Date: 07-Feb-2024
Name: Barry
Topic: DISCERNMENT OVER DECEPTION
Content:
This is the day the Lord has made. We shall be glad and rejoice in it.
Gentlemen, I have an urgent message today that we strive to attain spiritual discernment in this age of spiritual deception.
The enemy is at full attack, seeping into Christian camps, deceiving many in the body of Christ, causing chaos and strife.
Let us pick up our full armour of God as the battle is here and now. This is a call to arms dear brothers.
Proverbs 2:3-5
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.
Philippians 1:9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
How are we deceived?
Matthew 24:4-5
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take
heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
● (Proverbs 16:18. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall). Pride is the doorway to deception. Where we think that we don’t need God and this is the space where we are vulnerable.
● ( Proverbs 29:5. A man who flatters his neighbor Spreads a net for his feet).When our egos are stroked by flattery and promises of greatness, deception is often present.
●
● Our spiritual leaders require prayers of protection from this. Our vulnerable members of the body of Christ require prayers of protection.
How do we avoid deception with discernment?
Matthew 24:23-25
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.
● We must be in the Word. If you don’t know God's Word you become easy prey.
● Be always in prayer. This shows our dependency on God and not of ourselves. We avoid pride with prayer.
● Follow, follow, follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. He sees the motives of others and also of any self deception. Lean into His guidance in all things. Remember that one of His gifts is the Spirit of discernment.
● We must be in fellowship with solid Christians as they will help see things you can’t and nudge you in the God direction.
How do we test for the truth?
● Jesus is the truth
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
We must be Christ centered in all things, seeking His heart and striving to have the mind of Christ.
● God’s word is the truth
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
It is in the word that we verify what is said in the flesh especially by false prophets and teachers.
● Witness of the Holy Spirit is the truth
1John 5:6
This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth
The Holy Spirit bears witness of the authority of Jesus Christ. He will lead only by what He receives from our Lord.
Triangulate your position of discernment and see if it is true to Jesus, the bible and witness of the Holy Spirit. Using these three truths we can navigate through any deceptive practices or situations.
I am preaching this to myself in the loudest voice.
Testimony of the problem of a two spirited person.
Deuteronomy 22:9
You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.
I met with a friend on Sunday night who had recent struggles and had been in a vulnerable space. I felt in the spirit that there was a revelation waiting for me and I was excited to see this man as he is dear to me.
Throughout our fellowship of 3.5 hrs he effectively sat opposite to me telling me how he had a spiritual awakening and now had the heart of Christ and was carrying the burden of the world's sins himself.
I found myself slack jawed and this amused him to the point of showing me benevolence as someone with sight, leading a blind man. I was the blind man and he even called me lost because I had to rely on a god. We are gods he kept repeating.
This was a man only a few weeks ago, was in a wretched state. My heart, though, broke for him on Sunday. I felt gutted and he was smiling all the while.
What was going on? I was truly befuddled for some time. He was so confident and even said that he will talk with me to my level of understanding so it wouldn’t get beyond me.
This was, truly, a “what the!” moment.
Holy Spirit, please help and guide me. What is going on?
Then I saw it. The lack of humility, the denouncing of God. He was making up his own belief to suit him. Not beholden to anyone, especially a god with rules.
This is a man who has said he believes in God and yet is obviously deceived by another spirit. A spirit that appeases his ego and pride.
I told him that my despondent countenance was a result of seeing a friend jump off the lifeboat into rough seas. His reply was that I was not enlightened enough to understand. I still needed a god crutch.
Yes, I said. I cling to God with my very life. He is my truth.
How many more are being deceived into creating a Jesus or God to suit their own lives?
Do we do this ourselves in some respects? Do we try to dumb down God to suit our own fleshly desires?
It is DECEPTION.
And we must DISCERN.
Prayer Points:
Prayer Point 1
Father God, I lay at your feet as your humble servant. My life is in Your hands. Guide me and instruct me as Your will. I trust you alone and by Your grace, I have the faith in You and of You..
Prayer Point 2
Father God, open my spiritual eyes and reveal to me the truth in all things. Let me perceive the deceptive spirits wherever they lay. These are counterfeit to the true Holy Spirit who is the witness to the one true Jesus Christ.
Amen
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