THEY BELIEVED A LIE

Marcella Ward    November 2, 2022

THE GARDEN OF EDEN

Genesis 3:1-5

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³ but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

⁴ “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  NIV

THE HOLOCAUST

“Europe’s extensive railway network of the 1930s and 1940s played a key role in the Holocaust. The deportation of millions of Jews to concentration camps such as Auschwitz in Poland was carried out mainly via rail.

Jews from all parts of German-occupied territories were bundled on to these trains. This process was often referred to as “resettlement to the east” by the Nazi regime.

The victims – including women and children – would be told that they were being hauled to labour camps. In reality, these were death camps where the largest known genocide in modern human history would unfold.”  (Times Now Digital Updated Jan 28, 2020)

MEDIA

I don’t know where to begin about the media’s lies!  Whether it be the “fake news” stations or social media i.e. twitter; Facebook, etc.  Another prime example are many politicians who lie just to get elected.   

WHAT IS TRUTH?

JOHN 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  ESV

JOHN 17:7

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ESV

JOHN 8:32

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ESV

It is of utmost importance for us to seek the truth.  Just because someone says something doesn’t mean that it is true. 

JOHN 8:44

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  NIV

THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS   2 Thessalonians 2

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. ³ Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness^[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? ⁶ And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie ¹² and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^] to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings^[c] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.  NIV

 We need to discern everything that we hear or see.  In this age of technology, where truth can so easily be manipulated, we need to seek sources of truth.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Adam and Eve believed a lie. Seek the truth and you will find it!

Marcella Ward   November 2, 2022    Author of “Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One”

DECEPTION

  

                                                            DECEPTION

Genesis 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Deceive---(of a person) cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage: "I didn't intend to deceive people into thinking it was French champagne" (Oxford Dictionaries)

We all know what deceive means but the reason I have articulated the meaning is to emphasize the part that says, “to gain some personal advantage.”  So deceit is not only saying something that is not true but doing it for personal gain.  That sounds very familiar now in the area of our culture and politics.

Satan not only deceived himself into thinking that he could be greater than God but he also deceived Adam and Eve into thinking that they could be like God.  I believe he tricked them into thinking that they would be gods themselves.  He was really stealing their identity.

How can we keep from being deceived?  I believe that we need to seek the truth.  Just because someone says something does not mean that it is true.  Just turn on the “fake news.”  People that deceive others have an agenda.  It appears that power and money are the two high ranking motives that fuel people’s hearts to deceive others.  The problem with deception is that it causes an avalanche of more lies and more deceit until only those blinded by their own deceit will find it very hard to accept the truth. Also, deception includes what is not said. 

What is Truth?   Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6 (NIV)   When bank tellers are being taught how to detect counterfeit money, they are taught how to recognize the authentic money.  We need to recognize the authenticity of what we see and hear and read.  We also need to seek God’s wisdom and read His Word.  Those that choose to deceive like to change words to sound more palatable so as to hide the true meaning such as “a woman’s choice” (abortion); social justice (socialism); Planned Parenthood (abortion clinic), etc.

 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”   Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. Matthew 24:3-5 (NIV)

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.  For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you ahead of time.  Matthew 24:23-25 (NIV)

Jesus very plainly states that one of the biggest signs will be deception in the last days before His Second Coming.  We are living in a world where there is deception on steroids!!  Our spiritual eyes need to be opened so that we can discern what is true and what is not.  With our modern technology it is much easier to deceive than in times past.  Also, our technology can change the outcome to suit its purpose or personal agenda.  I don’t have to go too far in giving you the example of the 2020 election!!

Satan has his agenda and he works through people.  He is the “father of lies.” Jesus rebuked those that were accusing Him of not being of God and Jesus said that they were the ones who were of the devil.

 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.  Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!  Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?  Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”  John 8:42-47 (NIV)

“The Nazis frequently used propaganda to disguise their political aims and deceive the German and international public. They depicted Germany as the victim of Allied and Jewish aggression to hide their true ideological goals and to justify war and violence against innocent civilians.” (Holocaust Encyclopedia)

“Europe’s extensive railway network of the 1930s and 1940s played a key role in the Holocaust. The deportation of millions of Jews to concentration camps such as Auschwitz in Poland was carried out mainly via rail.

