A Spirit of Delusion

PART A: SAINTS AND DECEPTION

In this lesson we are going to learn how to be delivered from the snare of deception that allows Satan to take the church captive at his will.

Galatians 3:1

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

In a previous lesson we learned that to believe is to obey the truth. The Word is truth (John 17:17). The reason belief is associated with truth is because truth was first (John 1:1). Therefore to believe a lie is a delusion:

Delusion means to lead into error; a mistaken belief (Webster’s)

to beguile, "a wandering," whereby those who are led astray roam hither and thither; a mental straying, wrong opinion, error in morals or religion.

(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

From the definition above, we see that to believe a lie is to have the mind led astray from the truth. The mind then forms its own opinions of the truth. The point, however, I really want to stress is that all unbelief is a straying from the truth that was once believed. This truth may be traced all the way back to the Garden of Eden.

Adam was not deceived. Even though the enemy tried to lessen the evil in the sin he proposed to the couple, Adam knew better. He knew the truth. He knew he would surely die. Therefore, he became a willing captive of the devil, in that he strayed or departed from the truth that he knew and believed. The outcome of Adam and Eve’s departure from truth was a delusion.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word,...

John 17:17

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.

All unbelief is a straying from the truth that was once believed.

Ecclesiates 8:11

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

This delusion is a false world that the enemy has designed for man. It is a ‘Lie’. It is temporary in existence and veils the truth concerning the wrath of God that is to come against it. The wrath of God must be ‘hidden’ in the Lie so that there is no conflict in the pleasures of sin. This is the disposition of the world.

In the life of a saint, the above operation is a little altered. When he partakes of the pleasures of sin (strays from the truth), there is a definite conflict with his innerman.

Unlike an unsaved person who has never been introduced to the “light” of the Word, if a saint enters the world of delusion, he knows that which is the truth. Whereas, a person that has never known truth, is not aware that there is any “light” in the world.

Let me explain how a saint might end up a drifter in this world of delusion. When he is tempted, instead of giving himself to God, (so that he can resist the devil), in his own mind, he finds a way to lessen the sin in the evil he desires to do. In order to do this, he must first know the truth about the situation. Nevertheless, the power of his desire and pride are so strong that he tells himself, “I’m not really doing anything wrong.” This is the beginning of deception.

When you are given all the factors, and you clearly see the Word’s position (yet you push past the demand of the Word to further your own desire), then you must find a way to justify your actions. Thus you justify your actions by saying, “I’m not really sinning.”

John 8:44…

He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.

Romans 1:25

Who changed the truth of God into a lie...

Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

Matthew 15:19-20

For out of the heart proceedeth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man.

Evil thought - to contrive a method or way that is contrary to obeying the Word or acknowledging God in all one’s ways. Remember every thought must be measured by God’s purpose and for motive and intent.

It is impossible for the child of God to entertain sin, and not know that it is sin. The conscience living in the Holy Ghost will inform you of the sinful nature of your situation. If this is not so, then the word of God itself is a lie. For it has said:

1 John 2:26-28

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

No matter what kind of seducing situation you enter, the Holy Ghost abides in that situation with you. He teaches or instructs you as to what to do. He speaks the truth to your heart. Therefore you must override His voice to continue in the error. Your pride and lust for the conquest of your goal in the situation will not allow you to submit to what you know is right.

The Holy Ghost will never leave you. He is the judge of the deeds done using the flesh. He is the discerner of the intents of the heart. That is why He is able to instruct you to pull out, stop, or retreat at the very appearance of sin. However, pride will fix the heart against the word of God and lust will war against the truth. This is sad for the man or woman of God, because he or she can rebel and break fellowship with the Lord.

REBELLION LIMITS THE WORK OF GOD

David said that such rebellion in the people of God, limits the work of God. This is so true. The man or woman that walks in this kind of pride and lust can never be used to his or her full potential, because they are not trustworthy. Neither do they love and respect the Word of God.

Matthew 24:24

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.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 KJVS

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

[19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

[20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Let us examine the two scriptures above very closely:

1. Take note of the fact that, no matter what the devil throws your way; whether it be false spirits, false people or great signs, it is impossible for him to deceive the man or woman of God.

2. The deception in the matter of your sin did not come from the devil. You deceived yourself. You followed the dictates of your own lusts and departed from the demand of the Word of God.

3. You must come to terms with the fact that you made a conscious decision to disobey the word that you know.

4. You thought you were wise enough to do what you wanted to do without any negative consequences.

5. However, the Lord knows your thoughts and the intent of your heart. He knows when your thoughts are vain. You might not admit that you are vain and selfish in your actions, but in your heart you know that you are off course.

6. The Lord will see that the individual is taken in his own craftiness. This means that all the cunning worldly wisdom the individual employs to accomplish his desire is going to be used against him in the end.

7. There are consequences to this disposition. The sin will be revealed and/or exposed. The Lord will bring you face to face with your sin either directly with Himself or with His representative. There will be a confrontation before there is judgment. You will have the opportunity to repent of the sin or to harden your heart with more cunning craftiness, such as false humility, false religion, or lip service.

