How Deceived By Man Are You?
by
Kelly Durant 10-27-13
1. Matt 10:16 Behold, I send
you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents,
and harmless as doves.
2. Have you ever been to a
magician show? When I was a kid I loved them! Have you had a magic trick done
to you? Some people are so fast with their hands it’s amazing! Like all the
card tricks people do! In Bolivia I had a friend who gained his living by doing
a show. He showed me how a pigeon could be flattened like this to fit in a hat (show
hands 1 inch apart)! It is an amazing talent these people have!
One time I had the craziest
experience at the border of Colombia and Venezuela. I had sold our old car and
I had about $1,000 dollars in pesos on me. And as I am in the bus station,
sitting at a table right beside the ticket booth 3 men came up and asked me if
I was traveling on the bus line that I had a ticket with. I replied that I was
and they explained that due to thieves stopping buses on the highway and
stealing everyone’s things (which had been happening), they wanted me to
declare the cash I had so they could write me a receipt of insurance from the
bus company for my protection. Since they were right by the ticket door, it all
seemed authentic to me. They counted my money in front of my eyes and it
appeared like everything was fine. I got the receipt.
But while sitting on the bus
while it was leaving I decided to recount the money and I discovered I was missing
about $250! My eyes had been fixed on the counter’s hands like a dog stares at
a piece of meat as bill by bill went by, so his talent to deceive was amazing! Until
today I have no clue how he managed to slip some bills out from the ones of
that stack! Down the road it struck me that they were not of the bus company
either! And, guess what, when I asked the bus company didn’t have insurance
either! What happened to me? I had forgotten for a moment how I am as a dumb
sheep!
3. Isn’t it amazing how you
and I can think we are fairly smart but then out of nowhere we get tricked by
someone? When something happens to you beyond your recognition, do you replay
it over and over in your head trying to figure out what happened? My conclusion
from this event is I was naïve and I did not expect to meet up with a con man
because I am not one, I don’t think like one, so I was unprepared for these
tactics. If someone would have said to me, be careful with people pretending to
be a part of the bus line with insurance because they are thieves, maybe that
info would have prevented my loss!
Jesus knows man’s weakness of
easily being tricked and being fooled and enticed. Usually it involves a
personal gain or some false promise so He warned us, his followers, about
trying the spirits, about not allowing yourself to be deceived by anyone,
because evil deceivers would become worse and worse. Jesus told us to be wise
as_(all say it) _and harmless as__(all say it)____.
4. What was going to be the
main deception in the last days? People believing and accepting anything
contrary to Christ’s teachings! 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into
the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a
deceiver and an antichrist. Jesus is the
only one that leads us to the truth, and the life, He is the authentic and only
Savior who liberates whosoever will accept Him from their spiritual and
material poverty created from their bad choices of a life of sin and corruption!
Luke 21:8 And he said, Take
heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am
Christ; and the time draws near: go ye not therefore after them. What we see in
the world today is that, due to the ignorance of the truth of God in the Bible,
people are swallowing what anyone says and they are being enslaved by sin.
Practically every law and
attitude in our world today is diametrically opposed to the healthy values of
the Bible. Satan has gained ground like never before by the darkening of the
mind and hearts of any weak person who allows their self to be seduced. In the
U.S. and around the world in past few years there has been an increase in gang violence
and crime, drug use, theft, suicide, sexual perversion, corruption, narcissism
and basically there is an exponential increase of everything bad! The problem is people are being seduced to worship
contemptible entertainers, hoaxed into supporting corrupt governmental
officials, and being pushed into tolerating antichrist religions!
5. Why do people admire
persuasive deceptive people? Hitler deceived the masses touting his cause to help
Germany out of their dismal problems and millions loved and worshipped him. His
followers were committing the mass murder of Jews (which was hid from the
public) and he even killed multitudes of Germans who spoke out against him. What a horrible lesson we learn from history,
but this same lesson is being repeated many times over around the world! People
want social solutions, but tyranny is what they get for taking action in a
vacuum without a man of God as their guide.
What elements are in our
bent human nature that causes so many people to ignorantly and blindly adore
and support evil doers? Why do billions of people today praise people of power
despite their sinful acts, violations against them, and the mounds of evidence proving
them as abusers, con men, and deceivers?
Don’t people often appear enchanted by false words like a cobra dancing
to a flute player?
6. Deception: Let’s look at
it point by point and the first situation is this, the person being fooled
makes the mistake of trusting the person giving the information. What happened
to Eve in the garden? She trusted the serpent’s word more than trusting in the
word that she had been told from God. This is still the problem with the world
today! People are trusting in people they should have nothing to do with! We
must pray over all influences in our lives. Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust
in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
What is disappointing is
many Christians have become victims to many deceitful people. Today many churches
have people who use false doctrines to manipulate the newcomers. Some church
members go to church so they can use their friends as clients for some personal
business. Many hypocrites come in Jesus name, but their plans are not Jesus
plans which are to set people free from the lies of Satan and of their sins but
rather to control others to use them for some alternative agendas.
Right now there is a
controversy over a book by a famous author John MacArthur who just published
statements against the deceptive leaders of the Charismatic Pentecostals who
abuse what they call the Holy Spirit; how they are burning a strange fire and offending
God (see Lev. 9 and 10). Check it out on Christianpost.com. I thank the Lord
for each of the Bible teachers we have here in the Hialeah Corps because I
trust you totally to teach Biblically with veracity and sound doctrine!
7. Also, have you ever noticed
the people deceptive with money in our world all want to appear to be doing
good and they run their own charities? These bogus charities are widely promoted
and the idea is to replace them from the honest religious ones. Hitler’s
concept was that if you repeat a lie often enough to the people, then they will
eventually accept it as truth. They claim, oh we care for you, the people, poor
and minorities.
