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). Many have been taken over by a spirit of deception in this hour. The rest of the New Testament interprets and applies the person, teaching, and work of Christ. The two spiritual camps are complete opposites in their work. SLY – Stealthily clever; secretive rather than open; underhanded; deceitful. 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. To begin, here is a prayer to break the spirit of deception and remain guarded from it. Were they hyper-focused on the devil? Rather than explain and apply the Bible, they show movie clips and give self-help messages about how you can succeed in your marriage or career. By “mystery,” Paul means truth that formerly was concealed, but now is plainly revealed for all to see. Galatians 5:16-26 - [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Untrue assumptions! What are the practical implications of this? In Colossians 2:1, he uses the same Greek word to tell his readers that he had a great struggle on their behalf, which he goes on to describe. And, for a fee, they will provide a year’s worth of “tech support.” (These statistics and examples are from an AARP email, 12/23/15. James 4:7. They deny the gospel of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and salvation by grace through faith alone. Let me be quick to add that “loving” isn’t the only criterion! 6:1). With my arm around their shoulder, we come before You Mighty God and the listener repents for any manipulation and deception they’ve carried out. 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. You will begin to tear down strongholds and as your mind is renewed by the Word of God, your feelings will reflect those changes. 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. 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. So to avoid spiritual deception, be aware of the danger. 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!!! 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 … Another popular scam consists of people posing as employees of tech companies who tell you that your computer has a virus. 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. Yes, Christ has all authority. Not only did he cause Eve to rebel against God, but to. Stop meditating on the deception the devil has been feeding you, and start meditating on God’s Word. But they were promoting a religion that feeds pride, not the message of the cross. I often saw women standing near where we were mugged, chatting together without a thought that they may be in a dangerous place. Another common way the devil tries to deceive us is getting us to see God incorrectly. Spirit of Deception. Spiritual elitism. Spiritual elitism. Why do people have rebellion in their hearts today? Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2016, All Rights Reserved. The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13) while demons are deceiving spirits. Paul is continuing to talk about his ministry (Col. 1:24-29). I admit my total dependency upon you. (2 Timothy 2:1-4) You may listen to us at BlogTalkRadio or Sermon Audio. But the modern evangelical church, swayed by the worldly emphasis on tolerance and “love,” has become apathetic to the whole concept of truth. Q. Don’t You Think You Are Overly Harsh In Your Description Of Jacob As A Rascal? So look past the deception, the gurus, the empty promises, and books giving false hope. Some time ago, I pointed out a deadly deception in the prophetic movement. A SPIRIT OF DECEPTION . Telephone scammers prey on everyone, but especially on the elderly. How to Recognize and Defeat 5 Lies the Enemy Wants You to Believe,Louie Giglio - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. False prophets bring in “destructive heresies,” deny the Lord, and blaspheme the truth, exploiting people with deceptive words (2 Pet. 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. Good grief! When you meet them, there is an instant bond of fellowship if you’ve been praying for them. 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. In the last days! 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 . 31 Spiritual Warfare Scriptures to Read, Pray, and Memorize: 1. 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.”. God’s Word clearly tells us to watch out, because the devil would love to get our minds muddied up concerning our relationship with God through deception: 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled (deceived) Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” When they steal your Social Security number, they can file a tax form and steal your tax refund. What does the Bible say about deceit? Even if you don’t know these people (Paul didn’t know the Colossians or Laodiceans personally), it puts them on your heart. That’s a respectful attitude and reverence for the Lord. Rather, he is countering the false teachers, who appealed to people with their inside secrets. But you can avoid spiritual deception by being committed to a loving, Christ-centered church. Since the eternal destiny of precious souls is at stake, we need to heed his counsel on how to avoid spiritual 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! Bible verses related to Deceiving from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order 1 John 4:1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. God is in charge, but there is an enemy that is in full-scale revolt, and it has powerful influence all around us. First, if you love people, you will pray for them. A religion of people who have eyes but do not see. The Holy Ghost has been speaking to me lately about the importance of the Holy Spirit baptism and the speaking of tongues. Your heavenly Father wants to restore the precious relationship that you once had with Him!”, Isaiah 30:18, “Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you…” (NASB), Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”. It is spiritual deception, coming straight from Satan himself. The devil has setup this stronghold by continually reminding the person how badly they messed up. Spiritual Blindness! Everyone knows God is real, but people […] 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. By the empowering of Your Spirit, please help them to set a guard over their mouth and keep themselves from speaking hurtful words. First, let me ask you this. A SPIRIT OF DECEPTION . 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. 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. But we still have to take authority over the devil. It's what sets us ablaze for Jesus in a way that you can never experience without the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 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…. ~Apostle Simon Gichinga It was prophesied long ago by the prophet's and apostles of old that there will come up a generation of people who have ears but don't hear, eyes but don't see. New Living Translation Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. A spirit of slyness is almost the same as a … So if a church is not centered on the Bible, it is not centered on Jesus Christ. They don’t promote the latest self-help insights on how you can have a successful life, marriage, or career. For even before you accepted Jesus at all, Christ gave His life for you! Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit … 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. How to Obtain Help from Jesus (Matthew 15:21-28). If you find praying for others to be difficult, welcome to the process! The devil loves to persuade people that they are better than others. 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. There is safety when you’re in the fold with the other sheep. If you venture out on your own, the wolves are waiting! Guard me against any form of deception. After All, God Greatly Blessed Him, And Made Him The Father Of The Nation Israel. It is true that we are to ‘fear’ the Lord, but that’s a different kind of fear. Your spiritual journey will never end, because Jesus will be your Lord. It plays on the mind and makes people who are affected to believe in the lies it presents. Many people fear God so much that they can’t even get near Him! – The American Heritage Dictionary Of The English Language . 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. His servants are not outwardly, obviously evil. The blind were seeing, the deaf were hearing, demons were being cast out, and even the dead were being raised! 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. But these wolves were mingling among the flock, so Paul was concerned. 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. Why won’t children. 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. The problem with spiritual deception is that it’s always more subtle and conniving than an armed, frontal attack. God’s Word! This person is being set free after many many years of torture from evil spirits! Spiritual warfare is the struggle to have life in this material world reflect as much as possible God’s loving governance. The person begins to see their sins as greater than the blood of Jesus! The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. You need a church that, like a good doctor, tells you what you need to hear for spiritual health and growth (2 Tim. The final book of the New Testament, the Revelation, points to His second coming in power and glory. If you advocate discernment, you’ll be accused of being judgmental or intolerant. 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… 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.”. It is a war because there are forces working vigorously to thwart man from reaching God. To sum up: We avoid spiritual deception by being committed to a loving, Christ-centered church. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”. 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. He comes offering greater “light” on difficult issues. Is that the way a child of the Almighty God should be thinking or feeling? I sounded the alarm in hopes of stemming the tide of this erroneous theology, but I see it rising more rapidly now than ever. Spiritual warfare: Can a Christian have a demon? John the Baptist (Prepare the way for the Lord! As Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, we are doing battle against “the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”. In The Truth War [Thomas Nelson, 2007], John MacArthur argues that faithfulness to Christ demands that we fight for the truth of the gospel. This spirit consumes every part of the lives of those affected and eradicates the peace of God. 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. They claimed to have a deeper philosophy than the simple gospel of faith in Christ. How do you counter a lie? ), Spiritual warfare: How to forgive others (Part 2), Spiritual warfare: Breaking the power of sin. Deception and spiritual blindness have been prophesied by Jesus and the apostles that it is to increase on the earth towards the end, including among the elect, if at all possible. beginnings of spiritual deception concerning separation Back in 1957, a man named Harold Ockenga (on the faculty at Princeton University?) “Good discipline” and “stability” picture a military unit that is disciplined in its fighting order, that has closed ranks so that the false teachers cannot break through. In Colossians 1:29, he said that he was striving according to God’s mighty power. 