The two spiritual camps are complete opposites in their work. God is in charge, but there is an enemy that is in full-scale revolt, and it has powerful influence all around us. Since the eternal destiny of precious souls is at stake, we need to heed his counsel on how to avoid spiritual deception. His servants are not outwardly, obviously evil. A spirit of slyness is almost the same as a … Repeated rejection of spiritual truth brings spiritual deception as a divine consequence. If you venture out on your own, the wolves are waiting! If there is any form of deception in my life, I ask your Spirit to send conviction, revelation, discernment and freedom. F. F. Bruce observed (The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians [Eerdmans], p. 95), “Paul emphasizes that the revelation of God cannot be properly known apart from the cultivation of brotherly love within the community.” N. T. Wright (Colossians and Philemon [IVP/Eerdmans], pp. First, if you love people, you will pray for them. But in the end, molecular manufacturing lacks true spiritual … In the introduction, he states (p. xvii), “Church leaders are obsessed with style and methodology, losing interest in the glory of God and becoming grossly apathetic about truth and sound doctrine.” He adds (p. xviii, brackets in original), “What we desperately need today are ‘shepherds according to [God’s] heart, who will feed [believers] with knowledge and understanding’ (Jeremiah 3:15; Acts 20:28-31).”. In The Truth War [Thomas Nelson, 2007], John MacArthur argues that faithfulness to Christ demands that we fight for the truth of the gospel. In Colossians 2:2b-3, probably countering the false teachers who emphasized their secret knowledge of the mysteries of God, Paul comes back to that theme and says that he wants these believers to attain “to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” He also (Col. 2:5) commends their “good discipline and the stability of [their] faith in Christ.” Clearly, Christ and the gospel must be the center of a solid church. In both prayers, Paul connects spiritual apprehension of God’s blessings in Christ with being a part of a loving fellowship of believers. As Paul states in Ephesians 4:13, 15, we are to attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God as we speak the truth in love. As we’ve seen, false teachers were threatening the new Colossian church. 94-95) explains, “Living in a loving and forgiving community will assist growth in understanding, and vice versa, as truth is confirmed in practice and practice enables truth to be seen in action and so to be fully grasped.” Our text implies three qualities of a loving church: Although it’s not directly stated, most commentators think that Paul’s great “struggle” for these believers whom he had not met was his struggle in prayer. He said that the riches of the glory of the mystery that God has now revealed is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Believers who are ignorant of God’s Word are more likely to be deceived and if they begin to accept Satan’s lies as truth, the devil will start to build a stronghold in their minds. Paul says that full assurance comes from understanding and knowing God’s mystery, which is Christ (the best manuscripts omit, “of the Father”). Paul warned that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and his servants as servants of righteousness (2 Cor. Untrue assumptions! It is spiritual deception, coming straight from Satan himself. But Scripture was not given merely to produce theologians; it was given “so that the servant of God may be … the truth. It plays on the mind and makes people who are affected to believe in the lies it presents. After that traumatic event, I never made that short walk without looking around for potential danger. That’s a respectful attitude and reverence for the Lord. It’s easy to find churches that tell you what you want to hear to make you feel good. In Colossians 2:2, he expresses his desire or prayer for these dear people, along with the believers in Laodicea, “that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself ….” That reminds me of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (3:16-19): … that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. The devil says, “God doesn’t love you anymore since you had that adultery!”, God’s Word says, “You are loved for who you are, not for what you’ve done. “Knit together” sometimes means “instructed.” But it also means “knit or held together” (see Col. 2:19), which is probably the meaning here. To be forewarned was to be forearmed. God’s Word! To begin, here is a prayer to break the spirit of deception and remain guarded from it. Were they hyper-focused on the devil? ), Spiritual warfare: How to forgive others (Part 2), Spiritual warfare: Breaking the power of sin. Without sound doctrine and biblically-based discernment, God’s people will be “carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. Spiritual deception is the result of not following or obeying the Word of God. When a believer adopts any thought, doctrine, or practice which is contrary to God’s written word then he enters into the spiritual darkness of heresy and deception. The devil has convinced many of God’s children to believe in a lie that is making them feel just downright defeated and hopeless! (2 Timothy 2:1-4) You may listen to us at BlogTalkRadio or Sermon Audio. A religion of people who have eyes but do not see. Stop meditating on the deception the devil has been feeding you, and start meditating on God’s Word. James 4:7. Today after the service, a small group of us prayed over a man's leg (which was almost 2 inches shorter than the other) and God grew the shorter leg out to match the