Coming as an Angel of Light

“He made free use of Christian vocabulary. He talked about the blessing of the Almighty and the Christian confessions, which would become the pillars of the new government. He assumed the earnestness of a man weighed down by historic responsibility. He handed out pious stories to the press, especially to the church papers. He showed his tattered Bible and declared that he drew the strength for his great work from it as scores of pious people welcomed him as a man sent from God. Indeed, Adolf Hitler was a master of outward religiosity--with no inward reality! ? Today in the Word, June 3, 1989.”

Thank you again brothers.

pastorfrin wrote:

pastorfrin wrote:
Coming as an Angel of Light

2 Cor. 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Satan knows the Word of God and uses small non-truths to lead away from Christ, just as he did in the Garden.
Will you be able to discern, or will you follow the crowd? Most will be deceived and only those who are watching in the Spirit of Christ will know and discern.
Now is the time to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to hide His Word in your heart. The night is fast approaching, do not be deceived by the claims of a rising star, there will be no excuses, we all have been warned.

Matthew 24:24-25
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. [25] Behold, I have told you before.

1 Peter 4:7
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

In His Love
pastorfrin

Felt led to re-post this as in seems to be more and more evident what is coming. Watch Church,
Watch!

moe wrote: "if it were possible"
I thank God that it is not possible. The antichrist in a sense uses half truths, but mostly they are lies.
John 8:44
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
KJV
Jesus is, the way, the truth, and the life.

What the devil says is "did God really say"
Jesus left us HIS TESTAMENT AND GAVE HIS NEW COVENANT and give us HIS Spirit. He wrote HIS laws in our hearts, if we have made HIM LORD of our life, He gave us both to guide us into all truth. So we are without excuse.
Rom 1:20-22

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
KJV

God did not us a Spirit of fear!!
2 Tim 1:7-10
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
KJV
He gave us love and often when a person is given truth and it is not accepted, they don't consider it love. As the thread I started on how the devil uses his captives to attempt to always kill or silenced God's true messengers in any fashion.

The devil wants to promote fear and Jesus said fear not. The devil gives no hope in his message, God's messenger always give truth with hope through Christ.

Acts 27:23-24
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying,[i] Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.[/i]
KJV

Jesus himself told us fear not.
John 14:1-4
14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
KJV

Luke 12:32-34
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
KJV

Where is the world putting their treasure and what is their treasure?

Rev 1:17-18
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
KJV

If we have received HIM as Lord and savior and have HIS SPIRIT within our mortal bodies, we have nothing to fear, if not, we have everything to fear from the wrath that will be upon those who rejected HIS SON.

We can thank HIM in 1st John he wrote to us the whole book and at the end He told us that the book was given that we might know.

1 John 5:13-15
[i]13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life,[/i] and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
KJV

We need that bulldog confidence in God's protection just as Shadrack, Meshack and Abendego had, you can throw me into that firey furnace O king, but we will not bow down to your gods, OUR God will save us even if He don't we still won't bow down.

You all know the story there was a fourth man in the fire. Thank You Jesus.

I have many faults, but it is not buy my power, or by my might, but by it by my Spirit, saith the Lord.

If anyone is a child of God rejoice, if not, why not.

Mark 8:36-38
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
KJV

moe wrote:

"if it were possible"
I thank God that it is not possible.

I understand that [i]many[/i] true German Christians were deceived by Hitler. And he was only a sort of experimental prototype Antichrist. The ultimate Antichrist will be even more deceptive and subtle.

That is why the warning is sounding to all who will hear.

If you think you can't be deceived the chances are that you are already beginning to be.

I know, because of having been deceived through someone some years ago. I know because the Bible says it is possible - our usual interpretation that it isn't is mistaken. The Greek implies that if there is ability, or "power" to be deceived then we will be!

There is no need to be afraid of deception if we are walking day by day as close to the Lord as we know how and be willing to accept His correction. Otherwise we are in danger...

Was it in Pilgrim's Progress that Christian encountered "the Flatterer"? That is one way to be deceived, if we listen to flattery. Or if we seek our own things instead of His, if we have our own agenda, our own need to be recognised, appreciated, valued; to be important, to be in control, to know something that few others know, to be part of the "inner circle", etc etc...

Only the Lord can keep us on His straight path. Our Bible knowledge can't do it, the best of pastors and teahers can't do it, our adherance to right doctrine can't do it, our seeking to be righteous can't do it, our spiritual gifts and understanding can't do it.

Only HIMSELF, and our relationship with HIM will keep us in the storms that are comiing.

in Him

Jeannette

pastorfrin wrote:
THE FOLLY OF BEING UNPREPARED
"While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut." -- Mat_25:10.

THE FOOLISH virgins made five great mistakes.
(1)They made no provision for the continuance of their light. It is not enough merely to have the lamp; it must be lit and maintained, because there is something for the fire to feed on. How many there are who are on fire and in earnest during the first stage of their religious life, but they have made no provision for maintaining the flame which has been kindled by the grace of God. They have lamps, but have neglected to take oil. The oil stands for fellowship with the Lord Jesus, for the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the daily study of the Bible, for the kindling communion of worship with fellow-Christians.
(2)They slept. There was a difference between the sleep of the foolish and that of the wise. There are two kinds of sleep. The one arises from a sense of security and trust. Every preparation has been made; all has been done that could be done, and we resign ourselves deliberately to the care of God. So Peter slept in the prison, before the angel came to deliver him. But there is another kind of sleep. The sleep of the sentry, when the foe is stealing up the pass; of the pilot, when the ship is making for the serried teeth of the rocks; of the nurse, when the patient's life is quivering in the balance. These foolish ones had no right to sleep, when they were so utterly unready to meet the Bridegroom. We must not take things for granted, or say "Peace, peace, when there is no peace!"
(3) They thought they could procure oil from the wise. But the appeal was in vain. Each must bear his own burden of responsibility in the sight of God. We may "buy without money and without price," but each must appropriate the living grace and power of Jesus for himself.
(4)They thought they could get in; "Lord, Lord, open to us!" But the door was irrevocably closed! "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"
(5)They thought that the Bridegroom would recognize them. But He said: "I know you not." Let each ask himself: "Does Jesus know me? Will he recognize me at last?" The only way to be sure, is to kneel at the foot of His Cross until He seals us with the Holy Spirit, and says: "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine."

