Scriptures – Resounding Shophar Ministries

Restoring Our Vision

No matter what kind it is, whenever someone is in a race their focus is on one thing, to be the first one to cross the finish line. When a person is running a race, it is vital that they keep their mind and focus on the finish line. If they were to get distracted with something or someone else, they run the risk of not only getting beat to the finish line by someone else, but they also run the risk of never finishing the race. For the follower of Christ, we are running a race. The writer of Hebrews encourages us in Hebrews 12:1-2, that as followers of Christ we are to run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

It amazes me, while Biblical end-time events are being fulfilled right before us, so many Christians are oblivious as to the ever-closer imminent return of Jesus for His bride. Scripture tells us that deception will be great in the last days, and we need to be careful to not be deceived ourselves. There are many who are focusing on false prophets and the many false teachings they are promoting, but there is another form of deception that is also gaining ground in the days we are now living in. I was listening to someone earlier today, someone who has become well known and that many are calling a prophet of God, but one word kept coming to my mind when I was listening to him. That one word, which is a form of deception, was misdirection. I can hear some of you right now saying, “What?” Let me explain.

In the “Great Commission”, as recorded in both Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-18, we are commanded to go and preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to heed and obey all He had commanded us. This is to be the primary focus of the Church, and the means for accomplishing this task as outlined in these passages is simple, to preach, teach, and disciple others, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is where the misdirection begins. Instead of focusing on what Jesus commanded us to do, many churches have turned their focus on seemingly good things, things that gain the recognition of others, builds a reputation and a positive image within their communities, all for drawing more people to their churches. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus makes it clear that He will build His Church, and in John 12:32 Jesus makes it clear that He will draw all men to Himself. So, why is it that churches feel they need to utilize world-based methods for reaching the lost and building their churches, unless they’ve fallen for that form of deception found in the misdirection. Yes, we should be involved with charitable acts and community service of sorts, but when those things become the primary focus and top priorities of a church or follower of Christ, especially with the hope of gaining more attendees through them, then the enemy has successfully misdirected our focus away from where we’re commanded it is to be, namely to preach and teach the good news of the Gospel as it relates to the cross and the penalty of sin Jesus paid on our behalf, as well as Jesus’ soon return for us.

Speaking of good news. The person I was listening to misunderstands what the Scriptures are talking about regarding good news. This person indicated that the good news the Bible is referring to is the good news that is reported in the news. For example, according to this person, good news is what is reported about the good things our current President is doing, and that bad news is the lies and negative reports being promoted by some in the media. He was basically taking Scripture out of context to support a Kingdom Now mentality that believes everything will get better once Christians start listening to good news and start doing what they are supposed to be doing in the different areas of society and government. Well, the good news of the Scriptures is that Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, came to earth to die a brutal death by crucifixion to pay our debt of sins for us. The good news is continued with the resurrection of Jesus on the third day that proves as followers of Christ that we have eternal life in Him. And, if that wasn’t enough, the good news continues in that Jesus is coming back for His bride, His followers, to receive us unto Him with resurrected and transformed bodies for all eternity. Now, that’s the good news the Bible is talking about. However, apparently this person has fallen for the misdirection Satan is promoting in part because he doesn’t understand even the basics or the message of salvation in Jesus as clearly explained in Scripture.

What I shared previously regarding the great commission is only one area in which the enemy has effectively deceived many Christians through misdirection. The misdirection I was seeing earlier today is something that is inherently a part of each American, and that is in patriotism. Oh, the heritage the Red, White, and Blue represents is great, and it’s one that every American can be proud to be associated with. It’s a heritage that we don’t want to see destroyed and brought to ruins, and our patriotism causes us to seek the return of the glory this nation once had both domestically and abroad. We want to see America restored in so many ways, restored so that our descendants can know and appreciate the same heritage we have for this great Country. The problem with this is that we become more focused on America and seeing it restored, especially without the necessary repentance and returning to God that is desperately needed, than we are with what Scripture tells us and what Jesus commanded our focus to be. We forget that we are first and foremost Christians, followers of Christ, and that America is not our eternal home. Scripture tells us that our home is in heaven with Jesus, and that we are here as His ambassadors. No where in Scripture are we directed to build His kingdom here on earth, or to “expand our influence” in the world to establish a Christian utopia of sorts. In addition to the great commission I mentioned earlier, we have been commanded by Jesus to be watching for His return for us, and to pray that we’ll be counted worthy to escape what is coming to the earth.

