A Shaking and an Awakening (part 4)

Refusing the Delusions of the Day

1.22.2023

Review

This is lesson 4 in a series on dealing with life during this transition time just prior to the coming of Jesus.

The world seems to be in preparation for Jesus’ return!

Hebrews 12:26-27 (NLT)

When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

We will see huge change, but also a moving of the Holy Spirit.

God is seeking to prepare us for the days ahead.

His covenant with us will provide for us and give us direction as we navigate the waters of change.

Last week I started talking about deception and delusion and I want to continue where I left off.

The Holy Spirit is our internal guide that we must become acquainted with!

He is TRUTH.

1. We are not created to live life without God’s oversight.

We are spirit, soul and body.

We have an intuitive part of us that is designed by God to be a daily guiding light in our lives.

1 John 2:20-27 (NKJV)

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is an antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Romans 8:14 (NKJV)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (J.B. Phillips)

For the Word that God speaks is alive and active; it cuts more keenly than any two-edged sword: it strikes through to the place where soul and spirit meet, to the innermost intimacies of a man’s being: it exposes the very thoughts and motives of a man’s heart. No creature has any cover from the sight of God; everything lies naked and exposed before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

2. Be aware of the deceptions of the day!

1 Timothy 4:1-2 I(TPT)

The Holy Spirit has explicitly revealed: At the end of this age, many will depart from the true faith one after another, devoting themselves to spirits of deception and following demon-inspired revelations and theories. Hypocritical liars will deceive many, and their consciences won’t bother them at all!

We are a generation that is undergoing what some call 5th generation warfare, that is pointed towards swaying the public belief a certain way – either for or against a certain thing. The end result of this is the control of a group without a shot being fired.

Quote

Robert Malone – 5th Gen Warfare Terms And Tactics

The most effective 5th Gen warfare strategies employed by those lacking integrity are not purely based on pushing false narratives, mis or dis information. The most effective strategies mix truth with fiction, and act to increase confusion and disorder in the thoughts and minds of those being targeted, so that they are not sure what or whom to believe.

https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/5th-gen-warfare-terms-and-tactics?r=1v3jki&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

Are you awake and aware of the deceptions all around us?

If you are not regularly resisting and refusing some things you hear, then you are more than likely being deceived today.

And if deception is a habit, you could easily be moved away from God’s plan for your freedom in Christ!

It takes a discerning ear to understand what is true and what is twisted truth today.

Just as the Bible foretold, knowing what is true is the challenge today.

3. Refuse to be a delusional person!

Another characteristic of the days just prior to Jesus’ return is delusion.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NKJV)

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Delusion:

1. An erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary.

Example – masks.

Micron – 1/25,000 of an inch.

Holes in a mask. 60 to 80 microns.

Corona – 5 microns.

2. A false belief that is resistant to confrontation with actual facts.

Why is censorship necessary today if what is being said over and over is factual?

The truth needs no help. It will always reveal itself!

3. A delusion is a belief held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary.

The results of misinformation – lies that are spoken over and over again – are delusions!

People begin to believe what they hear over and over…

The antiChrist is typified in Scripture as a deceptive person who will create delusional living.

The spirit of antiChrist is preparing the entire world for a future of global deception.

The antiChrist will one day rise to power in the Middle East, and will aid Israel with some kind of treaty.

This person will be a deceiver par-non! Listen to the scriptures:

Daniel 8:25 (NLT)

He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NKJV)

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1 John 2:21-23 (NLT)

So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antiChrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

1 John 4:1-6 (MEV)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and is already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world, and therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are of God, and whoever knows God listens to us. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (TPT)

The Holy Spirit has explicitly revealed: At the end of this age, many will depart from the true faith one after another, devoting themselves to spirits of deception and following demon-inspired revelations and theories. 2 Hypocritical liars will deceive many, and their consciences won’t bother them at all!

When was the last time you knew that you heard something that you know is false?

If it is not really recent, like today or yesterday, you are probably a person vulnerable to being deceived.

This is not just with spiritual things. This is stuff you hear in the world all around us. The spirit of antiChrist is setting the stage for the world to be controlled. Misinformation abounds!

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (TPT)

Timothy, in the presence of our great God and our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who is destined to judge both the living and the dead by the revelation of his kingdom—I solemnly instruct you to 2 proclaim the Word of God and stand upon it no matter what! Rise to the occasion and preach when it is convenient and when it is not. Preach in the full expression of the Holy Spirit —with wisdom and patience as you instruct and teach the people.

