Saturday 6 April 2013

DEADLY DECEPTION

Deception can present itself in the areas of teaching or supernatural manifestations. 

Only a proper understanding of scripture and discernment will enable believers to overcome deception.


                                                                   
Be aware, be warned. It’s already here. We should wise up by preparing ourselves against deception. Jesus warns that deception will be a prominent feature during the end times (The Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24).

Believers have to be wise – in fact, extremely vigilant and discerning – if they want to stand up against deception in these last days. Satan is like a roaring lion seeking to devour the weak and unwary (1 Peter 5:8).



And believers – even mature leaders – can be deceived. If leaders are deceived, don’t you think the flock will fare even worse?

“For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:5).

“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

That is why it is so important to go back to basics. Be like the Bereans:

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” ( Acts 17:11).

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Only a proper understanding of scriptures and discernment will enable believers to overcome deception – whether the deception is in the area of teaching or supernatural manifestations.


"Faith is good only when it engages truth; when it is made to rest upon falsehood it can and often does lead to eternal tragedy."  – A. W. Tozer


DECEPTION IN AREA OF TEACHING

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED

FUTURE SINS FORGIVEN AT CONVERSION?

NO NEED TO CONFESS SIN,
MERELY REST IN CHRIST’S IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS

WE SHOULD BANISH (GET RID OF) SIN CONSCIOUSNESS

REPENTANCE IS MERELY CHANGING OUR WAY OF THINKING

DID JESUS SET ASIDE HIS DIVINITY?
A prominent leader, Bill Johnson, teaches that Jesus operated only as a man and not God    during His earthly ministry. Did Jesus set aside His divinity when He came down to earth?


DECEPTION IN AREA OF SUPERNATURAL MANIFESTATIONS

TESTING THE SUPERNATURAL
Are the supernatural manifestations in the church today invariably of divine origin?

ANIMAL-LIKE BEHAVIOUR
Can we ever attribute the following scenarios in a church to the work of the Holy Spirit? A person slithering on the ground like a snake?  A person barking like a dog? A person crowing like a cockerel? A person fidgeting non-stop and jumping around like a monkey?

















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