SNEAKY DECEPTION

 DISCLAIMER: This is one of those blog posts that might step on your toes. I would encourage you before you even begin reading to put your steel toed shoes on.

Do you ever wonder why you can't figure out an answer to something you're experiencing in your life? Sometimes the answer is right in front of us, but the devil blinds us. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Recently I was remembering an encounter I had with a friend several years ago. I’ll call her Barb.

Barb was sharing that she was constantly having horrible nightmares. So, we kind of processed some of the typical questions. Then I went over for dinner one night. It was my first time at her home. As I looked around, I saw an obvious cause of her nightmares. She had a great big bookshelf FULL of all kinds of horror movies, heavy metal music and some new age type of mix stuff.

Seeing this, I mentioned to her that she should get rid of them or burn them. Her first response to me was, “I'll just sell them or take to Goodwill.” I said, “No you can't go dump that into somebody else's life who doesn't know any better.” Her response to me was, “Do you know how much money I have tied up in that?” I said, “Is it really worth what it would cost you or another person’s soul?”

You see, that's how deception works. There’s always an element of truth mixed in deception that captures us. It will usually be something we think will meet a need that we have in our life. Here is the challenge for today ask the Holy Spirit to help you do a “spiritual house cleaning”. Walk through your house asking the Holy Spirit if there's anything there that is causing an open door to evil spirits. And not just physical things in your home. Ask him to show you things in your mind that leave a door open to the enemy.

Believe me, nothing or no one is worth for or missing the complete freedom we could have in Jesus. Here are some scriptures to consider.

 ^“See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.” (Col. 2:8 NKJV)

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth…? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1, 3 NKJV).

When we allow a major area of deception to remain in our lives it causes us to be easily deceived in other areas and causes us to not have the discernment that we could have. Consider the following two quotes.

+Followers of Jesus Christ must continually keep their balance by keeping their eyes on Him. The moment we turn our attention to the side, our steps weave and waver. If we try to follow anything or anybody but God, we can get off the narrow track altogether and it takes a lot of effort to get back where we belong.” (J.W. Goll)

On a website called another author says, “God warned His people of spiritual scams. “Let no one cheat you of your reward.” “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men” (Col. 2:8,18). “In their greed they will exploit you with false words” (2Pet. 2:3). Watching others being spiritually exploited is even more agonizing for the godly than a financial scam.” (https://www.biblequestions.org/bqar669.html)

Lastly, deception doesn't just come through people being deceptive spiritually with scripture. It's amazing how many people, Christians and non-Christians are deceived by get rich scams, false loan companies, meeting people online who they never get to meet in person, people giving sob stories telling you they need money, making excuses for why they can never follow through with things they say they're going to do because they don't intend to.

I close with this, as mentioned above walk through your home and do a “spiritual house cleansing” and in your prayer ask you if there is any other area of your life that you're being deceived. This is important because unchecked deception will make you easily susceptible to deception/scams in other areas of your life. We are in the last days. We need the gift of discernment to be strong in us more than ever.

Gleaning from Jude 1:20-23 below is a list of 7 Ways Christians Can Avoid Deception as explained at the following website. https://rosilindjukic.com/christians-avoid-deception/

1. Build yourself up in your most holy faith

2. Pray in the Holy Spirit

3. Keep yourself in the love of God

4. Look for mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads unto eternal life

5. Have compassion….but with discernment

6. Rescue others with fear, pulling them out of the fire

7. Hate sin

 Here is the list of traits to guard against from https://fightcybercrime.org/scams/imposter

• Their messages are poorly written, inconsistent, or vague.
• They ask you to start communicating by text or personal email, away from the original site you met on.
• After just a short amount of time, they profess their love or strong feelings for you.
• After gaining your trust, they start telling you stories of bad luck or illnesses.
• They indirectly or directly ask for money, especially in the form of gift cards or wire transfer, for things like medical bills, emergencies, car troubles or travel expenses to come visit you.
• They offer various excuses trying to explain why they can’t show you more photos of themselves or speak with you on video chat.
• They always make excuses as to why they can’t meet in person.
• When you do agree to meet, they cancel or postpone.

 

TRANSITION TO SHIFT

 NOTE: Below is a shorter version of a teaching the Lord gave me three years ago. Now is the time!

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

There is a shift going on in the spirit realm & it’s about to hit your life. 

