Navigating Spiritual Deception: Empowering the Elect with Discernment and Truth
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
It is because of our propensity as Christians to gravitate towards the revealed supernatural power of God that we ought also to keep our guard up against fakes in the ministry. It is our very interest in the charismatic that can so deceive us if we are not spiritually discerned and doctrinally astute. This is the reason our Lord ever so graciously gave us this word of caution in our text. We are warned that, if it were possible, that even the very elect…that is, those of us who are genuinely born again by God’s grace…would be deceived by these false prophets. Therefore, we are not ignorant of satan’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11). We understand that our adversary the devil can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), and thereby promote his kingdom of darkness with an illusion of righteousness. Many are the masses of people today who are deceived by seducing spirits and doctrines of devils (1 Tim. 4:1), because they have been packaged in a format that is easily palatable by the average Christian who is unskilled in the Word. It is not the little leaven that we notice when we are so craftily mislead; it is the whole lump that we are sold. We see not that small portion of poison that will grow until it has poisoned the entire portion; rather, we only see that which appears at first to be good, at least, for the most part. Oh, how a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Gal. 5:9)! It is not satan’s ignorance or complete disregard for scripture that deceives the masses, but rather his knowledge of it, knowing just enough of it to quote it out of context so that it sounds safe to the ear while simultaneously misleading the soul. That is why we are admonished to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). It is when we know not only the scriptures, but the Author of the scriptures, that we are able to detect error from truth when at times they seem to so closely resemble one another. Through the person of The Holy Spirit, Christ teaches us the meaning of scriptures so that we the elect of God will not be deceived. Today, I encourage you to never take my word for it, nor anyone else’s for that matter, but rather, search the scriptures for yourself, and allow The Holy Spirit to lead and guide you into all truth!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
It is because of our propensity as Christians to gravitate towards the revealed supernatural power of God that we ought also to keep our guard up against fakes in the ministry. It is our very interest in the charismatic that can so deceive us if we are not spiritually discerned and doctrinally astute. This is the reason our Lord ever so graciously gave us this word of caution in our text. We are warned that, if it were possible, that even the very elect…that is, those of us who are genuinely born again by God’s grace…would be deceived by these false prophets. Therefore, we are not ignorant of satan’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11). We understand that our adversary the devil can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), and thereby promote his kingdom of darkness with an illusion of righteousness. Many are the masses of people today who are deceived by seducing spirits and doctrines of devils (1 Tim. 4:1), because they have been packaged in a format that is easily palatable by the average Christian who is unskilled in the Word. It is not the little leaven that we notice when we are so craftily mislead; it is the whole lump that we are sold. We see not that small portion of poison that will grow until it has poisoned the entire portion; rather, we only see that which appears at first to be good, at least, for the most part. Oh, how a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Gal. 5:9)! It is not satan’s ignorance or complete disregard for scripture that deceives the masses, but rather his knowledge of it, knowing just enough of it to quote it out of context so that it sounds safe to the ear while simultaneously misleading the soul. That is why we are admonished to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). It is when we know not only the scriptures, but the Author of the scriptures, that we are able to detect error from truth when at times they seem to so closely resemble one another. Through the person of The Holy Spirit, Christ teaches us the meaning of scriptures so that we the elect of God will not be deceived. Today, I encourage you to never take my word for it, nor anyone else’s for that matter, but rather, search the scriptures for yourself, and allow The Holy Spirit to lead and guide you into all truth!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill