Woman 2 Woman Lounge

Be careful, there are many deceivers amongst believers

9/28/09

Be careful what you listen to, what you buy, who you associate with and what you put your stamp of approval on, some things are not what they seem. There are many deceivers amongst believers. Don't be too quick to be down with the association without there first being an investigation. The deceiver will gain the popularity of the people, feed them what they want to hear, drawing them in deeper. Their followers may be attracted to their fame, fortune, and status. The deceiver often surrounds himself with and circle of people much like himself or some he knows desires to be like him even some a little different as well to make it look like many from different professors even adore him. He himself is nothing more than a blind leader leading others who are themselves blind. Blind to what? Blind to the truth!

The Deceiver from the beginning has a plan, his plan is to seduce you with charm and get you to follow him, praise him, build him up to others. Once he has you he knows you will defend his character and those things he believes in. God's words says you will be able to know a man by his fruit. Don't develop a friendship or liking to someone or something blindly, take a closer look! Remember Satan wanted more than being like God, the Bible says he wanted to BE GOD.

Remember God only speaks truth, not a lie, he will not speak against himself, he does not do things in secret. There are a lot of false prophets and self-made gods, but ONLY ONE TRUE GOD. Self made gods desire for you to worship them, not Almighty GOD, remember the bible says, no man is above his master. Self made gods desire to be the master not to be ruled over. They want total control to do as they please and not answer to another. But believers know, to know God is to know rules and boundaries, to know God is to know that he is the Master and we are the disciples. To know God is to know that He is in control and our will is limited. To know God is to know that we cannot serve other gods, and that He alone is to be worshipped. Your god could be a man of power, a woman, money, fame, your business or organization, or your god could be simply yourself, what you want, nothing more, and nothing less. Examine yourself and others, don't deceive yourself or be deceived.

What is God trying to tell us?

Some are inclined to believe that things happen by chance but I believe like many others that everything happens for a reason and when things happen in our lives and on earth we should add to our prayers in asking the Lord what is he trying to tell us.

So much is happening in the world. When you turn on the 5 or 6 o'clock news it seems like its mass confusion all over. If we pick up our Bible and read it we will find in there things that help us somewhat understand what God might be trying to tell us. There is no doubt that the Lord Jesus Christ will be returning because first and foremost he said he was in his word and he also gave signs for us to watch out for that would be evidence for his nearing return. Jesus said when it is close to his return there would be many things transpiring...

Matthew 24:5: "For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ (or Messiah),' and will deceive many."

There have been many that have come and gone in the news media so far that we have seen...

Jim Jones- of the Guyana tragedy, David Koresh  from Waco, Texas.  Both of these men claimed to be Jesus and attracted a significant number of followers. Then there was Marshall Applewhite of the "Heaven's Gate cult who also believed himself to be Jesus or some form of re-incarnated Jesus. The latest is Michael Travesser.

Matthew 24:6: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come."

Matthew 24:7-8: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."

Matthew 24:9: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."

There are many that dislike Christians outwardly and inwardly. The majority of the world find Christians arrogant, obstructionist, intolerant, and hypocrites.  The Voice of the Martyrs web site has numerous articles and a list of almost 40 individuals who have been jailed for professing a faith in Jesus Christ. Thousands of Christians have been put to death. Christians are being hated throughout the world.

Matthew 24:10-11: "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." 

Many pick and choose what parts of the Bible they believe, so that they can avoid conflict with others in society on difficult issues. Many are being deceived and being lead by what the Bible calls the "Blind" (not those who cannot physically see).

Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." 

1 Timothy 4:1: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

2 Timothy 3:1-4: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-"

Matthew 24:7-8 … There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Luke 21:11- There will be great… famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from Heaven.

We clearly see people starving across the country such groups as feed the children have been trying to feed starving families for years. Over the past couple years there have been many disasterous things that have happen, countless earthquakes in various place where thousands have lost their lives, 911 back in 2001, the Tsunami in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the recent Cyclone in Myanmar that has reached a death toll of 43,000  and the recent Earthquake in China on the 12th of May that has reached a death toll of 15,000. Lives are being lost in huge amounts all across the globe.

Servanthood

We are given gifts and talents to help us fulfill our mission on earth and to help us bless the lives of others. Service comes in many forms and many ways. Godly service leads us to be more like the Savior, giving of ourselves not looking for notoriety. Sharing our hearts and helping hands in service molds us. The more refined our hearts become it allows our hands to become greater hands of service and grow more responsive as we become more compassionate. When sharing our hearts it develops us and enables us to overcome our incapability to give completely. The scriptures urge us to increase our talents, to always be learning. Let us reach out to others with willing hands and loving hearts.

Let us stay mindful that God should always be first in our lives not the Last. He should not get the leftovers, he should get the first fruits of all we do. Let us all seek the Lord in revealing to us the talents that lie within us so that we can fulfill his purpose for our lives and live our calling so that he may be glorified.

In His Service
Sherri C. Walker
Woman2Woman Lounge, Editor in Chief