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. This is the root of many delusions. In our text, he gives them a dose of preventative medicine. One of Laodiceanism's major characteristics is utter self-deception. So love is not the only necessary quality to look for. Everyone knows God is real, but people […] So we could develop these verses along the lines of some vital principles for ministry: (1) Heartfelt love and concern for the spiritual well-being of the church (including these people whom he had never met); (2) prayer (“struggle”) undergirding everything; (3) a strong emphasis on teaching the truth along with loving relationships; (4) being Christ-centered and Christ-exalting in such teaching; (5) warning newer believers about the danger of being carried away by false teachers who like to prey on the flock; (6) encouraging others to be disciplined and stand firm in Christ. Why are churches that emphasize love often weak on doctrine and vice versa? We are in the last of the last days. 4:1-5). 10 Scriptures to Combat a Dangerous Spiritual Warfare Deception 10:00AM EDT 9/8/2016 Jennifer LeClaire The "we don't have to war" doctrine rising in this hour is dangerous at best. 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 ). 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. Since sin always destroys people, love means that if you see a brother or sister in sin or straying from the Lord, you go to them in a humble, gentle spirit and seek to restore them to the Lord (Gal. 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. https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Deception-In-The-End-Times Satan has been employing his deceptive lies since the Garden. Paul’s heart of concern for these new believers oozes through this text, and he wants their hearts to be encouraged or strengthened as they are knit together in love. Spiritual deception is the result of not following or obeying the Word of God. 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.”. Pharaoh's magicians derived great power from deception and trickery, but ultimately, their parlor tricks lacked the true power of God. 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. But in the end, molecular manufacturing lacks true spiritual … To be forewarned was to be forearmed. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. THE RED FLAGS OF DECEPTION: The following is a list of ‘Red Flags’ that are symptoms of deception in a person or group. It is a spirit that wages war quietly causing those affected unaware of menacing things going on in their lives. (Read More...) James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. The apostles Paul, Peter and James all spoke of the need for spiritual warfare. Jesus is the way to eternal life and spiritual fulfillment. B. Satan’s deception always causes distrust for spiritual authority and doubt of. But after we were attacked, I was always alert and on guard. It’s not about outward conformity or appearance, but about love for God and one another from the heart. Robert Sims served in the US Army as an infantry sergeant for twenty years. In developing this list, I was concerned, not so much with addressing specific doctrines, but in identifying characteristics that are symptomatic of deception. In the early chruch, miracles were commonplace. But Scripture was not given merely to produce theologians; it was given “so that the servant of God may be … 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. "...it was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced, and I felt so light and happy afterwards too, like bags of rocks on my shoulders that weighed 50 pounds each were removed. Stable churches don’t chase after the latest fad or church growth techniques. 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 ….”. 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. What happens? 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. Shine your light on me. It’s easy to find churches that tell you what you want to hear to make you feel good. Lies! First of all, I must stress the point that a spirit of deception is VERY SLY. The reason Satan tries to deceive us, is to get us to believe something that is simply not true. Spurgeon once said “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. Even to this day, if I venture outside in a public place after dark, I keep my eyes open for possible attackers. I choose to revoke my alliance with any form of darkness and to step into proper alignment with Your ways. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. 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. Where do you find the truth? If there is any form of deception in my life, I ask your Spirit to send conviction, revelation, discernment and freedom. “Knit together” sometimes means “instructed.” But it also means “knit or held together” (see Col. 2:19), which is probably the meaning here. As we saw in Colossians 1:28, Paul’s aim was to present every person complete or mature in Christ. They need remote access to your computer and your passwords so that they can “fix” the problems. Error by prideful self-promotion. They picture God as our Good Buddy on the journey, a “life-coach” who is there rooting for us, even when we sin. A stronghold is an incorrect thinking pattern based upon error and lies that a person has received as truth. 