I will tell you without hesitation that I am a gullible soul. I love people. In general most all people. But there are some people that I struggle to love. I love them in Christ; meaning I want to see them saved. But I won’t tell you that I have a love for them in the flesh. I have to talk to Jesus first, and then I can love them.
And there are some people that God’s guidance is needed for discernment in what my attitude and action should be. Not that He would ever tell me not to love someone, but God has zero tolerance for evil and He expect the same from His children.
Today I found myself unaware that evil had been lurking around me and I had been rubbing elbows with it. Not as friends, but as acquaintances. This person gave the impression that they were a believer, and I assumed a believer of Christ. Because that’s where my mind goes when someone says believer. Even though I cannot honestly say this person uttered those words. It was again, an assumption on my part. When I discovered today through another friend that this person in question was involved in actual witchcraft and demonic forces, I was physically sick.
But this is when the flesh kicked into high gear and I had to have a little talk with Jesus. I had to remind myself that pre salvation I wouldn’t have given the antics of this person a second thought. But now, with the Spirit of God dwelling within me, I see the evil for what it is.
I had initially planned on writing today about the “spirit and power of confession.” Confession is good for the soul. It’s a very humbling experience to let someone know that you’ve failed. It’s also good for a new Christian to understand that getting saved doesn’t make you a perfect person, it makes you a forgiven person and one that should feel guilt in knowing they’ve offended God with their sin. The same Spirit that convicts my soul of sin, impresses upon my heart, provides me spiritual discernment when something around me is wrong. And there had been warnings on this person that I chose to ignore.
For Truth’s Sake
2 John 1:1-13 KJV
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; [2] For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. [3] Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. [4] I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
John’s letter to this elect lady, who was a believer as well as her children, gives mention of truth three times in the first sentence. It’s an important factor in the life of a child of God that you know the truth of the Gospel and will have the tri-fold blessing of grace, mercy and peace. Without knowing the truth none of those will be present in your life. But even with the presence of Jesus Christ in your life, like myself, it doesn’t preven you from being deceived if you’re not on guard.
For Deceptions Signal
[5] And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. [6] And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. [7] For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Antichrist. That’s a pretty harsh title. It’s not speaking of “the Antichrist” which is to come in end times. But the presence of someone or something that is against Christ. The person for which I speak, on the surface, appears to be someone of “decent” moral fibers. I couldn’t even write that without nausea in knowing that by saying decent, I mean, I don’t believe this person would should you in the back. I even have to remind myself that this same person sold me out when I asked friends for prayer against a woman who was attacking me, and this person went and told the woman I what I had done. Yes… I’m an idiot far more often than I like to confess. But I’m glad that God made me someone who gives people the benefit of a doubt, even if it sometimes bites me in the butt.
John told the lady that we need to love people, but not to the point of deception. The Spirit of God allows us the ability to feel the presence of evil and be warned that deception lingers near. But like myself we can choose to ignore it. What then?
For Your Family’s Sake
[8] Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. [9] Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. [10] If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: [11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. [12] Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. [13] The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
John warns this lady that she should have nothing to do with a person who does not abide, meaning to dwell in, the Lord Jesus Christ. If they’re not for Him, they’re against Him. Makes good sense, right? Until you throw my upbringing into it which believes everyone has good intentions. That is far from the case. When I delved into the background of this person in question, they not only did not promote Christ, they promoted satanic belief through conjuring dead spirits and other wicked endeavors. That person was put into a short lived position of authority and access to the minds of many people. Praise God and and by His mercy it didn’t work out and access was cut off.
I said all that to say this. We have got to become more aware of the evil that abounds and the danger that lurks in our neighborhoods. Which means through person to person and media methods. While I understand that adults can be deceived, I don’t worry as much about them as do the vulnerability of our youth. These same evil spirits were around in John’s day. No doubt why he was so happy that this lady’s children also walked in the truth. We are a nation that have basically parked our kids on the porch with a handheld window to the world and no barriers from people like this accessing their minds. So before you think, “I don’t live any where close you.” You don’t have to. That is one thing that has definitely changed since John’s day. They only had to worry about the neighborhood. We have to worry about the world.
Please safeguard your mind, your home and your heart from the evils of this world. And above all stay in the word of God.