Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
8 25 2023
The Deception of the Faithful
Deception – what is it really? I believe that deception begins with a lie and grows in depth and evil becomes deception. Deception is the act of deliberately causing somebody to accept something as accurate that is not true. It is an action that hides the truth. Common synonyms are double-dealing, fraud, scam, and trickery. There are six types of deceptions: omission, distortion, half-truths, blatant lies,
white lies, and failed lies.
2 Timothy 3:13 says “that evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”.
We know this is true. The truth today is so lacking. Many deceptive teachings have gradually crept into the church. False teaching, false philosophies, false prophets, and many using Satanism to create false miracles. (Just because you may not be aware doesn’t change that truth).
It says this great deception will only be magnified when the antichrist is revealed. 2 Thess 2:3-4 says: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness”.
If you have read the old book series, “Left Behind” Evil will grow beyond measure almost beyond description.
Paul says in Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ”.
The truth is, that when we turn from knowing God’s truth, we deceive ourselves. I believe we drift away like a sheep eating its way out of a safe pasture into a field of danger and evil, without even knowing that it happened.
How does that happen to the common man? They can just go along with the majority. Or we listen too easily to someone who seems to speak things from the bible that make sense. Meaning they are not verifying things on their own. They are not in God’s word. God gave us a mind to think, to reason, and to stand for what he stands for and walk in it. Too many of us agree with a word we hear but do nothing about it.
Did you know that spirituality is still IN today? No, not for all of course but the idea of a higher being…The man upstairs… A supreme being. What goes along with this is what some call “sheepism” Just follow the tribe. People are so trusting they feel they are growing through osmosis. Deception is often a subtle untruth, that before you know it, has led you to another pasture.
Can you identify the herd you kind of hang with, believe with? What is it they/you believe and then live by? Colleges and too many churches believe in religious relativism. Meaning there are many ways to God. Professing only one way speaks to arrogance, intolerance, and supremacy vs being inclusive and understanding that times have changed and religion has changed with it.
The study of the church and the bible shows a continual stream of false prophets and false teachers. So what do we do? Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. (Not their words) Matt 7:15 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits” Our Job is to become “Fruit Inspectors” and call it as we see it! Does the moral quality of their lives speak of the bible or its own selfish interest? What does it appear that they love more than Jesus?
Even Demons have faith that there is a God. Knowing there is a God is different than living your life with faith in God. Trusting him. Having entrusted your life with him as the head of the table. The King we have given our life over to and obey his direction and statutes. Faith that sees us through the war of words, and the aggression of half-truths and deception. A faith that studies the bible to show we are obedient children, growing in grace and truth by using and knowing God’s word.
When we build our lives on the rock of his gospel…No storm…no cancer…no failing prognosis…no spirit of deception will be big enough to shatter the rock on which you stand. Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. Romans 8:31 “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—
Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us
from the love of God that is revealed in Christ “.
El Shaddai Amy Grant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuXB1a3NBCw&list=PLCd-wh1hNZpQRQZ73gnTCeUYflnkLMF_S&index=20
