Why Are Saints Decieved

I really want to take this opportunity to expose the wiles of the enemy. Satan has had tremendous success at keeping the saints of God in sin groping around in the darkness of this world. However, we must acknowledge that in order to do so, Satan had to bring the leaders of the Church into agreement with him, first. This too, has been a success. If those who lead the Body are in sin, then the only place they are able to lead the Body is into sin. The anointing flows from the head down. This is why the Body of Christ is hindered in its eternal purpose.

The Lord, however, is faithful in His commitment to us. He is exposing the wiles of Satan, which is, in turn, purifying the Body of Christ. Nevertheless, the process is a painful one. For in the exposure of sin, we see the awful wickedness of leadership in the Church. It is the responsibility of the apostles in the Body of Christ, to focus on the development of the Sons of God into the fullness of the stature of the man Jesus Christ.

The focus is on leadership because we are responsible for what the Body of Christ knows and comprehends of God. We should be examples of what the Body is to be. If we do not walk in the righteousness of God, the Body will never make it there either. The world is already under the captivity of the devil, but when the attributes of that captivity can be seen and experienced in the Church, that is reason for alarm. Let us go back to the original question as it was asked.

Why are saints and leaders so easily deceived by other saints and leaders?

I think this is not only a legitimate question, but it is one that must be answered. Why are the chosen of the Lord, Holy Ghost filled, Word–stuffed, preaching and praying saints of God so easily deceived by the wiles of the devil? I am not ignorant to the fact that there are some things the Lord chooses not to be revealed to the saints of God individually as well as collectively. But when we, the perfecters and those in the government of the Body of Christ, are at a loss to the true spiritual location of the people we are attempting to bring into perfection, then we are the blind leading the blind.

The Holy Ghost is the same today as He was yesterday. He is the Spirit of Truth.

It is impossible for us to walk in the Spirit of Truth and be so entrenched in error in our ministerial dealings with one another. Thus it follows that we are not walking in the Spirit and neither are we perceiving the true character of those we are supposedly leading.

I was counseling a young lady once along with a woman who had declared herself to be a prophetess. I remember the woman we came to counsel giving us this story that added up to nothing but religious jargon. The prophetess immediately jumped on this bandwagon and responded very sympathetically. I, on the other hand, responded, (to paraphrase) “That is a lie and you who speak are a lying spirit.” The woman immediately dropped her head and after what seemed to be forever, lifted her head, looked at the prophetess and said, “I have always been able to get by you, but it was her (referring to me) that I feared. That is why I tried to avoid being in her presence.”

I did not tell you that story to make it appear that I am this all-seeing wonder. No, I am sure that I can think of many situations wherein I missed the truth and was deceived by a show. That just might have been one of those times when I have walked in the Spirit a few days prior. Nevertheless, the standard of God remains the same. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord. The Holy Ghost is always discerning and He is always accurate. We should be accurate as well.

I Thessalonians 5:12-13

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Paul writes and tells the elders of the church that they should know those who have charge over them and admonishes or warns them of the things pertaining to God. The bottom line is that leaders should know leaders who work with and among them. But the truth is, some leaders have become so well versed in their ability to deceive until they are able to continue in the Church, unscathed, until the seeds of their unrighteousness produce fields of spiritual abuse, lust, treachery, confusion, hopelessness, and despair. It is then that other leaders want to get on the counsel or discipline bandwagon.

Now if these leaders are deceived how do we explain the following?

St.Matthew 24:24

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.

According to St. Matthew 24:24, even when false prophets preach and perform great signs and wonders these things should not be able to deceive the Sons of God. So how is it we do not know the spiritual disposition of those who serve with us? We are supposed to know the Spirit of God and all that pertains to godliness.

Why do we quickly embrace lies, false humility and subtle iniquities that are the defining attributes of some of our colleagues? How can we help them if we do not really know whether what we are entertaining from them is of God or not? If we are going to be delivered from our ignorance then we must begin by pondering the brutal truth.

II Peter 1:5-9

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Oftentimes we discuss the above passages in light of one failing in character, but the failure in character is directly linked to a failure in ministry. Notice that the end result of not embracing the truth about ourselves is barrenness, ignorance regarding the knowledge of Christ, blindness or the lack of spiritual vision. Our failure to see into the spiritual dispositions of those who serve among us is due to sin in our own lives. Consequently, those who are out of the way or off-course prey upon others who are off-course and manipulate them for their own gain.

