Deception

Deception

This is my second blog from the book ‘The Bait of Satan’ by John Bevere.

I began reading the ‘Introduction’ and wanted to share the following:

“…satan and his cohorts are not blatant as many believe.

He is subtle and delights in deception….

He can disguise himself as a messenger of light….”

 

So, how will you be able to discern?

The Father said His sheep know His voice (John 10:14-16).

How do we know His voice?

By reading His Word, knowing His ways and testing what we see and hear against God’s Word.

A few of the things I do before reading God’s Word is to ask for wisdom and revelation so I’m not reading it as a novel.

When a certain chapter, verse or even a word sticks out to me, I will dwell on it – write it down, do a word search and meditate on it day and night.

I ask God to show me if there is something I need to change, repent of or stand firm in.

With our fast-paced microwave, fast-food world we often feel we don’t have time to do this. That is a lie from satan.

 

How many of us want our prayers answered? We want things to go ‘our’ way? Then we get upset when they don’t. I know I did. I did not know I was only living a small portion of what God teaches us. I didn't have 'time' to read God's Word for myself.

I believe a lot of churches have let a lot of the world in, the fast food, microwave, and easy mentality. Let’s just give them a fast, tasty sermon and pick out only the ‘good’ things. Why have we left out the ‘If you do…then I will’, the ‘if you obey me……if you serve me…..’?

It was when I earnestly began to seek God on my own (because of some very painful things that happened in our family we left the church) that I began to see why some of my prayers were not answered, why our finances were a mess, why some of my relationships did not have peace and I could list more.

I was glossing over those very Scriptures about serving and obeying. I did not want to do the….’if you do’ part. I wanted the ‘good’ stuff because it’s all about ‘me’ right??!! I became disillusioned because my mind was messed up, clouded by fear, un-forgiveness, anger and God must not be real or He hates me syndrome.  Do you see the lie of satan? Do you see how satan gets us on self instead of God’s complete Word?

God was moving and working through this time and I’m eternally grateful for the grace He gave me, for the grace He gave my husband during this time.  God gives us a way out, it’s in His Word!

I had (still do) have the responsibility to “in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so..”  Acts 17:11

If you are in the trap, the lies of satan, freedom is in the opening of the Book and the turning of a pages. God is waiting to set you free and give you the abundant life He has promised. But we MUST know and follow the ‘if you will…..serve Me…..obey Me’.

I suggest you start in the book of John. I had trouble with my mouth so from there I went to the book of James. Ask God He will tell you what He wants you to read.

I also suggest you find a church that teaches ALL of God’s Word.

I see once again I started reading a couple pages of John Bevere’s book and gained some insight of what past I’ve left behind, what present I need to work on and what praise and thanksgiving I need to daily lift up to God!

Let’s see if I can get through the Introduction on my next blog post J

 

Find Freedom, Restoration, and Wholeness

Find Freedom, Restoration, and Wholeness

There were several things that jumped out in Chapter 4 of ‘The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children’ by Stormie Omartian.

And again I want to say, my study group and I believe this book talks to us individually as much, if not more and then we have awareness as to how we can pray for our children.

Stormie Omartian says ‘….we all have things from which we need to be set free. Our adult children are no different.’

It helps me see that as they move into the world, into their jobs, etc – they will have things they need to turn over to God (just like we do) and this is where our prayer comes in. They will be faced with wrong thoughts, temptations from images, emotions and their attitudes in different situations.  The enemy will use these things to bring condemnation to them; he will try to steal their joy. 

We need to pray that they know the freedom and forgiveness that is theirs in the Lord

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. II Corinthians 3:17

So pray for your children to desire the presence of the Lord  so they will have freedom.  (Strongs 1657 - Definition: freedom, liberty, especially: a state of freedom from slavery.)

There will be times when you know specifically what they need to find freedom in – be specific in your prayers. Remember, you do not have control, you are releasing this to God and that can challenge us sometimes.  ‘…the Holy Spirit will not do what someone resists him doing….’  Our children may not see it as wrong – yet. Our prayers can help them recognize their need for freedom in that area as the Lord (not us) open their hearts up to His will.

 As our children begin to see the promises of God coming alive in their lives as they begin to realize and release place they are enslaved, they will begin to seek out more and more of His presence in their lives.  And with that they will become slaves of righteousness –Romans 6:18.

In your prayer time be sure to stop and listen to the Lord to see where there is an area in your life that you need to be set free from. Our children are aware of some areas in our lives too and when they see us change and they know it’s because of our walking in the Lord’s presence, it will help them with their faith to believe He will help them too.

There was a lot in this chapter and I highly encourage you to get the book and study it for yourself or start your own Bible Study, it will change you and I believe God will honor that and you will see changes in your children as well.

I leave you with this --  Psalm 91:14-16  (my husband and I read this every night before bed)

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

I am blessed to be the mommy of Lena Sue Hammes Stephenson and Amanda Jane Hammes Tucker

I give thanks daily for these two blessings.

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