of God? Beware of the Influences That Are Changing Your Way of Thinking!

He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Church.

Associate Pastor Mireya San

Have You Noticed How the World Is Changing Your Way of Thinking?

Do you realize that there are influences attempting to lead you away from the fear of God? Have you stopped to consider how much of what you hear, watch, and accept every day is shaping your way of thinking?

We are living in times when many things that were once recognized as wrong are now presented as normal, acceptable, and even good. What God has established in His Word is being questioned, while human opinions are used to justify behavior that contradicts His principles.

The most dangerous part is that this change does not always happen in an obvious way. Many times, it begins with small compromises: a conversation you accept, a behavior you stop questioning, or a teaching that seems reasonable even though it contradicts Scripture.

Little by little, what you once recognized as wrong no longer bothers you. You begin to justify what you know is wrong and eventually consider acceptable what God has taught you to reject.

Scripture warns:

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

Isaiah 5:20 (KJV)

This warning was spoken by the prophet Isaiah against those who had corrupted moral judgment, deliberately confusing good with evil.

Today, we need to pay attention to that same principle.

When a person stops recognizing the difference between good and evil according to God's Word, they begin to lose spiritual discernment.

Do not allow the opinions of the world to determine what you should believe. God has already established His truth, and no generation has the authority to change it.

The Fear of God Is Not a Religious Tradition: It Is a Way of Life

Many people talk about God, but not everyone lives with reverence for His Word.

The fear of God does not mean living in terror or believing that He is waiting for an opportunity to punish us. It means recognizing who God is, honoring His authority, and taking seriously what He has established.

A person who fears God does not consider His instructions mere suggestions that can be accepted or rejected according to personal convenience.

Scripture declares:

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)

Notice that the fear of God is connected to wisdom and a willingness to receive instruction.

When someone stops valuing the teaching of the Word, they begin to depend entirely on their own reasoning. They no longer ask what God says, but rather what seems right to them, what everyone else is doing, or what is most convenient.

And that is where the danger begins.

A person can become so accustomed to hearing ideas that contradict Scripture that they eventually believe there is nothing wrong with them.

Do not lose the fear of God by trying to please people or adapt to the customs of this world.

Ask yourself: Do my decisions reflect reverence for God? Am I willing to obey His Word even when others disagree with me?

The true fear of God is demonstrated through our willingness to hear, believe, and obey His truth.

Do Not Call Good What God Has Declared Evil!

One of the greatest spiritual dangers of our time is how easily people find arguments to justify wrongdoing.

Today, there are explanations for almost everything. Lies, disobedience, immorality, disrespect, and many other behaviors that contradict God's principles are being justified.

Some claim that times have changed and, therefore, our convictions must change as well.

But there is something you need to understand: just because society accepts a behavior does not mean God approves of it.

Truth is not established by majority opinion.

Jesus declared:

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Matthew 24:35 (KJV)

Human customs change, generations pass, and popular ideas evolve. However, God's Word remains.

That is why you must learn to examine everything you hear and observe.

Do not accept a teaching simply because it seems modern, attractive, or convenient. Do not allow emotions to determine what you consider right.

The question must be: What does the Word of God say about this?

When we know the truth, we can recognize error, even when it is presented with pleasant words.

You do not need to change God's Word to make it fit your way of living. You need to allow the Word to transform the way you think and live.

Do Not Deceive Yourself! Everything You Sow Has Consequences

Some people believe they can ignore God's principles without experiencing the consequences of their decisions.

They think that as long as no one confronts them, or as long as others accept their actions, there is no problem.

However, Scripture is clear:

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Galatians 6:7 (KJV)

God cannot be mocked.

You cannot sow disobedience and expect to reap the results of obedience. You cannot continually feed your mind with thoughts that contradict the truth and expect your life to be governed by God's wisdom.

Decisions have consequences, even when those consequences are not immediate.

A person may spend a long time justifying their mistakes, but that does not make their decisions right.

That is why it is important to recognize in time what we need to change.

Perhaps you have allowed certain conversations to influence your way of thinking. Maybe you have begun accepting behaviors you once recognized as contrary to Scripture.

Do not wait until you experience painful consequences before returning to God's instruction.

Just because you can do something does not mean you should do it. And just because many people do it does not mean it is right.

Learn to sow decisions that agree with the truth.

We Are Living in Perilous Times: Are You Paying Attention?

The apostle Paul warned Timothy about the attitudes that would characterize perilous times.

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."

2 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)

In the following verses, Paul describes people who are lovers of themselves, covetous, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, cruel, and despisers of those who are good.

He also mentions those who love pleasure more than God and maintain an appearance of godliness while denying its power.

This description compels us to seriously examine the condition of the human heart.

Today, we see how many people place their desires above every principle. Correction is rejected, authority is despised, and individuals believe they can determine for themselves what is right and wrong.

But we should not read this passage merely to point out the mistakes of others.

We must also ask ourselves whether any of these attitudes are beginning to appear in our own lives.