Jews from all parts of German-occupied territories were bundled on to these trains. This process was often referred to as “resettlement to the east” by the Nazi regime.

The victims – including women and children – would be told that they were being hauled to labour camps. In reality, these were death camps where the largest known genocide in modern human history would unfold.

Monday marked the 75^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops. At least 1.1 million people, most of them Jews, were murdered in Auschwitz.”  (Death Trains: How Jews were deported to Auschwitz, the most infamous Nazi concentration Camp--Times Now News January 28, 2020)

How does this apply to our lives now?  We need to take a stand for the truth, in whatever form that takes.  And we need to seek truth and have discernment so we are not deceived concerning anything we see, read, hear or experience.  Remember that the evil one always appears as an “angel of light”!

 

DELIVERANCE

 

                                                     DELIVERANCE

“Deliverance is defined as “a rescue from bondage or danger.” Deliverance in the Bible is the acts of God whereby He rescues His people from peril. In the Old Testament, deliverance is focused primarily on God’s removal of those who are in the midst of trouble or danger. He rescues His people from their enemies.”  (What does the Bible say about deliverance?  God Questions)

1 Samuel 17:37; The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”  Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” and from the hand of the wicked NIV

Psalm18:16-17; He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. NIV

Exodus 3:8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. NIV

“In the New Testament, God is always the subject—and His people are always the object—of deliverance. The descriptions of temporal deliverance in the Old Testament serve as symbolic representations of the spiritual deliverance from sin which is available only through Christ. He offers deliverance from mankind’s greatest peril—sin, evil, death and judgment. By God’s power, believers are delivered from this present evil age and from the power of Satan’s reign. All aspects of deliverance are available only through the person and work of Jesus Christ, who was Himself delivered up for us so that we would be delivered from eternal punishment for sin. Only Jesus rescues us from the “wrath to come.”

1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. NIV

Galatians 1:4-5 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  NIV

Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. NIV

Matthew 12:22, Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. NIV

James 4:7,Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  NIV

Acts 8:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. NIV

Matthew 9:32-33 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. ³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

Deliverance is part of the Gospel.  Jesus told His Disciples in Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; NIV

Jake Kail, the author of “Setting Captives Free,” says there are four principles in the Bible about demonic influence:

1.      Demonic influence is real.

2.      It is common.

3.      There are varying degrees of demonic influence.

4.      There are certain things that can open the door, i.e. trauma; unforgiveness; sin; the occult; and generational curses.

Can a Christian be possessed by a demon? NO, a born again, spirit filled Christian, cannot be possessed by a demon but can be oppressed by one. The definition of oppression is—“The state of being subject to unjust treatment or control.”  “The Bible says that the devil seeks to devour believers (1 Peter 5:8), and Satan and his demons “scheme” against Christians (Ephesians 6:11). As Satan attempted with Jesus (Luke 4:2), demonic forces tempt us to sin and oppose our efforts to obey God.  Should a Christian allow the demons to succeed in these attacks, oppression results. Demonic oppression is when a demon is temporarily victorious over a Christian, successfully tempting a Christian to sin and hindering his ability to serve God with a strong testimony. If a Christian continues to allow demonic oppression in his/her life, the oppression can increase to the point that the demon has a very strong influence over the Christian’s thoughts, behavior, and spirituality. Christians who allow continuing sin open themselves up for greater and greater oppression. Confession and repentance of sin are necessary to restore fellowship with God, who can then break the power of demonic influence. The apostle John gives us great encouragement in this area: “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him” (1 John 5:18).”  (What does the Bible say about demonic oppression?  God Questions)

1 John 4:4 says, You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  The power of the Holy Spirit can overcome demonic oppression.  We rely on the Holy Spirit to successfully resist demonic influence.  Ephesians 6:16 says, In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert in Matthew 4:1-11?  Jesus rebuked him by quoting scripture.  Scripture is very powerful.  We are not left defenseless because we have the Holy Spirit living in us.  There is a very powerful teaching by Jake Kail about deliverance with powerful prayers for deliverance.  I hope you open this link even if you do not recognize that you may be dealing with deliverance issues.  Make sure you watch the entire video because there are special prayers that he prays for you.  This is an important video to share with others.

https://sidroth.org/?s=Jake+Kail&post_type=television_episode&orderby=relevance&order=DESC

The Armor of God

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:10-17  NIV