Do Not Deceived: Combating Deception (Part 4 of 4)

Derek Prince defines witchcraft as such: To seek the control of other people by the use of a spirit that’s not the Holy Spirit. Therefore, manipulation is usually a sign of witchcraft as it seeks to control, to fight against this you will have to aggressively pray and fast. In Galatians 3:1 Paul asks the Galatians who bewitched them so that they weren’t obeying the truth. Bewitch in the Greek is baskainó which in HELPS Word-Studies means to cast an evil spell, to exercise evil power over someone, like putting them under a spell. The Galatians clearly were deceived and succumbed to the witchcraft that was working against them but there are ways we can combat and fight back so we too aren’t deceived in these times of great deceptions.

The truth is only the truth when it’s 100% the truth. The truth cannot be diluted because then it’s not the truth. The entire Bible is the absolute truth, you can’t believe some things and not believe others. Any doctrine that departs from the word of God even in its slightest, is the truth mixed with lies which is false doctrine. Sound doctrine is pure truth in the word of God where lies are not present. There’s no compromising in sound doctrine. Read your Bible and keep this sound doctrine saturated within you so that you can easily identify false doctrine and turn away from it. 

How do we combat false doctrine? We are to do what Paul guides Timothy to do, which is to first remember the goal of fulfilling all the commandments is when we love others deeply with a pure heart, a clean conscience, and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5). As believers we cannot force or trick people into believing, we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God, but we do stand in the presence of God and set forth the truth plainly (2 Corinthians 4:2) with love. We as the Lord’s servant, must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people and gently instruct those who oppose the truth, then perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth accurately, understanding and welcoming it (2 Timothy 2:24-25). 

Be very cautious because Satan disguises himself to be an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). The bible shows us we are to test the spirits in 1 John 4:1-6. John tells us to don’t trust every spirit but carefully examine what they say and don’t always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God, we are to determine if they are of God. He continues by saying that there are many false teachers/ prophets around and the test for those with the genuine Spirit of God is that they will confess Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh and is God’s Son. Everyone who does not acknowledge that Jesus is from God has the spirit of the antichrist. John also shows us that as believers of Christ, we are of God and He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. Those who know God hears and listens to us and those who are not of God doesn’t. John identifies this as another way we can discern the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit. Paul confirms this by writing that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). If you ever get a supernatural visitation this is also a way to test the spirit.

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

Ephesians 6: 10-18 tells us that we not war against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The scripture tells us as well, to be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God provided for us so that we will be able to stand firm against the fiery darts, wiles and strategies of the enemy. 
Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the gospel, the blessings of peace.
In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God.
Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all His believers.

Great deceptions have happened, and others will come with the same agenda, to sway us from our faith and to make us question it. Deception is an attack from the enemy against you in the battlefield of the mind. Win the battle in your mind so that you above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23) and keep it pure. The word shows us we are to recognize when the enemy is feeding you lies and identify when he is trying to manipulate you so that you ready your sword and strike his lies down with the Word of God, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Be stubborn in your faith, have a bulldog kind of faith in God, in the bible and in these absolute and divine truths:

Jesus Christ our savior came to earth in the form of a man, served as a perfect example of who we should strive to be and paid the expensive price for our sins. He was a sinless and spotless lamb who suffered and died and served as a perfect sacrifice for the atonement of our sins and reconciliation to the Father. Jesus Christ went into hell and after 3 days and nights the Father rose Him from the dead and He is seated at His right-hand making intercession for us. All things were put under His feet. Jesus Christ conquered death, hell and the grave. Stand firm in these absolute truths about our creator, our God. God did all of this just so that we can have a close intimate relationship and fellowship with us. He did all of this because He loves us, not a love that the world gives but with the most purest type of love.

No matter how hard it may seem we have been granted the privilege for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake (Philippians 1:29). His grace is sufficient, when we feel weak and cannot fight any longer remember this, and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). In our weakness we draw on His supernatural strength. Remember that your brothers in faith are going through the same suffering (1 Peter 5:9). Also, remember the disciples and what they went through and yet persevered.

Jesus is our king and even He was rejected, persecuted and murdered so as we are joint heirs with Christ if we are to share in Jesus’ glory we must also share in His suffering (Romans 8:17). Jesus said that a servant is not greater than his master and if they persecuted Him, they would persecute us also (John 15:20). Therefore, since they hated Jesus for no reason (John 15:25), how much more persecution and struggle are we to experience. Rest assured in this promise that it will all be worth it in the end when we are rewarded in heaven for all eternity, for we are only here but for a short time. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17).

We are called to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and assist in the Great Commission; it was Jesus’ last instruction before His ascension. We are to stand up for His truth and not publicly deny Him because He said if you do, He will deny that person before His Father in heaven (Matthew 10:33). We are not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord (1 Timothy 1:8) rather we should be proud to call Him our gracious and merciful Savior, Lord, Master, King and High Priest.

As stated in 2 Timothy 2: 11-13, “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful (true to His word and His righteous character); He cannot deny Himself.

Remember always what Jesus did for you and know He is counting on you to believe, trust and have faith in Him. The main battle has already been won you just have to stand firm in faith, trusting and believing in Him.

In the end you will be glad you were wise and built your house upon the rock because that house is built on an unshakable foundation. The rains may fall, and the floods may come, fierce winds may beat upon this house, but it will stand firm because of its strong foundation, the rock, that is in Christ Jesus (Matthew 7:24-25). The rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:4).

A Word of Encouragement, Blessing and A Special Prayer

I will now encourage you like Paul encouraged Timothy, remain faithful and true to the unwavering absolute truth that is in the doctrine of Jesus Christ whereby you will use His word as a weapon as you wage spiritual warfare by faith with a clean conscience. For many will reject and fall destitute to the true faith and will fall away (1 Timothy 1: 18-19). May you stand firm on the front lines having put on the full of armor of God knowing fully well that you are not alone but the creator of the cosmos and all that is, the great “I AM”, the lion of Judah, stands firmly beside you. Read your bible every day, arming yourself and keep praying and listening to God and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth and He will guide you into all truth. Do not let love, kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 3:3). Live in God’s light and don’t be fooled by those who speak their empty words and deceptive teachings telling you otherwise, for this is what brings God’s anger upon the rebellious, the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 5:6). Also, do not let your minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3)

I pray with all my heart that you do not give in to temptation and that you stand firm against any sort of deception that may lead you away from your faith and God’s absolute truth. May you fight the good fight of faith in contending with false teachers, keeping your faith and leaning on God’s absolute trust and confidence in His guidance and having a good conscience in your daily lives as you battle with the enemy in your mind, guarding your heart well. May you not be blinded and deceived by the god of this world but may you see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Say this prayer below to God to help you overcome in these dark days of deception:

Heavenly Father, I humbly come before you and repent of all of my sins. Father help me to sober-minded, watchful, alert, conscious and cautious at all times to stand firm in my faith so that I am not deceived by the enemy. Holy Spirit always lead me and guide me to all truth and show me if I am ever being deceived. Father grant me divine discernment, wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Lord purify my heart and create in me a clean and glad heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. Father help me to always pursue, achieve and grow in righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness. May tender mercy, peace and gentleness abound and live in me so that my words bring life and health and turn away wrath because then I will be recognized as a true child of God. May I be cool-tempered, humble in spirit and always love from a pure heart, from a good conscience and from sincere faith. Help me Father not to participate in strife, quarrels, bickering, heated disagreement or an angry undercurrent but be kind and humble to everyone, even-tempered, preserving peace, skilled in teaching, patient and tolerant when wronged. Help me to also correct, set right, restore and reinstate those who are in opposition without any sense of superiority, with courtesy and gentleness. Help me to always have a holy fear of pride and be very careful of judging others or of being critical of them. May I become less Jesus so that You become greater within me. I pray all this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen

References:

Helps Ministries Inc. (2011). Strong’s Greek: 940. βασκαίνω (baskainó) — to slander, hence by ext. to bewitch. Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/greek/940.htm

Max Ocheredko. (2016, October 4). RELIGIOUS DECEPTION. Derek Prince. Audio sermon [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz39stIFyrI