 

It’s a time for new beginnings, a new season.  Prepare for and embrace the new. 

 

This won’t just be a revival; it will be a movement. 

·         The labor pains you have been in are about to cease. 

·         The missing pieces will come together. 

 

Help is coming for the transition time. Some of it is already with you. 

 

S.H.I.F.T. 

 

Seek  

 In order to be part of this shift we are going have to be “totally in”.  We will have to decide that we are going to seek God & follow Him with everything within us. 

·         And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  (Jer. 29:13) (Emphasis added)

·         We need to seek the Lord for His wisdom, His direction… 

 

Honor  

 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. (Rev. 3:8 ESV)

·         If we stay faithful to the vision, be faithful in the house of God… He will be faithful to us.  He will make a way.

·         The Lord has brought about our vindication; come, let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God. (Jer. 51:10 ESV)

·         Some have given up on the plan of God, but He hasn’t. 

·         “I have not lost sight of My plans for you the Lord says, and it is your welfare that I have in mind, not your undoing, for you too, I have a destiny and a hope.”  (Jer. 29:11 KNOX) 

 Inspire 

·         God will inspire us to keep moving forward. 

·         But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” (2 Chr. 15:7) 

·          Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.  (1Cor. 15:58)

Forward 

The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger. (Job 17:9) 

You can’t start the next chapter of your life 

 if you keep re-reading the last one. 

 

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:13,14)

 

Transition 

·         “When God moves you to a new place, you may have baggage from the last place, and the baggage doesn’t usually fit through the tunnel of transition. If you want to go to God’s “nest thing” you may have to let something go.”  --Lance Wallnau 

·         Transition is a process – it’s the space in between. 

·         Failing to make the transition when it is time for transition can be disastrous and can cause untold frustrations. God is a God of seasons, and we need to be like the sons of Issachar who understood seasons and knew what to do. See 1 Chronicles 12:32. 

·         Transition often brings new roles and responsibilities. Don’t try to be a “Lone Ranger” in the transition… Seek counsel… 

 

CONCLUSION: 

 

Are you ready for the shift?  Ready to count the cost? 

The wind is beginning to blow… Things are shifting… Are you in? 

 

Are you ready to sing as an old song says: 

‘I have decided to follow Jesus…though none go with me, still I will follow.” 

You know, that’s not just a salvation song…it’s a song of commitment! 

 

Some are known for saying, “Get ready, Get ready, Get ready!” 

The football world says: “Are you ready to rumble?” 

 

I ask, Are you ready for the SHIFT? Are you totally in? 

God is raising up a new breed… 

 

Let us be the one to be different like Caleb in the bible - 

But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. 

(Num.14:24) 

 

Come on Church, let’s move forward… 

 

 

KNOW YOUR SEASON

    Here we are in October already! Wow! I think 2023 has been one of the fastest years yet. Add to that being in a season of transition in your life and you begin to wonder what in the world is going on.

     This morning I read two quotes that really got me thinking about how much more in these days we need to trust God and have discernment with all that's going on around us. Most define discernment as knowing the difference between right and wrong. Spurgeon says, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

 "The present is all I ever have. There is never a time when my life is not “this moment.” When I feel the uneasiness, anxiety, tension, stress, and worry—they are all forms of fear and are caused by too much future and not enough present. When I feel guilt, regret, resentment, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness, they are caused by me focusing too much on the past and not enough on the present. The basic problem is the attachment of my mind to the past and the future and the denial of the now. My present is the key to my freedom. I do not let my mind create an obsession with the future as an escape from the present. My life is now!" --Lou Tice

Jesus is present in your now moments. You are not alone! --Ceitci Demirkova

Here’s a few scriptures to ponder…

“But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil.”  (Heb. 5:14 NASB)

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,” (Phil. 1:9 NKJV)

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But wrongdoers will stumble in them.” (Hosea 4:9 NASB)

Are you ready to step into the season God has for you? If so, get ready for a “shift.” I will be posting more about a transition to the shift in the next day or so.

 

Will the Real Church Please Stand Up?

For the past year I have been thinking a lot about the church in general. I have been concerned that as the church we just need to stand up for truth and be who God called us to be in order to influence those around us. While we should pray for our government I don't think our focus is to get so involved fighting the government that we forget what we're here for.

