Religion & Spirituality
Today, I want to talk about Deception and How to Avoid It. Webster defines Deception as “the state of being deceived or misled or the act of deceiving or misleading. And Deceive as “to lead into error; to cause to believe what is false or disbelieve what is true; to impose upon; to mislead; to cheat; to disappoint; to delude; to insnare.” Here are five questions to ask to penetrate the disguises of a false teacher or someone you suspect is being deceitful. 1. Have their predictions come true? Or do they revise them to fit what is already happened? 2. Does any teaching utilize a small section of the bible to the neglect of the whole? 3. Does the teaching go against what is said in the bible about God? 4. Are the practices or teachings meant to glorify the teacher or Jesus? 5. Do the teachings promote hostility toward other Christians? Steps to Avoid Deception 1. Know your Bible. 2. Regular Bible study on your own is the only way to really know the word of God. It is your responsibility to lay a strong foundation against deception. You Version Bible App; Daily Audio Bible; International Bible Study groups such as Bible Study Fellowship or Community Bible Study. 3. Apply your knowledge of the scriptures to that which is unusual or “extraordinary”. 4. Ask questions. There is nothing wrong with having a healthy skepticism. Always confirm what you hear, see, or read by going to the scriptures for the answers. 5. Learn to go to God on your own. Deception can happen when you look to someone else for the answers and not God. No one can study the Bible for you. Studying the Bible for yourself is how your faith will grow. Our Ultimate Goal: To possess, to take hold of and have a firm foundation that is strong, true, and able to withstand the attacks of the enemy and to discern that which is false. How? By self-examination, prayer, watchfulness, and diligent study of God’s Word. The great news is that God designed things so that you don’t have to live in deception and sin forever. He provided His Truth, His Word to lead and guide us through life here on earth. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/deanna-fullerton/message