Beware of Today’s Subtle Dangers

Brother Richie Juatco: 

The boiling frog metaphor is an analogy used to describe how people can fail to notice gradual change that leads to harm. The idea is, if you drop a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will immediately jump out because of the sudden danger.

But if you put the frog in cool water and slowly heat it up, supposedly, the frog won’t notice the gradual temperature rise until it’s too late. This metaphor can illustrate how the changing times have desensitized people, which the Bible forewarned about. 

Stay with us. This is what we’ll be studying today, here on The Message. 

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Beware of Today’s Subtle Dangers

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The Message

Brother Richie Juatco:  Hi. Thank you for joining us. I’m Brother Richie Juatco. 

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Brother Mark Vasquez

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Richie Juatco

Minister of the Gospel

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Beware of Today’s Subtle Dangers

Brother Mark Vasquez: And I’m Brother Mark Vasquez. 

Subtle Spiritual Danger [0:51] 

Slow and unnoticed changes can be just as dangerous as sudden ones, because many people may not react to slow, incremental threats or negative changes—until it’s too late. That is why awareness and early action is key to avoiding disaster. For us in the true Church Of Christ, the Bible is what we use to guide us from dangers that we might not be aware of.

So, Brother Richie, according to the Bible, what is the warning that’s given to us? 

The Last Days & Worsening Culture [1:24] 

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What dangers does the Bible warn us about?

Brother Richie: So let’s go and read that warning that is written in II Timothy, chapter 3, and the verse is 1. The Bible does say this,

You need to realize that during the last days before Christ returns, evil people will make it difficult for believers to behave as they should.
-II Timothy 3:1 Translation for Translators

Brother Richie: In this verse, we received a warning, or something that the Bible says you need to realize. What is it that we need to realize? We read, “evil people will make it difficult for believers to behave as they should.” 

Brother Mark: Now, this might not be anything surprising since, all throughout time, evil people never really help believers or God’s people behave properly.

Brother Richie: You know that’s correct, but the Bible does mention a time when it will actually worsen. When it’s that? We read, “during the last days before Christ returns.” The time period mentioned is the current time we are living in now. 

Brother Mark: How will the people of the world make it more difficult for those who strive to live the way that God intended us to live? Brother Richie, why is being a Christian now, why is it so hard these days? 

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Why is it difficult to be a Christian today?

Brother Richie: Well, let’s find out. We’ll read the same verse in a different translation, and then we’ll actually continue reading all the way to verse 5. It says this, 

But you need to be aware that in the final days the culture of society will become extremely fierce. People will be self-centered lovers of themselves and obsessed with money. They will boast of great things as they strut around in their arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They will ignore their own families. They will be ungrateful and ungodly. They will become addicted to hateful and malicious slander. Slaves to their desires, they will be ferocious, belligerent haters of what is good and right. With brutal treachery, they will act without restraint, bigoted and wrapped in clouds of their conceit. They will find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of the loving God. They may pretend to have a respect for God, but in reality they want nothing to do with God’s power. Stay away from people like these!
-II Timothy 3:1-5 The Passion Translation

Brother Richie: Here we see how the description of people in the last days is a very accurate description of how people today are—proving that we are living in the last days.

Brother Mark: The characteristics of society have worsened with the times. 

Brother Richie: That’s right. Many people are, as we read, “self-centered lovers of themselves and obsessed with money.” So there are people today that are able to actually amass great riches for being self-centered and getting others to follow them and subscribe to their influence. People are also, as we read, “addicted to hateful and malicious slander.”  

Brother Mark: Brother Richie, we could even see that when it comes to social media, and not just social media. We could even see that in mainstream media and all forms of entertainment. 

Brother Richie: That’s correct. You know, unfortunately, people today, as we continue to learn, “They [will] find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of the loving God.” You know, there are more people today than ever before who do not actually believe in the One that created them.

Brother Mark: Well, how about those that argue that more religions have been established, giving people more options to serve God? 

Brother Richie: You know, that might be true, Brother Mark, but how does the Bible accurately describe these various religions? We read, “They may pretend to have a respect for God, but in reality they want nothing to do with God’s power.” In fact, what is the biblical warning regarding them? The Bible says, “Stay away from people like these!”

