The Power Of God’s Ideas
But know this, that in the last days (times of stress) perilous times will come. 2 Timothy 3:1 NKJV.
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:13 NKJV.
We read that between verse 1 and verse 13, (2 Timothy 3) the Apostle Paul lists nineteen things that will characterise the last days before Jesus comes back for His Church. I’m sure when you look at that list yourself, you’ll see little difference between that and the 6.00pm news on our TV’s today.
One of the things that will be prevalent is deception. And the Easter story which we will celebrate soon is being diffused, diluted, and defuncted by the world into a commercial affair.
The Dictionary says that to be deceived is, to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. To make someone believe something that is not true. (www.merriam-webster.com).
That exact thing is happening today all over the world.
Jesus warned us in His teaching about the end times.
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24 NKJV.
The devil will try his utmost to deceive you and I and even the most secure, strong faithful Christians. You’ve probably seen some you know who have been deceived by false teaching and are now living away from Christ and His word.
When we study the deception in the woodland (garden), we notice that the devil attacks the word of God.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 NKJV.
Satan’s first attack is levelled against the Word of God. If he can get Eve confused about what God said, to doubt what God said, then his battle is partially won. From the beginning, Satan has tried to undermine God’s people by undermining God’s Word.
He can undermine just as effectively by getting us to neglect God’s Word as by getting us to doubt it.
The progress towards deception and being out of relationship with Jesus looks like this; we stop studying and meditating on God’s word under the anointing, instruction, and revelation of the Holy Spirit. We stop reading God’s word and we doubt and then neglect God’s word.
Having neglected, doubted, stopped reading, meditation and studying God’s word, we are an open target for Satan to deceive us.
The word of God in our heart, through Diligence, Daily, Delving into His Doctrine, sets up a perimeter fence, through which the devil cannot pass. It is a powerful thing, and one too many good people fail to understand just how powerful it is for their own good.
When we study the deception in the wilderness, we notice that Jesus uses the word of God in every case, to ward off the devil’s deceptive designs.
“If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:3-4 NKJV.
“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not [a]tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Matthew 4:5-7 NKJV.
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain … And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, [b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. Matthew 4:8-11 NKJV.
Notice that Jesus fended off the devil by using the word of God. That’s the power of God’s ideas.
Notice also, what was at the heart of the temptations. If You are the Son of God. (Matthew 4:3, 6).
Jesus knew who He was, but the devil challenged the identity of Jesus. He did it then and he’s doing it today. The greatest con job, the greatest theft, the greatest robbery, happening every day, is the devil’s deception and stealing people’s identity.
Discovering our identity in Christ is a massive revelation, it is so important. You are who Jesus says you are and who He made you to be. We need to know this, and we can, and we do, when we’re in relationship with He who created us, and made us. We are who He says we are.
But notice what Paul says to Timothy about what to do.
- If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 1 Timothy 4:6
- Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:13
Paul’s antidote to the poison of deception, is good doctrine. Doctrine is simply the learning, teaching, that which is taught, the body of material we learn and believe.
Good doctrine, is quite simply, good ideas. We should never underestimate the power of an idea, or doctrine, a God-idea or truth.
We are what we believe. Doctrine determines destiny. Deed follows creed.
There’s great power in the truths of God’s word (His ideas) when they’re hidden in our heart.
- Doctrine destroys — Deception.
- Doctrine displaces — Demons.
- Doctrine demolishes — Doubt.
- Doctrine develops — Defenses.
- Doctrine deepens — Dependence on Christ.
That’s what regular input of His word does. Then we can be fortified against the; has God said, did God really say that, do you really believe that, lies of the Devil.
Let’s fill our hearts with God’s word, with the doctrines of His Kingdom. Then we can dislodge and destroy deception with the ready reservoir of God’s weapons.
The greatest idea or doctrine is the reality of the Easter story. It is and was always God’s idea.
i. The Plan
God loves you, and He wants you to be with Him.
ii. The Problem
There’s our sin which blocks the way, our access to God the Father.
iii. The Provision
God sent Jesus to die for us, and pay the price of our sin, restoration.
iv. The Promise
If we repent of our sin, ask Him to forgive us, He will! He will live in us.
May we live, preach, teach, talk, and present without compromise the liberating truth of the Easter story. This a very good idea.
Image by Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay
