Do Not Be Deceived

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     That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16)  The verses prior to these in this chapter are referring to the spiritual gifts beginning at v.7, these three verses above refer to why those gifts are given to the church, so that we can be equipped and prepared so that we would not be deceived and led astray.  There are so many in the world proclaiming various types of doctrines and yes many of them sound so good (they tickle the ears) but are just missing the mark.  Jesus never told His followers it would be easy while here on Earth, as a matter of fact He stated the very opposite of that.  As we study the scriptures while Jesus walked here on Earth, we see that at first He had a great following as He went to the people walking amongst them, teaching, feeding, and even healing them, but in the end very few remained.  Jesus told us in the last part of v.16 of Matthew 20, “For many are called, but few chosen.”

     These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. (1 John 2:26-27)  The archenemy that “Lie Whisperer is slithering through the ranks of the church weaving his deceptive lies through those who are considered to be leaders, that is why leaders should preach with fear and trembling heeding the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:6.  “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”  I write these words because I’m concerned that many are being led astray with feel good doctrines that make following Christ here on Earth all peaches and cream.  That is a lie straight from the pit and contradicts Philippians 1:29.  For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.  Of course the “Lie Whisperer” would want us to believe otherwise and distract us from the TRUTH.  I exhort you to reread the above passage in 1 John and meditate on what it is telling you, the Holy Spirit is in you believer and as you daily and prayerfully read His Word He will teach you directly.  Those who chose not to can and will be easily led astray!

     Do not be deceived persecution is coming to the church!  Is your house built on the sand where it will be washed away or have you built your house on the firm foundation of Christ the solid Rock?

Dale LaFrance                                  2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

Barabbas—– Son of Abba

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 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.  So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ?”  For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.  While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message:  “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”  But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.  “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor, “Barabbas,” they answered.  “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Christ?” Pilate asked.  They all answered, “Crucify him!”  “Why? What crime has He committed?” asked Pilate.  But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”  When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd.  “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said.  “It is your responsibility!”  All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”  Then he released Barabbas to them.  But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.  (Matthew 27:16-26)  As we read and meditate on this dramatic passage we need to come to terms with the fact that there is a little Barrabbas in all of us, this might cause many of my readers to say now wait a minute!  I never murdered anybody!  Jesus warned His disciples that if they even had the thought of murder in their hearts they were just as guilty!  If we are all totally honest with ourselves and with God we must admit we have had times where we wished ill of someone else or devised some wicked plot in our hearts.  The bottom line is we are all sinners deserving of death!  Romans 3:10,  As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.  And verse 23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

     Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden we all have been separated from our Creator, God, and were destined to eternal damnation, a place separate from God where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Barabbas represents all of mankind; he was guilty and deserved to die just as we all do; however Jesus took his (our) place willingly like a lamb without blemish led to slaughter and was pierced for his (our) transgressions.  At that moment that old “Lie Whisperer” thought he had won by having the Son of God killed, little did he know that when Jesus cried out His last three words, John 19:30.  “It is finished!  His fate was sealed; the veil was rent in half, thus allowing all who would desire access to God the Father.  Yes even the likes of Barabbas (you) could be forgiven and given eternal life and be a son (daughter) of Abba!  Ask for and accept His forgiveness, and believe with all your heart that Jesus has paid your debt in full; there is nothing else you need to do.  Jesus Christ has risen and invites you to join Him for eternity!  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Dale LaFrance                                  Psalm 22

Sin Can Be Addicting and Controlling

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But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.  For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.  Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. (Romans 7:14-7-20)  Speaking from my own experience before I submitted my life to Christ and accepted His free gift of salvation I never considered that I was a bad person.  I was deceived by that old “Lie Whisperer” and of course I was blind to the truth, but when God began to call me the blinders fell away and I saw how sinful of a person I was and how much I needed Jesus.  Interestingly before I became a follower of Christ I never struggled with the issues of sin unlike now.  As I read the above passage I can relate with Paul about the struggle that goes on within man and if we are all honest with ourselves we must admit sin if not for just a moment can be pleasurable, and if we continue to let it run rampant then addicting and controlling. 

     We need to realize that Jesus recognizes this and has not left us alone!  He has sent us the comforter, the Holy Spirit our guide to lead and direct us.  We cannot do it on our own!  Yes it would be nice that after we give ourselves to Jesus that life becomes all peaches and cream however the stark reality is that it takes work and discipline.  We are now in the army of God and we are at war and our enemy will do anything to destroy God’s people.  Paul warned the Corinthians in his first letter to them about the temptations that would come in chapter 10:13.  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.  Before Christ I never considered this, now as a follower I see temptations all around me.  Temptation is not a sin!  I call the above verse assurance of victory, when those temptations arise we either decide to follow through and disobey Christ or we turn to Him for deliverance.  This is a daily discipline that we must practice Galatians 2:20.  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  You’re living one of two ways, under the yoke of sin and its control or dead to sin by faith through the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Simply put we need to remember that the battle is the Lord’s and all we have to do is just turn it over to Him and there will be victory!  Become addicted to Christ and His righteousness and freed from sin and its control.

Dale LaFrance                                  Ephesians 6:10-13

Pushing Back the Darkness

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     Arise, shine; For your light has come!  And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.  The Gentiles shall come to your light, and the kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3)  The light that has come is Jesus Christ!  He is the Light and in Him is no darkness, whenever Christ is present darkness is dispelled, therefore we as followers of Christ are commanded to let our lights shine and not to place them under a basket.  Christ has promised that His presence, authority and power will accompany us as we push back the darkness with the light of Jesus Christ.  We live in a very dark world, look around!  It’s all around us waiting to swallow us up and if we allow it to it will, our flesh is at constant war with the spirit.  Walking in the light of Christ takes work!  Did you know that there are more dos in the bible then don’ts?  If we spend all our time doing the dos we won’t have time to dwell on the don’ts.  One of the most important things we can do as followers to push back the darkness is to obey the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20, otherwise known as the great commission.  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

     And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  (Mark 15:33)   When Jesus was on the cross He was taking on Himself every sin from the past, present, and future and for a period of three hours there was complete darkness of which many have tried to explain away.  Our Father can have no fellowship with sin and so He looked away from His Son for those three hours as Jesus bore the sins of all mankind alone!  At that moment the darkness may have seemed like it was not being pushed back, but victory was being attained during those three dark hours, in which must have been the loneliest three hours of Jesus’ life, Mark 15:34.  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  Now that Jesus has conquered the darkness we too can be conquerors through Him and push back the darkness as we abide faithfully in Him, Romans 13:11-12. And do this, knowing the time, that it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  The church is weak because it has not been effectively pushing back the darkness because of compromise!  We are called out to live a life of no compromise, if we love Him we will obey Him, and in doing so we will “push back the darkness” in His name.

Dale LaFrance                                  2 Corinthians 4:5-6