Since the apostle Paul mentioned to the apostle Timothy that in the last days some will fall apart from the faith because they give themselves over to seducing spirits and devilish teachings (cf. 1 Timothy 4:1-2), I would like to address the topic of deception in order to sensibilize us as God's people to deal wisely with deception when we encounter it.
1 Timothy 4:1-2:
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
The Sign of ‘Deception’
1 Timothy 4:1-2 clearly speaks of believers who fall apart from their faith in Jesus Christ by being deceived by others whom they look up to.
Jesus Christ spoke of the fact that the last days will be characterized by an increase in deception on earth, which becomes clear from His first statement when the disciples asked what the sign of His coming and the end of the world would be (cf. Matthew 24:3-5).
Matthew 24:3-5:
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’
4 Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no-one deceives you.
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many.
As a believing people in this time, we must be prepared for the fact that people like the sorcerer Simon in Acts 8 can appear in our environment, who claim to have the power of God and through their ‘magic’, which has its seat in the fallen light of Satan (cf. Luke 10:18 i.c.w. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4.13-15), can deceive believers in Jesus Christ through a false gospel with the aim of leading them into bitterness, so that the love in their hearts grows cold and they turn away from Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 8:9-11; Luke 10:18; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 i.c.w. Matthew 24:11-12).
Acts 8:9-11:
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practised sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, ‘This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.’
11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.
Luke 10:18:
18 He [Note: Jesus Christ] replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4.13-15:
3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the snake’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. …
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Matthew 24:11-12:
… 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, …
Testing of Spirits
Because of this deceptive influence, it is imperative that we test the spirits to see if they are from God, where the gift of discerning of spirits is necessary or we work with those who move in this anointing (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:10-11 i.c.w. 1 John 4:1).
1 Corinthians 12:10-11:
… 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
1 John 4:1:
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
The Approach of Deceivers and the Reason Why They Deceive
The approach of deceivers in our time can be that they distort the face of God (Note: false relationship with God) and the structural order (Note: false righteousness) of His apostolic house through deception because they are driven by fear of losing their influence or reputation by the old serpent, who is the devil, like King Jeroboam (cf. 1 Kings 12:25-33).
This fear drives the so-called deceivers because they have been wounded in their souls in the past by adverse experiences and by people who have not allowed them to be healed by Jesus Christ in their lives, so that as a result they are driven by the wind (Note: spirit) of fear of hurt and disregard/rejection to seek approval from people through deception. They are not able to be filled with the love of the Heavenly Father.
The deceivers are not aware that God, the Heavenly Father, loves them because of who they are and not because they have to achieve something before Him in order to be recognized (cf. Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10 i.c.w. John 3:16).
Romans 5:8:
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:10:
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
John 3:16:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Great Craftiness and Seduction
It is no coincidence that the fall of Adam and Eve was closely linked to the seduction by the ‘great craftiness’ that resulted in the curse for the serpent, which is why seduction always results in a curse (cf. Genesis 3:1.14 i.c.w. Acts 8:20; Galatians 1:6-9).
Genesis 3:1.14:
1 Now the snake was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ …
14 So the Lord God said to the snake, ‘Because you have done this, ‘Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. …’
Acts 8:20:
20 Peter answered: ‘May your [Note: to Simon the sorcerer] money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
Galatians 1:6-9:
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
The ‘great deception’ spoken of in Genesis 3:1 is intended to lead to exposure, to cause shame in the soul of the believer so that he removes himself from relationship with God and creates for himself an apparent covering that comes from his own works but cannot conceal the ‘nakedness of the great deception’ from the eyes of God.
Deception can only take hold where our hearts are not fully in intimacy with Jesus Christ and the Father in faith.
It is the Holy Spirit who helps us to be in a true relationship with God.
Apostolic Alignment Minimizes the Spread of Deception!
Deception can spread, for example, when believers and also leaders in the body of Christ aren’t in an apostolic alignment and not under a higher, spiritual authority anywhere.
Apostolic alignment is inextricably linked to the Kingdom authority of God because the King reigns from His throne and the word ‘throne’ (Note: ‘kiśśē'’) in Hebrew is closely related to the word ‘covering’ (Note: ‘kāśāh’).
Even the Heavenly Father has chosen to sit covered on His throne under a rainbow that shines in a living green (cf. Revelation 4:2-3).
Revelation 4:2-3:
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
If God has woven this covering principle into His throne room, then it is all the more necessary for us to serve in this structure.
The believers from the community of Chloë should serve as another example for us, who worked out of the apostolic alignment by drawing Paul’s attention as their apostle to the grievance of division among the saints in Corinth, so that he addressed them publicly in order to maintain or further develop the healthy state of the ecclesia (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10-12).
1 Corinthians 1:10-12:
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
12 What I mean is this: one of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’
Jesus Christ and the Apostolic Covering
Jesus also moved under such a kind of covering in that He stood under the higher authority of His Heavenly Father, who sent Him out and clearly confirmed Him in His calling.
Jesus wasn’t concerned here with His personal reputation, but with the reputation of His Father (cf. Luke 3:21-22 i.c.w. John 7:16-18).
