You Are Not Immune From Deception

by Donovan Sabog on May 07, 2026

SCRIPTURE:

23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.

Matthew 24:23-25

 

OBSERVATION:

Christians are not immune from deception.

As Jesus talks about the end times and the signs that follow, He talks about false prophets, rampants sin, nation rising against nation, and kingdom rising against kingdom. He warns of earthquakes, famines, and natural disasters––all these external forces that will make it hard to live as Christians in this time. But then, He points to us, warning us of an unlikely source of trouble for Christians: other Christians. 

“...False messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones” (Matthew 24:24). God’s chosen ones––that’s us! False prophets and false messiahs will try to deceive us specifically.  

APPLICATION:

So what must we do?

We must remain on guard. Jesus warned us, so we must discern well. 

Don’t be deceived––know what is right and true versus what is wrong and false. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). 

Don’t just receive what you hear; test what you hear. Leverage your mind and discern with the Holy Spirit so that you will not be deceived. False prophets will come. It’s inevitable. The question is will you succumb to them, or will you stand on the Truth of God’s Word?

PRAYER:

Holy Spirit,

Thank You that You are with us. Thank You for your presence, Your power, and Your glory. In these last days, we need now more than ever. As we live in these turbulent times that You’ve called us to live in, empower us to discern well. Protect us against the evil one and use us as vessels to disarm and cast down false prophets. We love You, Lord. Thank You for loving us.

In Your name I pray,

Amen

About the Author

Donovan Sabog

Pastor Donovan Sabog joined our staff in 2020 and was appointed as our Executive Pastor in 2025. He loves God, loves people, and is passionate about helping people discover their God-given potential, release their dreams, and become all God created them to be.

Donovan grew up at New Hope Oahu and has been a part of this church with his family since 2004. Starting from a young age, he served on our Worship, Youth Performing Arts Center, NHO Music, and Children’s Ark teams, and he led our Lighting Team through its transition from Farrington High School to our Ministry Center when he was a high school student at Punahou School. 

These experiences led him to Yale University, where he received B.A. degrees with distinction in Economics and History, and worked as Head Recruitment Coordinator and Senior Presenter for Yale Undergraduate Admissions. While at Yale, he performed in the Yale Spizzwinks and Yale Whiffenpoofs a cappella groups, traveling with these groups to 25 states and 35 countries across all six inhabited continents. Donovan also received his M.A. in Formational Leadership from Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary.

Prior to New Hope, Donovan was a management consultant in New York City and has held various internships in finance, investment, education, government, and strategic policy at various firms in Hawaii. 

When he's not at church, you’ll probably find him eating a plate lunch (Garlic Chicken or Tonkatsu…with white rice and mac salad, of course), on a plane headed to serve the global Church on mission, or loving on people God places in his path.

Donovan is grateful to serve God, serve you, and do church as a team here at NHO. And if there’s one thing Donovan hopes that you always remember, it’s that “YOU ARE LOVED!”

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

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