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Ephesians 4:14 That we be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness which has a view to the systematizing of error.
This “sleight of men” is the word for “dice” and carries with it the connotation of those dice being loaded, meaning the unsuspecting player can never win the game, can never come out ahead. In movies we see it all the time. A villainous character says things in a certain way so as to mislead the hero into misinterpreting situations and events, with the result that he/she heads off in the wrong direction or otherwise make stupid decisions. And the whole time we, the viewers, are screaming, “Don’t listen to him! He’s a villain!”
Why oh why don’t our heroes consider the source and simply reject anything the villain has to say? In our very real lives, why don’t we? Why do we accept any crappy thought or feeling which comes into our minds, no matter the terrible direction it wants to take us, and which always makes any and every situation worse?
“Cunning craftiness” is a single Greek word, panourgia. I’d like to translate it “dastardliness,” because this sneakiness never has your best interest in mind, and always delights in your suffering and loss. This craftiness is a slick salesman, getting you to accept an innocuous lie as true, upon which is based an entire set of beliefs and logic which can then be built.
These are the methods of the evil one, the devil, the enemy of our life. Until you understand that you have a very intentional enemy who uses misdirection, craftiness and deceit to get you to play his loaded dice game, you will be taken by him at his will.
Why is it so hard to accept the evilness of our enemy? Because we’ve been raised to think that everyone is inherently, basically good; that if anyone treats us poorly, it’s our own fault; that if we live good lives, have good intentions, then others will treat us well. Not so.
John 10:10a (Jesus speaking)… The thief comes not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy…
This means the devil never ever comes to truly help us out. This means that every single thing he offers will make us worse off. This means that absolutely nothing he has to say can benefit us in the least. Please believe it. You have an enemy.
Now back to these systems of error. In a system of error, all logic is true, except for the basic premise. Satan only has to convince us that the first lie is true, and then all the rest of the lies are no longer lies; they are true within the system of error. For example:
Religion. How we ought to live and to please God. First lie. That we’re not pleasing to God. (I’m talking about those who have believed unto Jesus Christ). And upon this lie religions and denominations and sects are built. We want to argue about how to please God. We’re concerned with how to please God. We need to convince others how to please God. And we place that responsibility in the hands of others, and we do it the way others have done it, and we give everything we do spiritual names (ie: it’s not “singing,” it’s “worship”).
The truth is that in Christ we are beloved of God, well pleasing in His sight, apart from any behavior or action on our part. Christ is our righteousness before God, and the fullness of God’s love pours out of His heart and into ours in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Where is it written that we ought to go to church every Sunday?
Where is it written that we ought to belong to an organized church or denomination?
Where is it written that our spiritual lives ought to be led or directed by men who have degrees from seminaries?
Where is it written that pleasing such a man is the same as pleasing God?
Nowhere!
Where do we get our ideas concerning how we should serve God?
Where do we get our ideas of what God wants from us?
Where do we get our ideas of how we can grow closer to God?
If you’re hungry for truth, you won’t be afraid of the above questions. In fact, you’ll delight in the truth which answers these questions.
Politics. How to rightly govern. First lie. That man himself can rightly govern others. So we (here in the USA) have a 2 party system, and we find ourselves arguing about which of the two is the best candidate, and which policy positions are right, and we keep doing so, even when government keeps getting worse… and it’s always, always the other side which is at fault.
The truth is that no one is right, no not one. Only Jesus Christ.
Love. How to be filled to overflowing with worth as an individual. First lie – that this fullness somehow can happen in the feelings of/for another… that you just haven’t found the right one yet! Just keep trying, learn all the steps to how to be a better boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife, mother or father. Success and fulfillment is yours, just out there, just out of reach.
The truth is that only Christ, the power of God, can fill you, can make you whole, can give your life real value.
Homosexual marriage. Think of all the reasons why it’s harmless, and why homosexuals should have the right to marry whomever they love. It is very difficult to argue against the logic. I mean, I want people to be happy, don’t you?
What was the first lie that was accepted, which then allowed this systematizing of sexual perversion to gain the high legal ground? That one has no choice. First lie. You were born that way. And upon that lie, which gained widespread acceptance as truth (the Psychiatry Association of America changed the definition of homosexuality, and later, transgenderism from being a disorder to being normal), all the rest of this error is being built.
And this system of sexually perverse error is still growing and expanding. Now it’s transgender rights (it didn’t take long, did it? Once the basic lie is established, that one is born that way, our earthly logic just keeps carrying it a step further). If you’re born that way, you can’t be held responsible, can you? And don’t think it won’t get worse. It’ll get a lot worse!
The above being said, Satan is the god of sin and darkness, and people are the ones being afflicted, who suffer at his hands. It is easy to love someone who suffers from a homosexual spirit or spirit of transgender confusion, once you have discerned the spirit.
Family. The first lie. Family first. Children first. Never argue in front of your children. Never spank your children. It’s all about the children. So what do we have? A nation of brats, and, when they’ve aged, delinquents, and then, criminals. I know so many people who have been moved away from their faith by this erroneous belief. Headaches, heartaches, people driving right into the storm due to the system of error built on these lies. Certain members of their family may be spiritually toxic, yet believers continue to spend quality time with them and get affected by the evil influences coming out of their hearts.
The truth is, rather, God first. Period. Not husband, not wife, not child, not parent. God. And Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God.
Romans 14:23b … for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
To error there is no end. That which promises benefit, yet yields only emptiness and death is standing in line to fill your ears and your hearts with that which cannot fill you or make you whole.
Question everything. Why do you believe what you believe? Where did you get each and every belief you have in your heart? I remember asking a religious man why he thought we should go to church every Sunday, and I remember he just looked at me in amazement as he stuttered, “Because, because, because you just ought to go!” Well, if you are content with the emptiness of heart and spiritual dead ends offered by the erroneous systems you have up until now accepted as true, then don’t question everything. But if you believe there can be more to life and to your understanding of God, question everything.
Seek your answers in the Bible and the spirit of Christ. Allow them to direct your heart, answer your questions, fill your soul, protect your mind and give your life real, lasting value.
While on this journey into Christ, don’t expect others to pat you on the back and cheer you on along the way. Your journey is going to be unique and exciting and fulfilling… to you! Let God Himself be your cheerleader!
I Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon…)
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema… what is revealed to you) of God.
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Other related studies:
The True Purpose of Christ’s Ministers ….. Ephesians 4:11-24
Family – a Biblical Perspective
The 2 Systems of God
What or Who is antichrist?
