Don't Be Deceived!

Do you ever feel like you are in the twilight zone and wonder what is true, real, of God, and what is wrong or of the devil? As I was reflecting and writing this post I was looking for a twilight zone picture, you know the black and white spiral, when all of a sudden my Apple computer locked up and gave me a security message and number to call. It even threatened me with a fine if I left the page! I called and the tech walked me through how to unlock my computer but I immediately thought that they were going to want money for security. I was right! He said that now there is a security breach and I needed protection. So I was threatened, accused of doing some illegal activity, then I had scare tactics thrown at me! So Ill do my own research.  Crazy stuff happens all the time especially when we are Christians and working for the King. The enemy tries to get at us but sometimes its our own flesh. 

DOUBT, WORRY, FEAR, UNBELIEF, STUBBORNNESS, PRIDE, ENVY, STRIFE, SELFISHNESS, BITTERNESS, SELF SEEKING, CONFUSION, addictions, gluttony, laziness, DISCOURAGEMENT, division, anger,GOSSIP, ETC..

If you want to know why there are problems in families, churches, neighborhoods, etc.. its probably because of several or more of these attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs that we have about ourselves, God, and others.  Some of these are a direct result from giving in to sinful attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. Some is directly related to a demonic influence that we allow to take root in our lives. We all struggle with these things at some level but none of this is of God. 

"But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James 3:14-18

God is not the author of confusion but of peace. 1 Cor. 14:33 God wants us to be at peace with ourselves, one another, and to be able to submit to one another in love. When we insist on our own way we risk damaging the relationships in our lives. I also hear so many people say things like, "don't they see themselves, they must be blind!" Well the truth is usually they are, they are deceived. Most of us are deceived in many seemingly small ways. We don't really see ourselves the way that God does. We don't fully know the extent of Gods love for us. We often think things that are not true and we become discouraged or fearful because we don't really trust in the Lord but instead look to our own meager resources. The enemy wants God to be small in our eyes. When in reality, we should be the most assured, confident people on the planet because of who God is! 

Deception- An act or statement intended to make people believe something that is not true. 

I think that we can be deceived because there is always a partial truth and maybe it makes sense to the natural man. The devil always wants us to believe a lie, always. And he will often use partial truths to help us believe him. He will use our past, guilt, accusations, and those areas in our lives that we have not confessed and renounced. Also if we reject the truth of the gospel then often we are easy prey to the enemies schemes. 

This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.  He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 2 Thess. 2:9-11

Woe to those who reject the truth of the gospel and continue to harden their hearts, and stiffen their necks! 

So how do we stop from being deceived?

Read the Bible and abide in the Word of God. 
Don't just read it, do what it says. If you don't know the Word, your a sitting duck. 

Take up the full armor of God. 
Ephesians 6:10 The enemy will attack. He will attack your character, your faith, who you are in Christ, and your salvation. So be ready, be on guard. Remember Satan uses people who are blinded and deceived by him. Our battle isn't with them but with the unseen forces that wage war in the heavens. 

Who are you following? 
"Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. "John 10:7-10 

The sheep know Jesus and He knows them. They know his voice and follow Him. There are people out there that might look godly and like they have it all figured out but who are they following? Jesus said that you will know them by their fruit. Also they have to confess some things;
"This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.  But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God." 1 John 4:2-3 

They have to confess that Jesus came in the flesh. The spirit of the Antichrist hates this because Jesus conquered and defeated death and us followers have the same power that Christ had. We have victory over sin and death. Believers also are to confess with our mouth "the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 There is something powerful and transforming about speaking the truth. 
The devil will lead you down the wrong path. He will rip you off and steal everything that you have. This usually leads to hopelessness, despair, guilt, and regret. He usually doesn't have to work too hard to reel us in because of our weak flesh. In contrast Jesus wants to give us an abundance of love, joy, peace, and hope. He wants to bless us with a superior, excellent life! 
Where are you lacking? 
Do you have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self control, long suffering, goodness, and faithfulness? If your lacking in these areas ask God to help you identify why because chances are that you have a wrong belief about something in your life. 
Pray- 
keep the lines of communication with God open. If you struggle with prayer have someone pray with you and for you. Write the prayers down so that you can build your prayer life. Ask and seek God for everything, He will answer. 

Feelings- 
Are not facts. They change and waver all the time. Submit them to the truth and authority of the word. 

Yielding- 
Are you flexible or stubborn? Do you punch someone in the face to get your way? Can God mold and shape you or do you resist correction? Stubbornness is the same as witchcraft. It will destroy you. 

Have someone to talk to. 
There's nothing like an honest friend that will tell you the truth and help walk with you during troubling times. 

Ask yourself, where is the thought, advice, criticism, coming from? 
Is it pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy? 

Is it scriptural? 
A story came out that Harold Camping was predicting the day that Jesus would return. Turns out he was wrong! The word says, no one knows the day or the hour. Matt 24:36 

Take every thought captive- 
We have to be careful about what we think because often it leads to unwise actions and also unwanted feelings. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Ask God to search your heart for correction- 
King David asked God to search his heart for any wicked thing so that David could have the opportunity to repent and correct this area of his life. In the same way we all have blind spots that if left untreated can fester and cause damage to us as well as those around us. 

Some things are foundational to the Christian Faith

• Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born by the virgin Mary, came in the flesh, suffered and died on the cross for our sins, then rose the 3rd day. 
• Jesus is the door, the only way to eternal salvation.
• The Bible is the inspired infallible word of God and our ultimate authority.
• We are sinners and saved by grace through faith. 
• Unbelievers will be judged and condemned. 
• There is one God and consists of 3 persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Believers are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, He is our helper and gives us gifts to use to edify the church and other believers. 

So what we think, and what we believe will affect our lives in more ways than we can imagine! Be on guard friends and walk close to Jesus! 
Blessings.