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. After that traumatic event, I never made that short walk without looking around for potential danger. You can only state your opinion, but be open to other views.”. The cults draw people in by showing them “love.” Perhaps the most egregious example was the Children of God cult, where the women used sex to lure unsuspecting men into the group. We live in a time of unprecedented widespread deception. Deception and spiritual blindness have been prophesied by Jesus and the apostles that it is to increase on the earth towards the end, including among the elect, if at all possible. Tragically, they lead their followers into eternal damnation. The members testified that studying the Bible in traditional churches had always been boring to them, but when they smoke pot, they see new insights and the Bible is much more interesting. 1. But it is an essential quality. First of all, I must stress the point that a spirit of deception is VERY SLY. 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. English Standard Version Scriptures For Authority, Power & Spiritual Warfare. He spoiled the principalities and powers and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Col. 2:15). 7:15). It is very clear in the Bible that deceit is an act that God hates. But they deny the trinity, including Jesus’ deity. If you’re unaware of potential danger, you’re more likely to fall prey to it. 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. Discuss: Is it arrogant to believe that you know the truth on specific biblical issues? It’s amazing how many different false teachings and teachers continue to prey on the Lord’s flock in our day. Without the Old Testament we would not understand our New Testament properly.” The Gospels tell us how God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament points ahead to Jesus. Don’t dodge that! This website uses cookies to give you the. Stable churches, frankly, are kind of boring! If we’re oblivious to these and many other deceptive schemes of the devil, we’re more likely to fall prey to them. In developing this list, I was concerned, not so much with addressing specific doctrines, but in identifying characteristics that are symptomatic of deception. Jesus warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. There are no Biblical reasons as to why such miracles should cease to exist today! But note that the unity is not divorced from understanding and true knowledge of Christ. If God has chosen to make us new creations, so that our pasts are no longer associated with us, then what are we doing thinking about them?? Each of us must look carefully into the Word of God for a true test of our spiritual condition (James 1:22-27), not presuming our evaluation of ourselves is the same as our Savior's. Sam Storms (samstorms.com) writes: The word translated “good order” points to the well-ordered behavior of the Colossians. Paul says that full assurance comes from understanding and knowing God’s mystery, which is Christ (the best manuscripts omit, “of the Father”). 4:1 – “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” • Ultimately, Satan, the greater deceiver, will … But we are to be stable in our faith in Christ. 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. 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. Love seeks the highest good of others, which is, that the person knows Christ in a saving way and that he or she is growing in Christ. 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. This is especially true in relation to the Last Days. Richard T. Ritenbaugh. I recently saw an article on a “Bible study” group in Colorado where everyone smokes pot (which is legal there and coming here soon!). If you think you are above being deceived—you already are deceived. In verse 7, he names it "the mystery of lawlessness," a set of beliefs that is totally contrary to "the truth" (verses 10-12). Over 40 years ago, Marla and I were mugged at gunpoint as we walked from our car to our apartment in Dallas, Texas. Satan wants God’s people to see their heavenly Father as a cruel dictator that is cold and distant. ), While these schemes can cost people financially, spiritual deception can result in a person’s eternal ruin. 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. Especially after the very Son of God has shed His blood to remove those sins?? “Stability” is the opposite of trendy, flashy, or sensational. 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! Warning the Corinthians about not receiving a false Jesus or a different gospel, the apostle Paul wrote (2 Cor. 11:14-15). Satan has used the false teaching of the cults to lure many away from the true gospel that the apostles preached. How can we differentiate a major doctrine worth dividing over from a lesser doctrine where we need to show tolerance. Most people join cults because of relationships or feelings, not doctrines. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV / 102 helpful votes. It takes some effort and diligence to mine out the riches that are in Christ. How Satanic of those demons to paint such a picture in a person’s mind!! 2. In both prayers, Paul connects spiritual apprehension of God’s blessings in Christ with being a part of a loving fellowship of believers.