The Spirit Of Deception

I Timothy 4:1-2 (NLT) 1 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. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

Jesus taught of the deception of the last days and expressed the power of that deception as being so that even the elect would be deceived if possible. What is the protection against such a deception. Paul said that the spirit of deception is expressed by hypocritical liars whose conscience has been seared as with a hot iron or is dead. So a tender conscience toward God is a good protection. Studying God's Word with an intent to live it is also a good protection. Staying in harmony with the Body of Christ and heeding Godly teachers who follow Jesus is also good protection. Listen to the Holy Spirit and follow your Guide for He always beholds the face of the Father. When Jesus returned to the Father, He clearly said that the Holy Spirit would be our teacher and would lead us into all Truth. So don't be complacent thinking you have received everything and so cease to seek God.

Deception is more than just distorted facts. It is a spirit of Satan to lead those who have set their path to follow on to know the Lord to a complacency that will accept The Lie to make their own way to God. Jesus warned us. Matthew 7:13-14(NASB) 13"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. This is not a warning to those who have not made the decision to accept the sacrifice of Jesus for their redemption. This is a warning to those who are seeking their promised destiny. They are on a road. The deception comes to hide the way of Truth so they can follow the broad way. Jesus went on to say that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter that narrow gate. I have seen the poor that live on the narrow edge of starvation. They wear a few rags over and over until that is the only covering they have. We live in a land of plenty and protest when any sacrifice of that plenty seems to be demanded. We want our comfort and the richer we are the more it takes to satisfy that demand. The tragedy of this is we think we deserve it. James said that true religion is to look for those who have no support system and share with them. Keep on being aware of that constant need. Not giving a pittance and return to your comfort. Yes, the need goes on and on because they have no means of ending the cycle. True religion recognizes the lack and seeks to find a way of moving them out of that cycle. We have accepted the deception that providing one meal is enough and we go back to our cycle of comfort. Jesus came to our realm, saw our poverty and continued all the way to remove us from our cycle of darkness and bring us into His Kingdom of Light.

Follow Jesus--He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.