God has raised a new generation of believers. We see as He sees and know as He reveals. No matter how cunning some are, they are seen for their true selves. Just when they think to be hidden and successful in their endeavors to live lawlessly and fail to take the responsibility for the souls of the people of God, God sends a Word to reveal just what is in their heart. There are some of us who do walk after the Spirit and can see the true character of the people of God and will hold fast to that assessment.

This is profitable for all concerned. Leaders should be the voice of God speaking the truth in love. Let us look a bit closer at how this spirit of deception is able to survive all the preaching, teaching and counsel it encounters. Amazingly the same is true for the deceiver as well as those who are deceived.

DECEPTION: THE STRENGTH OF SIN

We must hear another brutal truth. If you are mature in the Lord and a minister of the Gospel but are unable to discern the spiritual disposition of your colleagues, then you too are not walking after the Spirit. In fact, you were able to be deceived either by spiritual ignorance or the desires, iniquity, or distrust in your own heart.

To deceive means: to cheat, beguile, that which gives a false impression, whether by appearance, statement or influence. (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words).

A simple example of deception among leaders is manifested when it is so easy for leaders to believe lies one leader tells about another leader. One of the most powerful scriptures is, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

"DECEPTION IS THE STRENGTH OF SIN AND IT IS DECEPTION THAT ALLOWED THE SIN TO LIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

The mind or heart has accepted a false impression of the sin-filled scenario. It has already lessened the evil in the sin; therefore, it has basically accepted sin as a lifestyle. After all, it survived as a lifestyle in the imagination, not allowing anything preached, taught or counseled to touch it.

When sin is lived out in the heart its influence soon surfaces in relationships and situations. This is a very good example of deception being accomplished by influence. The fact that the sin survived in the imagination influences the mind by making a false impression on it. The mind actually believes now that it can produce a plan that will enable the sin to survive in the physical world.

Moreover, the mind also believes the sin will survive the judgment of God. Now do you see how deception becomes the strength of the lust within us? It is the motivating force that drives the transgressor into complete and total rebellion. The mind must now devise a way for the sin to survive in the midst of truth, counsel, prayer and ministry. It must also survive the influence of people, the teachings of Christ, the praying in the Spirit, a seven-day fast and even your own ministry.

Remember the attributes of the transgressor. He is blind, without true revelation and has forgotten that he was ever purged from sin. Therefore, he can only see through the lying eyes of his deception. What does the transgressor see at this point? Well, the Word tells us what he sees, by revealing his character responses to situations, circumstances and relationships in his life.

1. He becomes angry and hostile against anyone who dares to confront him or her concerning his sin.

2. The Word of God is handled deceitfully in an attempt to justify his sin or to either pull or hold others in the sin.

3. In an effort to draw sympathy to himself, he will be deceitful in counseling sessions. Either he will lie to cover the truth or will tell the truth about incidents to cover the lie he chooses to live.

4. He will attack the character of those trying to help him or others who stand in the way of the sin. This is done to destroy the influence and relationships of those who know of their sin. Being blind to reality, the transgressor sees those who would try to help pull him out of sin as the enemy. The Word of God that would deliver him becomes an offense, and the ministry in which he was conceived and nurtured becomes the battleground for manipulation and a matching of wits to out-maneuver the instituted authority.

2 Corinthians 4:1-5

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

Even right now God is moved to be merciful. How do I know? Well, God would not expose us to the truth if we did not have a chance to accept it. The mere fact that we are hearing or reading these truths, says that the Lord is calling us to repentance. In this call He is telling us what to do. It is very simple.

1. Renounce the hidden things of dishonesty. Renounce those secret desires and that evil imaginary world dwelling in your heart. Cast down that evil imagination and purify your heart, thoughts and mind.

2. Stop being crafty. Speak the truth.

3. Cease to be a peace-breaker in your life and in the lives of others.

4. Stop twisting, turning and perverting the Word for your own personal gain.

5. Seek after the holiness of God. Cleanse yourself in His righteousness. THE LORD LOVES YOU. HE WILL FORGIVE YOU RIGHT NOW IF YOUR HEART IS ONE OF TRUE REPENTANCE. If you cannot seem to repent, then cry out to the Lord for mercy. Ask Him to send you a spirit of conviction or rather that you enter into a spirit of conviction. Ask the Lord to help you in your unbelief. He is faithful. You belong to Him. He cannot deny Himself.