LIVING IN DECEPTION?

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8, KJV)

The Christian faith has suffered the most devastating blow in the day in which we now live in than ever in the history of mankind. Back in the days, when people sin against God, they cry out in desperation, seeking God’s face in repentance, but it is no longer so today. Instead with their eyes wide open, people deliberately commit iniquity and still feel very comfortable.

People no longer fear God; they live as though there is no God and as they please.

Sin, simply put is the violation of God’s laws while iniquity is the denial of the sovereignty of God.

Sin says “I don’t care what God says” while iniquity says “there is no God”.

Can a Christian deny the sovereignty of God? Someone may ask. Yes! By living without the fear of God. That is why some people with their eyes wide open still commit the abominable.

How do you explain an homosexual, a lesbian, a ritual killer, someone that practices bestiality and practitioners of all sort of negative vices still claim they are at peace with God?

Iniquity is on an all time high as have never been seen in the history of mankind. The most painful part of it all is that such people come to church and lift up holy hands as though all is well. Yes, God wants us to come as we are but does not want us to remain as we are. He wants to transform our lives if only we let Him. The church is meant to transform lives through the power of God. Or have you seen anyone go to the hospital and say to the doctor, I am sick but I need more sickness? No! So also is the church, it is meant to transform lives.

In Philippians 3:10, Apostle Paul desired to know God on a closer and deeper level that is why He said:

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

He was not ready to play church, rather, desired to know God more. No wonder Elijah cried in 1 Kings 18:21:

“… How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him…”

He was simply saying stop playing church! Stop pretending! Choose one path and follow it!

A story was told by a sister about how a brother who is also a worker in church advised her to get pregnant out of wedlock that she would be surprised how fast she would get married.

Another sister once went to her pastor and said “sir, if God does not give me a husband before so and so time, I will do what I like”.

What about deceptive brothers in church, who deceives gullible sisters with the promises of marriage just to defile them?

Deception of the devil!

Apostle Paul desired a sincere walk with God, not lip service or mere activities. What a shame that these days we claim we know Him yet do not want to obey His commandments!

God is more interested in our fellowship with Him than in our service for Him.

In the words of one of my brothers in the Lord, “you can miss God working for Him but you can never miss Him walking with Him.

Remember Matthew 7:22-23? These are people that worked for God but never walked with Him that is why verse 23 says our Lord will say to them:

“…depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

If you look closely at the above verse, you will see that Jesus acknowledged that they worked but their service was not acceptable because it was unto iniquity.

See Matthew 24:12:

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

This is that time! Iniquity has grown in leaps and bounds but God wants us to stand even in these terrible times that is why Ephesians 6:13-14 says:

“… having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness”

The world may call you names or say your righteousness is fanatical, but dear friend, so long as you are still standing on the Lord’s side, then it does not matter what men say.

Are you still holding on to the truth or living in deception?

Are you still standing with God or living to please your pastor and those around you?

If you have been living in deception then it is time to return to the Lord and if you are not born again, it is time to surrender to Jesus. Confess your sins and He will restore you.

Prayer point. Father, in any way I have missed it, please restore me, in Jesus Name!

It is well with you!

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