One thought that keeps surfacing and was especially strong recently as I was reading the book of 1 Thessalonians is this: As the apostles went forth ministering the gospel in various communities, people received the good news of the Gospel, which is what the word gospel means. It means “good news.”

 But it didn't stop with preaching the gospel, discipleship followed. Look at the following command from Jesus that we in the church are to obey.

  Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Emphasis mine)

 Hmmm, so the command wasn't to see how flashy the service could be designed or how flamboyant a minister can be, it was simply to preach the gospel and make disciples.

Throughout the New Testament (NT) one of the main teachings that was emphasized was the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn't just some celebrity preacher. He was the son of God who died for us and gave a promise that He would one day return for us. The NT disciples believed that. Yes, Jesus did miracles along his journey. But the one thing that impacted people was the love and acceptance Jesus extended to them. Yes, there was both truth and grace as He ministered. He was sensitive to what each individual needed for them to be free. The subject of ministering in truth and grace is a whole separate teaching which we won't go into at this time. Back to my earlier statement, the focus was on preparing ourselves and others for the return of Jesus. Look at this verse -

1 Thess. 4:16-18

 ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words. (Emphasis mine)

While Jesus was on earth and after he was taken up, the focus of the believers was always on Him. Their hope was in the promise of His return. Look what happens after the Apostle Peter preaches a fired-up message about Jesus where 3,000 people make Jesus their Lord. The apostles and other believers didn’t simply rave about what had just happened or ramble about Peter being a superstar Christian, they followed up with discipleship. They didn’t try creating sensationalism, a doctrine or movement out of that event. They recognized it was a supernatural move of God which turned out to be the birth of the Church.

OK, put on your steel toed shoes for a moment. Peter after that great revival didn't change his image to quote look the part he just continued to minister on a day-to-day basis as did all the other apostles and believers. Where did we get the idea that we have to market the Holy Spiri.? OK enough on that let me move on.

Let’s take a brief look at the New Testament Church.

ACTS 2:40-43, 46,47

⁴⁰ And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” ⁴¹ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. ⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ⁴³ Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles… ⁴⁶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

 Those of you who have known me for a long time know that my word is the word “balance.” We read in the passage above about many being saved and baptized and continuing to be taught and discipled on a regular basis. In verse 43 it talks about signs and wonders being done among them. I believe in signs and wonders. I believe that miracles are for today. And they have their place. However, that is not to be the emphasis of our gatherings, it is a byproduct of being a part of the Kingdom of God. In the book of First Corinthians chapter 12 it talks about how the Holy Spirit offers those gifts as He wills. It's not something that we decide. But what we can choose is… Here I come with my balance statement; We can choose to make disciples of people as they come to Jesus. We can choose to love people, to give them hope beyond where they are, to give them Good News.

 Where will the people come from who become believers and need discipleship? They will come to our services when corporately or individually we have been a part of the community showing them the love of Jesus. When we show that we accept them as they are, and that there is hope beyond where they are, tell them transformation is possible. It appears to me that the church at large has lost our sense of awe of Jesus… no longer have a burden for the lost. We got comfortable. We got distracted and deceived with popularity, celebrity preachers, sensationalism, the list goes on.

 Putting this all together…

 Recently I have been thinking about how we all have concerns as to what our gifting is and how we can serve in the body of Christ.  While I may not be the best out there, I do know that my calling is to teach, disciple and counsel people through the ministry of teaching, discipleship, and writing. Lately I find myself being so burdened with the need, to reach people in the community, to see them become born-again, then walk them through the process of discipleship. I'm not sure how the Lord will put this all together, but I am preparing for that moment now.

 In closing, I am aware of a few churches that are clearly following the NT church model. But, the question remains; From the Pulpit to the Pew, what are we really living for? What are really emphasizing in our churches? How many disciples have we made who in turn have discipled others?  How many people are excited about attending their church? They're there early, they're excited about what the church has to offer versus just going to get full of more information. This summer at a revival service I heard the preacher say, “Is your church full on Sunday morning? If not, why not?” Ouch!

 Brothers and sisters let's move forward empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the servant leaders we are called to be. My sharing here is not to condemn anyone but to challenge all of us to be who Jesus has called us to be. The world needs us now more than ever!  May each of you be blessed in all your endeavors to sincerely further the Kingdom of God!