Combatting Deception

This is one last topical presentation before we jump back into Genesis next week.  We will be picking up beginning in Chapter 12 with the life and times of the "father of multitudes" otherwise known as Abraham.

As we grow more and more interconnected through all sorts of media, be it online social networks, cable news or talk radio, worldwide deception becomes more and more of a possibility.  Peer pressure influences what we can or can not say, for instance we live in an era where certain questions are considered off limits.  Not that the questions can’t be asked, but a person asking these questions are ridiculed, mocked and chastised into submission or exile.  Questions such as: Is Obama eligible to be President of the U.S.?, Was 9/11 an inside job? Is global warming a hoax?  If you ask these questions you are labeled a “birther” a “truther” or an “eco-terrorist”. 

Trusting the Word of God is difficult when deceptions are so prevalent.  What happened to the old adage that there is no such thing as a dumb question?  I don’t understand the latest strategy of belittling people who ask these questions other than to conceal truth; if what we are being told is true why not satisfy the curiosity of the questioner with a respectful answer?  If my children would ask me why does the sun come up every morning I wouldn’t laugh at them and make them feel inferior, I would give a respectful answer providing evidence to support that answer if needed. 

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  Matthew 24:4

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:9

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. Revelation 18:23

If we believe the Bible, it’s very clear that Satan will deceive the whole world and the merchants of the earth are tools used to deceive.  Who would fall into the category of “merchants”? Lately, I would lump bankers, corporations and politicians into this category as they constantly exploit citizens.  Jesus tells us:

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46

And in his letter to the Romans Paul writes:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

In terms of conforming to the world, how is the Church doing?  My observations indicate that the Church, or I should say Churches are not doing so good in this area.  So if the Church is conformed to this world, as I believe it is, it would imply that the Church is deceived since according to Revelation 12:9 the “whole world” is deceived. 

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders: insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24

How is it then that Jesus says that it isn’t possible for the elect to be deceived?  He says that the elect would be deceived IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, why is it not possible? 

If ye were of the world the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:19

Because the elect are not conformed to this world, they are not of this world, but chosen out of the world.  We must choose Christ over the world, when we know Him which is to know His Word, it is impossible to be deceived. 

Resisting deception is very important to Jesus.  Deception is what led us to the fallen state we are now in, and Christ came to provide us with an example of how to resist these deceptions.  A Greek word for deception is planaō, a verb used 39 times in 37 verses of the New Testament, translated in multiple ways.  It is translated as follows: deceive 24, err 6, go astray 5, seduce 2, wander 1, be out of the way 1.  Another Greek work for deception is exapataō, a verb meaning to deceive and is found in the New Testament 5 times, translated 4 times as to deceive and once as beguiled.

The one thing as Christians we need to understand is that God’s Word is true and that what He tells us in His Word will happen.  So should we be fighting against our government?  Paul writes this to the Ephesians:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Ephesians 6:12

To me this would indicate that we are in a spiritual battle and not one that is in this physical world.  Is it possible for us to fight in the spiritual realms where these enemies fight against us?  Paul explains in this entire passage:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  Ephesians 6:10-18

So we wrestle against spiritual forces, but we are also given defenses and weapons to wage this war IN THE SPIRIT.  How do we “girt our loins” with truth? That is something we are working on daily to determine what is truth.  Truth is an absolute and the world does not like absolutes.  Truth says that God is all powerful and He has empowered us by the blood of His Son Christ Jesus.  We are also instructed to have on the “breastplate of righteousness” the breastplate protects your vital organs in your upper torso ie your heart and lungs.  Living righteously is therefore a protection of your vital spiritual organs, your heart.  How one does shod his feet in the gospel of peace?  

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.  Matthew 5:39

Are the principles of Christ only applicable to individuals or do we worship a God with universal principles that not only apply to individuals they apply to governments as well? Does this sound like we should launch retaliatory wars with circumstantial evidence at best?  We as individuals have no control over the conduct of our nation, God’s Will is already set in motion and Satan thinking its his plan will be in for a surprise.  A shield is something that is moveable, one can use it to reinforce areas of the body already covered in armor based on where the enemy is attacking.  A shield is more important than any other piece of armor because its flexible, a skilled warrior could go into battle armed with only a shield, for a skilled warrior can also use a shield as a weapon in close quarter combat.  Faith is much like the shield in that it can be used to reinforce righteousness or truth or peace and if the enemy gets too close you can use your faith offensively to smack him in the face.  The helmet protects the vital organs in the skull ie the brain.  In the spirit, your mind is protected knowing that we have…

…an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:4-5

Knowing that God has reserved our salvation for us puts our minds at ease in that there is nothing that the enemy has in his arsenal that we should fear for he does not have the power to destroy our souls. 