People, including the one that I was listening to earlier today, want to be critical of Christians who believe that Scripture teaches things are going to get much worse, labeling us as “gloom and doom” people. Well, to begin with, I choose to believe the Holy Spirit-inspired Scriptures more than someone who claims they have heard from God, believing that God will never contradict His Own Words. Second, people who want to claim Bible believing Christians are “gloom and doom”, they are living with earthly mindsets focused on making life here on earth great. I say that because, while Scripture does speak of some extremely terrible times coming soon, we’re focused more on that which Scripture says is in store for followers of Christ, which is all more good and glorious than anything ever to be experienced here on earth. We recognize that the fulfillment of the signs found in Scripture, including that which pertains to the Great Tribulation period, are merely signs that our physical redemption is drawing ever closer, and that we will soon be with Jesus for all eternity.

The danger with this misdirection, a misdirection I believe is from the enemy of our souls, is that we become more focused and concerned about life here on earth, whether it’s trying to better society or in trying to make America great again, than we are in watching for Jesus’ soon return for us. On multiple occasions Jesus made it clear that we are to be watching for Him, and this strongly emphasized command of His to us is non-negotiable. Like it or not, Jesus also makes it clear that those who are not watching for Him will be caught off guard and left behind. Satan, appearing as a great angel of light or the source of a warm, fuzzy feeling as some describe, is doing all he can to keep people from what God has in store for followers of Christ. If he can’t destroy you, and if he can’t pull you away from living your life for him, then he’ll do whatever he can to get your attention misdirected onto things, good things, that will keep you from being watchful and ready for Jesus when He returns.

As one person put it, the greatest problem with deception is that it is so deceiving. Deception comes in various forms, and it is our responsibility to guard ourselves from it. We are to study the Scriptures, stay in an attitude of prayer and worship to Jesus, and pay attention to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit who will help us stay clear of the enemy’s different traps. Always remember, the Holy Spirit will NEVER contradict any of the Scriptures. And no matter how convincing or good sounding a “word” may be, if it contradicts Scripture then it’s not of God, though it may be of another spirit associated with Satan and the powers of darkness.

If your vision has gotten off somewhat, now is the time to get it restored, put back into focus, and realigned to what God’s Word says, the whole Word and not just parts of it. Restored vision, that’s what many in the church needs right now. Just as a vision of 20/20 is considered perfect vision in the natural, so is a vision that is focused on Jesus and what Scripture says about our path to eternity with Him.

John Johansson

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Deceptions

Recently I heard a very well-known minister make some disturbing comments. This pastor of thousands, author of several books, the son of a very well-known minister, made comments about the Bible that are simply scary. Early in the video I saw of one of his teachings, he makes it clear that the Old Testament books are nothing more than manuscripts. He further states a little further in the video that Matthew took it upon himself to add women to the genealogies of Jesus, dismissing the idea that Matthew was inspired by God to mention them.

If that wasn’t enough, referring to Matthews first recorded encounter with Jesus in Matthew 9:9, he discounts the teachings of some that are based simply on what the Scriptures tell us, that Matthew simply responded to Jesus’ command to follow Him by immediately getting up to follow Him, on the basis that there isn’t enough information to draw such a conclusion. He then proceeds to take about five minutes to throw in what he believes took place between verses 9 and 10 of the same chapter, as though it were a fact, even though there is absolutely no reference or hint of such in the passage. This is a double-standard on his part.

In response to questions the disciples of Jesus asked Him about His return and the end of the age, the very first thing He tells them in Matthew 24:4 was to “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Jesus didn’t tell this to people who were not His followers, people who are already deceived, but to those who are His followers. Despite His warning to those who follow Him to not be deceived, we can see that many within church circles, including the leadership, have become deceived in one way or another. I heard it once said that the best lie is the one that is 99% true, realizing it is the 1% that can lead people astray to “another gospel”.

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and that most definitely includes what we know to be the Old Testament. Paul also goes on to say in the same passage that all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. Scripture is to be the final authority in the life of a Christian, and to view Scripture in any other light leads us to the “another gospel” Paul referred to in his letters. In 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Paul shares how he’s afraid that they have embraced “another gospel” just as Eve believed the lies of the serpent, and in Galatians 1:8-9 Paul makes it clear that anyone who preaches “another gospel”, different from what he had already given them, they should be accursed.

As previously indicated, Paul tells us that all Scripture, including the Old Testament, is given by inspiration of God, so any gospel that minimizes the value and role of all Scripture in the life of a Christian is a gospel different from the one that he gave us. In 1 Timothy 4:1, Paul also tells us that in the last days many Christians will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and the doctrines of demons. Paul gives us one of the biggest reasons why Christians will pay attention to seducing spirits and the doctrines of demons in 2 Timothy 4:3-4. In that passage many Christians in the last days will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires will instead embrace teachings and teachers that satisfy their itching ears, turning from the truth and unto fables. I had a person once tell me that the doctrines of demons were in reference to doctrines about demons, but that is not what the passage indicates. Rather, it is about doctrines that are inspired and promoted by demons.

In Colossians 2:8, Paul further instructs us not to be taken captive by the hollow and deceptive philosophies of some, philosophies and teachings that are based on human tradition and the basic principles of this world. This could easily point to teachings that are based more on Christianized “pop psychology” than on what Scripture tells us. One of the biggest problems of Christianized “pop psychology” is that it attempts to deal with symptoms that interfere with life and relationships, instead of the root cause of sin and the subsequent results of unrepented sin.

It has been the attempt of the world for centuries to devalue and discredit the Word of God, a tactic of the enemy of our souls to keep us from what God has for us. In fact, we can see this all the way back to the Garden of Eden. It is in the garden that we see Eve having a conversation with the serpent, the mouthpiece of the devil, a conversation focused on the serpents attempt to get Eve to question what God had said and become disobedient to God. While it has been the world that had been trying to convince people to question and discredit the Scriptures, now we are seeing that happen within church circles. It used to be that some Christian leaders would focus their teachings on certain portions of Scripture, often ignoring or twisting other portions to conform to the beliefs they were promoting. But now, there are some that would like for us to question the intent behind what the Scriptures say, and then to interject what they believe God would have us to know despite the clear contradictions they have with Scripture. They take the apparent approach that at least part of the Bible is not inspired of God, which gives them license to change even the obvious that contradict their beliefs to promote “another gospel”. Sometimes they even have the attitude that God didn’t really mean what was written, and that God needs them to help clear up these issues and make known what God’s intent originally was. These mindsets seem to be especially common among those who believe the church and its teachings should “evolve” into what is best “relevant” to the world, teachings and mindsets associated with some “seeker sensitive” churches, as well as the “emerging church” that believes a “new church” needs to be the influential church in the days we now live in. This is a spiritual “cancer” of sorts to the Body of Christ.

Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 that we are not to be conformed to this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of our mind. What I just described is a picture of many churches and church leaders who are being conformed into the same mindsets of the world, mindsets that question and challenge the all-inspired, infallible Scripture and God’s original intent behind it. The person I mentioned in the beginning of this blog is doing just that. He denies that all Scripture is inspired of God and infallible, he questions even the clearest of passages and those who teach accordingly, and then interjects as fact his opinions of what was going on. For this person, the Bible is not the final authority, a clear contradiction to what his dad is known to teach.

It may not be up to us to target and expose those who embrace such teachings, but it is our responsibility to study Scripture to know the truth, and to steer clear of cancerous teachings and their promoters, being careful with how we influence others in this. In 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), Paul tells us to study [the Scriptures] to show ourselves approved to rightly divide the word of truth. No matter who the person is, never take what they say or write about as gospel without first checking the Scriptures for yourself. Don’t just focus on the Scriptures they are presenting, but check with how it holds up to all Scripture.

Deception will be rampant in the last days, the days we are now living in. Deception will manifest itself in many different forms, whether it is the twisting of or taking out of context portions of Scripture, or simply denying it as fully God inspired and being the final authority in the life of a believer, just to name a couple. The Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:8 gave us some sobering advise we should heed, and even more in the days we are now living in. Don’t be deceived by those who don’t value Scripture or believe it to be the final authority in all areas of a Christians life. Don’t be fooled into thinking you can embrace what you think is good and okay while rejecting what is not, because the very beliefs and mindsets these teachers have will bleed into every other facet of their life and ministry, and before you know it you will be embracing all their teachings.

One last thing. Don’t be fooled into accepting what they teach just because the supernatural is present in their life. While it is true that the supernatural should be present in the life of a believer, we need to remember that the devil can counterfeit some of what God does in the supernatural. Scripture should be the final authority even in the midst of the supernatural. Some argue that if it’s not in Scripture then it’s not of God, but as I pointed out in a blog I wrote sometime back, just because it’s not in Scripture doesn’t mean it’s not of God since Scripture tells us not everything Jesus did is recorded. The issue isn’t whether it is or is not in Scripture, but instead whether it conflicts or contradicts with what is already in Scripture.

Don’t be deceived!!

John Johansson (Pastor John)

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