8. In the confrontation, the Lord will have people in place that will love and protect you from the wrath of Satan. To continue to walk in lies and pride in the face of such mercy and grace is not just unbelief, it is out right rebellion. Beloved, if you are found here, then, there will be no one to protect you from the judgment of God.

PART B: GOD IS LIGHT

John gave us a most powerful message pointing the way to deliverance from such a spiritual disposition.

1 John 1:5-6

5. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

When you walk in the darkness of this world, you have no fellowship with God. For Christ has no fellowship with Belial. In fact, you become the enemy of God. Neither can you be used to reveal the eternal purpose of God in the earth, for you have joined the ranks of Satan to hide the truth in unrighteousness. You are at war against the purpose of God.

Cunning craftiness and worldly wisdom are the tools of darkness. God is light. You were brought into the kingdom of light to be a beacon for the lost. But you have taken the light of God and hidden it under a bushel.

You confess to be a man or woman of God, but you walk in the darkness of the lusts of this world. You say you have fellowship in the revelation of the mystery of God to reveal Him to the world, but, John says, you are a liar and you do not the truth.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If you repent of the sin, then you are able to walk into the light and regain fellowship in the purpose of God. You will be cleansed from all unrighteousness and the Lord will use you in His service.

Cunning craftiness and worldly wisdom are the tools of darkness.

You are brought into the kingdom of light to be a beacon for the lost.

1 John 1:8

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If you continue to say, “I’m not really sinning, or I’m not really doing anything wrong,” then, you deceive yourself. It is not Satan, but you yourself, your iniquitous heart that is the deceiver. You decide to enter into sin and lessen the evil that is in the sin. It is you that denies the true motives of your heart.

If such is the case, then the truth is not in you. I didn’t say that you didn’t know the truth, I said that the truth is not in you. To believe the truth is not your mindset. You are determined to have your way and even think to deceive others in your folly.

The truth is, you are sinning. Even though you know the truth about the nature of the situation, you departed from what the scripture instructed you to do. Therefore, you are guilty of the sin of omission. You did not love or respect the word of instruction, therefore, you are now open for the game the devil is willing to play with you. You are ready and willing to be set up for more sin.

CONFESSION DESTROYS PRIDE

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The reason confession is so important in seeking deliverance from such captivity is because the heart has been hardened with pride. All through the situation, pride has ruled and reigned. Confession is the method God gives us to destroy pride.

1 John 1:10

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Confession is the method God uses to destroy pride.

When confronted by the Lord or His representative, confession is imperative. If you refuse to confess the real truth of the matter to the one God uses to confront you, then you have refused to confess to God. It is an error to think that you can bypass the person or persons the Lord sends to confront or reveal your sin, and then go to God privately. If this were the case, then the Lord would not reveal the sin to someone to confront you. He would simply bring you face to face with Him, by way of a negative circumstance, situation or relationship. He will allow you to be taken in by your own craftiness.

For Him to send someone with the knowledge of your actions, is His way of saying, repent and confess the sin to the one that I choose to reveal it to. This is His representative, His ambassador. To lie to that person is to lie to God himself. Remember, part truth and part lie is a lie.

Furthermore, the person the Lord uses to confront you with your sin may not have any knowledge of the sin, but may be gifted by God to discern the disposition of the heart. Once again that person becomes the eyes of God, looking into the depths of your heart. That person will know when you are lying, and they will know when you are telling the truth. They will also know whether you are of a broken and a contrite spirit. Thus, they will know when you are not, as well.

GOD DISCERNS THE CONTENTS OF YOUR HEART

The Lord has discerned the contents of your heart and knows what your real motives are. If when confronted, you continue to say that you are without sin, or even if you try to cover some of the sin, then you make Him a liar.

Hear I John 1:10, you make God a liar. You declare that what God has seen and revealed concerning your disposition is a lie. This is easy for someone to do when they don’t respect the God that is in others.

The person that confronts you becomes the eyes of God.

Beloved, you need to know that at such times, you are not dealing with an individual, you are dealing with God. If this is you, repent and call on the name of the Lord for forgiveness.

1 John 2:1-2 KJVS

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

[2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Go to Him. He’s waiting to forgive you of the evil work of deception. You can be holy and pure before the Lord. Don’t forfeit everything the Lord is offering you. Covet truth and holiness. Run from the deceitfulness of the sin in the heart. Wash yourself in the Word. He is faithful to deliver you back into the realm of BELIEF.

Jeremiah 37:9

Thus saith the LORD; Deceive not yourselves.

If you will take the time to read the 37th and 38th chapters of Jeremiah, you will see how the person God uses to reveal sin is subject to be treated. If God has chosen to reveal someone’s sin to you, and because of it, you have been negatively entreated, just remember: He has made you strong, you can bear it. Just remain humble and the Lord will exalt you in due season.

I LOVE YOU,

Mary Banks, Handmaiden of the Lord.