Printed Service – 5th September 2025
Prepared by Rev Saul Tadzaushe
Guarding Against Deception
Call to worship Psalm 1: Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Hymn STF1 – All people that on earth do dwell
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All people that on Earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forthtell;
Come ye before him and rejoice.
The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid he did us make;
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For why? The Lord our God is good;
His mercy is forever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
the God whom heaven and earth adore
from earth and from the angel host
be praise and glory evermore.
The Lord’s prayer : Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Hymn STF449 – Lord of creation.
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Lord of creation, to you be all praise!
Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways!
Your glory and might are beyond us to tell,
and yet in the heart of the humble you dwell.
Lord of all power, I give you my will,
in joyful obedience your tasks to fulfill.
Your bondage is freedom, your service is song,
and, held in your keeping, my weakness is strong.
Lord of all wisdom, I give you my mind;
enrich it with truths that express your design.
What eye has not seen and what ear has not heard
is taught by your Spirit and shines from your Word.
Lord of all bounty, I give you my heart;
I praise and adore you for all you impart:
your love to inspire me, your counsel to lead,
your presence to shield me, whatever my need.
Lord of all being, I give you my all,
for if I disown you, I stumble and fall;
but sworn in glad service your word to obey,
I walk in your freedom the rest of the way.
Bible reading : 2 Corinthians 11:1-4
I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me!I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Reflection on the title Guarding Against Deception
One prominent emerging theologian wrote about guarding against deception in today’s world is Russell Moore, he encourages Christians to remain true to biblical teachings while effectively interacting with contemporary issues like politics, social justice and religious pluralism,
When Paul wrote this message he was addressing the problems of division in the church. People were divided on the issues of doctrine, immorality and deception.
Some of the modern examples of deception that can occur in the church today are
1) Prosperity gospel
2} False teachings
3) Manipulative leadership- emotionally or financially
4) Misuse of Scripture
5) Ignoring Moral Failures
6) Focusing on Numbers Over Discipleship.
As the church of today we are being warned against any form of deception. We need the spirit of wisdom, discernment and understanding to deal with the issues of deception. The devil is at work, and he has invaded the church in so many ways of deception
There is a danger in addressing false teachings in the church today. In 2 Corinthians 11:26 Paul suffered a lot because of preaching the true Jesus and his faithfulness to God.
May the good Lord help us to guard against deception in the church today.
Hymn STF566 – Take my life, and let it be
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Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.
May the peace of the Lord be with us all.