longer one!!! They deny the gospel of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and salvation by grace through faith alone. But it is an essential quality. Spiritual elitism. Although not directly stated here, his concern for them is similar to his concern for the new Thessalonian believers, where he compares himself to a gentle, nursing mother and to a loving, concerned father (1 Thess. There are other areas of doctrine and practice where godly people differ. B. Its proponents are defending it vehemently and rebuking those … How do you counter a lie? From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Telephone scammers prey on everyone, but especially on the elderly. It is true that we are to ‘fear’ the Lord, but that’s a different kind of fear. Seducing spirits have been turned loose upon the world today. beginnings of spiritual deception concerning separation Back in 1957, a man named Harold Ockenga (on the faculty at Princeton University?) Thomas Nelson Publishers 1990 edition A person is deceived regardless of who they are when they think they can spiritually control or take charge of God’s Holy Spirit. For even before you accepted Jesus at all, Christ gave His life for you! In the early chruch, miracles were commonplace. But you’ll have to work on those points on your own. But I disagree strongly that we must be tolerant and accepting of diverse views on clear biblical doctrines and moral issues. He spoiled the principalities and powers and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Col. 2:15). I agree that there are some secondary matters where we must not be dogmatic and I agree that we must be kind and gracious when we defend the truth (2 Tim. The Old Testament points ahead to Jesus. I Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirts, and doctrines of devils;” It’s happening now. Spirit of Deception. Everyone knows God is real, but people […] What is deception based upon? Why do people have rebellion in their hearts today? But you can avoid spiritual deception by being committed to a loving, Christ-centered church. There are no Biblical reasons as to why such miracles should cease to exist today! naturally obey parents? The strategy of deception: 1. As W. H. Griffith Thomas states (Studies in Colossians and Philemon [Kregel], p. 78), “The only safeguard against error for the Christian is a full knowledge of Christ.”. When identity thieves get your credit card numbers they can print up phony cards and take out cash or run up bills in your name. I want to pursue the theme of avoiding spiritual deception, because it is no less a threat in our day than it was in Paul’s. But they were promoting a message that appealed to the flesh. Let me be quick to add that “loving” isn’t the only criterion! Rather, he is countering the false teachers, who appealed to people with their inside secrets. How do we counter this weapon of deception? When I first came here 23 years ago, one of the elders told me that I was arrogant because I had titled one of my sermons, “What the Bible Says About Abortion.” When I asked him to explain, he said, “You can’t be dogmatic. His primary duty was to train small teams in preparation for combat. The more they see… A SPIRIT OF DECEPTION . In chapter 1, Paul has shown that as the creator of the universe and the head of the church, Christ is supreme over all things. Especially after the very Son of God has shed His blood to remove those sins?? God often allows spiritual deception as a form of punishment for willful sin, and in order to cultivate an awareness in our lives of how badly we need the One who is … In Colossians 4:2-3, Paul specifically calls this church to prayer: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well ….”. Tragically, they lead their followers into eternal damnation. It’s not about keeping up an image or veneer of righteousness by rules, but rather about how we think and live when others aren’t looking. Over 40 years ago, Marla and I were mugged at gunpoint as we walked from our car to our apartment in Dallas, Texas. By the empowering of Your Spirit, please help them to set a guard over their mouth and keep themselves from speaking hurtful words. … Bible verses about spiritual blindness There are many causes for spiritual blindness such as Satan, pride, ignorance, following blind guides, caring what others think, and more. We live in a time of unprecedented widespread deception. We all have to work to protect ourselves. The enemy has many servants who are trying to delude you with their persuasive arguments to water down the truth about Christ. 2:7, 11). This is the root of many delusions. It’s amazing how many different false teachings and teachers continue to prey on the Lord’s flock in our day. Invariably, these groups prey on unsuspecting, untaught people in evangelical churches. What happens? The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. In our text (Col. 2:4), Paul warns about those who would “delude you with persuasive argument.” They were promising “deeper knowledge of mysteries” and “secret wisdom” that would help you in your Christian life. Satan’s deception always causes distrust for spiritual authority and doubt of. It is a war because there are forces working vigorously to thwart man from reaching God. The devil has fed them a lie that their heavenly Father is cold, cruel and distant… and because they accepted that lie, their feelings reflect the error. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2016, All Rights Reserved. So if a church is not centered on the Bible, it is not centered on Jesus Christ. They picture God as our Good Buddy on the journey, a “life-coach” who is there rooting for us, even when we sin. But we are to be stable in our faith in Christ. Not only did he cause Eve to rebel against God, but to. 2:24-26). It was so much easier to tell myself "NO" when ever I had the desire to sin...", Is God upset with me? Satan doesn’t come in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork, laughing wickedly as he promises to take you with him to hell. First, let me ask you this. Scriptures For Authority, Power & Spiritual Warfare. 6:1). There are core biblical truths that we must understand clearly and be willing to fight for and, if necessary, divide over or even die for. John states (2:24b), “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”. He is the ultimate Judge. How can we lovingly hold firmly to the truth? He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo... More. Warning the Corinthians about not receiving a false Jesus or a different gospel, the apostle Paul wrote (2 Cor. He has in mind lives that are aligned with biblical revelation, daily habits of life that reflect the values of Jesus, unwavering obedience to the will of God, no matter how unpopular or “unsuccessful” that may prove to be. A person who properly fears the Lord isn’t going to be out mocking His Holy name, but they will not be afraid of Him either. Pharaoh's magicians derived great power from deception and trickery, but ultimately, their parlor tricks lacked the true power of God. 1Timothy 4:1 NASB The Holy Spirit is the one who forewarns, in this case that some people will abandon their faith in Jesus because other attractions will draw their attention. He uses the verb related to that noun when he refers (Col. 4:12) to Epaphras, who is “always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers.” We get our word “agonizing” from this Greek word. This deception is "the lie" that Satan has always foisted on mankind—that we do not need to obey God's law (see Genesis 3:4; Romans 1:21-25 ). There are two things to take away from this. Many have been taken over by a spirit of deception in this hour. Seeker sensitive churches avoid mentioning anything negative, such as sin or judgment, which might make seekers feel uncomfortable. If you hear a fellow Christian saying things that are contrary to sound doctrine, you talk with him and try to reason from Scripture to show him his error. And a local pastor is helping them study the Bible without confronting their drug use! The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13) while demons are deceiving spirits. Beyond that, the cults are as active as ever, going door-to-door in our neighborhoods and recruiting people by appealing to their “strong family emphasis.” Among professing evangelicals, there are “churches” that gather in bars and sip cocktails while they discuss the Bible and current topics of interest. There is safety when you’re in the fold with the other sheep. Just turn back to your heavenly Father, repent of your sins, for He longs to have your relationship with Him restored!”, 1 John 2:1, “…if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”, The devil replies, “Yeah well, God may forgive you, but you’re relationship with Him will never be the same!”, God’s Word replies, “God will not only forgive you, but He longs (deeply desires) to be gracious to you! If we’re oblivious to these and many other deceptive schemes of the devil, we’re more likely to fall prey to them. Some time ago, I pointed out a deadly deception in the prophetic movement. Guard me against any form of deception. 11:3), “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”. As you can see, many believers are deceived and fall into a thinking mode that makes them feel hopeless and condemned… all because they accepted error as truth and allowed a stronghold to form in their minds! It is very clear in the Bible that deceit is an act that God hates. The problem with spiritual deception is that it’s always more subtle and conniving than an armed, frontal attack. I choose to revoke my alliance with any form of darkness and to step into proper alignment with Your ways. As Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, we are doing battle against “the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”. Since military retirement in 2000, he now serves in the Lord's army as a missionary evangelist, and is still teaching soldiers — good soldiers of Jesus Christ. But note that the unity is not divorced from understanding and true knowledge of Christ. We may debate these issues vigorously, but we must always regard the other person as a brother or sister in Christ and treat him or her with love. This spirit consumes every part of the lives of those affected and eradicates the peace of God. As Alec Motyer asserts (A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Loving the Old Testament [Christian Focus], p. 19, 25), “Without the Old Testament, we could not know Jesus properly…. In developing this list, I was concerned, not so much with addressing specific doctrines, but in identifying characteristics that are symptomatic of deception. He keeps reminding them of their sins which should have been long forgotten. But after we were attacked, I was always alert and on guard. (Read More...) James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. SLY – Stealthily clever; secretive rather than open; underhanded; deceitful.– The American Heritage Dictionary Of The English Language A spirit of slyness is almost the same as a spirit of deception… Stable churches don’t chase after the latest fad or church growth techniques. The biggest scam is fraudsters who pose as agents of the IRS, telling people that they will be arrested or their property seized for back taxes if they do not pay up immediately. Sometimes, sound teaching will confront where your life is not in line with God’s revealed will. But the modern evangelical church, swayed by the worldly emphasis on tolerance and “love,” has become apathetic to the whole concept of truth. