Notes from his teaching "Take Heed That You Are Not Deceived." Where deception comes from and how to avoid it..Three Coordinates of Truth1) Jesus said, "I am the Truth" (John 14:6-7).2) God's word is truth (John 17:17). 3) God's Spirit is truth (I John 5:6).Therefore, Is it true to Jesus Is it true to the Bible?Does it have the witness of the Spirit?In many places there is a different Jesus being preached which is another gospel that brings with it another spirit. Wrong Views of Jesus1) He was a Marxist revolutionary whose intent was to free oppressed people. Violence is often used. Popular in South America.2) Jesus is a oriental guru along the lines of Buddha and others.3) Jesus is a kindly Father figure. He goes around patting people on the head and back and tells them, "I'm okay, you're okay." Popular in the liberal church which steers clear of teaching about sin and judgment.Deception always enters through PRIDE. Lucifer is the prime example. Cults always say they are the only ones with the truth and always criticize former generations of true believers who they believe didn't get the job done.Those Most Likely to be Deceived1) Those who rely only on subjective impressions and feelings.2) Those who look only to human leaders.3) Those who accept supernatural signs as a guarantee of truth.4) Those who through personal ambition are drawn to flattery. Proverbs 29:5 says, "A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet." Your criteria of success should not be how big a church you have or how many invitations to speak and minister you have. The more successful you are the more likely you are to become big headed and drawn to flattery of yourself.5) Those who are unwilling to admit the possibility of suffering and persecution. They promise only good and are false prophets.6) Those who are ignorant of the Scriptures.How to Avoid Deception1) Remember it is only by God's grace that we can be faithful.2) Cultivate humility and the fear of the Lord. "Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way." (Psalm 25:8-9) See Psalm 110:11; Proverbs 1:7.3) Base everything on the Scriptures. He who ignores his Bible does not have a right to hear from God. Don't be one who is always going about seeking a word from here or a word from there and a word from this person or a word from that person. 4) Focus on Jesus. Revelation 19:10 a good example. When the Spirit of truth comes (John 16:13-14) He will glorify Jesus and not Himself.5) Leave the initiative with God. Explore His word. Sit still before God and mediate on His word and don't always press the Lord to speak right away then and there. Let God take the initiative and speak to you how and when He will. 6) Beware of fantasy. All people have imaginations and use them at times if you will but keep it within the perimeters and guardrail of Scripture. 7) Keep it simple and plain. You don't have to use big ideas and big words when you talk. Theologians who major on doing this may actually be doing a bad service to the body of Christ. The gospel is not complicated but simple at its basic foundations. See I Corinthians 15:3-5 - the gospel is simple and plain.8) Exercise your senses for discernment. Hebrews 5:14 - "Strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." 9) Cultivate a love of the truth. II Thessalonians 2:9.God does not desire for you to be deceived. He can keep you from it.
_________________David Winter
Here is a link to this sermonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_krnqXiscE
_________________Vern