Brother Mark: Brother Richie, when the Bible said, stay away from people like that, where are those people that we should stay away from, and they’re making it more difficult to live as a Christian? 

Brother Richie: You know, Brother Mark, they’re actually all around us. 

Brother Mark: How so? 

Brother Richie: Well, we read that it is “the culture of society” that will be a threat and danger to us. Now, we need to understand that the culture of society is something that does not change immediately, but rather gradually over time. Now, because we live in society, we are able to notice sudden changes or out of the ordinary happenings within it. But when the entire culture of society around us shifts in the same worsening condition, most people will not notice and unfortunately will actually shift along with it.

Brother Mark: And when the shift comes, Brother Richie, how aggressive will the culture of society be? How aggressive will it be in keeping people from behaving the way that they should? 

Brother Richie: Well, we did read that, “in the final days the culture of society will become extremely fierce.” 

Brother Mark: So how does the Bible regard these worsening conditions of society that make it hard to be a Christian these days, and what’s the advice that we should follow? 

The Danger of Distractions [6:32] 

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What conditions make it difficult to be a Christian today?

Brother Richie: Let’s read the answer in the Book of Proverbs. We’ll read from Proverbs 4:25. Here it says, 

Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.
[Proverbs 4:25 The Message]

Brother Richie: So the Bible regards these things that prevent God’s people to behave as they should as sideshow distractions. Now, what’s the instruction when it comes to these distractions? We read, “Keep your eyes straight ahead” and “ignore all sideshow distractions.” 

What is the danger of focusing on society’s distractions instead of following the biblical instruction of ignoring it?

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What happens if we don’t ignore life’s sideshow distractions?

Brother Mark: Let’s learn what that danger might be. Let’s read that here in the Book of Matthew. We’ll read 13 and the verse is 22,

The seed sown among weeds represents the person who receives the message, but all of life’s busy distractions, his divided heart, and his ambition for wealth result in suffocating the kingdom message and prevent him from bearing spiritual fruit.
-Matthew 13:22 The Passion Translation

Brother Mark: Here, the Lord Jesus Christ illustrates what people need and the danger of being distracted from it. Since the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest messenger of God, He teaches the true message of how to attain salvation and enter the kingdom of heaven.

Brother Richie: So, Brother Mark, what is the problem if one receives that message but is more focused on what’s happening in the world? 

Brother Mark: Well, the Lord Jesus Christ taught, “the person who receives the message, but all of life’s busy distractions, his divided heart, and his ambition for wealth result in suffocating the kingdom message.” What does that mean? That the truth of the message will suffocate due to one’s divided heart from distractions? The Lord Jesus Christ said it will “prevent him from bearing spiritual fruit.” 

Brother Richie: So a person focused on the world not growing spiritually will prevent him from being saved or entering the kingdom. And so receiving or learning the truth would have done him no good. 

Brother Mark: And that’s how dangerous these distractions are. 

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Beware of Today’s Subtle Dangers

Brother Richie: That’s correct. Now, why would people who already received the truth not grow spiritually or bear spiritual fruits? You know, Brother Mark, the distractions that are all around us, what will the distractions influence a person to do? 

Shipwrecked Faith & Sin’s Influence [8:54] 

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What can life’s sideshow distractions influence people to do?

Brother Mark: Well, let’s read what might happen. Here in the book of I Timothy, we’ll read 1 and the verse is 19,

… Some have believed that they don’t need to obey the commands and obligations of the faith, and by following thru in that belief, they have made a shipwreck of their faith.
-I Timothy 1:19 Last Days Bible

Brother Mark: What we read is regarding those who are ready to learn the truth of God’s commands, and had an understanding of the true faith. But what did the world influence them to do? We read that they “believed that they don’t need to obey the commands and obligations of the faith.” 

Brother Richie: You know, unfortunately, this is exactly what today’s society encourages. The world does not want God’s commands or have anything to do with having obligations to Him. 

Brother Mark: You know, for those of us in the true faith, if we’re not careful or alert, we too might unknowingly start to believe in the world’s cultures that fulfilling obligations and obedience is not necessary. Let’s not allow this to happen to any of us.

Brother Richie: Why not? What will eventually happen to those that they adopt the wrong belief that they don’t need to obey, they don’t need to fulfill their obligations to God?

