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Safeguarding Our Hearts Against Deception

By Martha Bush Deception

Let’s talk about The End Times today, as well as the current times in 2022.

In the video seminar Lynn taught on The End times, she stated: “In order to understand The End Times, we have to know where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going. If not, we will be deceived.” 

Today, I want to pick up on that word deceived, which means an act or statement intended to make people believe something that is not true. (Merriam Webster online)

We know that The End Times brings with it what is often referred to as The Great Deception that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24. Even the people of God could be deceived if it were not for God’s protection.

However, the Bible warns us about the dangers of deception, not only in The End Times, but also in our day-to-day lives. Are you thinking, “Me? No way could I ever be deceived!” May I let you in on a little secret - no one is immune. Therefore, it is important that we safeguard our hearts against it.

Take a look at a few safeguards I have tried to put in place:

1. Prepare Ahead of Time

Deuteronomy 11:16 says, “Take heed to yourselves that your heart be not deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods, and worship them.” (NKJV) Heed means pay attention! We live in an ever-changing culture, and with this changing culture comes new thoughts and ideas that do not line up with the Bible. Preparing ahead of time through a diligent study of the word, would help us to discern the untruths in a changing culture, using the knowledge we have built up through consistent Bible study. 

2. Be Careful Who You Follow

A former pastor of mine used to say, “Don’t believe a word I say; go home and check it out for yourselves in the Word and ask the Lord questions.” I knew him to be a man of integrity and truth, yet he was humble enough to tell his congregants to check him out by the Word of God. His words made me realize I should be very cautious about who I watched on TV. This was confirmed to me in a sermon I read recently preached by Smith Wigglesworth, dated August 11, 1927: “People will believe certain preachers are of God simply because of their crowds and their buildings.” 

 3. Have a Friend Who Will Tell You Truth

Many times, when I am dealing with my emotional response to an offense or any problem for that matter, I am reminded of what 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 says: Let no man deceive himself with the wisdom of the world. (paraphrased) It is then I will call a close friend, and the first words out of my mouth are, “Tell me the truth, not what you think I want to hear about this situation; I don’t want to be deceived.”

4. Be Healed of Past Hurts

This is the one that could have ruined my life had I not reached out for help in my early 30’s. You see, there were events in my childhood that I perceived with childlike wisdom, childlike understanding, and childlike knowledge, as in 1 Corinthians 13:11. As a result of these perceptions, by the time I reached adulthood, I was a bitter, angry woman. Fast forward to the time I passed forgiveness on to the person I had perceived had caused these traumatic events in my life. God opened up the windows of heaven to me and begin pouring His truth in me to the point that I realized those things I had perceived as a child were lies – deceived! Don’t ever think Satan doesn’t get into the mind of a child. I believe misconceptions about what forgiveness means can lead to lies and deception at any age. The mind is Satan’s playground.

------And now, let’s talk about The Church as a whole in the year of 2022. Is it being deceived?  For thoughts on that, I called my pastor, Loyd Thurman, Pastor of Community Church, Orange, Texas, for his thoughts.

My question to him was: “What would you say are the most common deceptions of The Church as a whole in 2022?

Without hesitating, he immediately pointed out three:

  1. Being lukewarm is ok with the Lord.
  2. Things will go back to normal, and we can just have church rather than be the church.
  3. Format and methodology are more important than the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

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My friends, let's pray that as individuals and The Church as a whole be able to discern and be delivered from deceptions.  May we be an instrument God can use to help the many who are hungry for truth.

Let me know your thoughts on the following questions:

  1. What safeguards have you put in place to guard your hearts against deception?
  2. What are your thoughts on Pastor Loyd’s answer to the three most common deceptions of The Church as a whole in 2022? 

 

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