Do Not Be Deceived
- Saved on Purpose
- Jul 13, 2022
- 18 min read
Queen Anne's Lace (DAUCUS CAROTA). A beautiful flower, some claim merely as an obnoxious weed, that pops up throughout the ditches and fields around our area this hot time of year. Not only is it a unique flower to marvel at with it's bunches of tiny little white flowers surrounding an itsy speck of maroon in the center, all parts of it can be used for multiple purposes. From its root to its seeds (using proper extraction methods of course). Although I get excited when I see it come this time of year, I err on the side of caution as it can also be easily mislabeled with another useful beauty, Yarrow OR the more unpleasant and truly obnoxious poisonous hemlock.
For reference here is a side by side comparison:
(photo cred to Herbal Academy, click on pic for further info!)
Tricky to tell the differences!
These past few years have created a new level of mental and spiritual battles I had no idea existed. Challenging as it may be I continue to work through it. There are messy, ugly and disastrous moments but I continue to find little blips in the flatline on those really difficult days that keep the beat pumping enough to push me through the rougher patches. I find myself feeling conviction like never before as things are being revealed in a way my eyes had never seen in the past. And to be able to see yourself and surroundings, and even this present world, on a level you never saw before, learning things about the heart that still needs repair, the work that still needs done and not wanting to become my own god to fix it all is one of the hardest battles I have really ever faced. Clearly, there's a time to listen, learn and observe and then a time to talk, work and yes, even play.
As much as I feel abandoned somedays, as much as I wish to just give up on it all, I know I am not alone, I know I am here right now for a purpose, I know I must keep truckin' on. I know others around me are struggling so deeply to. I know the battles for us all are heavy. They are persistent. And they are relentless! But, we have a cure and boy, the power of it is so intense it can literally knock you down to your knees.
The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
-Hebrews 4:12
At times we go astray, we fall short, we become deceived. It can be hard to weed through it at times. We don't want to feel weak, hurt, offended. Our pride can hold us back. We don't want our hearts to be in pain, or even others to suffer out there. I find myself often trying to take on all the world's problems, thinking, I see it, I can fix it! But unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, the Lord keeps reminding me, my ways are not His ways. He is the fixer, the healer, the redeemer. And by taking my thoughts, my concerns, my questions STRAIGHT to scripture with humility, to our Heavenly Father's word, by way of prayer, constant discernment and an open mind and heart...
He answers.
He heals.
But here is the thing I think; dare I say that 😅? We ALL must go through a time where we are deaf, blind and totally oblivious so that when our eyes are opened and our hearts turn back to Him, all of the sudden it just makes sense. Complicated, messy and painful as it can be... it just makes sense!!!
And for that, what do we do?!
Repent!
And then...
Praise the one TRUE and Loving God! And in return we DO everything for His glory, not our own.
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
-1 Corinthians 10:31
His truth has been revealed, His Love is unlike anything of this world!
And whew!!!
We best cling onto it tight as we can!
We are in a refining period of time. All the things happening right now sometimes seem theatrical, unreal yet totally stoppable! Thing is though, it's all by design. I think we are being shown where we screwed up, so that we can be made new and whole again. Holy AND Faithful Again! 🙏 It's only by God's mercy does that veil drop and by His Grace does that healing occur.
We have the way of the world vs. The Way of our one True God. And the more things play out the more evident it is. I have to constantly ask myself, am I responding worldly or Godly? Naturally I see, I react. And let me say more times than not when I look back on many of my reactions I am seeing a heart that still needs tons of work. But the beauty of all of it is God makes paths straight. So I better listen and apply His teachings to my heart so I keep perfecting it for His return. When our hearts are healed and truth revealed I then also find myself being pushed to pass on God's wisdom to share, humbly, how awesome He truly is. The Word can strike hard but it has power. It has purpose. It binds righteousness! And for that very reason it must be heard, then it must be shared.
We ARE being tested! Therefore, we too MUST test the spirits! And the ONLY way to do that is to arm ourselves with God's unchanging word! We are challenged in our thoughts and in our words daily. This has potential to create a weariness within, even leading us to question our very own beliefs at times. Throughout my life, especially in my earlier years, I didn't understand how this world is on a constant rotation of the testing of our spirits and our hearts. We are lured by sin in so many ways that we can almost become oblivious how it takes a stronghold within!
Dear friends, 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 can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world
1 John 4:1-3
Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”
-1 Corinthians 3:18-19
The Lord keeps us humble.
Attached to the title above (Do Not Be Deceived) or see below for reference is a list of verses that helps us see God's truth and how the deceiving sneaks it's way in. I have been challenged against God's word and I have also been led astray many times. We are told, His word is unchanging, He is the one and only way to redemption. And with the fear of God in my heart, I keep finding my way back to Him through His truth and I continue to battle flesh against spirit darn near every single day. I have literally had to arm myself with Romans 12:2 as a reminder not to let the ways of this world get a choke hold on me, because oh how sneaky this world is with bringing on the afflictions of guilt to test our hearts!
Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
-Romans 12:2
Right now the Word is being twisted. When Jesus came and spoke, it was NOT easy on the ears, it was hard on many hearts. And STILL IS! He told us:
"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division."
Again, what is happening now is all by God's design. And if I'm being totally honest, one thing I have struggled with is fighting back against it many times. My heart hurts to see division! Like... why can't we all just get along man?! 😬 Well, we can! When we abide by His truth, His love and His word. He knows exactly what He is doing, so we ought to hear Him out, right? 🥴
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
-Matthew 5:17
We must really REALLY examine these words. These Laws. These Commandments. Pray upon them. Study them. And ABIDE by them. They run deep and are expanded upon by The Spirit working within the writers throughout all of scripture! It's MIND BLOWING! And Jesus came to fulfill them! Our number ONE commandment: God First, is PRIORITY! Above all, our one Heavenly Father must be first! Without recognizing it, we have the ability to make our own gods. The desires of our hearts must be focused on Him. Not the things of this world. And man oh man how this world can trick us!
But!!!
God's Grace and Mercy IS SUFFICIENT!
ABIDE, AND HE PROVIDES!
When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
-Deuteronomy 30:1-3
This world is not our home. No matter how much we do while we are here, all of it one day will pass on. Over time we learn, we grow. The things we knew yesterday became tools to guide us to things we understand today. And all of it's purpose is, was and will always be for Him. By God's Grace and Mercy when the end comes may we be raised up and joined in spirit with Him into a new Heaven and a New Earth. Although we do not know the time or the hour, we have indeed been told there will be joy and there will unfortunately be suffering. As we await the coming of our Saviour may we continue to seek Him above all so that through Him we can all be saved!
Amen!
Adding Hebrews 12-13 below for additional reference as it just hits so deep!
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Disciplines His Children
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Warning and Encouragement
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[c] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[d]
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[f]
13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”[a]
6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”[b]
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.
Benediction and Final Greetings
20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.
23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
James 1:13-18 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ...
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Luke 21:8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.
Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
1 Timothy 1:9-10 Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
1 Timothy 1:8-10 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
Ephesians 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
2 Corinthians 9:1-15 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. ...
2 Corinthians 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
Romans 6:1-23 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ...
Romans 1:27 And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Romans 1:26-28 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
Romans 1:1-32 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...
Matthew 19:4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
Matthew 7:1-29 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. ...
Psalm 91:1-16 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ...
Genesis 19:5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”
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