PRAYER
O Lord, we pray that our lives may be lamps to which Thou shalt supply oil. Help us to be burning and shining lights for this dark world. AMEN.
F.B. Meyer

Thank you for that fresh and challenging insight on a familiar parable.

Jeannette

[color=0000FF]moe wrote.

The mistake the 5 virgins made and the reason they had no oil, is the fact they had not done what was required of Lord, that enabled them to see through the darkness. He is the light of the world. He that is in HIM will never walk in darkness. His Word is a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our pathway. John 1:1 and John 1:14.

It appears in HIS WORD, that the oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. So yes, they could see not see the bridegroom, because they had no oil.

Many believe in God today according to the polls, but they do not trust in Jesus and the cross. If they don't trust in HIM, they would be foolish, right. His Word tells us that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing, but to those that are saved, it is the power of God unto salvation.

Could it be that the be the ones that had oil were the ones that trusted in Jesus, who is the one, in whom the Holy Spirit comes to us, to supply the oil. The ones that had no oil believed in God, but not HIS SON, don't you think.

When one makes both Jesus both Lord and Savior,we get the oil, the Holy Spirit living within us to guide them into all truth. That why it says, could deceive the elect "if it where possible".

If it were possible to deceive the elect, then he would not have given that statement to the Apostle to write under in inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

The reason so many people are being deceived is, they don't have the Holy Spirit living within them, because they are not saved. They have trusted Jesus and the cross.

They have a form of Godliness and deny the power thereof. They go away sad, as the rich young ruler, because they have great possessions.

They have no oil, as the five foolish virgins. They have no unction to get into the Word of God to see if the preacher is giving the truth or not as the Word tells one to.

They have no unction to expose the devils lies, but only want to please men.They are more concerned about what God can do for them than what He has already done us at the cross.

They got to much pride to climb a tree and see Jesus as Zacheuas did.

They have forgotten their first love and they don't want to go back and do the things they did at first, because if the things the church of Ephesus did at first, it won't fit today's culture and they will be scorned by the wicked and won't be popular with the so-called brethren and the world.

They are not willing to put their Isaiac on the alter, because they don't think God will provide as He said He would.

They always gripe about the water even after God has brought them across the Red Sea and the Jordan River because the water is bitter and they are too many giants and they forget about the quail and the manner in the desert they had to eat.

They will sell the vineyards, that their Father gave them as an inheritance to Ahab and Jezebel, because they are afraid to buck up against earthly power in Jesus name. But some will refuse to sell what is God's, as Naboth stood against Ahab and Jezebel for Godly things. Just remember what happened to Ahab and Jezebel. Just as God's messenger said it would.

They have a money price they can be bought at. Sometimes they can be bought for 30 pieces of silver. They will sell their brother for 20 pieces of silver.

They let the Philistine woman entice them and lose their strength God gave them as Samson did.

They are fearful of facing Goliath and are not confident that God will deliver to them exactly what is needed to defeat him.

They have forgotten the about wisdom of Solomon that God gave him, being every under the sun means nothing and is only vanity, vanity, vanity, but only a relationship with the Lord means anything and is the only thing that is eternal.

They have forgotten that God knows all, after they meet Jesus at the well for water, and that He is the only one, that can give that living water for eternal life.

They have forgotten God is the given of every good and perfect gift and it comes from above and that giving back to Him is an act of worship, a gift that every Christian has been given, When they don’t give they quench the Spirit of Lord in the church.

They have forgotten to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and pleasing to the Lord, for it is there reasonable service to the Lord.

I have been guilty of all the above in the past and ask God daily to help me overcome all of them, how about you?[/color]

Logic wrote:
Tell me, if it is possible in this verse:
Rom 12:18 If possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men.
Then, please, tell me why this is not possible:
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if possible, even the elect.[/color]
I tell you now, that we are still able to be decieved.

moe wrote:
[color=003399]He tells us to be at peace with everyone,[u] if possible[/u] Which should tell us, there will be times, when we can't be at peace with everyone, as a christian. Our main objective is promoting HIM and protecting and guarding against evil, not pleasing men.

Even though we have some tribulation in the world today, if I might use a worldly term. We ain't seen nothing yet, like Revelations is talking about. There will be some saved in the tribulation, whether this is to the Jews only I do not know, but it seems during the tribulation only those who don't regard their life more important than proclaiming the name of Jesus will be saved and that could be the message at the present time, as well. The passages below is speaking of the wrath to come upon the world spoken of in Revelations, after the tribulation as it says, I would think.

Mark 13:22-26
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
KJV

We have false prophets today and have always had them, after the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden. How do we distinguish between the prophet of God and the false. First and foremost, if requires HIS SPIRIT living within the one needing to distinguish? Actually the word distinguish is simular in meaning to discerment which only the Spirit of the Lord can give.

1 John 4:1-3
4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
KJV

2Peter 2:1-3
2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2[u] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.[/u]
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
KJV

Note verse 3 and the last part. Do you see anyone objecting to HIS truth. Complaining about God's Word being spoken in public places. Don't feel they should speak of their faith from certain positions of authority of man. Try to be nuetral when it comes to calling sin, sin. Twisting scripture and saying judge not, when speaking truth is NOT anywhere close to the true description of exactly how a judge carries out duties and the acts of his judgeship and actually being a Judge. Do you see anyone not trying be politically correct as a priority, instead of standing for truth?

Yes, these things will take place and when you look at the whole council of God there are no counterdictions at all in HIS WORD, but only confirmation. We might not know exactly how it will all take place, but rest assured, if He had His Apostles write that the elect could be deceived, that means they can't. Revelations has many events that are hard to understand as well about the antichrist and the false prophet. Revelations say, one will be blessed that reads the things contained the book. Why, could it be because through Christ and HIS forgiveness, they have escaped all those things to come and will also come back with Christ, when He comes in great power as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and every knee will bow and confess that HE is Lord.

