Beware Of Deception | July 2022 Monthly Newsletter
Written by Ps. Nicholas Hung | Senior Pastor of Antioch Gospel Church
Hi Church,
Well half the year’s gone now. Hasn’t time flown! What have you accomplished with Christ in these first six months of the year? Who got saved? What breakthroughs have taken place? What practical spiritual steps have you taken to lay the foundations for greater seasons ahead? Whatever lies behind us, in faith I’m believing that the rear half of this year will be filled with grace and that each one of us who call Antioch our home will keep reaching forward towards the prize of the upward calling in Him.
Recently I was reading through the book of Jeremiah and one particular passage really stood out to me. The prophet Jeremiah, using plenty of strong language, is recorded rebuking the people of Judah for their wicked idol worshipping practices of their false god, the ‘Queen of Heaven.’ His rebuke is full on, and well worth a read in Jeremiah 44! Of course Jeremiah’s hope was that these people would repent and turn from their wickedness, however their response is quite the opposite.
The men of nation hear Jeremiah’s words, and instead of repenting, they turn back to him and bluntly declare:
“… We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense and pour out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven just as much as we like …” (Jerermiah 44:17 NLT)
Whoa! What? Are they for real? … I stopped, read those words several times, and pondered what might have happened for the people of Judah to speak with such insubordination to the prophet of God.
The people of Judah were meant to be God’s people – examples through whom the world would see and witness the heart and character of God. Instead, their obstinate, hardhearted rebellion rings out loud and clear in a way that makes 21st century rebellion pale into insignificance!
Consider the clarity and surety with which these men spoke these words. Apparently they were absolutely sure and convinced of their decision – leaving no room for open dialogue or correction. The reasoning for their strong ideology follows shortly after:
“… ever since we quit burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and stopped worshiping her with liquid offerings, we have been in great trouble and have been dying from war and famine. “Besides,” the women added, “do you suppose that we were burning incense and pouring out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven, and making cakes marked with her image, without our husbands knowing it and helping us? Of course not!” (Jeremiah 44:18-19 NLT)
Oh gosh! It’s not just the men. The women are also in on this decision and together they’ve decided to abandon the Lord, determining that it’s more expedient for them to worship an idol than the living God. They’ve united themselves in the ideology that the God of their ancestors was not protecting them and although Jeremiah makes it explicitly clear that the very reason their nation is in tatters and being attacked on every front is because of their refusal to obey the Living God and walk in His instructions and decrees, they refuse to hear.
… they are totally deceived.
Accounts of this nature tie knots in my heart and grieve my spirit, and there are plenty of them to tell – unfortunately the same spirit of deception still exists in our world and is still deceiving many, including many of God’s people. All sorts of deception gets thrown around in these days – even from within Christian circles. The truth is watered down; spiritual realities ignored; the consequences of sin laughed at; Biblical truths treated as irrelevant antiquities. And of course a convenient forgetfulness of the words of Paul the Apostle, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13 NKJV)
So many claims, ‘facts’ and ‘truths’ get thrown our way on a daily basis, and without discernment, deception easily takes root, alternative world views are formed and it becomes increasingly difficult to ‘see’ or ‘perceive’ the truth. No wonder Jesus said, “... seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13 NKJV) Jesus took great care to warn His disciples not to be deceived.
Let’s look at three steps to preventing deception from creeping in to our souls:
1. Treat growing in the knowledge of the word of God with all seriousness
Paul also wrote, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV)
Growing in the knowledge of God must be a regular discipline and our avoidance of deception depends on it. Gaining the knowledge of God can’t be something that we lean on others to do on our behalf – it must become our wholehearted pursuit. Keep God’s word at the centre, and uphold God’s words as the unwavering gold standard for right living.
2. Develop a living, thriving relationship with the Holy Spirit and cultivate friendships with those who do the same
Jesus told His disciples, “… when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” (John 16:13 NKJV)
The Holy Spirit is a wonderful guide. Those who listen to His guidance remain secure in the heart of God. Remaining in community with others who passionately listen to and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit can also provide another layer of protection against deception.
3. Ask yourself constantly, “Am I really walking in the will of God, or just following my own opinions and desires?”
A big question! Protecting ourselves from deception means constantly evaluating ourselves according to the standards of God’s word and will. Deviation happens when we cease coming back to the standard. Beware of leaven, Jesus said – meaning that even small compromises and small deviations from the right pathways of living can cause significant impacts to the Godly blessings we walk in. By constantly re-aligning ourselves with God’s will, we remain in His truth and covering, living in His righteous ways.
As evidenced through the sad story of the men and women of Judah, deception is a powerful weapon the enemy uses to pull God’s children off the pathway, and to keep the world from finding His path. Let’s not be deceived.
God’s church is called to live the truth, shine the truth, multiply the truth and overcome anything that stands against the truth! Let’s take up our calling and live out His glorious mission in our spheres of influence.
Many blessings Church,
Pastor Nicholas Hung