Brother Mark: According to what we read, “they have made a shipwreck of their faith.” So having the wrong beliefs—that will wreck someone’s faith.

Brother Richie: And that definitely will distract a person from doing what they’re supposed to be doing, how they’re supposed to be living. But we want to understand what else. What else is a clear distraction from trying to live the proper way that God actually intends His created people to live? 

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What is an example of life’s sideshow distractions?

Brother Mark: Well, let’s read what another distraction is. We’ll read that here in the Book of Hebrews. We’ll read 12 and the verse is 1,

Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.
-Hebrews 12:1 God’s Word Translation

Brother Mark: The Bible clearly states that it is sin that distracts us. And since sin is the breaking of God’s law, then naturally living in sin will definitely distract us from living or behaving the way that God expects. 

Brother Richie: So, Brother Mark, what’s the instruction regarding sin or anything else that prevents us from reaching our goal of salvation?

Brother Mark: Well, we read here, “we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin.” Sin, false beliefs, and the worsening culture of society—that’s what distracts us from realizing the dangers that surround us. So if the worsening culture that surrounds us distracts us from realizing we’re in danger, Brother Richie, what must we focus on then to stay safe from this danger that’s all around us?

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Beware of Today’s Subtle Dangers

Don’t Blend In — Fix Your Eyes on God [12:00]

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What should we focus on to stay safe from sideshow distractions?

Brother Richie: So let’s find out what the Bible instructs us, because there are these dangers around us. What is it that we shouldn’t and should do? We’ll read here in Romans 12 the verse is 2. It says, 

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity,
-Romans 12:2 The Message

Brother Richie: So the Bible gives a very clear warning. What is it? We read that, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture.” 

Brother Mark: What does that mean? Don’t become so well adjusted to the culture? 

Brother Richie: Well, the Bible does explain that, “you fit into it without even thinking.” Now why not? Because many people believe that there’s safety in number, and so just trust the security of the developing culture.

Brother Mark: But some might ask, especially maybe even younger ones, what’s the harm? What’s wrong with fitting in or following what other people are doing? 

Brother Richie: Well, the Bible explains that, “the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity.” 

Brother Mark: If focusing on trying to fit into the culture will distract us from the dangers all around us, Brother Richie, what should we focus on instead then? 

Brother Richie: Well, we did read, it says, “Instead, fix your attention on God.” Now, how is it that we’re able to do that? We read, “Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.”

Brother Mark: Brother Richie, how could we readily recognize what God wants us to do so that we could put that into practice and follow God’s commands? 

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How can we recognize what God wants us to do?

Brother Richie: That’s a good question. Let’s read how we’re able to quickly respond to what God wants from us. We’ll read in the Book of James, chapter 1. We’ll read from verse 25,

However, it is possible to open your eyes and take in the beautiful, perfect truth found in God’s law of liberty and live by it. If you pursue that path and actually do what God has commanded, then you will avoid the many distractions that lead to an amnesia of all true things and you will be blessed.
-James 1:25 The Voice

Brother Richie: Here, the Bible clarifies how to recognize what God wants from us. How? We read that, “open your eyes and take in the beautiful, perfect truth found in God’s law.” Now what does that mean that take in the truth of God’s law? We read that, “live by it.” 

Brother Mark: We know that the truth or God’s laws are His commands written in the Bible. So instead of giving so much attention to the culture of society around us, we’re instructed to focus on God’s commands and strive to live by them.

Brother Richie: That’s right. And what would be the good result, or what benefit would we receive if this is where we place our efforts? We read, “If you pursue that path and actually do what God has commanded… you will be blessed.” Now what is the blessing? We read, “you will avoid the many distractions.” 

Brother Mark: Brother Richie, what’s another way to say that, do what God wants or to pursue His paths?

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What does it mean to do what God wants?

Brother Richie: You know, we can go back to the verse that we read earlier, I Timothy 1:19, to help us really understand how to pursue God’s path or do what He says. This is what we can read, 

Continue to live in obedience to the faith! By doing so, you will always have a clear conscience …
-I Timothy 1:19 Last Days Bible

Brother Richie: The Bible teaches us to “live in obedience to the faith.”. Therefore, instead of letting the culture of society influence us and wreck our faith, we should enhance our faith by obeying God’s written law in the Bible. 