Rev 20:6-11
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
KJV

I thank HIM for all things, but one thing we need to thank HIM for is, it is not required of man or woman, to be a theologian to be saved, only childlike faith in Jesus Christ, who took our sins upon HIM, for all that whosoever will. He did not come into the world to comdemn it but through HIM that they might be saved.

Rom 10:17-18
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
"Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world."

What is faith?
Heb 11:1-7
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
KJV

How can they hear?

Rom 10:14-16
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
KJV[/color]

pastorfrin wrote:
[u]Satan will fight someone who is doing damage to his kingdom with every trick he has.[/u]
Our hope and our salvation is in Jesus Christ,
thus we must continuously look to Him for His keeping. As Paul told Timothy:

2 Tim. 3:15-4:5
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
[4:1] I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. [5] But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

I think you recognize that the time is here, to follow the advice of our Lord, to:

Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

In His Love
pastorfrin

[u]Satan will fight someone who is doing damage to his kingdom with every trick he has.[/u]

moe wrote:
How well I know!!!!

I have a post on here somewhere that gives references on where Paul and Peter had differences of opinions at times as well as others. As for the Word of God is written to both the saved and the unsaved. There were times Paul was addressing the saved, there were times he was addressing the lost and at time both the saved and the lost. To the saved God's Word is it is manna and direction for our lives. To the lost it doesn't mean much and they are without understanding until they are convicted of their sins and by faith accept Jesus and trust HIM as both[u] Lord and Savior[/u] are then they are sealed with HIS SPIRIT and HIS WORD is a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their pathway. Does it mean you automatically become theological scholar, no, but you will know them by their fruits. Too many scriptures tell us this truth. Paul is talking to the mainly lost people about being deceived and also to the saved (the church)not neglect instuction of the Word, but to grow in the knowledge of who HE is. There are also people who will be here in the tribulation after the rapture of the church, which all are lost and will continue to be lost until they refuse to bow down to the antichrist and take death for proclaiming JESUS NAME. His church will be gone during the tribulation and With HIM in heaven.

Evidently you see these two scriptures are in the same light and I definaltely don't see it that way. I can't dispute you face to face as Paul did Peter, but I do the closest thing to it that I can.

moe_mac wrote
would deceive the elect, If it [u]were[/u] possible
and live at peace, if it [u]is[/u] possible.

To me there is a world of difference in the two.

Matt 24:24
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that,[u] if it were possible[/u], they shall deceive the very elect.
KJV

Rom 12:18
18[u]If it be possible[/u], as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
KJV

Look at good the passages again and tell me this is the same instance and meaning in both passages.:roll:

if it be possible.
NT:1415
dunatos (doo-nat-os'); from NT:1410; powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible:
KJV - able, could, (that is) mighty (man), possible, power, strong.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

if
NT:1487
ei (i); a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:
KJV - forasmuch as, if, that, ([al-]) though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in NT:1489, NT:1490, NT:1499, NT:1508, NT:1509, NT:1512, NT:1513, NT:1536, NT:1537. See also NT:1437.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

if it were possible.
if it be possible.

I think the variation comes on the the (were) and the (be) in which there is no greek reference.

when you check out the if and were you get this.
NT:9999
NOTE: inserted word (x); This word was added by the translators for better readability in the English. There is no actual word in the Greek text. The word may be displayed in italics, or in parentheses or other brackets, to indicate that it is not in the original text.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

I'm taking the whole Bible and looking at the whole picture, not just that one particular verse, which lines up with the rest of the Bible, such as.

Eph 1:13
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
KJV

Rom 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
KJV

2 Tim 1:12
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
KJV

John 10:29
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
KJV

My faith is in HIM, not me.

Now if you want to give equal power to the devil, then I guess a christian could be concerned.

but Jesus said:

1 John 2:12-14
12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

John 16:33
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Luke 12:31-34
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
KJV

Now how would we fear not as Jesus said, if there was a danger we could be deceived?

Not by our power, or our might, but by my Spirit saith the Lord.

1 John 2:19-20
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
KJV

Jer 24:6-7
6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.
7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
KJV

2 Thessalonians 2:9 (NIV)
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Those who perish will do so because they refuse to the love the truth. One example is the prosperity Gospel, believers refuse to love the truth that they should sell their possessions and give to the poor, and so are handed over to strong delusion that allows them to sit under false teachers such as Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer. These people think they are blessed by God and saved by Jesus, but they are under strong delusion and Gods wrath abides on them.

Anytime we are convicted in our heart by the Holy Spirit and the word of God and we don't obey we start to set ourselves up for strong delusion. May you hate your life and love the truth at all cost!

In Christ - Jim

Logic wrote:
Bro. moe_mac:

Jesus Told His own desiples [b]Mat 24:4[/b] [color=990000]And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.[/color]

Now, if it were never even conceivably posible, why in the world would Jesus tell the future Appostles to take heed that no man deceive them?

In addition, the Holy Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall [b]depart from the faith[/b], giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils(1Tim 4:1)

Now how would we fear not as Jesus said, if there was a danger we could be deceived?

Not to fear, but be aware or take head!!!
Be concerned that there is a devil out there more inteliget and crafty than we are who has been using the same tactics for mellenia.

[color=0000FF]When you look at when Jesus told them that, it was before they received the power from on high in the upper room. Before the day of Pentecost. Who gets the spirit now? Whosoever will make HIM Lord and the promise was for them and their children and their children and those far off ( that's us) and as many as God will call.
There are many departing from the faith now. Were they even sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise at their new Spiritual birth and became a new creation is the question.

Does that mean the devil is gone, no,
Amen, on the devil out there going about as a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour. He may be more intelligent and craftier than we are, but we have an advocate with the Father and we need to be prayful and dependant upon HIM daily for that protection against the evil one. Without HIM (Jesus) we are nothing. It is in HIM and through HIM that everything finds it's purpose. If we boast about anything, let us boast about HIM. God Bless Logic and I enjoyed the exchange.
In HIM and through HIM we are more than conquerors through HIM who loves us..

