Jesus answered them, ‘Be careful that no one misleads you (deceiving you and leading you into error).” “And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error.” Matt. 24:4, 11
The disciples of Jesus were warned by Jesus Himself that some will come in the strength of His name, claiming to be anointed by Christ and will deceive many leading them with their doctrine of fear, death, defeat, hate, and overall foolishness. They will lead people with a lie (anything shared or lived that is contrary to the full counsel of God’s Word). Thus, the one sharing contrary doctrine is considered a false prophet, a fraud, a phony duplicate. People ‘out of pocket’, out of order, resisting authority, and simply disconnected love to get others into the same place of misery. The old saying goes, “Misery loves company”. The Word says evil communication destroys good behavior.
There is yet a sense of urgency and far time for the Church to use the ability given to discern – who is lying and who is sharing the TRUTH. We will know them by their fruit. No need for us to be scholars, we just need to know the Word of God and be filled with and operating in the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
This is a hard teaching and those that are of God will hear His voice and heed. Some of Jesus’ disciples walked with Him no more. His teaching was straight TRUTH (straight LOVE) and was delivered to set people free from the devil’s plan to kill, steal, and destroy. In the 4th book of Ephesians we are admonished to leave no (such) room or foothold for the devil (give no opportunity to him), to let the thief steal no more…
The devil is the father of lies. He sends demons to lie. He uses people to lie. Do not believe it! Some obvious characteristics of the spirit of deception: seductive, spirit of error, the devil’s doctrine, divination, control, fear, witchcraft, witchcraft prayers, lordship of Belial (the devil), disobedience, fraud, duplicates (not original), betrayal, and traitors.
…He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar (himself) and the father of lies and of all that is false. John 8:44
Far too many are telling lies… believing lies… and living lies than ever before… I’m not talking about the world, that’s a given (by default), I’m referring to the Church. Some have talked about people, told lies about people, received and believed lies about people and continue to allow negative seed to grow inside of them concerning other people. The devil is the accuser of the brethren. When we receive lies about our brothers and sisters we receive them directly from the devil himself, through an earthen vessel – a willing body.
‘Practicing’ liars have a destiny that does not end well and a part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 21:8). Lies grow rapidly like cancer (inside of the deliverer and the receiver). They take a root in bitterness, causing hearts to wax hard and love to grow cold… all of which will be dealt with on the Day of Judgement if we (the Church) don’t make it right – now - through true repentance. The spirit of fear, offense, hate, pride, and even emotional demons use lies as their resource. They are more than likely the ‘willing body’ the devil will use to manifest his kingdom in the earth. This ‘cultivated’ evil nature has opened the door for many to be deceived and worse than that, to experience the highest level of deception… self-deception.
“And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert (Him Whom they ought to trust and obey) and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity.” Matt. 24:10-12
-------------------------The Highest Form of Deception is Self-Deception
When we think, we are more spiritual than we really are self-deception can set in and take root. Self-deception is a dangerous place that will cut off our hearing clearly from God. Unless, we are floating in the air or have gone to be with the Lord tangibly we do not know it all and still have a lot to learn from God, through His word, by His Spirit and yes, through His appointed leaders that He has positioned in our lives. We never had the choice of our natural family and surely did not have the choice of who was appointed (before time) to speak into our lives and prepare us for our soon coming King. This is all a part of God’s will and our part is always to simply obey and say, “Yes, Lord”.
Until our Lord comes for us the devil will continue to seek open doors to the mind and the heart of the believer to draw us from the faith, from light to dark, from discerning to trying to figure things out. He is a seductress and attempts to seduce God’s children into carrying out his plan and not fulfilling the will of God for our lives. What’s so cold, is that he does this in a manner that the one being deceived, out of illusion, will still think they are flowing in the light and could very well bust hell wide open. Our words, thoughts, actions, deeds, and motives must be pure before God. Our hearts should remain contrite (repentant) in His presence always, if not we will believe what is false and has never been proven as true …about other people and even about ourselves. The spirit of pride is the culprit.
We should also be alert not to pet a Schizophrenia demon that could be generational. This is a severe mental illness that involves chronic (or recurrent) psychosis, characterized mainly by hearing or seeing things that aren't real (hallucinations) and thinking or believing things with no basis (delusions). This spirit has talked some of our brethren into committing suicide. Hearing too many voices at one time and obviously not the voice of God is detrimental.
In times, past God got tired of His children ‘choosing’ to be rebellious, doing our own thing (in the name of the Lord), deceived, mislead, and influenced by a lie instead of the truth. The same is true today. God is ‘up to here’ with it - literally. The choice to be deceived or to deceive has become an excuse to flirt with sin, pet carnality, live as a mere mortal (a natural life only - void of the supernatural life available), and remain a baby in the knowledge of God and in the Body of Christ…always going through.
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie (what is false). That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thess. 2:10-12
----------------------------“For this is like the days of Noah to Me,” says the Lord (Isa. 54:9).
What were the days of Noah? Noah was sent to bring relief and comfort from work and grievous toil due to the curse (Gen. 5:29). In the days of Noah, God Himself noticed that men were growing wicked. In Genesis 6 the Bible shares that they had evil imaginations, evil intentions, evil thinking, evil thoughts. They were snobs, critics, and judges - judging others when in secret they themselves were doing the same wrong things. Their minds were debased, corrupt, and vicious. In that day, many had lost true direction and their reason for being here on the earth. Working two, three, and four jobs just to get by, constantly laid off or fired from positions that replaced their sincere serving and worship to God.
