How Deceived By Man Are You?

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!