A Sermon
Delivered on Wednesday Evening, February 4th, 2026, by
Evangelist PAUL ACQUAH,
Live on MZ Radio London, London UK
We live in an era defined by “information explosion,” where we are more connected and more susceptible than ever before. Our world is saturated with ideas that sound wise, progressive, and empowering – philosophies that promise fulfilment, success, and enlightenment. Yet beneath their appealing surface, many are built on a foundation of shifting sand, rooted not in eternal truth but in the fleeting trends of human thought and the elemental principles of a world at odds with its Creator. Deception doesn’t always come dressed as lies – sometimes, it wears the face of reason. But God’s truth never changes. His wisdom stands firm when human wisdom fails. So, how can you discern hollow philosophy from eternal truth? Where can you anchor your mind when every current tries to carry you away?
In today’s message titled “Don’t be deceived,” Evangelist Paul Acquah encourages you to stand firm in the truth of God’s word, guard your faith, and let the wisdom of God guide your life. Be blessed as you listen!
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2; 8).
The bible is warning us to guard ourselves against empty, deceptive philosophies that are based on limited human reasoning. “Empty deceit” means “high-sounding nonsense.” The words literally mean “empty illusion”. The wisdom or philosophy of this world is foolishness compared to God’s wisdom. This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord” (Jeremaih 9:23-24).
Intelligence, power, and riches can all give human beings the illusion of being in control—but the illusion always comes to an end. God considers our wisdom to be foolish. That’s how superior God’s thoughts are to ours. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, ” For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”.” God’s divine perspective and plans are greatly higher than human understanding. God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable. Even when we do not comprehend what the Lord is doing in our lives, He wants us to trust Him. His wisdom and perspective are far greater than our own. Even when we cannot discern His methods or timing, we must trust Him because His way is the best.
Human methods, logic, and reasoning are limited, whereas divine ways are perfect. My friend, don’t be deceived. We need to trust in a wisdom that transcends human logic and that’s God’s wisdom. The Bible is very critical of man’s wisdom. That might lead some to think that salvation is only for those who are less than smart. However, that is certainly not the case. The truths of God are very logical. However, God’s truths use a system of logic entirely different from man’s. God’s wisdom is based on our faith that there is a God who loves us and desires only the best for us. Man’s wisdom tries to understand things apart from God. Man’s wisdom says to stockpile all we can in hard times. That would be accurate if there was no God and we were only dependent on ourselves. But God says to give of what we have and He will bless us and give us more.
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38).
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:7-9).
God’s way is better, but the natural man cannot see this wisdom. Man doesn’t believe there is a God or trust Him to intervene. Christians are not supposed to be mindless. God gave us our brains and wants us to use them, but we need to factor into every evaluation the truths of God as revealed to us in His Word. Doing this will cause the so called-intellectuals, who don’t believe there is a God, to call us idiots because we believe some things by faith, but who is the real fool? God said, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalms 14:1 and 53:1).
There is no greater fool than those who deny the existence of God because they can’t see Him. This is the type of wisdom that the bible is speaking against. The world’s philosophy is vain and deceitful. Paul warned the Colossians to guard themselves against empty, deceptive philosophies that were based on limited human reasoning. The bible, talking about Jesus in Colossians 2:9 says that “ For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” It may be impossible for us to comprehend with our little peanut brain how Jesus could be totally human and totally divine at the same time But that is the clear teaching of Scripture, and we must accept it, even if we do not understand it. Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
The bible says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14; who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, 7 but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross Phil. 2:6–8).
Deception is always harder to discern when it is happening. The truth is that many times, people esteem the word of a doctor, lawyer, friend, or even the news, above the Word of God. This should not be. We can be assured that regardless of advancements in man’s knowledge, the simple truth of God’s Word is still infinitely more accurate and profound than man’s hypotheses. Often, Christians feel intimidated by intellectuals who proclaim ideas such as evolution. They sound so brilliant with all their big words. But a day is coming when we will all stand before God, and all their arguments will be shown to be “high-sounding nonsense.”
One of the ways that the enemy lies and tries to attack is through just basic tradition of this world. It is amazing the effect that tradition has on us. No wonder Jesus said your tradition has made the word of no effect. Many people do what they do just because it has been done that way for centuries before them. When it comes to religion, tradition nearly always hinders the Word of God. We can neutralise the positive power of God’s Word toward us, and nothing will do that any quicker than elevating man’s traditions above God’s Word. The bible says, “making the word of God of none effect through your tradition” (Mark 7:13). God’s Word is still true. “Let God be true, and every human being a liar”. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”[a] (Romans 3:3-4). The word of God is so powerful and will not return to Him void. “My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:11).But it may produce the negative results of judgment instead of the positive results of salvation.
