God’s blessings come in humility, self-sacrifice, love, obedience, trusting faith and the fear of the Lord. Many of God’s soldiers and servants, unfortunately, have been shipwrecked or seriously wounded facing the battlefields of life inappropriately. Besides being unprepared to wage spiritual warfare, the worst thing we can do is live in deception.
RELEVANCE
We can have faith, be born again and filled with the Spirit, yet walk in deception. Here are some things to be watchful of.
- Having hidden/improper motives (Psalm 19:14; 51; Isaiah 57:15; 66:2)
- Having values incongruous with Kingdom values (Ecclesiastes; Matthew 5:3-110
- Walking in sin (1 Corinthians 6:7-11; 1 John 1:5-10)
- Embracing the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 3:18-21; Colossians 2:8-10)
- Walking in pride and self-exaltation (Proverbs 11:2; 16:18; 29:23; Galatians 6:3)
- Walking in hypocrisy (James 1:13-27)
- Sowing in and to the flesh (Galatians 6:7-10)
- Living in environments/fellowship froth in sin( 1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Timothy 3:13)
REFLECT AND RELATE
God warns us to test the spirits. Approach Him in sincerity of heart, earnestly desiring truth, willing to make adjustments, and ask Him how to test if you are walking in any falsehoods. The Lord’s grace be with you!
REFERENCES
Psalm 4:2; Isaiah 28:15; Proverbs 1:1-3:35