Cognitive dissonance. Normalcy bias. Passive indoctrination. There are many strategies of the enemies of God. Without the constantly correction and instruction from the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit an individual is easily deceived into believing untrue information. Without the Holy Spirit… the Biblical scriptures CANNOT be properly understood. Many try to erase the relationship with the Holy Spirit to maintain a control and manipulation of those in their ‘congregation’ / membership / group. Questioning the ruling authority now will get one cancelled and thrown out. The teaching and twisting of the interpretation of the scriptures is rampant today. Many then will castigate anyone who disagrees with them. The moral (God given) conscience is the bullseye of every nefarious teacher. The conscience of an individual must be ‘seared’ into compliance to agree to the ‘lie’ being propagated by the evil forces. I believe the human God-given conscience and the will of the individual are very closely tied together. Eventually the human severely seared conscience no longer plays a part in discerning the Truth of things, and the individual falls easily into one or all of those top 3 strategies.
How would anyone know the real Truth of things without knowing Jesus intimately? This also means accepting and pursuing a deep intimate relationship with the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Jesus). Without the Holy Spirit’s help in understanding and teaching of the scriptures / Word how will anyone correctly integrate them into their lives? Are we just to believe the human ‘experts’, or ‘ordained’ clergy? Are we to just trust a piece of paper? What was that Jesus came to do .. exactly?
If you can’t hear and understand His Voice… you are not in His … flock.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
What will Jesus also say to some?
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:22-23
Obviously this isn’t about an algorithm, or set formulas, or legalism. It’s about real relationship. It’s about real humility to the revealed Truth to your soul, and transparency of your ‘short comings’, and vulnerability to confess them before Him. It’s understanding deeply… that you actually NEED Him. Then comes our heart’s desire to do that which He is asking us to do. This means being able to ‘hear’ Him within your ‘inner’ heart / soul / spirit. This ‘ability’ to ‘hear’ someone is the same in any relationship. How many people do you already ‘tune out’? Do you automatically categorize people so that you “don’t” have to listen to them? Being able to hear the Truth means staying very open to the correction of the Spirit of God that He brings to you.
When one becomes ‘illumined’ by the Spirit of God, and over time begins to be shown the Truth of things, the strategies of the enemy become exposed. These strategies fall into three categories.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
Jesus wants to bring ‘life’ to you. What does real ‘life’ mean? What part of our 2/3 eternal created being is He speaking life to? (I say 2/3 because Man is spirit / soul / and body — only this earthly body is not eternal because of the curse of Adam) What does an ‘eternal death’ mean exactly?
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
Is separation from real ‘life’ .. death?
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Religion is the opiate of the masses. Jesus did not come to start a new religion. He came to make real personal relationship with God possible. Right now — how much of your life is influenced by .. religion? Have you asked the Holy Spirit to reveal that to you? Religion is VERY comfortable. What really is ‘religion’?
All of the first three strategies listed are cumulous, meaning they are very layered and slowly grow within the character and minds of individuals. Eventually people become so used to the evil strategy working in their lives that they accept larger and larger lies and false information. Then only by revelation from the Holy Spirit, and heartfelt repentance can true deliverance come to the individual. And often this ‘deprogramming’ is pealed away from the individual layer by layer as they are guided by the Holy Spirit in retraining their ‘character’ and attitudes to His ‘fruit’. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Oh heavenly Father help us to hear the Voice of Jesus! Jesus fill us with your Holy Spirit! Holy Spirit reveal the Truth to us at deeper and deeper ways. Holy Spirit please cleanse us of the enemy’s strategies and lies that we have accepted and adopted into our lives. Holy Spirit bring to us your revelation and heart.