Brother Mark: Faith based on what is actually written in the Bible, is what we should all aspire for and work hard to maintain.

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Beware of Today’s Subtle Dangers

Brother Richie: Now, there are some of you watching who have a strong belief in the Bible, but have not really studied or analyzed what is actually written and, so far, have been content to follow what others say are in the Bible. 

Now we encourage you to keep learning more of God’s written words taught here inside the Church Of Christ. 

Brother Mark: Yes, and come visit a congregation near you. Or if you want, ask us a question now by clicking the link in the description and inquire how to listen to the basic teachings of the Bible. For those already going through those lessons or have been listening, yet find it difficult to focus and move forward, we hope that this episode helps explain the very reason why the changing times have desensitized people and prevent them from pursuing a spiritual life.

Brother Richie: Now, we should understand that this life, with all its distractions, it is not the real life God intends us to live. 

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Beware of Today’s Subtle Dangers

Brother Mark: In the verse we read earlier, the Lord Jesus Christ taught the message that leads to the kingdom. Life in God’s kingdom, or the Holy City, is the real life. 

Brother Richie: That’s right. But we also learned that there are those who received the message, yet they were too distracted to give it the focus and attention it deserved. Now we hope that doesn’t happen to any of you. 

Brother Mark: So, Brother Richie, what is that blessing for those who focus on the true life in God’s kingdom? 

The Blessing of Strong Faith [17:41]

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What blessing awaits those who focus on the true life in God’s kingdom?

Brother Richie: Let’s turn to the Bible’s teaching of that blessing that you asked. We’ll read in Hebrews 6:12. It says, 

Then, knowing what lies ahead for you, you won’t become bored with being a Christian nor become spiritually dull and indifferent, but you will be anxious to follow the example of those who receive all that God has promised them because of their strong faith and patience.
-Hebrews 6:12 The Living Bible

Brother Richie: What does the Bible say if we focus our attention on God’s promises to come? We read, “knowing what lies ahead for you, you won’t become bored with being a Christian.” We learned earlier that, in our time, it will actually be very difficult to behave the way that we should as Christians because of the distractions. But that won’t be the case. If we put our focus in the right place.

Brother Mark: Brother Richie, if we focus on the right place—focus on the words of God—what will this prevent us from doing?

Brother Richie: Well, we did read that “[we] won’t become… spiritually dull and indifferent.” So we won’t get desensitized from all the distractions. Instead, what will God’s teachings lead us to do? We read, “to follow the example of those who receive all that God has promised.” Why are there those who receive what God has promised—every promise that God has made? Well, we read, “because of their strong faith and patience.”

Brother Mark: Come visit a congregation near you. Or if you want to ask us a question now, by clicking the link in the description and inquire how to listen to the basic teachings of the Bible.

Brother Richie: Make sure that your spiritual journey does not stop here. Keep watching and growing with us and stay constantly tuned in to The Message. 

On behalf of all of us here at The Message, we’re grateful for you joining us in this episode. But before we conclude, please join us for a short prayer.

Brother Richie: Our Heavenly Father. We are very grateful for being able to listen and learn Your truth that is written in the Bible. It really is You that gives us the guidance that we need. It is really only You that can help us navigate through all the problems and the dangers of this life. We praise You for Your kindness. We truly do honor Your most holy Name. 

We are asking You, dear Father, please help us to put Your words into practice. It is You that tells us that the culture of society is a danger to us, and it is what we are able to witness. It does pull us away from how You want us to live.

Please continue to give us the opportunities to learn more of Your truth. Guide us with Your teachings. Protect us, dear Father. We understand that it is Your laws and commandments that give us the stability that we need. And if we are able to follow and obey, we hope that the protection that You give us, not only in this life, but also to be able to enter into the kingdom You are preparing for Your servants, hopefully all of us listening will have the chance to receive that through our obedience to You. 

We ask that You always bless the Church, Your nation, in these last days. Please always bless those that You have placed to lead us, Dear Father. Help us all to unite with the Church Administration, and in this way always receive Your guidance and protection.

We believe you hear our prayer. We hope that you will continue to show us Your love and mercy.  

We ask for these things through the name of your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Amen.

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