- araratchurch
- Feb 6, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 8, 2024
”For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.“
II Corinthians 11:13-15 NKJV
As I began sharing my spiritual journey with you, I mentioned that the Lord spoke to me through two corresponding “tracks” of visions. One set of the visions were dreaming visions, experienced while I was asleep. The other track consisted of waking visions during which I was awake, but had my eyes closed.
Today we turn to the track of waking visions. The first spiritual entity who appeared to me, appeared as a “Christ-like” image. He was standing with his arms out, and was being illuminated, seemingly from behind, so that I saw the outline of his body. The only part of this entity not illuminated, was his feet.
This entity of “light” appeared early on in the spiritual journey. Physically, this was at my lowest point. He spoke to me, saying, “You have a mortal wound.” My first reaction was just an inner kind of, “Oh….” But, before I could finish what was probably going to be, “Oh no,” it was like something rose up in me, and I began to speak directly to Jesus (I did not see Jesus but spoke in faith that He was with me). I said, “Jesus, you never failed to heal anyone who came to you for healing, believing in Your power to do so. You would never have turned them away, pronouncing them to have a mortal wound. As a matter fact, the only people referenced in your Word as having mortal wounds, are those who will not turn to You to be healed.”
At this point, my focus turned back to this imposter, and I said, “You are not from the Lord; get out of here!” The imposter immediately disappeared.
Upon reflection as to why this entity was the first one to present itself before me, I came to realize that this statement was meant to inspire fear in my heart. You see, fear gives access to the enemy; if you are fearful, you are more likely to fall for his deceit, more likely to despair.
Think of it: If I had accepted what the imposter was saying, I might well have brought a self-fulfilling prophecy by accepting that I would die. As well, someone in a similar circumstance, hearing such a pronouncement, might—as mentioned earlier—allow panic to cause them to accept “help” from the deceiver.
Friend, we must know God’s Word. We must be led by His Holy Spirit. As well, we must remember that the kingdom of darkness offers no truth, no remedy, only lies.
”Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.“
John 8:43-44 NKJV
Yes, these lies are meant to render individuals vulnerable to the devil’s forays to steal, kill, and destroy.
As our opening scripture warns, Satan often comes as an illuminator. But, there is no truth in him, only death and destruction.
We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Feb 5, 2024
- 3 min read
This week we will continue looking into the spiritual journey I recently experienced during a severe illness. In preparation for our discussion over the coming days please carefully read and meditate on these passages of scripture:
”For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.“
II Corinthians 11:13-15 NKJV
”I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.“
Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV
”Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.“
John 8:43-44 NKJV
”Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.“
Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV
”“And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.“
Daniel 8:23-25 NKJV
Last time we looked at the underbelly of the world system/kingdom of darkness and the deceit that is central to its recruitment.
Lord willing, this week we will begin a look into some of the “help” offered me during my spiritual journey as we also continue to consider the “destinations” along the way.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Feb 4, 2024
- 4 min read
”And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.“
Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV
As I shared with you, the Lord ushered me through a spiritual journey using sleeping visions, as well as waking visions.
The first destination of the sleeping visions was an old, dilapidated arcade. As I walked through the arcade, I seemed to be alone. The only other person I saw there was someone who I know to be a deceiver. How do I know they’re a deceiver? Because they brag about it. And of course, this individual looked nothing like any way I have ever seen them look. However, that particular individual was not the focus of the arcade, but rather a representation of those who “run” this arcade: those who are themselves deceived, and work to deceive others.
You see, this arcade represents how the enemy sucks people into his realm of control. As with the old-school arcades seen at different fairs, etc., people are lured into playing games or doing challenges, they have very little chance of winning. Now, the challenges look easy enough, but are rigged against you. But, people will throw away great amounts of money, trying to win some cheap prize that might impress a girlfriend, or make them look “cool” as they walk around the arcade. Even on the rare occasion when the victim “wins,” what they receive is nothing compared to the money they probably spent to get it.
”For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”“
Mark 8:36-38 NKJV
Walking through the arcade in the dreaming vision was like walking through a place that is completely and totally corrupt, and nothing is as it appears. For example, as I walked in part of the arcade, I looked down an alley and saw a baby with big blue eyes looking at me, seeming to need help. However, as I began to approach the baby, I saw it from a different angle and saw that it was actually a robot. Indeed, this “baby” was meant to lure people into a place where they could be waylaid.
So, why did the Lord begin the series of sleeping visions with an arcade? Because it illustrates the main mechanism supporting the work of the enemy: deceit. Yes, the devil has been collecting souls through deceit since The Fall right up to this very day.
Paul, exhorting Timothy, reminded him that those who do good will be persecuted while imposters continue to be deceived and to deceive.
”Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.“
II Timothy 3:12-13 NKJV
Sadly, the deceit of the “arcade” continues to lead weak souls astray. You see, through deceit, souls are enticed away from the safety of the word of God, into the very den of Satan: the world system. Yes, Satan uses people and circumstances to set traps, deceitful traps, that somehow hook victims so they may be taken captive.
Paul also warned Timothy concerning the snare used by the devil to bring souls into submission to his will.
”And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.“
II Timothy 2:24-26 NKJV
We know that the person we reference as the Antichrist will work through the power of deceit to cause people to think that he is a savior, when in fact, he is the father of all evil.
”The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.“
II Thessalonians 2:9-12 NKJV
We see in this scripture what might seem enigmatic in that it says that God sends a strong delusion. One might be confused, wondering how people can be held responsible for believing a delusion that God has allowed. But, what happens in these circumstances, is that people who have turned from God‘s word, and are walking in disobedience, after having repeatedly resisted God’s voice, are turned over to the very thing, the deceit, to which they have stubbornly clung.
In our opening scripture, the final showdown with Satan is being described, and we see that he is referenced as the one who “deceives the whole world.”
Since The Fall of man, we have been led astray by the ongoing deceit of the enemy of our soul. Yet, God repeatedly, over millennia, reached out with His truth, and has been often rejected. Ultimately, God sent His Son to die for us so that we might be redeemed and connected back to His never-ending life. Now we can receive the Holy Spirit, through Whom we can be set free from the devil’s deceit. Tragically, even many who claim to be Christians, continue choosing deceit over the truth that only the Lord can bring.
We’ll continue on in this journey
next time.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!