I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. Romans 16:17-19
If there ever was a time to be awake and alert about falsehoods and lies .. it is now. Unfortunately this practice of persuading the naive with lies has been around since the Garden of Eden by the enemies of God. During the short time Jesus walked this earth as a human — He revealed the hypocrisy and lies of the religious elite (Pharisees and others). Is today any different? Has human behavior changed for the good? Is mankind better now? Can we totally trust everyone who speaks from a Church pulpit? Even if they are deceived into thinking that everything they say and do is correct in their own minds? We have VERY recent examples of this. We just went through a global supposed ‘health crisis’ which was promoted as extremely dangerous and everyone HAD to get an experimental drug to ‘survive’, without knowing exactly what was in that drug. Governments mandated that drug to be injected into their citizens. So MANY spiritual leaders complied and also told their followers to go along with the mandates and gaslighted all those who did not accept the government’s premise and lies that it was ‘safe and effective’. And millions died (and are still dying) from the cure rather than the disease.
How should we make decisions now? How should we know what to choose and when? Does a quick prayer aimed at God good enough to cover you from all consequences of a bad decision? Is God a genie for you — that will take care of you no matter whether you can hear Him or not and grant your wishes? How many of these ‘spiritual leaders’ will be able to recognize the enemies devices when they are offered to the world as the ‘salvation’ for a better life? CBDC? Health passports? The latest ‘vaccine’ shot?
Jesus said of the Holy Spirit ..
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13
Is the Holy Spirit doing this with you now? Is He guiding you in all your decisions? Are you asking Him to? Do you wait for His reply to you or do you just go on what you want to do? This practice of listening to Him BEFORE going ahead with decisions is the same as concept as bringing every thought ‘captive’ to Christ.
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6
It is this relationship with the Holy Spirit which is SO missing in the formulaic, religious, life of most of the institutional Church goers. Whom do you trust? Trust completely? Can our closest loved ones give us bad advice? Can our closest loved ones speak what the enemy is saying?
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:23
Peter’s words were from his mind and what his mouth spoke were out of his own desires rather than from God. And I have to admit I too have spoken things that were not from God. We make mistakes. And worse there are those with evil hearts blatantly trying to deceive the ‘elect’ in any way possible.
What am I concerned about? The extreme lack of this vital relationship with the Holy Spirit in SO much of the American Church goers. How many can actually hear the Holy Spirit within their minds? The answer? All of them — IF… 1. They asked Jesus to baptize them with the Holy Spirit and 2. They learn to recognize His Voice — through prayer and communication — via His Word (Rhema). This practice of listening to Him is VITAL for the coming days on this earth. The problem is so many current professional spiritual leaders also are not hearing and following the specific personal instructions from the Holy Spirit. They are preaching what someone else said .. rather than the inspiration and revelation from the Holy Spirit to them directly. Thus it is SO much easier to teach and preach a formulaic message for the Sunday sermon time.
Should you bring it ALL to the Holy Spirit? Yes.
What about everything you read … and what truth is in it? Yes.
What about everything you watch and hear … and what truth is in it? Yes.
What about every idea that pops in your head? Yes.
Are you getting the drift here?
How do you know something is false, counterfeit, deception, a lie, and evil? By intimately knowing the REAL, the Truth. Jesus is the Truth. Do you know Him intimately? Does He know you? Does He speak to you personally?
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16
Today. Now. Listen to Him.
Be like Samuel.
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:10