Deception

     In Genesis Chapter 3 we see Satan at work creating doubt and then lying to Eve. He attacked her in the three areas that he works on everyone. The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Verse 6 says and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat. This is his method that he uses and I think when you think about it you can recall falling for his deception.

The bible says that Satan is a liar and the father of lies because there is no truth in him.  He is called the deceiver and he perverts the truth. He is a counterfeit. He comes as an angel of light. The bible tells us not to be ignorant of his devices. It is our duty as a disciple to know his method and that he always tempts us in the same three areas he tempted Eve. If you read Matthew chapter 4 you will see that he tempted Jesus with the same method in the same three areas. The good news is Jesus was tempted in all points as we yet without sin. He defeated Satan that day in the desert which made the way for us to have victory over sin the same way Jesus did. Jesus spoke the word to him and told him it is written man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God.

     The whole idea of the resurrection of Jesus was to send the Holy Spirit back to live in us to give us the power and the authority that we need to overcome Satan and his deception. Jesus came to undo what Adam and Eve did. They rebelled against the word and authority of God and lost their relationship with him. Jesus came to restore us back in right relationship with the father so that we can walk with him in the garden. The garden was the atmosphere created by the presence of God. When you have the Holy Spirit residing in you his presence creates that same atmosphere that was in the garden.

     Jesus warned that false Christs and false prophets would arise and show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light and his ministers transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. There is so much of this going on today that it is scary. Social media has made it possible for so many people to be so called ministers and prophets speaking everything but the truth. You really have to be careful who you listen to. I try to keep up with most everything that is going on and sometimes something sounds so close to the truth that it even makes me question for a minute. Thank God I have a strong foundation and am not moved by every wind and doctrine that comes along.

     Most people today don’t have a relationship with their pastor. The Mega churches have made it impossible to really get to know and spend any time with the pastor. In like manor the people that you listen to on social media are not approachable either to have a real relationship with them. Jesus set the perfect example for us to follow. He walked with his disciples almost daily and they could see that he was genuine. The things that he said matched up with the things that he did. What we do today and call it church is far from what Jesus intended. He intended for us to live in community as believers and share our lives with one another the ups and the downs. It was never intended for us to go to church but rather for us to be the church. We have made the concept of church all about the meetings. Today most of the meetings are entertaining the saints instead of discipling them.

    Jesus said I will build my Ecclesia(church) and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Rome had its Ecclesia so Jesus said I will build my Ecclesia. The word Ecclesia is not a religious term but rather a political term. It was the governing body of Rome similar to our senate. The Ecclesia(church) is supposed to be Jesus governing body on earth teaching people how his kingdom works. The goal here at Goshen Falls is to teach kingdom principle both by demonstrating them and teaching them at the retreats. We will be announcing some events coming soon so come and be a part of Gods kingdom demonstrated here at Goshen Falls.

     Check out my book “The Shift in Time the Reformation Awakens” for more about the how literal kingdoms work and what Jesus was talking about when he talked about his kingdom.