Rom 8:35-36
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.[/color]

Moe said:

There are many departing from the faith now. Were they even sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise at their new Spiritual birth and became a new creation is the question.

It is [i]very dangerous[/i] to assume that it is impossible to be deceived. This view is itself a deception.

I speak from both Scripture and personal experience.

It is also true that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

[edit], add:
That is one of the many paradoxes of Scripture, and (by the way) one of the reasons I believe that predestination and free will are both true.[/edit]

Jeannette

LittleGift wrote:
Moe said:

There are many departing from the faith now. Were they even sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise at their new Spiritual birth and became a new creation is the question.

And the answer is that some were, yes. You can't depart from something you were never "in", or "part of" in the first place.

It is [i]very dangerous[/i] to assume that it is impossible to be deceived. This view is itself a deception.

I speak from both Scripture and personal experience.

It is also true that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

[edit], add:
That is one of the many paradoxes of Scripture, and (by the way) one of the reasons I believe that predestination and free will are both true.[/edit]

Jeannette

moe replied:
If you will read my post real close, no where did I say no person not be deceived. Is this what you wanted to read and infer or what? I think much of the departing of faith that we think takes place in believers, is they was never there with HIM as Lord to depart from the faith in HIM, because they never had any faith in HIM to start with. It shows by their works or no works. Not to be saved by works but unto good works.

1 John 2:19-20
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
KJV

Again my faith is not in me but HIM
Jesus King of Kings
Lord of Lords :-D

2 Cor. 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

[15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Brother Frin, Crrschk, LoveHim, LittleGift, Etc., thank you for your posts here.
These of verse 15 have always been around but are now increasingly so and extremely subtle and convincing, since Paul said - Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
And Jesus warns us Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Just read an excellent Sermon posted by Sermon Index that would increase our discernment here - https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=12793&post_id=151030&order=0&viewmode=flat&pid=99118&forum=34
Thank you all.

edit: somebody wrote:
These "false apostles, deceitful workers" are loved by the church.
Benny Hinn, Kenneth Coppland, The whole TBN crowd.
If christians can not recognise the devils ministers which are transformed as the ministers of righteousness How then are the not going to be decived?

moe wrote:
God's people through HIS Spirit living within them will get discernment on exactly who the false prophets are. Do we think we need to name them or do we only need to speak the truth and if the truth as it is lines us against someone else or with them, then so be it.
Don't you think God has the power to take care of false prophets in HIS time table? I think He does. I also think He knows how and has the power to take care of those who speak against HIS true prophets. I remember what happened to Ahab and Jezebel. Knowing this, I can see how being very careful make the right call would be important, if they did indeed make a call. What do you think?
I believe this subject, is one of the things the Bible refers to, when it speaks of fearing God. I don't know, I would like to believe God might look over a little ignorance, but anything else I would be very fearful of.

someone copied and pasted:
2 Corinth 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

moe wrote:
An Apostle is one that writes God's Word under the direction of the Holy Spirit. That's why it says this.
Rev 22:18-19
[u]If any man shall add unto these things,[/u] God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19[u] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,[/u] God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
KJV

moe_mac wrote:

These "false apostles, deceitful workers" are loved by the church.
Benny Hinn, Kenneth Coppland, The whole TBN crowd.

If christians can not recognise the devils ministers which are transformed as the ministers of righteousness How then are they not going to be decived?

moe wrote:
God's people through HIS Spirit living within them will get discernment on exactly who the false prophets are. Do we think we need to name them or do we only need to speak the truth and if the truth as it is lines us against someone else or with them, then so be it.
Don't you think God has the power to take care of false prophets in HIS time table? I think He does. I also think He knows how and has the power to take care of those who speak against HIS true prophets. I remember what happened to Ahab and Jezebel. Knowing this, I can see how being very careful make the right call would be important, if they did indeed make a call. What do you think?
I believe this subject, is one of the things the Bible refers to, when it speaks of fearing God. I don't know, I would like to believe God might look over a little ignorance, but anything else I would be very fearful of.

But they didn't finish the job. so in the end the Lord left many of the Caananites there to test His people, if they would obey Him or not.

Re mistakes, even Joshua was taken in by the Gibeonites, because he didn't check them out with the Lord first!

OT examples and types are useful as they often give a clearer illustration of certain spiritual principles.

Yes, the "elect" can be decieved, but the Lord will use it for good - if only to teach us a much needed lesson - [i][u]IF[/u][/i] our hearts are truly towards Him.

Blessings

Jeannette

[u]somebody wrote this not moe:[/u]These "false apostles, deceitful workers" are loved by the church.
Benny Hinn, Kenneth Coppland, The whole TBN crowd.

If christians can not recognise the devils ministers which are transformed as the ministers of righteousness How then

moe wrote this:
God's people through HIS Spirit living within them will get discernment on exactly who the false prophets are. Do we think we need to name them or do we only need to speak the truth and if the truth as it is lines us against someone else or with them, then so be it.
Don't you think God has the power to take care of false prophets in HIS time table? I think He does. I also think He knows how and has the power to take care of those who speak against HIS true prophets. I remember what happened to Ahab and Jezebel. Knowing this, I can see how being very careful make the right call would be important, if they did indeed make a call. What do you think?
I believe this subject, is one of the things the Bible refers to, when it speaks of fearing God. I don't know, I would like to believe God might look over a little ignorance, but anything else I would be very fearful of.

Be careful to get you quotes in the right place Littlegift. I can't believe you made this mistake after gaving me instructions on how to successfully do the underlining, make bold letters and colorings with the html and the instructions you gave were muchly appreciated. I helps to make the post more organized:-?

Logic wrote:
When you look at when Jesus told them that, it was before they received the power from on high in the upper room. Before the day of Pentecost.

Having an advocate with the Father is about sinning(1John 2:1)
And bing prayerful is good, however:
[b]2Corinth 11:13-15[/b] [color=990000]For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
[b]:14[/b] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
[b]:15[/b] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.[/color]

These "false apostles, deceitful workers" are loved by the church.
Benny Hinn, Kenneth Coppland, The whole TBN crowd.