We finally get to the offensive weaponry, the sword which is mainly for offense but also used in defense.  The Word of God is what we use to assault the kingdom of darkness.  Why do you think that our enemy tries to destroy the Word by either suppression or mistranslation.  He knows that the Word will destroy him.  Our other main offensive weapon is Prayer.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  James 5:16

When the armor is used in combination it is very effective.  We can pray the Word of God in faith while living righteously.  God has armed us to fight this battle, we can’t afford to be distracted by what is manifested in the physical, our battle is in the Spiritual and that is the dominion we are instructed to take. 

As we explore this concept of waging a spiritual war we can begin to understand Jesus when he said “…whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Unless we walk in the spirit, this makes no sense.  When we realize our battle is not against the flesh and blood of this physical world, but the powers of darkness in the spiritual dimension we shall be able to overcome the dragon by the blood of the Lamb.

Good Seed v. Bad Seed

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.  Mathew 13:3-9

The parable is then interpreted by our Lord…

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  Mathew 13:18-13

What is the seed in this parable? Verse 19 clearly states that the seed symbolizes “the word of the kingdom”?  It is probably a reasonable assumption that Christ is in fact speaking of THE Kingdom or the Kingdom of God and the Word of this Kingdom is the Word of God, that being Jesus Himself.  We could probably further assume that the seed represents perfected doctrine, since it is “of the Kingdom.”  Thus in this parable the seed is good.

What is the soil in this parable? Again verse 19 clearly states that the desire of the wicked one is to catch away that which was “sown in the heart” since the soil is what the seed is sown into in the parable, it is clear that we can equate the soil to man’s heart.

Sower – not specified, but if the seed is of the kingdom, the sower would most likely be God.

Seed – the word of the kingdom

Soil, Field – the heart of man

According to this parable there are 4 types of soil or states of the heart:

1)      v.4, The way side – v.19,lack of understanding, never had a chance

2)      v.5, Stony places – v.20, Received it, understood it, but did not study to gain root or foundation

3)      v.7, Thorns – v.22, Received the word, understood the word, studied the word, but other things were more important (including their own misconceptions)

4)      v.8, Good Ground – v.23, Received the word and brought forth fruit…BUT, what kind of fruit?

This parable refers to the way that the heart of man receives the sound doctrine of the Word of God.  The main idea of the parable is clear, but there is also a principle that Jesus is establishing. Let’s look at this from the perspective of the enemy; what if the seed that fell in the good ground is corrupted, much like the genetically altered seed that is encompassing the globe today. Satan’s method of operation is to recite mostly truth with a slight twist, perverting doctrine with corruption.  Therefore the doctrine that is sown by Satan is corrupted doctrine and from our perspective it would be good to have stony soil, or a non-receptive heart, under this circumstance. 

Earlier in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus spoke of the difference between a good tree and a corrupt tree. 

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Matthew 7:17-20

We know that trees grow from seed.  A bad seed would grow into a bad tree, and likewise good seed into a good tree.  Remember the seed is not the man himself in the Matthew 13:3 parable, but doctrine.  The soil is the heart of man, the tree and ultimately the fruit is what grows inside the heart of man from the doctrine that is sown within him.

Just because a seed brings forth fruit doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s good fruit.  Down through the ages, many men have corrupted God’s Word with false doctrine.  Did they believe it was false doctrine? Why would anyone devote their life to something they didn’t believe to be true?  These men probably did believe what they were preaching and were themselves deceived.  Followers of Islam appear to truly believe what their religion teaches, but is it good seed or corrupted seed?  Is the fruit they bear good fruit or bad fruit? 

Hitler, Stalin and Mao, among others, are some of the more recent men that most people would identify as wicked, regardless of the fruit they brought forth; it appears obvious that the “seed” they received, fell of fertile ground? 

Most people can tell the difference between good fruit and bad fruit, but seed is a little more difficult to discern.  For instance the company Monsanto has developed and patented a soybean seed that is resistant to their herbicide RoundUp.  They have done this by genetically altering the soybean DNA.  This seed looks and feels just like any natural soybean seed, but it is very different.  There are numerous examples where seeds today are genetically modified for a variety of reasons such as increase yield, weather resistant and insect resistant plants.  Through cross-pollination these plants corrupt genetically pure plants, spreading their corrupt DNA.  What are the health ramifications on human consumers of these genetically modified plants?  Most people don’t realize this because there is currently no law mandating that food labels make these disclosures.  I suggest watching the documentary titled The Future of Food for a better understanding of what is being done to the world’s food supply. 

