I see so many denominations and local assemblies that are opening their doors wide open to the grossest forms of deception. You all might think that the church you go to would never allow deception of any kind to come in and so you might say this message don't apply to you or the church you may attend. I want you to know that even churches that guard their gates from the more flagrant deceptions are finding Satan slipping in with his more foxy tricks. You see those churches that are on fire for God and have Holy Ghost Devil stopping anointed service are the churches the Devil will target. After all, Satan is irrevocably committed to bringing down God's kingdom. The Enemy knows that in order to destroy God's kingdom, he must destroy the local church. So He is going to go full force in those churches that are most spiritual flourishing. And what better way for Satan to establish a beachhead than to deceive those responsible for making the decisions of the church? One of the churches I was once a part of was on fire for God, and the gates were guarded with a tight watch almost like having a guard dog to watch the gate. This church really affected my life in a very good positive way, and helped my growth in the Lord big time. The services were very anointed and the gifts of God were in operation. There were No gimmicks or fakeness in this church, and the presence of the Power of the Holy Spirit was there and the truth Gospel of Christ was preached. But in spite of these spiritual strengths which was once guarded with a tight watch, the Enemy seen a crack in the gate and then from there was a enemy takeover.
So just how did Satan pull it off? It's real hard for us to understand how men and women of God that are filled with the spirit could fall into such a trap and then make decisions that turn out to be fatal to the church. I know for me, when I seen how the enemy got in this one on fire for God church and even know that the gates were guarded, their guards were put down. I believe this church carried a warning, for me and not only for me but also for many other local churches. Exposing the Enemy's methods in this case should target danger areas for others in group decision-making. I know it still breaks my heart today to see this once on fire for God church that has got deeper and deeper into the new-age practice. Deception does not have to take the form of some horrendous heresy to destroy a church. When there is collective delusion--a group deceived about the will of God--the prince of darkness easily usurps control. To Collective delusion cannot happen, unless individuals first fall into deception. Satan cannot destroy a church without working through individuals. The trouble is that we tend to understand this in terms of the other fellow--but ''not me.'' The fact is, through unawareness, carelessness, or sheer foolishness, you and I may be guilty of promoting the Devil's schemes. How?
1. We must beware of personal preference. When praying for guidance, our preference can muffle God's voice if His preferences differ from ours. You know it is really difficult for either a Pastor or people to hear God say that it is time for a change of leadership.
2. Never shade the truth. You know I believe that Satan gives far more evidence of believing that we reap what we sow than do Christians? Christians so easily shrug off ''little'' deceptions as trivial. All the while,Satan surely gloats, for even ''little'' deceptions will yield a whirlwind harvest. Shading the truth or covering up problems will sow fertile seeds of deception. Even if He or She is trying to bring about what is plainly God's will, a Christian has no business embracing the Enemy's shifty practices. Our speech is to be forthright, not concealing ulterior motives.
3. Be careful when asking for a sign. Many Christians may ask well what's wrong with that? Isn't a sign a valid means of guidance? Didn't Gideon put out a fleece to be sure he knew what God was saying? Judges 6:36-40 ''
36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. '' Didn't God honor his asking for a sign?''
True, Gideon used a fleece for guidance, and God did honor it. But the ideal was Gideon's not God's. Maybe one reason God went along with it was that Gideon demonstrated such a mighty faith by the sign he asked God to perform. Not a could-happen-anyway-sign. Never would the fleece be wet, the ground dry, or the other way around, if God didn't do it. But that's not the kind of a sign these people asked for; neither is it the kind of sign most of us employ. We make it easier for God than that. We settle on something more or less, but not something altogether impossible apart from God's intervention. Would we dare stretch our faith to this degree?
Some are not beyond setting up the answer by asking for the unreasonable, the ridiculous. Some things God would never do, even if He wanted to confirm His Word. Neither the unreasonable nor the happen-anyway signs are a reliable means of guidance. Even a reasonable sign requiring supernatural intervention doesn't rule out the possibility of deception; Satan can and does counterfeit signs and answers. Many are easily fooled into thinking it is God. Neither should we brush aside the possibility of coincidence. Some times when things happen like for example while camping last summer with two other couples besides us and the first couple got a flat tire the next day and then the next day we got a flat tire and then the next day the other couple got a flat tire...We might of thought that to be a sign maybe we should not be there, but I felt it was just a coincidence. I do believe that God does use circumstance to lead us, but we get into trouble when we depend solely on circumstances for guidance.
If we are willing to be deceived, the Master of Deception will see to it that we get the confirmation we want. Nothing shows us to be a willing prey more than saying, ''I want God's will,'' when in truth we want what we want and finagle any way we can to get it.
