ARE YOU BEING DECEIVED? by Pastor Paul M Hanssen

ARE YOU BEING DECEIVED? By Pastor Paul M Hanssen

Deception is the end-time weapon of demonic forces that are working in the world today. Very few ever want to admit that they have been deceived, and nobody ever thinks that they will ever be deceived. For some reason, we all believe that others have been, and can be deceived, but we ourselves are immune to such a thing ever happening to us.

No one is deceived about something that they have no interest in or that does not touch their lives in a personal way. For example, a person who never eats meat cannot be deceived into believing that the meat in the store is 100% organic, because they never buy meat neither do they have any interest in meat. Likewise, a person who is not interested in politics cannot be deceived by a politician. Deception only works when it is used in an area of interest by the one being deceived.

We are in the middle of a global pandemic. There are a multitude of conspiracy theories that are floating around about the origins, reason, and purpose of this crisis. There are seemingly unending ideas, thoughts, lies, suggestions, and plots that are being pumped out to the public through news outlets and social media. The danger that we face in all of this “information” is deception. The crisis itself is not going lead anyone astray. But the theories, conspiracies, and lies that are being told concerning the crisis are fabricated for the very purpose of deception.

The conspiracy and/or lie that ends up deceiving you will depend greatly on your own interests. If your interest is the environment, then you will be caught up in the theories that feed into that. If your interest is a self-righteous attitude towards certain classes of sin, then the theories that feed into that will be what deceives you. If your interest is politics and your political association, then you will be led like a lamb to the slaughter into the deceiving theories that feed in that. If your interest is Bible prophecy, then you can be led into deception concerning even that. What is your interest? It is within the areas of your interests that you need to be on high alert because that’s where the demonic powers of this world will work the hardest to deceive you.

People who don’t care about a particular cause or affiliation cannot be deceived into believing the lies that are pumped out concerning that cause because it’s of no value to them. We all need to be on high alert particularly in the area of those things that are of most interest to us. Be awake as to what you embrace as truth because so much that is presented on the stage of information is fabricated for the purpose of leading people astray and deceiving.

In this day of modern technology, information, theories, and plots are available at everyone’s fingertips. I personally believe that it will be through the means of social media and online platforms that the spirit of deception is going to work and find a way into people’s hearts. This is not the only way that deception will work, but it is certainly one of the primary ways. What do you look for online? Most people only look for whatever interests them. In the comfort of our own homes, when our guard is down and we are relaxed, and open in our souls and spirits, this demonic spirit that is running rampant in the world will grab you. It will grab you in an area that means something to you; an area that interests you; and in an area that has your sentiment.

To my horror and dismay, I am watching God’s people being drawn into deception through the global crisis that we are all facing. The very thing that God has sent (yes, God, not the Democrats, not China, not some crooked affiliation, but God) onto this earth to shake and awaken people, is now being turned into a political battle. If the spirit of deception can get you to turn your attention to some conspiracy theory, rather than onto the Author (God) of the crisis, then the mission of the deception has been accomplished.

I see God’s people bowing to all manner of theories, but very few are bowing to God. You see, if we can place the blame on someone; if we can blame a political party; if we can blame another country, then we can relieve ourselves from the responsibility of bowing in brokenness and repentance before God. Rather than bowing before the Author, we rise in defiance and anger toward the creature. Hence, missing the whole point for the plague. In this case, then deception has won.

Please, saints of God, turn your attention away from the garbage that is being posted all over social media, and turn your ears to the heartbeat of God. Are we truly going to believe that this pandemic was created by your political opponents? And how self-centered can we be to believe that the God of all heaven and earth, the supreme ruler who governs the universe, would allow such a shaking to take place in almost all nations of the earth for the sake of “your personal interest”.

Don’t be deceived! Humble the hearing of your ears to the voice of the Spirit. What is God saying? Who cares what the conspiracy theorists are saying? When you start to care more about theories and care more about your personal interests rather than the Word of God, you have opened up yourself to being deceived.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Truth, and the love for Truth is what will overcome deception. This is not talking about truth verses lies found in politics, discussions, etc. Natural truth does not kill and overcome the spirit of deception. Deception is indeed a spirit and can only be overcome by the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

Listen carefully to His voice. He that has an ear to hear let Him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches! What is He saying? Not what is the media or the theorists saying. What is God saying? Do you know?