Deception is Growing among the Cultural Christian Masses





Scriptures about False Teachers and Deception

Jude 1:1-25
(1)  Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:
(2)  Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
(3)  Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
(4)  For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
(5)  But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
(6)  And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;
(7)  as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
(8)  Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
(9)  Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
(10)  But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
(11)  Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
(12)  These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
(13)  raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
(14)  Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,
(15)  to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
(16)  These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
(17)  But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(18)  how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
(19)  These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
(20)  But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
(21)  keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
(22)  And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
(23)  but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
(24)  Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
(25)  To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

Wolves as Sheep

At the outset, please allow me to express a moment of grief over the spiritual leanings of so many believers today. 

My heart is broken to tears sometimes.  What is happening throughout cultural Christianity is unthinkable.  We knew that it would be this way; our Lord said that it would, and so did the early apostles.  I often wonder why I even attempt to speak to it. 

However, occasionally we hear from someone who has had their eyes opened and who turns back to the sanity of the true life and liberty in the Holy Spirit of the Lord.  This gives me a little courage to go forward.  I also want to stand in defense of His name - one that countless Christians claim to know; but in reality, they are hardly acquainted with Him, if at all.


THERE IS A DEMONIC ONSLAUGHT OF THE DEVIL THESE DAYS THAT WILL NOT QUIT UNTIL JESUS COMES.  IT HAS BEEN INVADING THE CHRISTIAN AIRWAVES LONG ENOUGH NOW THAT IT IS OVERWHELMING MULTIPLIED MILLIONS WHO GIVE AN EAR TO IT.  PLEASE AVOID IT AT ALL COST.

There are countless false prophets, false prophesies, false teachers, false shepherds, false evangelists, false healers and false everything else that can duplicate truth.  In addition, there is a famine of the Word of the Lord in the land.

Deception is running wild not only among those who claim to be "Spirit-filled," but also among the traditionalists who have always rejected the outpouring of God's Spirit.  It is in both extremes.  There are those who are "dead" though they think they are "alive," and there are those who think they are "rich," but they are "naked and wretched, and blind."

Please, my dear brother and sister in Christ - "'Take heed that no one deceives you.'"   (Matt. 24:4 NKJV)


This is not meant to be an exhaustive explanation about “wolves in sheep’s” clothing, but I sense an urgency to start somewhere, even if it is incomplete.  Truth about these things is so desperately needed in this late hour.  I would be glad to try to answer questions that you may have which are not already addressed through this article if you would like to email through our contact page. 


Introductory Thoughts:

This article is written to benefit the body of Christ.  It is my desire to explain, as briefly and as succinctly as I can, some of the ways in which Satan is operating to deceive both the believer and the non-believer.  It is not my intent to condemn. Those who embrace their sin are condemned already.  On the other hand, I will not make a special effort to protect those who deceive. 

Let me preface our study with some thoughts on deception, since that is the reason Satan has planted “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”


1.     Deception is the potent enemy of truth.

·        It is important to realize that when one is deceived, he or she does not know it.  They assume they believe the truth.  Thus, deception can be VERY dangerous ground to walk on.  Many of us may be deceived in small ways that do not make much difference in our walk with the Lord or with each other, but even that is not to be neglected.  We should always ask the Lord to reveal truth to us, in the event that we are deceived in one area or another.

While Jesus served us on earth, He made clear that deception was an enemy of truth, and in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25) He warned His own disciples repeatedly of the coming deceived and deceitful men.  We are living in those times of which He spoke.
 

2.     Deception is a judgment.

·        It is a general judgment because of the nature of general sin throughout the earth.  It is something that all men should be careful of.

·        It is a particular judgment for those who have rejected truth, preferring to embrace unrighteousness (II Thess. 2:11-12).


3.     Deception is a curse.

·        It is a curse because, at the very least, it brings spiritual injury to whoever is deceived.  Our Lord said that “the thief” (false shepherd) comes “to steal, to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10).  Deception robs spiritually and/or physically.  From there, it can bring death, then utter destruction, spiritually and/or physically.  To be robbed from is to suffer injury; to be killed is to suffer death (perhaps not physical death, but death to one’s ability to bear fruit); and to suffer destruction is to be injured to the extent that there is no recovery from judgment.


4.     Deception can bring strongholds of the worst kind – spiritual strongholds

·        It is one thing to be under physical strongholds, and yet quite another to be under spiritual strongholds.  Sometimes these are inner related, but not always.  Physical bondages have a grip on the body, but spiritual bondages have a grip on the mind and even the heart. 

