Overcoming deception

Antichrist is a deceiver. How do we overcome the deceiver? By putting to death our old nature and being filled with Christ. By denying ourselves so Christ might live in us.

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (I John 4:3,4)

Our present-day American culture is one massive lie, the lie of self-will, of humanism—man-centeredness. How can we escape from this deception? How can we overcome the great lie with Divine truth? Only by being filled with the Lord Jesus.

We cannot escape deception by any amount of Bible reading, prayer, or seeking to do God’s will, although all of these help us make a success of our discipleship. However, we can escape deception by taking up our personal cross and following the Lord. It is our cross that puts to death our old nature, the old adamic man. As the old man is put to death Christ lives in us. We must be crucified with Christ. It is only then that we can begin to perceive the truth. As long as we are alive in the old nature there is an entrance for the self-willed Satan into our personality and behavior.

Whenever we refuse to suffer under the hand of God, when we do not seek His pleasure but our own, do not seek His fulfillment but our own, we open ourselves to the deceptions that come from Satan.

Antichrist will never deny himself that Christ may be glorified. Antichrist must have his own way. Whenever we see a believer who always insists on having his own way, who is selfish, jealous, envious, spreading gossip and slander, ready to defy authority, easily offended, we know that that one is not denying himself so Christ may be glorified. He is partaking of the spirit of Antichrist.

The Christian who is not willing to deny himself, take up his cross, and follow the Master eventually becomes a member of the synagogue of Satan. Even though he may be doctrinally sound and work fervently in the things of the Gospel, Satan has an entrance into his personality. He soon will find himself hating those who truly are following the Lamb.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (Revelation 3:9)

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