3 For the time is coming when they will no longer listen and respond to the healing words of truth because they will become selfish and proud. They will seek out teachers with soothing words that line up with their desires, saying just what they want to hear. 4 They will close their ears to the truth and believe nothing but fables and myths.

The real truth of God’s Word is sometimes tough to hear! It will challenge you!

If you are not challenged by your pastor’s preaching, then you’d better wake up and check it out!

So, are you going to stand strong as a believer when it is not convenient?

Are you going to stand strong when it goes crossgrain to what is popular? If not, then you are open to being deceived and deluded!

And, you may be one of those who will fall away from God when the going gets tough and persecution is at the door.

This may come quickly. Are you willing to be persecuted for what you believe?

Here is a list of behaviors that the spirit of antiChrist motivates:

Lying, abortion, same-sex marriage, pornography, living together without marriage, relative values or values that change from person to person and in different situations, socialism, communism, control, atheism, lawlessness, fear, godlessness, amorality, homosexuality, lesbianism, transgenderism, binary and fluid sexuality, pedophilia, polyamory, polygamy, divisiveness, inequality, rioting, violence, racism, borderless nations, compliance without questioning facts, and a one-world government.

The spirit of antiChrist is already prepping the world for deception and delusion. Will you resist or will you be one who gives in to it?

4. Get acquainted with God and His unshakable Word!

Today is a day to weigh what you hear in a balance against the Word of God. It is amazing to me that in this age of technological advancement, we are potentially more deceived than ever.

To remain free from deception and delusion today, there is only one way – listen to and obey the WORD OF GOD. And, TURN OFF THE MEDIA!

If we hear the Word but do nothing with it, we will remain deceived and deluded, just like most of the world.

But if we choose to listen to and obey the WORD and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we can remain free in this strange day of deception and delusion.

What are you choosing, deception and delusion, or truth?

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you

(John 14:16-18 – NLT).

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me. (John 16:13-15 – NLT).

So this is why we abandon everything morally impure and all forms of wicked conduct. Instead, with a sensitive spirit we absorb God’s Word, which has been implanted within our nature, for the Word of Life has power to continually deliver us.

Don’t just listen to the Word of Truth and not respond to it, for that is the essence of self-deception. So always let his Word become like poetry written and fulfilled by your life! If you listen to the Word and don’t live out the message you hear, you become like the person who looks in the mirror of the Word to discover the reflection of his face in the beginning. You perceive how God sees you in the mirror of the Word, but then you go out and forget your divine origin. But those who set their gaze deeply into the perfecting law of liberty are fascinated by and respond to the truth they hear and are strengthened by it—they experience God’s blessing in all that they do! (James 1:21-25 – Passion Translation).

Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation. When the rains fell and the flood came, with fierce winds beating upon his house, it stood firm because of its strong foundation. But everyone who hears my teaching and does not apply it to his life can be compared to a foolish man who built his house on sand. When it rained and rained and the flood came, with wind and waves beating upon his house, it collapsed and was swept away (Matthew 7:24-27 – Passion Translation).

James 1:22-25 (NLT)

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

So, if God’s Word says be honest and don’t lie, then I choose to be truthful.

If God’s Word says my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then I treat it with respect and don’t do things to abuse it.

If God’s Word tells me to love my wife the same way Jesus loves the church, then I choose to love my wife that way.

If God’s Word tells me to discipline my child, then I discipline my child!

If God’s Word tells me to work responsibly, then I work responsibly.

If God’s Word tells me to give, then I give.

If God’s Word tells me to forgive, then I forgive.

Choose to ask yourself over and over, what does God’s Word say about this? in every action you take.

When you do this, you are setting yourself up for the Holy Spirit to guide you in specific ways!

Numbers 23:19 (NKJV)

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Job 23:12 (NKJV)

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

Psalm 89:34 (NKJV)

My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.

Ps 119:89 (NKJV)

Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.

Isaiah 40:8 (NKJV)

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Jeremiah 1:12 (AMPC)

Then said the Lord to me, you have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.

Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’

Matthew 5:18 (NIV)

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Matthew 24:35 (NKJV)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Action Points:

1. Do you have enough of the Word of God within you that the Holy Spirit can alert you to false information when you hear or see it?
2. Do you generally believe most of what you hear from media and social media sources without checking its validity?
3. Do you know what is right but choose to act contrary to what you know is correct because you hear it over and over again?
4. Do you go with what the majority think, speak, and do without questioning it?
5. Have you decided to measure what you see and hear by the standard of what God’s Word says? Are you open for the Holy Spirit to speak to you, and do you pause to listen?
6. Are you willing to be criticized for what you believe and how you live?