As difficult as it is to overcome some physical strongholds, it is possible to do so by physical willpower with consistent prayer.  Not so with spiritual strongholds, however; they can only be overcome by the Spirit of the Lord.  Things that rule the mind and heart (spiritual strongholds) are of much greater consequence than things that rule the body only.  Our Lord points this out in a manner of speaking when He says, “'Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:17-19 NKJV).

The body certainly resists correction, but the mind and the heart resist correction even more.  People who are spiritually deceived will go to great lengths to protect their beliefs – even as far as murder.  The religious Jews had our Lord crucified because He was exposing the lies they chose to embrace (Matthew 13:13).  A deceived person who refuses to surrender will fight to the bitter end.

This is important to remember, because there are many “believers” walking in deception who may never come out.  They have rejected truth so long and with such a hard heart that God will not show them the way out (Matthew 13:13, Acts 7:51-53).  When the Lord addressed some that “believed,” He commanded them saying, “If you abide [continue] in My Word, you are my disciples indeed” (John 8:31 NKJV).  To continue in His Word is to grow both in knowing His truth and in embracing it.  To walk in truth is the ultimate way to be shielded from deception. 

The only way we can help someone be delivered from deception is to speak the truth, then to reinforce it by Spirit-guided prayer.  The Spirit of God must break the stronghold.  It is somewhat like leading a lost person into the new-birth experience.  The Spirit of the Lord must remove “the scales” from his or her eyes.


In Recognizing Deceived and Deceitful Teachers
Consider the source of false doctrine that may lead to deception.

There is so much that needs to be said on this subject, it is difficult to know where to begin.  It would be impossible to thoroughly address one by one the myriad of heresies put forth by today’s false prophets and teachers.  It may be important to begin by making clear that not all incorrect teaching is heresy, and not all teachers who misunderstand what they are trying to teach are heretics, or false prophets.  God has made a way that His people can determine who is real and who is not.

The apostle John cautions that we should “try the spirits” of those we listen to (I John 4:1).  We are able to do so by His Spirit who abides in us.  The apostle Paul makes clear that we can also check whatever is taught by the truth of God’s Word (II Tim. 3:16,17).  However, there are so many kinds of demonic influences imitating the Spirit of God, and there are so many “doctrines of devils” taken from the Word that skew our understanding of the Word, that we would also benefit by recognizing some particular characteristics or tactics of those who are indeed heretics and false shepherds. 

With that in mind, let us consider the following as a helpful guide to determine who may qualify as a heretic or a false prophet, lest, as the apostle Paul wrote, we be ignorant of Satan’s devices (II Corinthians 2:11).

A.    False teachers seek covenant with their followers.

For example, many such teachers today want to make others their “covenant partner.”  They skillfully twist the scriptures to support their doctrines of devils.  Of course, there is a fee (they label it a love offering) associated with it.  Then there are those who teach that others can receive their “anointing,” and of course there is a fee associated with that, too. 

First, to assume that you can possess any kind of anointing of the Spirit for money is a sorcerer's lie (Acts 8:18-24).  All those who request any kind of covenant relationship for an offering are practicing sorcery.  Period!

Also, we should be careful not to covenant with anyone.  (Of course, we are not talking about the covenant of marriage which is God ordained.)  Our covenant relationship is with Jesus Christ, and other such relationships will weaken our level of allegiance to Him; besides that, when we covenant with someone, we take their “bad” with their “good!”  We cannot serve two masters, regardless of who or what they may be (Luke 16:13).  Also, who wants the “anointing” of another man?  It should go without saying anyway that a man cannot possibly give you his anointing if it is of Jesus Christ.  Our anointing comes from “the Holy One,” Jesus Christ, alone (I John 2:20). 

If you have made any kind of pledge or covenant relationship with anyone, do whatever you are able to do to break it.  Jesus said, “'But let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No."  For whatever is more than these is from the evil one'” (Matthew 5:37).

There are other ways false teachers use to attach themselves to others if allowed to. Once attached, they are like leaches that will not stop sucking until they have drained their prey completely dry of spiritual understanding, so that they cannot discern that they are also being drained of their financial means.

Notice: They teach in such a way that they leave the listener with an inordinate sense of the need to be connected to them and to be equipped by them.