If christians can not recognise the devils ministers which are transformed as the ministers of righteousness How then are the not going to be decived?

I have seen many real christians fall for the "laughing revival" also the brownsvill "revival", the "Toronto blessing"...ect...

All these who fell into these herasies were saying, "I trust god not to lead me into error". All the while they were being deceived into error and this is what you are saying.

Why do you think that my pastor wrote two books abouth these things?
"Weighed and Found Wanting"
by Pastor Bill Randles
&
"Beware the New Prophets"
A Caution Concerning the Modern Prophetic Movement
by Pastor Bill Randles

Why do you think that Paul told the Corinthian Chruch us (or us) about these " false apostles, deceitful workers"?
Paul warned them because they were accepting them into their Church and being decieved by them. They were Christians who have the Holy Spirit in the Corinthian Church that Pauld was writing to.

In addition to the Corinthian Church, take the Galatians for an example:

[b]Galatians 3:1[/b] [color=990000]O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you...[/color]
[b]Galatians 4:11[/b] [color=990000]I am afraid for you...[/color]
[b]Galatians 4:20[/b]...[color=990000]I stand in doubt of you.[/color]

They were decive to go back into bondage of the law.
Do not be presumptuous or over confident, because if one does not think he can be deceived is deveived allready.

[size=large]moe wrote: If you will notice Logic wrote that about the false prophets. Not moe[/size]

LittleGift wrote:
But they didn't finish the job. so in the end the Lord left many of the Caananites there to test His people, if they would obey Him or not.

Re mistakes, even Joshua was taken in by the Gibeonites, because he didn't check them out with the Lord first!

OT examples and types are useful as they often give a clearer illustration of certain spiritual principles.

Yes, the "elect" can be decieved, but the Lord will use it for good - if only to teach us a much needed lesson - [i][u]IF[/u][/i] our hearts are truly towards Him.

Blessings

Jeannette

moe_ wrote:
So what are you saying that we use the Old Testament scripture and the pictures they paint for us and when it is convenient for our theology and then the rest of the time we claim the new covenant and ignore all of it? I am not implying that you are saying that we are to do that. Just making a point that I often see some do in others do in thier posts. Yes, if it were not for OUR BLESSED HOPE (Jesus) we would all be in trouble and headed for judgement, but all scripture is God breathed and is useful for what?

Logic wrote:

moe_mac wrote:

God's people through HIS Spirit living within them will get discernment on exactly who the false prophets are.

That is a down right lie, tell me why so many Christians are fooled by the TBN crowd.

moe_mac wrote:
Do we think we need to name them?

Yes, to warn the Christians that do not have the discernment enough to stay away from them.

The Philippines are pray for Benny Hinn and Morris Cirillo and the like.

My wife, before we were married, loved Benny Hinn and Morris Cirillo.
I told her the names of the false prophets and she listened to me, thank God.
Now she knows who to stay away from, and since she has been away from those devils masquerading as ministers of righteousness, she has grown in maturity and gained the discernment to spot others who preach "another gospel".

Those who are just saved do not have the discernment to stay away from the enemy’s agents, and when they follow them, those false prophets stunt their growth in maturity.

Her friend used to "holy vomit" and roll on the ground convulsing, saying that was the Holy Spirit.
She was a new Christian, as my wife was, with no one telling her that was wrong, Tell me why God wasn't giving her or my wife discernment on exactly who the false prophets were?

moe_mac wrote:
I'm not going to get into the named above. False or not. But let me ask you this. Have you ever listened to a sermon by Pastor Jeff Shreve of www.fromhisheart.com that is on TBN weekly? if not, how can you say that? If you have heard him preach, would you say you thought his preaching was false preaching? He is on TBN every Sunday.
Back to you!!

moe_mac wrote:
An Apostle is one that writes God's Word under the direction of the Holy Spirit. That's why it says this.
and I backed the statement up with God's Word. Do you believe one today has such a gift as an Apostle has and has the authority to add and take away from God's Word? But in your answer it did not appear I did.

Rev 22:19
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
KJV

moe_wrote:
Logic I don't know whether it is a deliberate thing or not the way you are mixing what you wrote and what I wrote is very confusing to all the readers and deceiving I think at the least. If one really looked hard back at all my post and your post, one would not have any trouble seeing who wrote what, but people usually don't do that.
So have a good one.

I wonder if anyone has ever been ran off SI or silence with such tactics as mixing up the post, and if so, what would be the motive and what would you think about the one that ran them off or tried to silence them? Do you know if anyone this ever has ever happened to?

Later much later

Nile wrote:

You still havent answered my questions:
tell me why so many Christians are fooled by the TBN crowd.
&
Tell me why God wasn't giving her or my wife discernment on exactly who the false prophets were?

Good questions Logic.

Logic wrote:

moe_mac wrote:
moe wrote: I don't know about your wife. You ought to know more about her than anyone does. Why ask me?

My point was that she was a christian being deceived by those false prophets.

How was it that she was deceived while being a christain when you say that christians can not be.

ALL I know is the scripture gives us all instructions on marriage and tells the believer to make sure to marry another believer I would say that was the best appropriate answer I could

[u]Quit being so aragant.[/u]
She was a christian(believer) befor she married me.
She even prayed for a christian husband.

If a Christians stay under the teaching of those false prophets, he would eventualy fall into some damnable herasy and no longer proclaim the true Gosple.

moe wrote:
I guess I'll have to change my arogance from what I said in my post on this subject:

[color=993300]Without HIM (Jesus) we are nothing. It is in HIM and through HIM that everything finds it's purpose. If we boast about anything, let us boast about HIM.[/color]

If you feel I'm arogant the only thing I know I can do is to change my arogance to please you is change my thought, so here it is.

[color=003399]Without HIM (Jesus) we are nothing. It is in HIM and through HIM that everything finds it's purpose. If we boast about anything, let us boast about HIM.[/color]

Logic wrote:

moe_mac wrote:
I guess I'll have to change my arogance from what I said in my post on this subject:

Logic wrote: Do you know why I thought you were aragont?

It is because a person wasn't a christian just because she was decieved by the false prophets.
Then you had the gall to think that I'de marry a non-christian.

