Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. — 1 Timothy 4:1-2

There is a great decline from the faith throughout the body of Christ, and it is visible even to those who are without discernment.

The Scriptures are being fulfilled before our eyes. Many are departing from the faith, and the moral decline of our country is accelerating. It amazes me how, during difficult times, believers are departing from the faith and running into the arms of unbelievers, who freely give them ungodly counsel. (See Psalm 1.)

In the above text, the Apostle Paul speaks to Timothy about “the latter times,” how the Spirit says some will depart the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

The Father is speaking to the son, not so much as a matter of information but as preparation for the times to come that we are now living in. In the Bible, David talked about justice turned upside down, when right is wrong and wrong is right.

Pastor John Hagee talks about the collapse of moral law in his best-selling book “A Day of Deception.” He cites how a young woman, seeking protection from an abusive ex-boyfriend, was unlucky enough to find herself in the New York courtroom of Judge Lorin Duckman. The ex-boyfriend, a convicted rapist, had already attacked the young lady three times. After commenting that the woman was bruised, but not actually disfigured, the judge lowered bail for the man. He advised the woman that her former boyfriend would probably stop beating her if she would just give him back his dog. Before the end of the month, the former boyfriend had shot the woman to death.

Exodus 12:21-23 says, “Moses instructed the elders to take a lamb according to their families and kill the lamb for Passover.

“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.”

What I say to one, I say to all. Keep the faith; stay inside the house of faith!

Murray is the pastor of Fellowship of Love COGIC and a member of the United Ministerial Alliance.