BELOVED, DO NOT BELIEVE…

Counterfeits are the bane of any good product. Many big brands invest a lot of money to bring awareness about their products, so that, people who wish to buy, would not fall prey for counterfeits. A group called “Merchant Wish” defines authentic product and counterfeit product in the following words.
– “Authentic goods are real and genuine products that are sold by brand owners, distributors, or other authorized parties.”
– “Counterfeit goods are imitations of genuine, authentic products that were manufactured without authorization from the brand owner. Visually, counterfeit goods may look almost identical to the original authentic products, but they often are made from different, low-quality materials. Counterfeit goods are unauthorized, imitation goods, which include a brand owner’s trademark(s) in an attempt to deceive consumers that they are purchasing genuine products.”

Now if this is how clever and cunning the counterfeits are in the business world, how much more cunning and clever should Satan, the fallen angel be, in deceiving the world, by producing counterfeit Christianity, that very closely resembles the original that the LORD God Almighty initiated for the redemption of the fallen world? The LORD in His wisdom had warned us absolutely clearly, and well in advance.
– “8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD.” – Jeremiah 29:8-9
– “​1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” – 1 John 4:1

Let us read some more Scriptures to help us gain insight into what our LORD had warned us about. These Bible verses should open our eyes, and help us see through the lies of Satan.

1- DECEPTIVE – WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING
– “15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” – Matthew 7:15-16

2- VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY
– “21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

3- SATAN THE MASTER OF DECEPTION AND COUNTERFEIT
– “13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

4- DECEPTIVE EXPLOITATION OF IGNORANCE AND MANIPULATIVE EXPLOITATION OF EMOTIONS
– “​1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” – 2 Peter 2:1-3

5- FALSE TEACHERS ARE COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER BY DECEIVING SPIRITS AND DEMONS
– “​1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” – 1 Timothy 4:1-2

6- BEWARE THE DECEITFUL TRADITIONS OF MEN, WHICH DO NOT FOLLOW THE BIBLE
– “8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” – Colossians 2:8

7- KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
– “21 “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” – Matthew 7:21-23

8- BE LIKE THE BEREANS
– “11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” – Acts 17:11

Unless one is careful and observant, it is not too difficult to fall for the counterfeit Christianity that Satan creates. He is a master at weaving fine web of lies, manipulations and deception, around us. The agents from the pits of hell – “…these false teachers don’t just appear out of nowhere. They’re part of an orchestrated attack by Satan on God’s people…the ultimate source of the false teaching…was “deceitful spirits” and “demons.” That’s where the false teaching was ultimately coming from…Jesus refers to Satan as the “father of lies,” so it shouldn’t be surprising that Satan will try to use lies to attack God’s people and ultimately undermine the advance of the gospel…” – Josh Tancordo

BELOVED, DO NOT BELIEVE…every spirit. Instead, let us seek the LORD, and ask Him to grant us the needed wisdom and the discernment for us to see through the lies of Satan and the false teachers. For us to be wise and discerning, we should be knowing what the written Word of God says. For us to know what the Bible says, we ought to be reading the Bible night and day. Has not the LORD commanded this a long time ago? Don’t forget to read, Joshua 1:7-8; Psalm 1:1-3; Ephesians 6;10-18. Dearly beloved, let us not believe every spirit… Even so, the LORD help us.