Have you become indifferent to instruction? Do you find it difficult to acknowledge your mistakes? Have you begun justifying attitudes that you know contradict God's Word?

The purpose of this warning is not to make us afraid of circumstances, but to awaken our discernment and lead us to remain steadfast in Christ.

Paul concludes this description with an instruction:

"From such turn away."

2 Timothy 3:5 (KJV)

This does not mean that we should despise people, but that we must guard ourselves against adopting behaviors and teachings that lead us away from the truth.

You cannot allow harmful influences to shape your character while expecting to remain spiritually strong.

Who Are You Walking With? Beware of Being Unequally Yoked

The people you choose to walk with can deeply influence your thoughts, convictions, and decisions.

Not every relationship has the same effect on your life.

Some people encourage you to remain steadfast in God's Word, while others attempt to convince you to abandon your principles and do what they consider right.

Scripture declares:

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV)

The apostle Paul uses the image of a yoke to teach about unions that compromise a believer's faithfulness to God.

A yoke joins two animals so they can work in the same direction. If both attempt to walk in different directions, the task becomes difficult.

Similarly, when a person establishes relationships that constantly pressure them to abandon their convictions, they may end up compromising what they once considered fundamental.

This does not mean that we should isolate ourselves from the world or reject every relationship with those who do not share our faith.

Jesus Himself approached people who needed to know the truth.

The difference lies in loving people without allowing their beliefs or behaviors that contradict Scripture to govern our decisions.

Ask yourself: Are the relationships I am cultivating strengthening my faith, or are they leading me to justify what God disapproves of?

Do not sacrifice your relationship with God for the desire to be accepted.

Light and Darkness Cannot Govern Your Life at the Same Time

Paul continues by asking:

"And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?"

2 Corinthians 6:15 (KJV)

This comparison presents a contrast between two ways of living that cannot become one spiritual authority.

You cannot claim that Christ governs your life while allowing thoughts that contradict His Word to determine your decisions.

Light represents the truth that comes from God. Darkness represents what opposes it.

The problem begins when a person attempts to justify both.

They want to receive the benefits of living according to the Word, but they also want to preserve practices that contradict it.

They want to hear God, but they are unwilling to abandon the influences that lead them away from Him.

You cannot walk in two opposite directions and expect to reach the same destination.

Faithfulness to Christ requires clear decisions.

There are conversations you need to walk away from. There are practices you must stop justifying. There are influences you can no longer allow to have authority over your way of thinking.

Do not allow the desire to please others to lead you into disobedience to what God has established.

"Come Out from Among Them": Learn to Separate Yourself from What Defiles You

In his teaching about holiness and the relationship of God's people with practices that contradict His will, Paul declares:

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."

2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)

This instruction is not an invitation to live with hatred, contempt, or a sense of superiority toward those who think differently.

It is a call not to participate in anything that compromises our faithfulness to God.

There is a difference between being present in an environment to share the truth and allowing that environment to transform our convictions.

You can work, study, and interact with people who hold different beliefs, but you must not allow the pressures of your surroundings to determine your obedience to God.

Spiritual separation begins when you decide not to participate in what you know contradicts Scripture.

It is not simply about physically changing your location, but about establishing clear boundaries regarding the influences you accept.

Perhaps you need to stop participating in conversations that promote evil. Maybe you need to correct habits you have normalized or reconsider relationships that constantly pressure you to act against your convictions.

Do not willingly remain under influences that are weakening your respect for God's Word.

Learn to recognize when you need to say no.

God Desires a Father-Child Relationship With His Children

After exhorting believers to live separated from what contradicts God's will, Paul presents an extraordinary promise:

"And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

2 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV)

How important it is to understand what God is saying!

The Christian life is not merely a list of things we must avoid. It is about our relationship with the Father and living according to the identity we have in Christ.

God does not call us to holiness to deprive us of something good. He teaches us to live in the truth because His will is good and because our decisions matter.

A father who loves his children gives them instructions, corrects them, and warns them about dangers.

He does not do this to destroy their freedom, but because he desires their well-being.

In the same way, God has given us His Word to teach us to distinguish between what builds us up and what destroys us.

Do not view God's instruction as a burden. Recognize it as the wisdom of a Father who knows what you truly need.

When you understand this, you stop asking how close you can get to sin without suffering consequences and begin asking how you can please God through the way you live.

Beware! Do Not Allow Others to Lead You Away from the Fear of God

One of the most dangerous strategies of deception is making what is wrong appear harmless.

Some people will tell you, "What's wrong with that?" "Everyone does it." "Nothing will happen." Or, "You're exaggerating."

These expressions may seem like simple comments, but when you accept them without examining them in the light of Scripture, they can begin to weaken your convictions.

The danger is not merely hearing those words, but allowing them to become the authority that governs your decisions.

When you begin obeying what people say more than what God's Word teaches, you are allowing other voices to occupy the place that belongs to the Lord.

