God’s Word always accomplishes something in us, through us, and for us. What it accomplishes depends largely on how we respond, whether we reject it or receive it. What happens when we reject it?
Rejecting God’s Word Leads To Self-Deception.
Every time we reject truth, we open ourselves up to believe a lie. If I don’t believe that 2+2=4, I’m going to believe it equals something. If there’s no one else around to supply an answer, I’ll make up my own. It’s the same with spiritual truth. If I don’t receive the truth, then I’ll end up embracing a lie and often it’ll be a lie that I tell myself.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only,deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (NKJV)
One of the reasons I think this verse is so important is that it explicitly states the importance of putting God’s Word into practice. We deceive ourselves when we hear without heeding. When we hear without heeding we make up excuses as to why this doesn’t apply to us, why we don’t have to do whatever it is Scripture says, only we don’t call them excuses we call them reasons. We develop a set of reasons to explain why we don’t have to do what Scripture says we’re supposed to do. These reasons are developed to convince people that our action, inaction or belief is right. The first person we want to convince is ourselves, and then others. Rejecting God’s Word leads to self deception.
Rejecting God’s Word Opens Me Up To Demonic Deception.
As I said, we open ourselves up to a lie when we reject the truth. If we don’t supply that lie ourselves, our enemy the liar, and deceiver (John 8:44, Rev 12:9) will be more than happy to supply one. Scripture warns us about this.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,” 1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)
Two important truths in this passage. First notice that they depart from the faith. So this isn’t just speaking about people involved in crazy cults. These are church folks that Paul is talking about. Second, notice where the false beliefs they have come from. They come from deceiving spirits teaching doctrines of demons. Why do they believe the deceiving spirits about the doctrines of demons?
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (NKJV)
Since they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved, they are open to satanic deception. I think this gives us some insight into why some people are deceived and led astray today. Chances are we all know folks who have some beliefs that, to put it nicely,
are as goofy as the day is long. When you hear them explain what they believe it’s like you
are hearing something that came from Bizzaro World. How could they believe stuff that is so clearly wrong? It’s because they rejected Jesus and the Gospel. By rejecting the truth they opened themselves up to satanic deception. It’s important how we hear and respond isn’t it?
Is there an area of your life where you are resisting and rejecting God’s Word? If so, what do you need to do about that?
This post was written by Rev Ross. You can find his blog here: stacyjross.wordpress.com
Rejecting God’s Word Leads To Self-Deception.
Every time we reject truth, we open ourselves up to believe a lie. If I don’t believe that 2+2=4, I’m going to believe it equals something. If there’s no one else around to supply an answer, I’ll make up my own. It’s the same with spiritual truth. If I don’t receive the truth, then I’ll end up embracing a lie and often it’ll be a lie that I tell myself.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only,deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (NKJV)
One of the reasons I think this verse is so important is that it explicitly states the importance of putting God’s Word into practice. We deceive ourselves when we hear without heeding. When we hear without heeding we make up excuses as to why this doesn’t apply to us, why we don’t have to do whatever it is Scripture says, only we don’t call them excuses we call them reasons. We develop a set of reasons to explain why we don’t have to do what Scripture says we’re supposed to do. These reasons are developed to convince people that our action, inaction or belief is right. The first person we want to convince is ourselves, and then others. Rejecting God’s Word leads to self deception.
Rejecting God’s Word Opens Me Up To Demonic Deception.
As I said, we open ourselves up to a lie when we reject the truth. If we don’t supply that lie ourselves, our enemy the liar, and deceiver (John 8:44, Rev 12:9) will be more than happy to supply one. Scripture warns us about this.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,” 1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)
Two important truths in this passage. First notice that they depart from the faith. So this isn’t just speaking about people involved in crazy cults. These are church folks that Paul is talking about. Second, notice where the false beliefs they have come from. They come from deceiving spirits teaching doctrines of demons. Why do they believe the deceiving spirits about the doctrines of demons?
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (NKJV)
Since they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved, they are open to satanic deception. I think this gives us some insight into why some people are deceived and led astray today. Chances are we all know folks who have some beliefs that, to put it nicely,
are as goofy as the day is long. When you hear them explain what they believe it’s like you
are hearing something that came from Bizzaro World. How could they believe stuff that is so clearly wrong? It’s because they rejected Jesus and the Gospel. By rejecting the truth they opened themselves up to satanic deception. It’s important how we hear and respond isn’t it?
Is there an area of your life where you are resisting and rejecting God’s Word? If so, what do you need to do about that?
This post was written by Rev Ross. You can find his blog here: stacyjross.wordpress.com