Iv'e never heard of non-christians following anyone religious even a false prophet, why do you think that the un-saved would be deieved by a false prophet?
Every one at Benny Hinn confrence would be a confessed christian, one can not say they none of them are true chritians, that would be greatly presumsous.

[color=003399]moe wrote:
First of all I was only giving God's instruction in selecting a marriage partner, not implying anything about your marriage because I don't know.

Second, I did not say anything about whether my thoughts were either your wife was or yourself had been, was then ,are now, or were not now, or was now christians.

Third you completely ignored everything that I wrote in the post you responded to only what you wanted to debate, useless response other than an opportunity it seems you wanted to bash.

Fourth, if you want to preach that fact a christian can be indwelled with God's Spirit and stay completely in the dark about whether a preacher or anyone else is speaking truth or not after you have observe them for a time, then go right ahead, but don't be surprized if post a reply with the scripture saying differently.

Look at this physical miracle Jesus performed and then look at it in a spiritual sense now, although he did it in the physical and still does it now in the physical and the spiritual. I believe Jesus was sending us spiritual messages when he performed all the physical miracles recorded in scripture and the Bible tells us He did many more before the cross that was not recorded and we know many more since.[/color]
Mark 8:23-25
23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and[u] saw every man clearly[/u].
KJV

[color=003399]And this one also.[/color]
Matt 7:16-20
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20[u] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.[/u]
KJV

When reading about the false teachers in 2nd Peter don't quit on verse 1 go on down through verse 10.
2 Peter 2:9-10

[u]The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,[/u] and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
KJV

Heb 5:13-6:1
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14[u] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.[/u]
KJV

[color=003399]What things did John write that preceeded this statement?[/color]
1 John 5:13
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
KJV

1 John 5:9-10
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
KJV

1 John 4:4-6
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,[u] because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.[/u] 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6[u] We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.[/u]

What is the world saying about all the issues in todays news and who is listening to them?

pastorfrin wrote:
Deceiving the Very Elect
by
Michael Clark
________________________________________

There is a line of reasoning that the enemy has sown among Christians that it is NOT possible to deceive the elect. Jesus forewarned:
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:24-25, NKJV).
These teachers would reason that the elect can't be deceived because they are the elect! This is what is called circular logic. No, not all the elect will be lost, but many of them will be deceived as Satan is let loose to do His evil in this hour we are in.
Paul warns the Church over and over against being deceived in the epistles as does John. Jesus told the disciples, "Take heed that no one deceives you." (Mark 13:5, NKJV).
Yes, dear ones, if you believe that you can't be deceived, then the enemy has already deceived you! Paul warned of this kind of arrogance when he said:
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. (1 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV).
It is in our own self assured arrogance and wisdom that we deceive ourselves. John warned:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8, NKJV).

moe wrote: Pastorfrin I already posted this somewhere but I could't find it so here goes.
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:24-25, NKJV).

The KJV says if possible, now when I conbine that with being in Christ and being guided into all truth. I might add the christian can deceived by the devil into sin and it happens all time. It has in my life many times. That is called in the flesh. When we obey it is called walking in the SPIRIT. A christian who has been indwelled with HIS Spirit and walks in it and stays in HIS WORD to show himself to be a workman approved of God and considers, not just part the scriptures but all of but all scripture to be God breathed and useful for rebuking, istructing and correcting himself in righteousness, he can be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As you now anyone can be equipped and still not utilize HIS given equipment and be deceived. This was what Paul was talking about I believe. He was also addressing everyone who would read what he wrote in the future until Jesus returns. Now faith is the substance of things that are not seen. By grace you are saved, through faith, it is a gift of God, lest any man should boast, we are his workmanship, created unto goods works, which he prepared in advance that we should walk in them. Not because of good works.

Any confidence that I have is not in me, but in HIM. For I am convinced He is able to keep what I have committed to HIM against that day. He who began a good work in me is able to finish that which HE started. Not by my might, or my power, but by HIS Spirit sayeth the Lord. I imagine many thought people tought the Apostles were arragant too. Am I proclaiming Apostleship. NO. Sinner saved by grace. With you too He_Riegns. Am I clear on that?
Love you brother.
Moe

Brother Frin, that was an incredible piece you've posted. Copied to keep. Much obliged Sir.

Deceiving the Very Elect
by
Michael Clark
________________________________________

There is a line of reasoning that the enemy has sown among Christians that it is NOT possible to deceive the elect. Jesus forewarned:
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:24-25, NKJV).
These teachers would reason that the elect can't be deceived because they are the elect! This is what is called circular logic. No, not all the elect will be lost, but many of them will be deceived as Satan is let loose to do His evil in this hour we are in.
Paul warns the Church over and over against being deceived in the epistles as does John. Jesus told the disciples, "Take heed that no one deceives you." (Mark 13:5, NKJV).
Yes, dear ones, if you believe that you can't be deceived, then the enemy has already deceived you! Paul warned of this kind of arrogance when he said:
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. (1 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV).
It is in our own self assured arrogance and wisdom that we deceive ourselves. John warned:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8, NKJV).
You see it is in harboring deception in our hearts by our unwillingness to believe that we could be wrong, or by thinking that we have everything in these end times figured out, or that we can not sin, that we are made a perfect candidate for the wicked one to set up his throne in our hearts.
Tell me this. Where according to the New Testament is the temple of God? In our hearts, right? Paul wrote:
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." (2 Corinthians 6:16, NKJV).
Then if the temple of God is in the hearts of all who make up the Church, why are we looking toward Jerusalem and waiting to see the Antichrist sit on a throne in the temple over there? Could there not be a "great falling away" due to the displacing of Christ in the hearts of the believers by the enemy himself? Antichrist not only means "against Christ," but "instead of Christ."
• We displace Jesus with men when we look to them to teach us instead of first seeking our guidance from His Spirit. (John 14:26 &1 John 2:27)
•
• We displace Jesus when we harbor sin in our hearts. (Matt. 6:23)

• We displace Jesus when we seek honor from men. (John 5:44)

• We displace Jesus when the things of this world take His place. (Matt. 6:24)