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6:7-8

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul explains this spiritual principle as reaping what you sow.  If we sow the corrupt seed of the flesh we will reap corruption and eventually destruction.  If we sow the good seed of the Spirit, we shall reap the fruit of the Spirit and eventually everlasting life.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. I Corinthians 2:12

Who provides the good seed?

Just like these companies have altered the natural seed, so has Satan altered The Seed which is the Word of God.  The documentaries titled Changing the Word parts 1, 2 & 3 illustrate these deceptions and the reason the modern versions of the Bible fall short in many areas.  Additionally, a Pastor by the name of David Brown has put a summary page together at http://logosresourcepages.org/Versions/modern.htm of the men mostly responsible for bringing us these modern versions and what they believed.  Were they good trees or corrupt trees?  Can a good tree bring forth bad fruit or a corrupt tree good fruit? 

On the other hand 80% of the KJV of the Bible is the direct work of William Tyndale, a martyr for Christ during the time of Henry VIII of England. In the view of many believers, Tyndale's doctrine would be the epitome of a “good tree” thus shouldn’t his fruit be considered good fruit? 

Like the RoundUp soybean, these corruptions are largely unseen, but with the help of the Holy Spirit guiding our discernment we have help in overcoming the wiles of the devil.

The Love of the Truth

A short message to break up the Summer...

"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."  II Thessalonians 2:8-10

What is this Love of the Truth?  Does it mean only to believe what is convenient, what is easy? Or does it mean something else, perhaps that which might make you appear foolish to those on the wide path?  Brothers and sisters, we are in trying times with deceptions on top of deceptions, false doctrines and many have grown weary.  The Word commands us to Prove ALL things...

The one truth you can absolutely use as the cornerstone for your life is that...

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. " Romans 5:8-11

and...

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9


Atonement only comes through Christ, that is truth, that is life.  Once we understand this truth, the rest of Satan's lies are on shaky ground, it's like knocking the support beam out from under a building.  Satan has been building lies upon lies for thousands of years, decieving God's people, deceiving you and me.  He has constructed lies in such a way that if you don't believe them you are laughed at, belittled, chided...stand strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might.  Satan will lose, and unfortunately he will take millions with him.  Seek the truth...

Genesis 11:10-32

II.                The Generations of Shem (Genesis 11:10-26)

A.    Genesis 11:10 – These [are] the generations of Shem: Shem [was] an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

1.     Picking up from Genesis 5:32 – And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

a.      626 years after the death of Adam

b.     514 years after the death of Seth

c.      411 years after the death of Enos

d.     401 years after the death of Cainan

e.      331 years after the death of Mahalaleel

f.       134 years after the death of Jared

g.      569 years after the translation of Enoch

h.      Methuselah is 869/969 years old

i.       Lamech is now 682 of 777 years old

j.       100 years before the flood

2.     There is a slight reconciliation issue…If Noah was 500 years old when Shem, Ham and Japheth were born and 600 years old at the commencement of the flood that would make Shem 100 years old at the commencement of the flood, yet here it says that Shem was 100 when Arphaxad was born 2 years after the flood. How can this be explained?  It appears logical looking back, Shem, Ham and Japheth could not have been triplets and that Japheth the firstborn was born when Noah was 500, Shem being the youngest was born 2 years later when Noah was 502.  This would have made Shem 98 at the commencement of the flood.

a.      728 years after the death of Adam

b.     616 years after the death of Seth

c.      513 years after the death of Enos

d.     503 years after the death of Cainan

e.      433 years after the death of Mahalaleel

f.       236 years after the death of Jared

g.      671 years after the translation of Enoch

h.      2 years after death of Methulselah

i.       7 years after the death of Lamech

j.       2 years after the flood

·       Shem was 98 years old when the flood came, they were in the ark for a year then 9 months after is in the 2^nd year after the flood when Arphaxad was born we’ll call it 2 A.F. (After Flood)

·       This puts the flood at ~ 2348 B.C.

·       Noah is 602 years old

·       Shem is 100 years old

k.       

B.     Genesis 11:11 – And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

1.     Shem lived 600 years

2.     502 A.F.

C.    Genesis 11:12 – And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

1.     37 A.F (2311 B.C.)

2.     Noah is 637/950

3.     Shem is 135/600

4.     Arphaxad 35/438

D.    Genesis 11:13 – And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

1.     Arphaxad lives 438 years

2.     440 A.F.

3.     Dies 62 years before his father Shem

E.     Genesis 11:14 – And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

1.     67 A.F. (2281 B.C.)

2.     Noah is 667/950

3.     Shem is 165/600

4.     Arphaxad  is 65/438 years

5.     Salah is 30/433

F.     Genesis 11:15 – And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

1.     Salah lives 433 years

2.     500 A.F.