B.    They “deny the Lord who bought them...” (II Peter 2:1c).

The false teachers deny the Lord who bought them by denying Him His lordship – they rob Him of His ability to lead His own people in the way that He would have them to go as their “Good Shepherd.” (John 10:11).  They do not necessarily deny the Lord altogether, for in doing so they could not deceive anyone who believes.  Peter was writing to, and writing about, believers – not unbelievers.  He was also speaking of false teachers who at one time or another had “believed.”  The Lord “had bought them.”  Let us consider other facts in the first three verses of chapter two.

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.  By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (NKJV).

In addition to what we have already pointed out, let us look at the following:

a)     There will be false teachers among you –

·        that is, among believers, so think it not strange that they are among us.

b)    They will secretly bring in destructive heresies –

·        they will disguise their heresies in enough truth that they cannot easily be detected.

·         they sometimes sneak their untruths into your heart by appealing to your emotions.  This is very common.   They will make you laugh, or cry, or feel deeply about something – a story they may tell or an emotional testimony of sorts.  By appealing to the emotions, they open up hearts and are able to sneak in their lies more easily.  This is manipulation of the worst kind.

c)     Many will follow their destructive ways –

·        these are those among you (not a few; so be careful of following crowds).

d)    By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words –

·        they are not only deceived themselves, but they seek to deceive others for personal satisfaction and personal gain.

e)     They will exploit you –

·        they will take advantage of you (financially and every other way that will meet their covetousness).

f)      They will use deceptive words –

·        unless you are grounded in truth and have at least some discernment of the Spirit of truth, their words may appear to speak truth, but actually they do not represent truth (this is what deception is).

·        they will often get their audience in agreement about a truth that no one would dare deny.  Remember, the best way to get someone to accept a lie is by wrapping it in truth. 

·        they will also get their audience in agreement with them by starting out with several true statements.  They try to get their audience to say “Yes!” as often as possible. 

Remember, there is a great difference between a true statement and truth itself, which is an eternal reality.  For example, the room that you are sitting in may have white walls.  That would be a true statement; but that is not an eternal reality.  “Jesus is Lord!” is an eternal reality.  (By the way, that is the favorite saying of many false teachers.) 

Also, the fact that they are holding a Bible is a true statement.  The fact that they are reading from a Bible is a true statement, too.  The fact that they are explaining what they have read is a true statement.  But they may not be explaining it in truth at all.

 C.     They usually seek the supernatural and to know the future.

This is what people want, and this is how they get many sheep into their fold.  They have blended “familiar (deceitful) spirits” with the Holy Spirit (II Chronicles 33:6).  These are impostors of the worst kind.  Some of them started out on “the right track,” but have derailed themselves through covetousness.

a)     They “prophecy” by the numbers.

·        God created all things in perfect order, and everything may be explained by numbers.  Thus, numbers do have meaning.  However, the Word of God does not tell us to prophecy by numbers!  This is pure sorcery!  This is fortune-telling! 

When they prophecy by numbers, they are likely to tell some things that will come to pass, but it is highly unlikely that they have prophesied by the Spirit of the Lord.

b)    They “prophecy” by quantum theory.

·        Again, quantum theory is the use of numbers in the tiniest increments.  It involves a science so deep that, according to some renowned scientists, it can be understood better when one is willing to operate in the spiritual realm.  They declare that the quantum theory is so numerically microscopic that it can take one from the physical into a spiritual realm, whereby all things consists.  It is by Jesus alone that all things consist and are held together, and those that seek Him in this way are seeking “to enter in another way.”   

Yes.  Some predictions may be made through quantum theory, but it is highly unlikely that the Spirit of the Lord has a thing to do with it.  Any time someone seeks to know the future by any other means than by walking with God and allowing His revelation as He would give it, he or she is in danger of practicing sorcery. 

c)     They prophecy by the stars and activities in the heavens.

This is no more than horoscope prophecy; yes, some of it may come to pass, but it is highly unlikely that it was initiated by the Holy Spirit of God.


I have much more to say about these things and why so many believers are deceived.  Please check back for additions later.





Scriptures about False Teachers and Deception

2 Peter 2:1-22
(1)  But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
(2)  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
(3)  By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
(4)  For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
(5)  and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
(6)  and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
(7)  and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
(8)  (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—
(9)  then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
(10)  and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
(11)  whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
(12)  But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,
(13)  and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,
(14)  having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
(15)  They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
(16)  but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
(17)  These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
(18)  For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.
(19)  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
(20)  For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
(21)  For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
(22)  But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."