• We displace Jesus when we love our families or people more than Him. (Luke 14:26)
John wrote in one of his letters:
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1 John 2:18-19, NKJV).
Yes, they were once part of US!!! Part of you! Part of me! Repentance dislodges them out of our hearts. If we don't repent we will eventually leave the fellowship of true believers and follow this spirit. Some who have this spirit resident in them, take a following when they leave. This is how cults are formed.
What is our safeguard? Jesus said of Himself,
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. (John 14:30, NKJV).
This should be our constant prayer that Jesus would so refine our hearts that we too could stand in THIS holy place where He stood. We, too, should pray that the Prince of this world could come and find nothing in us.
Isn't this the very thing that Paul foretold when he warned of the enemy coming with great "dunamis" power to deceive?
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, NKJV).
He continues:
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. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, NKJV).
You see it is one thing to sin, but it is another thing to sin and block out the convicting power of God that strives to bring you to repentance. This is known as hardening your heart. If you dare to harbor your sin and continue to "have pleasure in unrighteousness" God will be forced to send you a "strong delusion" that you should continue to believe your lie. This is not a time to be playing games with God and presuming on His grace to keep you while you continue in sin. He is separating the sheep from the goats even now. David prayed:
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:12-14, NKJV).
I was deceived for over a year that a particular sin that I was engaged in was really "spiritual." I won't go into details but the enemy is very good at what he does and there were even other Christians that agreed with him. But the one thing I could not do was block out the guilt. I would repent, then fall for this sin again and the guilt came back. I also had been given many words of prophesy and warnings from various folks that what I was doing was NOT spiritual. Finally, the word of the Lord came to me through a brother in such a way, naming the deceiving spirit, that the power of the delusion was broken and I once and for all repented and cut myself off from any further opportunity for this sin. Paul told Timothy, "You are a strong man in Christ. You can handle any temptation." NO!!! He said to Timothy, "Flee those youthful lusts!" If a temptation comes your way, don't play around with it, RUN!
So, dear brothers and sisters, I hope that you can learn from my bad example and the things that I have learned in the process of recovery and not "think more highly of yourselves than you ought to think." This is the first step to deception. Humble yourselves under the might hand of God. When He lifts you up you will hardly notice it happening and you will less likely be tempted to leave your humility behind, or trade it for a false humility and more deception.
Heed Daniel's warning and watch out for flattering words, for these spirits seek to captivate and plunder you.
"Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. (Daniel 11:32-35, NKJV).
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13, NKJV).
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8, NKJV).

[posted by pastorfrin]

[u]Compare Christ's Love to other types.[/u]
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[b]"Let's Love One Another" - Loving One Another At The Expense Of Truth.[/b]
by Ed Tarkowski

29 The most important one [commandment] is this: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12).
How often we have heard these verses quoted in Christian circles as the standard for the life of the Christian today. But it seems many don't realize that there are great dangers associated with these commands when they are not taken in their proper context. These dangers lie, not in what these verses say, but in what they don't say. The common tendency appears to be to take what they do say as the only designated standard for the Christian life without examining the Scriptures in a deeper way. Let us take a look at the hidden dangers in having such a mindset of "Let's just love one another."

LOVING THE LORD OUR GOD IS TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS
According to Proverbs 3, love has a complementary partner:

3 "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."
Jesus certainly loved everybody - the Pharisees and the hypocrites and the sinners in the street and also those who followed Him - He died for them all. But He never allowed His love for them to compromise His faithfulness to what the Father said He should say or do:

49 "For I do not speak on my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it" (John 12).
28 ". . . I can do nothing on my own but speak what the Father has taught me. . . If you hold to my teaching, you are REALLY my disciples" (John 8).

One of the things the Father commanded Jesus to say is found in our Lord's words in John 13:

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By THIS men WILL KNOW you are my disciples, if you love one another."
So, though Jesus said men will know His disciples by their love for one another, He also gave a standard to determine who His disciples really are: those who held to His teachings because they loved Him, and His teachings involved much more than just loving one another. So it is not just a matter of loving one another, but remaining in His love by holding to all His commands given by the Father:

9 "Now REMAIN in my love. IF you obey my commands, you will REMAIN in my love just as I HAVE OBEYED my Father's commands AND REMAIN in his love" (John 15).
In order to remain in God's love, we must obey His commands just as He obeyed the Father's. If we don't obey His commands as our priority, we will not remain in His love and we will be unable to love one another:

9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love" (John 15).

LOVING ONE ANOTHER AND OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES

2 "This is how we know that we love the children of God, by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5).
How do we know we are truly loving our brothers and sisters? These two verses describe what it is to love God: "obey his commands." If we do that, "we know that we love the children of God." One cannot say,

20 "'I love God,' yet [hate] his brother. . . For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen" (1 John 4).
The commands to be obeyed and the love manifested toward our brothers and sisters because we love God are also covered by John, and they hang directly upon the truth of God's word. First, John says,

3 "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2).
But then John brings in the aspect of obedience to the word of God:

5 "But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him."
So obedience to the commands of God's revealed truth perfects our love, and it is the truth that completes God's formation of Himself in us. This conforming us to the image and likeness of Christ is God's main goal in our lives:

28 "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brothers" (Romans 8).
So, we can't be conformed to Christ without obeying the commands of God, nor can we love like Jesus did unless we do adhere to the truth. We cannot have one without the other. All of this comes to the point in the second part of v. 5 and also v. 6:

"This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
So, all of this finds its full meaning in Jesus, who came because He loved His Father and us, but He came and walked, not just in love, but in truth. Indeed, He was and is the expression of the truth of God's love for us all.

LOVING ONE ANOTHER AT THE EXPENSE OF TRUTH IS A DOOR TO DECEPTION

So we must obey His commands to remain in his love. It would not be loving the Lord our God if we didn't. And it is faithfulness to the command that keeps us from going astray into loving one another at the expense of truth. Matthew 24:10-13 and John 16:1-4 demonstrate the results of departing from faithfulness to His commands:

10 "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24).
1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering services to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not know the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you" (John 16).