Not everyone who gives you bad advice consciously intends to harm you. Some simply repeat what they have learned or genuinely believe their opinions are correct.

That is why you need discernment, not hatred toward people.

Scripture declares:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.

Do not turn people into your enemies. Learn to recognize the spiritual influences that oppose the truth and remain steadfast in God's Word.

You can love someone without accepting their bad advice. You can treat someone with respect without allowing them to determine your convictions.

Do not surrender your spiritual discernment to those who encourage you to ignore God's instruction.

The Enemy Seeks to Blind the Understanding

The apostle Paul wrote:

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)

This Scripture reveals that there is spiritual opposition to the knowledge of the gospel.

The enemy does not want people to recognize the truth of Christ. Deception attempts to present darkness as light and convince humanity that it can live without needing God.

But we must also recognize that spiritual neglect can weaken our discernment.

When a person stops studying the Word, abandons prayer, rejects correction, and constantly begins feeding their mind with ideas that contradict Scripture, they become vulnerable to accepting thoughts they would previously have recognized as wrong.

What once seemed wrong begins to appear normal.

And the most dangerous part is that they may come to believe they have not changed, even when their decisions demonstrate otherwise.

Do not allow deception to silently transform your way of thinking.

Examine the teachings you receive, the conversations you participate in, and the ideas you accept.

Not everything that seems reasonable is true. Not everything that is popular agrees with God's will.

You need to know Scripture to recognize when something contradicts it.

Spiritual Neglect Can Take You Further Than You Imagine

Many people do not decide to abandon the truth overnight.

Drifting away often begins when they stop paying attention.

First, they neglect reading the Word. Then, they begin justifying attitudes they once recognized as wrong. Later, they accept teachings that contradict their convictions and eventually live in a way they never imagined.

The problem is not only what is happening around them, but what they have allowed to grow within them.

Scripture exhorts us:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

Here is one of the fundamental keys!

God does not call us to adopt the world's way of thinking, but to experience transformation through the renewing of our minds.

This means that we need to learn to think according to what He has established.

It is not enough to reject evil outwardly if we continue feeding thoughts that contradict the truth.

You must allow the Word to correct your standards, priorities, and decisions.

A mind that is not being fed with the truth may eventually accept deception as though it were normal.

That is why you must not neglect your spiritual life.

Spend time studying Scripture. Examine what you hear, and learn to recognize the influences that attempt to lead you away from God.

Open Your Eyes and Learn to Come Out from Among Them!

We are witnessing profound changes in the way people think, speak, and live. Many behaviors that contradict Scripture are presented as expressions of freedom, progress, or acceptance.

But a child of God must not be governed by the trends of the moment.

We need to learn to view circumstances in the light of the Word.

This does not mean living in fear or believing that everything happening around us represents a threat.

It means developing spiritual discernment to recognize what agrees with the truth and what attempts to lead us away from it.

Ask yourself:

Am I allowing the opinions of others to change my convictions? Have I begun justifying things I once recognized as wrong? Am I seeking people's approval above obedience to God? Do I know God's Word well enough to distinguish between truth and deception?

Do not ignore these questions.

If you recognize that something is weakening your respect for God, make the decision to correct it.

If a relationship is constantly pressuring you to act against your convictions, establish boundaries.

If you have allowed the customs of the world to govern your thoughts, return to studying Scripture and renew your mind.

Do not wait until you have lost your convictions to recognize that you have drifted away from the truth.

Christ Is Coming Soon! Remain Steadfast in the Fear of God

Today, you need to make a decision: Will you live according to what people say or according to what God has established in His Word?

Do not allow the desire to be accepted to lead you into compromising your faith.

Do not call good what God calls evil. Do not justify what contradicts Scripture, and do not allow harmful influences to determine your way of thinking.

Remember that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

A truly wise person is not someone who accepts everything the world presents, but someone who learns to recognize the truth and remains steadfast in it.

Christ is coming soon. This is not the time to live spiritually careless lives or allow just any teaching to govern our hearts.

It is time to awaken, examine our decisions, and strengthen our relationship with God through the knowledge of and obedience to His Word.

The apostle Paul wrote:

"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."

2 Timothy 2:7 (KJV)

Faith in Action

This week, examine the influences that are shaping your way of thinking. Pay special attention to the conversations, teachings, content, and relationships to which you devote the most time.

Ask yourself whether these influences are helping you know God's Word better or weakening your convictions.

Read Isaiah 5:20, 2 Timothy 3:1–5, and Romans 12:2. Reflect on what God teaches about discernment, conduct, and the renewing of the mind.

Identify one attitude, thought, or practice that you need to correct, and take a concrete step to bring it into agreement with Scripture.

Do not allow others to lead you away from the fear of God. Learn to recognize the truth, remain steadfast in it, and live according to what the Lord has established.

Share this message with someone who needs to remember that God's Word does not change, even when the world attempts to change the way good and evil are understood.

Christ Is Coming Soon! Pay attention, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.