3.     Dies 2 years before Shem

G.    Genesis 11:16 – And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

1.     101 A.F. (2247 B.C.)

a.      Antiquities of the Jews, Chapter 4, Josephus – “…Heber begat Joctan and Phaleg: he was called Phaleg, because he was born at the dispersion of the nations to their several countries; for Phaleg, among the Hebrews, signifies division.”

b.     This would place the dispersion at ~2147 B.C.

2.     Noah is 701/950

3.     Shem is 199/600

4.     Arphaxad is 99/438

5.     Salah is 64/433

6.     Eber is 34/464

H.    Genesis 11:17 – And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

1.     Eber lived 464 years

2.     627 A.F.

I.      Genesis 11:18 – And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

1.     131 A.F. (2217 B.C.)

2.     Noah is 731/950

3.     Shem is 229/600

4.     Arphaxad is 129/438

5.     Salah is 94/433

6.     Eber is 64/464

7.     Peleg is 30

J.      Genesis 11:19 – And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

1.     Peleg lived 239

2.     340 A.F.

K.    Genesis 11:20 – And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

1.     163 A.F. (2185 B.C.)

2.     Noah is 763/950

3.     Shem is 261/600

4.     Arphaxad is 161/438

5.     Salah is 126/433

6.     Eber is 96/464

7.     Peleg is 62

8.     Reu 32

L.     Genesis 11:21 – And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

1.     Reu lives 239 years

2.     370 A.F.

M.   Genesis 11:22 – And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

1.     193 A.F. (2154 B.C.)

2.     Noah is 793/950

3.     Shem is 291/600

4.     Arphaxad is 191/438

5.     Salah is 156/433

6.     Eber is 126/464

7.     Peleg is 92/239

8.     Reu 62/239

9.     Serug 30

N.    Genesis 11:23 – And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

1.     Serug lived 230 years

2.     393 A.F.

O.    Genesis 11:24 – And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

1.     222 A.F. (2126 B.C.)

2.     Noah is 822/950

3.     Shem is 320/600

4.     Arphaxad is 220/438

5.     Salah is 185/433

6.     Eber is 155/464

7.     Peleg is 121/239

8.     Reu 91/239

9.     Serug 59/230

10.  Nahor 29/148

P.     Genesis 11:25 – And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

1.     Nahor lived 148 years

2.     341 A.F.

Q.    Genesis 11:26 – And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

1.     292 A.F. (2056 B.C.)

2.     Noah is 892/950

a.      Appears from this that Noah could have been around for up to 58 years of Abram’s life

b.     As we were able to determine earlier that Shem, Ham and Japheth were not born at the same time its is likely the same here that Abram

c.      When the generations of Abraham are picked up later in Genesis, it appears that Noah died 2 years prior to Abram’s birth

3.     Shem is 390/600

4.     Arphaxad is 290/438

5.     Salah is 255/433

6.     Eber is 225/464

7.     Peleg is 191/239

8.     Reu 161/239

9.     Serug 129/230

10.  Nahor 99/148

11.  Terah is 70

III.              The Generations of Terah (Genesis 11:27-32)

A.    Genesis 11:27 – Now these [are] the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

1.     Abram – אברם 'Abram, "exalted father"

2.     Nahor – נחור Nachowr, "snorting"

3.     Haran – הרן Haran, "mountaineer"

4.     Lot – לוט Lowt, "covering"

B.     Genesis 11:28 – And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

1.     Nativity – מולדת mowledeth,  kindred, birth, offspring, relatives

2.     Chaldees – כשדימה Kasdiy, the inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris

C.    Genesis 11:29 – And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife [was] Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

1.     Sarai – שרי Saray, "princess"

2.     Milcah – מלכה Milkah, "queen"

D.    Genesis 11:30 – But Sarai was barren; she [had] no child.

E.     Genesis 11:31 – And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

F.     Genesis 11:32 – And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

1.     After Noah longevity started to drastically decline:

a.      Noah – 950

b.     Shem – 600 (350 year drop from Noah)

c.      Arphaxad – 438 (512 year drop from Noah, 162 from Shem)

d.     Salah – 433 (517 year drop from Noah, 5 from Arphaxad)

e.      Eber – 464 (486 year drop from Noah, 31 pick-up from Salah)

f.       Peleg – 239 (711 year drop from Noah, 225 from Eber)

g.      Reu – 239 (711 year drop from Noah, 0 from Peleg)

h.      Serug – 230 (720 year drop from Noah, 9 from Reu)

i.       Nahor – 148 (802 year drop from Noah, 82 from Serug)

j.       Terah – 205 (695 year drop from Noah, 57 pick-up from Nahor)