Always doubt everything!
Always research the facts! Where is the financial proof of it? Ask how many
millions of dollars are documented as going back to the poor? I challenge you
to research this subject. Most charities connected with famous people use 90%
on their administration flying in jets everywhere and give a meager 10% to the
cause. With the Salvation Army that is reverse with 85% given back to the people
in help in disasters, shelters, rehab, with food, clothing, and gift cards,
using only 15% on administration.
8. The second problem with
deception is the pride each of us have and we must purge it out. People who see others in power today have a
carnal jealous tendency in their bent nature to want to possess that glory and
adoration for themselves! What did the serpent tell Eve? You will be like God,
with your eyes opened! That is pride, wanting more than what you deserve! If
you have not prayed for God to take away your pride, then do it urgently today
or you are ripe to get ripped off from some deal offering you something too
good to be true! Pride allows deception to work.
If you read about the history
of the Romans, or about any leaders in our past cultures, their pride always
was so huge that they lived in a paranoiac agony constantly worried about who
would be more adored than them, or who would try to take their position. What
egos our current dictators and wealthy influencers have in the world today!
These egos make others suffer as they operate applying fear and intimidation, yet
they are powerful only for a while because everyone secretly hates their
arrogance, abuse, and selfishness.
Do you recall how Herod felt
so threatened by the birth of baby Jesus that he killed all the babies in his
town? How absurd and how cruel! Never believe the words of the leader when they
say they are on your side and really care about you, the little people! Historically
the evidence proves that 99% of the time they are only looking out for their
selves, as they scheme, exploit, abuse, and covertly rip off millions affirming
power!
9. The third situation
deception creates is the shame that follows. After buying into the wisdom that
Satan offered Eve then Adam from the fruit on the garden, what happened? Adam
and Eve were enticed and wanted a change, an upgrade in status and power, They
expected to gain superiority to be like God. But the change they got was not
what they expected as it was deceptive information that brought them into a
severe downgrade and shame.
They then were motivated to
hide from God due to their uncomfortable loss of innocence. The predicament we
as humans have after being fooled by someone is later you feel ugly, dirty, ashamed
and violated and discouragement and depression set in, and you just want to
hide yourself away from God and everyone.
Sometimes we wonder in the
church, what happened to so and so, they don’t come anymore. It possibly could be due to their shame (but
you nor I should never judge!), maybe they bought into a deception somewhere
along the way and now they want to live a private life because they are ashamed
of the truth that others will see in them, that they were fooled. It takes a
lot of love and healing to win others back!
10. What is said of the ones
living in shame in the word? Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out
their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness
forever. Here is the solution to get free from the guilt and shame that comes
from being deceived… Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in
the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed,
and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with
eyesalve, that you may see.
The shame of nakedness is a
very visible exterior condition symbolically depicting an inward condition of
exposure, of one being unprotected by God’s righteousness. When a person is
conscience that they are naked spiritually it is humiliating, and it incites
ridicule and mockery from those that do not understand. If you have ever felt
humiliated and shamed and think that was the worst feeling in the world, be
comforted to know you did not suffer that alone! Jesus went through that for
you as well. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
11. What are the greatest
deceptions of all time invoking fanaticism and misguided convictions? It is from
dark powers in high places, within governmental and religion systems. Political systems such as communism offered a
utopia of wealth from the purses of the rich into the hands of the poor? But until
now there is no evidence that the poor got anything more than a few handouts.
Since 1917 there have been many nations in history suffer because alternatives
to God’s loving teachings on sharing does not work due to man’s greed. Christians
share as in Acts 2:44, 45; only love for one another will provide for all.
With atheism, without God in
the consciousness of the leaders, those in power are free to steal and kill
with no restraints as they please. Stalin killed 10 million of his own people and
Mao Tse Tung 26 million of his own that would not submit to them. The greatest
deception today is that there is no God! Without God absolute power corrupts
absolutely and they all end up as ruthless murderers!
Why is real Christianity,
the most helpful religion to support the poor, and show compassion being hated
and persecuted? Because its practicing and teaching expose the fakeness and
cruelty of the other religious substitutes! The religion, whose translation
means “submission” have throughout history killed millions in the name of religion
and their princes have yachts and multiple wives while 99.9 % of their people live
in abject poverty! What deception these systems offer young weak minds in the neighborhoods
and in the prisons!
12. Jesus says that we, his
followers, should be as a harmless doves, but wise as serpents? How wise is a
serpent? A serpent knows when to hide in the rocks to not been seen. It knows
when some powerful person or animal is putting it in danger and it strikes or
escapes into the scenery as necessary; this is a quality of discernment we
should pray to have. Jesus repeated several times to his followers to not be
deceived.
Today in the world, because
people are not reading the Bible, or praying to be led by the Holy Spirit for
every decision they take, they are being deceived by misinformation supported
by entities in power with absolute dominion in mind! Why are powers always
trying to expunge God from every institution? Because God enlightens the mind
and most Christians are not so gullible to obey blindly what corrupt leaders
command. Jesus is their worst enemy competitor preventing them from having a
total dominance of power over the people’s worship and devotion!
If there is anything you and
I need to pray for today, it is for wisdom! I have claimed this promise of God
a few hundred times and I hope you claim it too! James 1:5 If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it
will be given him.
Ask for the gift of
discernment! Maybe you are more mature and no dark powers will convince you,
but how good are you at warning others?! Since only a current 4% of the U.S. youth
are active in churches, since only about 1/3 Americans even go to church, we
have a huge job to inform a low information public concerning deception and
spiritual matters. Start warning others of deceptions today! Jesus is truth!
