We are living in a time when domination, control, fear, deception and emotions are running high. Our desire is NOT to be deceived, whether by fear tactics, control freaks or by workers of miracles who are not followers of Jesus Christ. We are truly in a war so we need to also be wise as serpents or our voices will be removed from the public forum, as only the party platform is allowed there, and those who disagree with the “party line” vanish.
“The one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false” (2 Thess. 2:9-11, NASB1995).
How do I protect myself from receiving a deluding influence?
1. Well, obviously, I do not need to follow those who can do signs and wonders and who are not followers of Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 2:9-11 and Matt. 7:22,23). I am meek enough to look to see if they are obeying some biblical command that I’m not and if so, I will begin obeying it. However, in addition, I will fill in from Scripture any additional truths which they are not obeying. So yes, anyone can help me see insights from Scripture, which I may have missed, but the whole counsel of God as revealed in Scripture will be my foundation and ultimate guide.
2. My burning question is: “Do I have a LOVE for the TRUTH” regardless of what it will cost me—fame, money, reputation? Truth must come before these things. I must be willing to give up fame, money, reputation—everything—if declaring the truth requires this. Truth overrides these things.
3. I must carefully select who my teachers and informers of truth and reality are. Do they have proven track records? Are they here to serve me or to lord it over me? Do they drive with fear or draw with faith? I turn off the lies of the secular news media who do not know God. Their version of reality is completely wrong. Listening to news that proclaims lies defiles one’s soul and spirit with fear and untruths.
4. Since the Holy Spirit is the One who leads me into all truth (John 16:13), I always ask, “Holy Spirit, what are Your thoughts?”
5. When “scientific evidence” is being presented, I ask, “Who presented it? Who paid for the research? Was there a profit motive in it for them if they come up with a particular point of view? Was the study honest or set up in an improper way to prove their position?”
For example, many times on health websites I find the statement, “There is no evidence to support the belief that ….,” then they mention some natural health approach which they have chosen to scorn. What they hope this phrase means to the listener is, “This idea has been tested and proven to have no health benefits.” However, what their statement actually means is, “We have never taken the time to do studies on this approach to see if it is valid or not.” So if they were honest in their communication style, they would say,
Now the reason they have not done studies is that the natural health approach is not something they can patent and make money from, so they ignore it and call it quackery; or if they do perform a study, they make sure the experiment is set up improperly so it shows poor results. I have witnessed this over and over and here are some examples of this taking place. Here is another example of the fact that vitamins vary greatly in their effectiveness, so it is wise to purchase whole food, easily assimilatable vitamins so they produce health and not sickness.
When a study says it examined a particular vitamin, my question is, “Was it a food-based formation of the vitamin?” I’m sure it wasn’t because they make no distinction in their minds between whole food and synthetic vitamins. “Did they provide a sufficient amount of the vitamin to get the job done?” In the studies I’ve reviewed, they sure didn’t. “Did they combine it with the right nutrients that are necessary to make the vitamin work well?” Not in many studies I’ve evaluated. But yet they exclaim, “See it doesn’t work,” or more precisely, they say, “There is no evidence to support the belief that this health approach works.”
I am astounded at how blinded we can be to the truth. People believe what they want to believe and discard any evidence or biblical support for any position other than the one they hold. We must not allow this to happen if we want to walk in God’s truth, protection and blessings. Believing and acting on lies leads to destruction and death. Either LOVE truth more than you love your pet doctrines, or come under the spirit of deception. Understanding that people are under a spirit of deception is the only explanation I have of the behavior of certain people. They have forsaken love for the truth.
Just to let you know my stance: I have had a sign on my desk for years that says, “Don’t bother to agree with me, I’ve already changed my mind.” I believe growing involves a constant acquisition of new ideas. I shall keep changing until I live as Jesus did and all I pray for are healed. Until then, I continue to change and grow. I love growing!
The sources I trust to provide valid information include:
- My own exhaustive concordance Bible meditations in which I use e-Sword. Much of this research is available in my 60 books and my 600 blogs.
- Switch to this true, godly, inspirational newscast with outstanding new programs twice a week and amazing resource links at the bottom of their webpage, which are worth reviewing. I believe we have viewed about every broadcast they have put out since they began a year ago. It is Christian, faith-filled and fact-filled. These are all things I hunger for. This displaces some “Christian broadcasters” who are NOT faith-filled and promote fear and negativity rather than faith and hope. Choose very wisely. God rules. Satan was defeated at Calvary. The church is now doing mop-up operations as we complete the commission to disciple all nations, bringing them under the rule of Christ.
- Check out Charisma News, CBN News, The Western Journal, Lindell TV and America’s Constitutional Coach. Intercessors for America has an informative email newsletter that provides up-to-date information on current situations, which need earnest prayer. By all means, subscribe to their newsletter, and to the newsletter of America’s Frontline Doctors. Check out American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and Turning Point USA, whose purpose is to educate, train and organize students to promote freedom.
- I find answers concerning health questions by typing the name of an affliction, disease or condition into search bars at each of the following websites: Dr. Axe, Life Extension, Mercola, GreenMedInfo, Dr. Schulze. I have hundreds of blogs on health available here. We have some whole food nutrition available here and we also purchase many items from R-Garden. When I test out R-Garden’s products with my Qest4 unit, I find they are better than anything I can find anywhere so we purchase lots from R-Garden.
- Listen to thought-provoking, authoritative clips. For example, here and here.
- Acknowledge that since 1/4 of the nations in the world live longer than U.S. citizens, there is something strategically wrong with America’s health care system, since America spends more per person per year on health care than any other nation by far. Explore and learn so you can live as long as those in other nations.
- You want good mentors in each and every area of your life. Politically, spiritually, health-wise, etc. Make sure you have them! The lives you save will be yours and your loved ones. The nation you save will be yours. The believers you bring into spiritual intimacy will be your friends. YOU DO make a difference. Minister life, not death, faith not fear, hope not gloom, light not darkness!
- White paper containing many insightful links {eoa}
Mark Virkler, Ph.D., has authored more than 50 books in the areas of hearing God’s voice and spiritual growth. He is the founder of Communion With God Ministries and Christian Leadership University, where the voice of God is at the center of every learning experience. Mark has taught on developing intimacy with God and spiritual healing for 30-plus years on six continents. The message has been translated into over 40 languages and he has helped to establish more than 250 church-centered Bible schools around the world.
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