Silas
Beloved of All
Your desire to be kept from deception is right and biblical, and it is good that you are asking the Father for it. Scripture warns plainly that deception will increase, that the enemy is a liar from the beginning, and that many false prophets and false teachers will arise and deceive many, even showing great signs and wonders. Jesus himself said to take heed that no one deceive you.
God has not left us without help. You named the very means he uses to guard his people, and his Word confirms them. He sanctifies us in his truth, and his Word is truth. As we abide in what we have heard from the beginning, we continue in the Son and in the Father. Hiding his Word in our hearts keeps us from sin. Prayer keeps us from entering into temptation and asks the Father to keep us from the evil one. Faithful preaching and teaching unfold the Word clearly, fellowship tests the spirits and keeps us walking in the light with no hidden sin, and praise and thanksgiving with worship keep our hearts centered on him. It is a path of increasing clarity, like light that grows brighter.
It helps to remember how deception works. A false prophet does not come wearing a sign. He comes in sheep's clothing and looks like a sheep. If he spoke only falsehood no one would listen, so most of what he says is true, and that is what makes the error so dangerous. For that reason we must learn to judge. The early believers were given simple and practical tests. If what a person prophesies in the name of the Lord does not come to pass, he is not to be trusted. If through deceptive words he tries to make merchandise of people and live off them for gain, that is a mark of a false teacher. If he denies the essential truth that Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh, the Lord who bought us, he is a deceiver. And if he comforts people in their sin, promising peace when there is no peace and keeping them from repentance, he is keeping them from the only hope of salvation, which is faith in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all sin.
In contrast, the true and living God is not a burden to his people. False gods and false systems become heavy and wear people out, but the Lord declares the end from the beginning and brings his counsel to pass. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion and perfect that which concerns you. He has sent his light and truth to lead you, and has revealed Christ so that you can understand and believe. Being his child does not mean you will be spared all trials. The fiery trial is not strange, but he uses even trials to make you more like Jesus, which is the great goal of our journey to his holy hill.
The evidence that we have passed from death to life is love for the brethren. The commandment we have had from the beginning is that we love one another. There is no greater joy than to find that we and our children and our brothers and sisters are walking in truth and have not swayed from it. That walk is a holy walk. Without holiness no one will see the Lord, and the pure in heart shall see God. That is why you are right to ask for it, for we do not have because we do not ask.
So I join you in praying for you, your family, friends, and all who fellowship with you in Christ. May the Father grant you contentment in place of greed, keep you in his Word and in prayer, make you alert and watchful, and cause his peace to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. May he keep you from sin and from the deceiver, restrain evil according to his purpose, and keep you from buying into any system that denies Christ. May he help you to fear him, to be wise and win souls, to lead many to righteousness and to teach faithfully what Jesus has commanded. May he keep you abiding in Christ, walking in the light, loving one another, and ready for the day you stand before him. Amen.
God has not left us without help. You named the very means he uses to guard his people, and his Word confirms them. He sanctifies us in his truth, and his Word is truth. As we abide in what we have heard from the beginning, we continue in the Son and in the Father. Hiding his Word in our hearts keeps us from sin. Prayer keeps us from entering into temptation and asks the Father to keep us from the evil one. Faithful preaching and teaching unfold the Word clearly, fellowship tests the spirits and keeps us walking in the light with no hidden sin, and praise and thanksgiving with worship keep our hearts centered on him. It is a path of increasing clarity, like light that grows brighter.
It helps to remember how deception works. A false prophet does not come wearing a sign. He comes in sheep's clothing and looks like a sheep. If he spoke only falsehood no one would listen, so most of what he says is true, and that is what makes the error so dangerous. For that reason we must learn to judge. The early believers were given simple and practical tests. If what a person prophesies in the name of the Lord does not come to pass, he is not to be trusted. If through deceptive words he tries to make merchandise of people and live off them for gain, that is a mark of a false teacher. If he denies the essential truth that Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh, the Lord who bought us, he is a deceiver. And if he comforts people in their sin, promising peace when there is no peace and keeping them from repentance, he is keeping them from the only hope of salvation, which is faith in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all sin.
In contrast, the true and living God is not a burden to his people. False gods and false systems become heavy and wear people out, but the Lord declares the end from the beginning and brings his counsel to pass. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion and perfect that which concerns you. He has sent his light and truth to lead you, and has revealed Christ so that you can understand and believe. Being his child does not mean you will be spared all trials. The fiery trial is not strange, but he uses even trials to make you more like Jesus, which is the great goal of our journey to his holy hill.
The evidence that we have passed from death to life is love for the brethren. The commandment we have had from the beginning is that we love one another. There is no greater joy than to find that we and our children and our brothers and sisters are walking in truth and have not swayed from it. That walk is a holy walk. Without holiness no one will see the Lord, and the pure in heart shall see God. That is why you are right to ask for it, for we do not have because we do not ask.
So I join you in praying for you, your family, friends, and all who fellowship with you in Christ. May the Father grant you contentment in place of greed, keep you in his Word and in prayer, make you alert and watchful, and cause his peace to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. May he keep you from sin and from the deceiver, restrain evil according to his purpose, and keep you from buying into any system that denies Christ. May he help you to fear him, to be wise and win souls, to lead many to righteousness and to teach faithfully what Jesus has commanded. May he keep you abiding in Christ, walking in the light, loving one another, and ready for the day you stand before him. Amen.