"Many will turn away from the faith. . . . The love of most will grow cold." Why would their love grow cold? Because they listen to the false prophets, because they failed to heed all His commands right up to the end. I have watched the "Let's just love one another" gospel for years - over twenty in fact - and it always - always - brings destruction of one sort or another.

Jesus commanded His Church: Love one another. Then He sent the Holy Spirit to empower it to do so. The early Church stood in the grace of salvation filled with the love of God by the Spirit of God. But to them, He was not just a Spirit of love, but a Spirit of truth, as well:

2 "We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. . . 5 God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit he has given us" (Romans 5).
16 "And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - 17 the Spirit of truth" (John 14).

They understood the connection in these words of Jesus:

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14).
So, first we had the command to love Him by obeying what He commands. Jesus further qualifies our love for Him in verse 21:

21 "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me."
The commands of our Lord Jesus Christ are so intertwined that to "just love one another" falls way short of what the Scriptures really say. Even Paul reiterated this same pattern in Scripture:

6 "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Gal. 5).
But this cannot negate walking in truth because we do disagree with one another - quite often in fact. Just loving one another will only leave us loving one another without any way to overcome our differences and divisions. Those differences are, I believe, are a doorway to the deceptions of the enemy, and that is why John brings in truth and adds it to love. In this way we overcome the enemy's attempts at infiltration:

14 "I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2).
So the foundation comes back to God's word: obeys its commands and thus perfect our love and thus overcome the enemy. And John gives other reasons for us walking in the truth:

1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4).
7 "Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray" (1 John 3).

Loving one another alone doesn't accomplish this. Truth completes and protects the love we have for one another and keeps us from the deceptive "Let's just love one another" message of the false prophets. Without truth, we WILL end up hating one another, which is what our adversary wants:

14 "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. . . 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him" (1 John 3).
This only leads us back to what I said before, that a Church that just loves one another, apart from clinging to the truth of God's word, will end up doing just this:

10 "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, . . . 12 the love of most will grow cold" (Matthew 24).
2 ". . . in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering services to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you" (John 16).

Love, the truth, knowing God, walking as Jesus walked in the fullness of the Holy Spirit - Jesus talked of these same things as necessary parts of a whole life. Unless we stop and hear the whole counsel of God in regard to one another, we will fall to the spirit of error and be led astray. We need to recognize this situation:

6 "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood" (1 John 4).
Every day there are greater and greater divisions in the end-time Church, and part of the reason for this is that the enemy has brought a very nice thought to the Church: "Let's just love one another." By having accepted such a tempting idea, truth has taken wing and the Church is being split. Why? because it is the last hour, because part of the Church has decided to love without adherence to the truth about experiences and phenomena, even stating that the they are diverse and not commanded by the Lord. Thus 1 John 2:18-19 is playing an important part in the life of the Church:

18 "Dear children, this is the last hour, and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us" (1 John 2).

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'Discern' the difference by what is on this link - Warning: This is not a Christian Site.
http://www.spiritofgoodwill.org/divine_love.asp

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Paul said "prophecy" was the gift we should pray for - but Sir - I wish he had said "discernment".
Dear God, we need discernment in The Church.

[b]Carter, Clinton Join to Reshape Baptist Image[/b]
[Excerpts]By Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Jan. 09 2007 03:17 PM ET

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are part of an initiative to create a new Baptist voice and improve the negative image of Baptists in North America.

[ http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=658&srcid=348 ]

Former Presidents Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter talk before a State Funeral service for former President Gerald Ford at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007.
An annual North American Baptist Fellowship meeting in Atlanta, Ga., was scheduled to conclude Tuesday morning at the Carter Center with the announcement of [u]a historic 2008 convocation.[/u]

The convocation, part of Carter's new Baptist voice [u]initiative[/u], is expected to draw more than 20,000 Baptist participants from throughout the United States and Canada in an effort to counter the negative and judgmental image of Baptists, according to the Associated Baptist Press.

According to Carter, the most common opinion about Baptists is that they cannot get along. Carter alluded to the schism the Southern Baptist Convention experienced two decades ago.

Southern Baptist representatives have not been involved in the Carter initiative so far, the Associated Baptist Press reported, but organizers say they hope the 2008 convocation can include SBC leaders and other conservatives who are open to working with a diverse array of Baptists.

Carter, member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., and Clinton, member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., are slated to speak at the convocation. Both identify with more progressive Baptist groups.

Last April, Baptist leaders signed the North American Baptist Covenant in a commitment to "work together to create an authentic and genuine prophetic Baptist voice in these complex times."

The convocation is scheduled for Jan. 30 - Feb. 1, 2008.

[b] http://lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?cat=9 [/b]

[b]" I have seen so many well meaning pastors, elders and counselors who are so eager to tell, or give, people the answers to their questions and problems. Even when they are doing a very good job, giving Godly counsel, the result can be making the person dependent on them for help, instead of Jesus. It is harder, but necessary, to train the person to "look to Jesus". Of course, a pastor humble enough to do that, probably wouldn't gather much of a following."
Yes, he wouldn't "gather much of a following" to himself, but might be very instrumental in gathering a following to Jesus.[/b]

Amen Brother. Lead them to The Resident Boss!

Well, I have much more I could write to you on where it's NOT AT. But I would rather encourage the Body of Christ to seek to edify one another through the working in their lives of the Holy Spirit. And if you must lead, lead the flock to Jesus with an open hand and do not take any glory to yourself that would draw their attention away from the One who paid the price to be their Shepherd. As Jesus warned ---

That's also one way to prevent "Pastor burn-out".

Lead them to the Way Home - then leave them there and put your feet up a spell and trust in THE Shepherd to do the rest.

Another thing that Watchman Nee said, is that the Ministry should never adversely affect the physical health neither.
I always thought I wasn't "burning out for Jesus" unless I had fully exhausted all of my reserves.

Nee also said, "fight death" - now, that one sentence of his is more than likely why I'm still on earth.
I thought that we were just to give in to this aging-decaying flesh - but he said, Nope - fight death.
Had never heard anyone else write or say that before. Praise God.
Good articles here. Thanks.