Living a 220 life

Your shield against deception

May 3, 2010 on 8:41 pm | In The Word | No Comments

It seems deception lies just around every corner in our world today. (pun intended) Everywhere you turn someone is trying to persuade you of something else; and not all use ethical means of persuasion. I’ve heard stories of used car salesmen, insurance salesmen, attornies, and many others who use out right deception to get what they want from you. With so much persuasion and deception all around us it can be very tempting to become cynical of others. So, how do we manuever through a life filled with deception while maintaining a Spirit filled life of trust and love for others?

In 1Kings chapter 13 we’re given a great example of costly deception as well as the antidote to Satan’s deception. We’re given a “man of God” in chapter 13 who prophesies to the king and after word is asked to dine with the king. The man of God responds in 13:9, “For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’” The man of God turned down a royal meal with the king because he understood very clearly what God had told him.

The man of God leaves the king but is chased down by an old prophet from Bethel. A fellow man of God finds him and also asks him to come dine with him. The man of God responds in the same way he did to the king. He knows what God has told him and is being obedient. Then, in verse 18 the old prophet from Bethel lies to him and says, “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.” Friends, this is a fellow prophet! Sometimes we are most susceptible to deception in the church where we feel safe.

The man of God falls for the lie and goes back to the old prophets house. He is later killed by a lion for being disobedient to God’s Word. When I first read this I thought, “Wow, the old prophet really got him.” However, I found the old prophet truely morning for the man of God and asking to be buried with him. This leads me to believe the old prophet didn’t lie to be hurtful but rather because he really just wanted to spend time with the man of God. Friends, this is a huge danger for us! We can be on either side of this coin…do we get led astray or do we lead others astray?

The bottom line in this story of deception is that when the man of God took action based on God’s Word he was good. When he followed someone else’s version of God’s Word he fell. Folks, if you are to navigate this world filled with lies and deception you MUST know God’s Word inside and out. The only way to defeat deception is with the Truth. Are you filling your heart with God’s Word every day? If not your simply waiting for the next con-man to lead you to your death. Satan IS seeking to devour you! AND he doesn’t play fair! He will lie, cheat, and steal in order to lead you to your death.

Friends, I beg you, get into God’s Word on a daily basis and fill your heart with His Truth. Only when we stand on His Word are we able to succesfully navigate this world of deception. With your trust in His Word for your protection your able to love and trust other people as the Spirit leads you to do. You no longer need to rely on yourself to constantly fight satans lies, you simply trust in His Word and Truth. My dear brothers and sisters, make time spent in God’s Word your top priority. Your life really depends on it. AMEN!