Luke 3:21-22:
21 When all the people were being baptised, Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’
John 7:16-18:
16 Jesus answered, ‘My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.
17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. …’
When we as God’s people serve people in different ways (Note: in God’s house or in our workplace), we should always make sure that the Heavenly Father is glorified and never allow people to lift us up in unhealthy ways (cf. Ephesians 6:5-7).
Ephesians 6:5-7:
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6 Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, …
The Humble Heart
In order to avoid false worship by people, a humble heart of the believer is required, just as Jesus had.
A humble heart is the attitude of a person who has bowed under the strong hand of God and His guidance. Such a person will recognize the right thing and the right people at the right time and will not allow himself to be bent by the manipulative interventions of people, even if they appear to respect him.
Jesus knew exactly the right time when people were allowed to worship Him on earth.
In John 6:13-15 we can read about a wrong approach to worship after Jesus multiplied the fish and the loaves.
At this event, the people recognized Jesus as ‘THE PROPHET’ and saw in Him ‘the means to their end’. They wanted to bring Jesus to honor for themselves and their own purposes, but He didn't allow them to do so (cf. John 6:13-15).
John 6:13-15:
13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’
15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
The Greek word used for ‘seize’ in the above-mentioned biblical passage is ‘harpạzō’, from which the English word for ‘harpoon’ is also derived.
A harpoon is a throwing spear with barbs that is used in fishing and pulls the prey it hits towards itself to drag it from freedom into captivity or death.
The best example of this is in whaling, where the spear is equipped with a rope and is used to tire out the whale to ultimately slaughter it.
To relate this explanation to the Bible passage from John 6:15, Jesus correctly recognized the attitude of the people's hearts and the time and therefore decided to withdraw from the people who only wanted to misuse His name and person for their own glory.
The Time When the Sum of All Things Comes to Light
We are in the time in which the sum of all things comes to light, which means the harvest time, where the tares and the wheat, according to Jesus' parable in relation to the kingdom of heaven, stand side by side in the field in their full maturity, so that the different destinations (Note: fire => tares and barn => wheat) of the ‘substances’ are revealed (cf. Matthew 13:24-30).
Matthew 13:24-30:
24 Jesus told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26 When the wheat sprouted and formed ears, then the weeds also appeared.
27 ‘The owner’s servants came to him and said, “Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?”
28 ‘ “An enemy did this,” he replied. ‘The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?”
29 ‘ “No,” he answered, “because while you are pulling up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: first collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.” ’
Deception Points to a New Beginning!
Since, according to Romans 8:28, all things must serve us as saints for the best, when we encounter deception, we should also consider it from the promise of the letter to the Romans.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Simon the Deceiver
When the sorcerer Simon was up to mischief in the city of Samaria, he was later ‘startled’ inwardly by the signs and wonders that followed by the evangelist Philip, so that he was baptized. Despite being baptized, Simon's heart was bound to mammon, which is the root of all evil (cf. 1 Timothy 6:10), which was later addressed by the apostle Peter, who called him a man of bitter gall (cf. Acts 8:9-13.18-23).
Acts 8:9-13.18-23:
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practised sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, ‘This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.’
11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.
12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.
13 Simon himself believed and was baptised. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. …
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’
20 Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.’
The Gall
In order to recognize what serves us best according to Romans 8:28 from the above-mentioned biblical passage, I would like to point out the word ‘gall’.
The Greek word for ‘gall’ is ‘cholē’ and also means ‘young green’.
The Hebrew word for ‘gall’ in the form of ‘poison’ is, among other things, ‘ro'sh’ and also means ‘beginning, start, head, highest, front, sum’.
Likewise, before He died, Jesus Christ took gall to Himself as a sign that the old time and His mission had come to an end to usher in the beginning of His bride’s time on earth (cf. Psalm 69:21 i.c.w. Matthew 27:34; John 19:29-30).
Psalm 69:21:
21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
Matthew 27:34:
34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.
John 19:29-30:
29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
This means to me, in connection with Simon the sorcerer and the victorious death of Jesus Christ on the cross, that deception and a false greatness have been removed to point to the true head (Note: Jesus Christ) and the new beginning of resurrection power!
When we encounter the poison of the enemy in the form of deception, we can be sure that the poison will be bound by the true light so that the true growth in Jesus Christ is clearly seen (cf. 2 Kings 4:39-41).
2 Kings 4:39-41:
39 One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild gourd plant and picked as many of its gourds as his garment could hold. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no-one knew what they were.
40 The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, ‘Man of God, there is death in the pot!’ And they could not eat it.
41 Elisha said, ‘Get some flour.’ He put it into the pot and said, ‘Serve it to the people to eat.’ And there was nothing harmful in the pot.
If we respond to poison/deception in this way, like the prophet Elisha, there will be no falling away from the faith.
The measure of humility and trust in the LORD and His Word leads to the righteous governing authority of Jesus Christ being even more recognizable and tangible in our lives.
In this way, through the eternal light (Note: Jesus Christ; cf. Genesis 1:3-5 i.c.w. John 1:1-5; John 8:12; John 12:46) leads to a separation between light and darkness.
Genesis 1:3-5:
3 And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.
4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light ‘day’, and the darkness he called ‘night’. And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day.
John 1:1-5:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 8:12:
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
John 12:46:
46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no-one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
