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Volume 33   Number 31 Aug 2, 2009

        Scriptures continually warn us against deception. The Apostle Paul cautions the church in Ephesus to "Let no one deceive you with empty words" (Ephesians 5:6), and again to the Thessalonican Christians: "Let no one deceive you in any way (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Christ says in Matthew 24:4-5: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name saying, ‘I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.'" These words are written, not to the world, but to the saints. In other words, deception is something that we as believers need to be watchful for.
        Deception is to be led away from the truth and into error. That is, to be led into believing or doing something wrong while thinking it is right. We are a people of frailty. We make mistakes from time to time, but deception itself can be deceiving and can come in the most subtle and insidious ways.
        Paul wrote how alarmed he was over the fact that the believers at Galatia were so easily led away from the truth he had taught them. Galatians 1:6: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.
        In the battle against deception, there are some things we can know in order to guard ourselves against this problem. The first is to realize that deception comes from Satan, our spiritual enemy, and that the practice of deception is his primary weapon. 2 Corinthians 11:3: But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
        Christ says that "Satan is a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44-45).
        Satan uses this weapon of deception to first and foremost blind the world and believers alike to the truth of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6: But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bond servants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
        It is the devil who blinds, and it is God who gives light. Understanding comes from God based on His mercy and grace. In other words, if God does not give it, you will not get it. Even the Apostle Peter was dependent upon God for knowledge of Christ as the Son of God. Matthew 16:17: Jesus answered and said to him (Peter), "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."
        The Book of Revelation informs us that Satan is the DECEIVER of the world and the ACCUSER of the brethren (Revelation 7). To accuse you, he must first deceive you. Keeping our minds guarded against this cunning activity can be a difficult but necessary job. Ephesians 6:11: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
        In this struggle, we pray and seek God for knowledge, revelation, and illumination. Prayer is the tool we have against Satan's assault opposing our minds in understanding the light of God's gospel.
        Ephesians 1:15-18: Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
        Another barrier that Satan uses in hindering our understanding of the truth is our natural tendency for hardening our hearts. We are all born with a propensity to bend our hearts to want and perceive things a certain way. Even the disciples seemed to suffer from this inclination. Mark 6:51-52: Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened.
        Another place in which Satan can gain a foothold is self-deception. An example of this can come in the area of gifts and fruits. We may assume that our gifts are the measure of our spiritual life. Because we are blessed by God to manifest the gifts of the Spirit to help those in need, we may loose sight of the necessity to manifest the fruits of the Spirit as well. We are to value and covet the gifts of the Spirit, but along with the gifts never lose sight of the fruits God wants to develop. It is by our fruit, not our gifts, that we as believers are known and will be judged. Matthew 12:33: "...for a tree is known by its fruit."
        You are a representative of God. You are to reflect not only His power but also His moral character, especially if you are in leadership. James 3:1: My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 1 Timothy 3:2: An overseer, then, must be above reproach.
        We all have a resistance to develop what is not natural to the flesh and the fallen mind. The scriptures promise us fire along with the Holy Spirit, and fire's main purpose is to burn off what is not of God. As God gives gifts, He expects us to be more diligent in producing the character that is more in line for His will for us.
        Matthew 3:10-12: "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
        We can allow ourselves to be blinded into thinking that our gifts insulate us from the devices of the enemy. We are frail and prone to self-deception. To guard yourself against this tendency, it is important to keep a teachable and open spirit to correction. Understanding is a condition of the heart. Come to God with a humble and teachable spirit. Proverbs 12:1: Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
        And last, we should earnestly seek to know God both by acquaintance of relationship and understanding of study. To want a relationship with God without knowledge of His character can lead to error and open us up to being deceived. Christ said to have child-like faith but not immature understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:20: "...in understanding be mature."
        We are called to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1). But in order to imitate someone, we have to know something of that person. Any true relationship with another person is based on what I call (lacking for a better definition) heart knowledge as well as head knowledge. Our relationship to God is no less. God wants a deep heart-to-heart insight of Him that comes from spending time with Him in worship, prayer, and fellowship. John 17:3: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
        But also a clear understanding of who He is, His character, and the basic doctrines that He has given us to live by. Christ commanded this of the Apostles as a part of their ministry. Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
        Head knowledge and heart knowledge should go in tandem. They are hand and hand in leading us into a deeper relationship of God and a desire to be more like Him. 1 Timothy 1:17: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
        Psalm 25:10-14: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. For You're name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that He should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant.

Rev. Ken Cole