4. When there is a question. It is always dangerous to ask for some thing to which God has already said no. Neither is it a light thing to shrug off a clear word from God because of second thoughts. But what if we are sure of divine direction, yet later have misgivings as to what we thought was God's will?
First of all, we need to take a hard look at why we are unsure. Is it because we actually were mistaken? Or is it that now we see another choice would have some greater personal advantage? Or have we been won over by someone promoting some personal cause of his own? Also, we need to pay heed to the fact that Satan cashes in on pride, selfishness, and problems in the church family. When we are weighted down with heavy concerns, the mixed-up emotions make us less alert to the Enemy's tricks. Pressure can cause us to misread the signs. Being overanxious for the will of God can result in a too hasty decision. On the other hand, if we are afraid to take any step for fear it isn't God's way, we can be prevented from making any decision at all. We also have seen so many times in a group situation that Satan will try and attack the group with deception by using just one person in the group. So, what if one person in a group seeking divine guidance slips into little deceits, by stretching the truth or, doesn't keep his or her word, or deliberately plants a false impression? That person, of course, opens himself or herself up to deception and the whole group is liable to suffer the consequences. Another danger. In trying to change God's will in our own person lives, we carefully pick spiritually mature people for council. But within a group situation, we are open to suggestions from all members, spiritually mature or not. We may not realize how much the immature Christian sways our thinking or how much group pressure affects our choices. Neither are some aware that even as the Holy Spirit works through a person to influence others, so can evil spirits. I' am not saying that we cannot be rightly influenced, nor that a group is more likely to miss God's guidance than a lone individual. In fact, the group may be a safeguard to being misled. But the dangers that threaten an individual seeking guidance are amplified by the interaction of the group. We need to be on guard. What about talking over the issues and alternatives with others before making up one's mind as to the right course of action? Fine, as long as the person we consult is spiritually mature, whose number-one priority is to please God. We should back away from anyone who puts a premium on any other thing. And certainly, to top one's list with ''intellectualism'' is failing to heed the scriptural warning: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate. Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?..For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. This does not mean that God puts a premium on ignorance or lack of education. The question is: In whom does a person trust? A man with an intellectual approach may be able to give the young people all the right answers, but the Holy Spirit alone is the Source of truth wisdom; it is His power operating in man's life that makes his message effective. Deception always becomes a danger when we shift our focus from God's resources to man's ability. Of course, total dependency on God must be balanced by responsible action on our part, but we must be on guard lest spiritual accomplishment or high attainment becomes a source of pride. One of the strongest indictments against pride is that which the prophet Obadiah delivered against the Edomites, descendants of Esau. They were sure that Sola, later known as Petra, their most spectacular and beautiful city, was invincible.The only access was a two-mile slit in the towering red sandstone cliffs. But Obadiah spelled out judgment:''The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks...who say to yourself, ''Who can bring me down to the ground?'' Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,'' declares the Lord...''There will be no survivors from the house of Esau.'' And it happened; Edom was reduced to utter desolation. Their allies, their strong position, and the renowned wisdom in which they trusted--none of these things saved them.
Many in the churches today have the same proud attitude as the Edomites. The churches of today think they are invincible to the Enemy, and that God would continue to heap blessings upon the congregation--regardless. Wasn't God obligated to sustain the church's high reputation? God wouldn't dare let them call the wrong man as pastor. Their pride gave rise to a false sense of security. Spiritual pride so easily becomes a mutually reinforced attitude within a group of believers. I have seen many churches who seen a great move of God in their services and the allow Satan to deceive them into thinking they had achieved some kind of pinnacle. From a pinnacle there is no place to go but down, and that's where they all went. Often such a church, once it has gone into a decline like this, becomes hardened against the gospel, unable to hear the voice of God. In the midst of gross wickedness, God has His faithful remnant. though the nation be destroyed, God would remember those who remember Him. He still does. In the midst of collective delusion, moral and spiritual chaos, God zealously guards those who truly want His will. On those what seem like very dark days when you think God don't hear your prayers, does God hear you? Of course He does when he knows your heart to do His will by being obedient to Him. And all that you did, was with honesty of your heart. ''God saw how the Devil sought to shatter your faith, but you could not see it at the time. He also see's your anxiousness; He saw and heard your crying and praying. And more than that He did more than you asked.'' I know that in my own life, that God's keeping power was manifested in the way where I came out on the other side of the battle. And now I sing PRAISE GOD from whom all blessings flow.'' Any one of us may make a mistake in discerning the will of God. But when we see where we went wrong, there is only one thing to do: admit your mistake openly and honestly to ourselves, to others involved, and to God. If we have had a part in sowing deception, we may suffer some painful reaping. But even so, the humble and contrite person who thoroughly repents of any sin and forgives others will be the recipient of God's redeeming grace. Then there can be a new beginning.