This is all part of the curse which is a direct result of disobedience, bottom-line. It’s not God testing us. It’s not a test of faith. It’s us continuing to give excuses for our wrong choices. It’s our head strong refusal to submit to God ‘for real’ so the devil can flee and stay gone. It’s being self-deceived. Self-deception is being bewitched by spirits of Belial (the devil) and Sodom and Gomorrah (spirits that are consumed with those things the world is consumed with). All of which the behavior above was deserving of death and this is exactly what happened...
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth… And it repented the Lord that he made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart… And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth…And God said unto Noah, the end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Gen. 6:5, 6, 7, & 13
In these days, such behavior results in a spiritual death, one that could ultimately lead to a physical, unexplainable death (if we do not repent, turn and change). This spiritual death separates man from his right relationship with God. The same was true with Adam from the beginning, Adam’s choice to disobey separated him from his right, blessed, pure relationship with God. Adam and his wife Eve, were deceived by a SNAKE. In the world one could be called a snake in a minute and we knew the meaning and stayed away from such a person. I’m not sure why some have become simple minded and oblivious to the same game and tricks that were evident when we were in the world. But, that’s why it’s called deception… it deceives, and it deceives even the elect. When we are deceived, our pride will cause us to believe the lies we tell ourselves and others.
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). See, I have warned you beforehand.” Matt. 24:24-25
I discovered a few words about a snake; wind, twist, and turn. All of which reminded me instantly of God’s word, in I Timothy 4:1, that in the latter times (now) some will depart, leave from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. Hitler had a great influence and many followers. Because of his many followers many others were deceived into following him, moved by their emotions and the deep desire to be popular with the majority and not seeing it too cool to be like the minority. Wide is the entrance to the gate that leads to destruction and narrow is the entrance of the gate that leads to life.* Many are called but few are chosen.*. He was used by the devil to lead many through those wide gates to their own destruction. As born again, spirit-filled believers we should most definitely apply the ‘supernatural’ ability that we’ve been graced with to discern agents of satan and not follow them.
“But know this, that in the last day’s perilous times will come: For men, will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Tim. 3:1-5
Why such a sense of urgency to get things right in our hearts and in our mouths before God…specifically concerning other people? Because, …the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt. 24:50, 51
----------------------------------------Prayer in the Spirit Helps Us Not to Be Deceived
When we yield our vocal cords to the ministry of the Holy Spirit we allow Him access to search our hearts and see if there are wicked ways in us. He reveals these wicked ways, thoughts, meditations, and nature to us and reminds us of God’s grace and power (supernatural ability) to resist these ways and submit to the ways of God. There are apparent evil works that need not be revealed because they are clear to us, even clear to a babe, but some are deeply rooted that the Holy Spirit will magnify for the sole purpose of us dealing with it and walking free from it. Evil and sin no longer has power over us.
---------------------------------------Assuming That You Have Really Heard Him
We have been taught by Jesus, as all Truth is in Him we are encouraged (it’s up to us) to strip ourselves of our former nature and to be constantly renewed in the spirit of our minds… having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude. We are to keep on the new nature created in God
’s image, in true righteousness and holiness.
We are to reject anything false and be done away with it. We should not allow any foul language to proceed from our mouths or any worthless talk… when we talk too much we could begin to lie.
The word of God shares that we should not grieve the Holy Spirit of God because He is our seal of redemption. God will not be concerned with our denomination (or non-denomination) but is His Spirit (His fruit, His love, His nature) still operating on the inside of us when the Lord arrives. Therefore, we must imitate and be true followers of God. We are to flee - run from - immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity. There should be no foolish talk out of our mouths but thanksgiving to God for what He has done. Any practice of the evil nature mentioned above will invite, draw, entice, lure, and alert the spirit of deception. Such a person will not experience or have part in the inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one delude and deceive you (not even yourself) with empty excuses and groundless arguments (for these sins), for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience. So, do not associate or be sharers with them. Eph 5:6, 7
-------------------------------------------------------Let Him (the devil) Steal No More
We must strive, use our faith, and remain steadfast in exalting the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives. We should declare daily that the Spirit of Truth prevails in every area of our lives. We have been given the blood of Jesus to plead over the portals of our minds, over our wills, and over our emotions. It’s up to us to choose to grow up, to be spiritual (not just look the part), and to use the authority we have been given to discern between good and evil (in ourselves first, then in others). If we are saved, the Holy Spirit alerts us immediately when we are not right then gives us the wisdom to get right or make things right.
As we walk free from being deceived and free from any form of self-deception, we can experience our inheritance, our heritage, and our exceedingly great rewards right here and right now. All we need to do is comply with God’s will. As born again believers we should have no worries, no concerns, and most definitely not be moved by the deceit of people or the father of lies. Why? Because…
Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you. Behold, I have created the smith who blows on the fire of coals and who produces a weapon for its purpose; and I have created the devastator to destroy. But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every (lying) tongue that shall rise against you in judgement you shall show to be in the wrong. This (peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition) is the heritage of the servants of the Lord…. says the Lord! Isaiah 54:15-17 TLW
*Matt 12:33-37; Matt 7:13-23; Luke 6:46-49; Matt 20:16; Rom 6:7-14; Matt 24:14
Be sure to check out the video teaching on this topic. See below.