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." When you’re spiritually blind you can’t see Christ because you hardened your heart and won’t come to the knowledge of the truth. delivered an address in which he stated, very candidly, that those of his viewpoint had come to the conclusion that the Bible doctrine of separation was out-dated . This is especially true in relation to the Last Days. If you’re unaware of potential danger, you’re more likely to fall prey to it. God’s Word is clear that love casts out fear… the two are opposites: 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. Spurgeon once said “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. Ultimately most spiritual deception will be a mixture or aspects of both truth and lies so that the deception is not easily recognizable. Note five things: The Bible is our only source of divine revelation about the person and work of Jesus Christ and the Bible is Christ-centered. I sounded the alarm in hopes of stemming the tide of this erroneous theology, but I see it rising more rapidly now than ever. 2:18-19). The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. But other less flagrant examples abound, where the cults offer lonely people a sense of belonging and fellowship. This website uses cookies to give you the. It’s not about outward conformity or appearance, but about love for God and one another from the heart. Proverbs 11:3 - The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but … THE RED FLAGS OF DECEPTION: The following is a list of ‘Red Flags’ that are symptoms of deception in a person or group. True Christianity is a matter of the heart or inward person. If you advocate discernment, you’ll be accused of being judgmental or intolerant. Q. Don’t You Think You Are Overly Harsh In Your Description Of Jacob As A Rascal? – The American Heritage Dictionary Of The English Language . Bible verses about spiritual blindness There are many causes for spiritual blindness such as Satan, pride, ignorance, following blind guides, caring what others think, and more. 11:14-15). We are in the last of the last days. The biblical gospel is a sure foundation to guard us against spiritual deception. https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Deception-In-The-End-Times 1. They don’t keep people hyped up with speculations about how close we may be to the rapture (because we can’t know exactly when Jesus will return). Satan has used the false teaching of the cults to lure many away from the true gospel that the apostles preached. Satan has been employing his deceptive lies since the Garden. That’s what Paul was arguing for in our text. First of all, I must stress the point that a spirit of deception is VERY SLY. To sum up: We avoid spiritual deception by being committed to a loving, Christ-centered church. One of Satan's biggest lies, It's vital to love yourself (who you are in Christ). Paul is continuing to talk about his ministry (Col. 1:24-29). Sam Storms (samstorms.com) writes: The word translated “good order” points to the well-ordered behavior of the Colossians. Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You that You are the Way, the Truth and the Life—the only Truth and the only Way. In verse 7, he names it "the mystery of lawlessness," a set of beliefs that is totally contrary to "the truth" (verses 10-12). Error! Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Christian Life, False Teachers, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. But these wolves were mingling among the flock, so Paul was concerned. 4:14). It takes some effort and diligence to mine out the riches that are in Christ. You will begin to tear down strongholds and as your mind is renewed by the Word of God, your feelings will reflect those changes. But Scripture says this is to be the job of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and authentic humble leaders in the body of Christ (see John 16:13-15). The Holy Ghost has been speaking to me lately about the importance of the Holy Spirit baptism and the speaking of tongues. They claimed to have a deeper philosophy than the simple gospel of faith in Christ. Why? For example, many believers are feeling guilty and condemned because of their past. Be committed to a loving church. The Spirit of Deception is from the devil. They probably had not yet gained many followers—at this point Paul was still “rejoicing to see [their] good discipline and the stability of [their] faith in Christ” (Col. 2:5). They use the Bible and claim to believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. "Submit yourselves to God. The person begins to see their sins as greater than the blood of Jesus! Spiritual Blindness! The Old Testament promised the coming Redeemer and King, but the specifics were blurry until Jesus came on the scene, much like we’re fuzzy on the details about end time prophecies that have not yet been fulfilled. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”. The rest of the New Testament interprets and applies the person, teaching, and work of Christ. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit … Paul’s heartfelt love and concern for these believers whom he had not even met is evident. To avoid spiritual deception, be committed to a Christ-centered church. They feel dirty and unworthy to approach their heavenly Father or have a relationship with Him. In chapter 1, Paul has shown that as the creator of the universe and the head of the church, Christ is supreme over all things.
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