Defenses Against Deception | Episode 6 | Discernment

Duane Sheriff Ministries

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Defenses Against Deception | Episode 6 | Discernment

Grace & Truth

June 12, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Numbers, Genesis 27:18–27, John 8:31–32

In the sixth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches the importance of guarding against deception, as God has provided multiple defenses against it. The New Testament repeated warnings about deceivers and being deceived, showing it is possible even for believers to fall into deception. The first defense God has given is His Word. If believers abide or continue in God's Word, Jesus said they are His disciples who will know the truth that brings freedom (John 8:31-32). By disciplining oneself in Scripture, one's discernment increases to recognize the fingerprints of the enemy versus the Holy Spirit.

The story of Eve being deceived by the serpent in Genesis 3 illustrates how deception operates. Satan's tactic was first to question God's Word, get Eve to dismiss it, and then outright contradict it, tempting her to disobey by doubting God's goodness and care. This shows how compromising God's Word opens the door to deception.

The Scripture of Jacob deceiving his father Isaac in Genesis 27 is also an example. A telltale sign of deception was the haste and pressure Jacob used—faith never operates under an anxious hurry. Another red flag was Jacob claiming "God blessed me" to justify his deceit, which is "dropping the God card" to wrongly use God to approve one's desired course.

Isaac was led astray by his feelings - the hands "felt" like Esau's, though they were goatskins. How often do people let their feelings trump God's clear truth and Word when he tries to guide them as Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life? They fail to realize that only obedience to God's Word, not rejecting it, leads to true wisdom.

Discernment comes through knowing God's Word combined with patience and walking by faith, not feelings or hastiness. Professing believers who end up embracing abominations and departing from the faith have been deceived by not applying these safeguards against the deception that God has provided in Scripture.

Defenses Against Deception | Episode 20 | Maturity

July 2, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Hebrews 5:11–14, 1 Corinthians 3, 1 Corinthians 13:11–13

In the final episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches that maturity is the sixth defense in guarding against deception, especially in the Christian faith. One of the primary reasons many people depart from the faith is immaturity - being carnally minded and lacking spiritual discernment. How can professing Christians embrace immorality, vote for leaders who oppose biblical values, and support unbiblical ideologies that celebrate sinful behaviors? The root cause of this departure often lies in a lack of genuine salvation and spiritual rebirth. Some attend church and try to live a moral life, mistakenly believing that this alone secures their salvation. True Christianity, however, involves a spiritual transformation through being born again, with God's Spirit dwelling within and empowering a new life in Christ. Even among those genuinely born again, many fail to transition from being new converts to becoming mature disciples of Christ. They remain spiritual infants, unable to properly understand and apply the deep truths of God's Word. The path to maturity requires humility – acknowledging one's limitations, remaining teachable, and submitting to God's ways rather than pridefully clinging to one's own understanding. As the Apostle Paul affirmed, when he became a man, he put away childish things, recognizing and discarding immature thought patterns and behaviors. Ultimately, maturity is not the absence of all immaturity but the ability to discern and willingly lay aside immature mindsets and actions. It is a lifelong process of growth, enabled by God's grace, as believers press on to know Christ more intimately and become conformed to His image.

Defenses Against Deception | Episode 1 | Agenda

June 5, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Matthew 24:4–5, Deuteronomy 11:16

In episode one of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane reveals that God has provided safeguards in His Word so we can judge our hearts against the spirit of the antichrist, which can lead to deception. Deception and lies are becoming increasingly common in our society. Matthew 24 warns of the arrival of many deceivers who will mislead multitudes of people. Rampant idolatry and false gods are being worshipped in our society today. They stem from Satan's deceptions, which try to lure people away from the true God. If Christians cannot recognize the spirit of the antichrist in the world, they will not be able to identify it infiltrating the church either. Duane reveals that all deceptions are gateways to greater deceptions. Many Christians fell for the deceptions surrounding COVID-19, such as fraudulent information, oppressive mandates, and violations of personal freedoms. This was a "dress rehearsal" for greater enslavement under the spirit of the antichrist who craves power and control. Once someone becomes deceived on one issue, they become vulnerable to falling for the next lie. Believers must learn defenses and safeguards to avoid deception—not just for ourselves but also to protect future generations from having their minds warped by a controlling agenda. There is a deceptive agenda to strip away human rights and freedom of movement, speech, and thought. These agendas include carbon tracking, the digital currency system, and "climate change" hysteria. In the future, the Bible itself may become banned as "hate speech" or "misinformation." More than 50 references in the New Testament warn about deception, deceivers, and being deceived. Failing to discern deception makes us and our children susceptible to the spirit of the antichrist.

Defenses Against Deception | Episode 2 | Lies

June 6, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Matthew 24, Galatians 6:7–10, 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, Ephesians 5:5–8

There is an intense battle raging between the freedom found in Christ's gospel and the deceptive agenda of the world, which seeks to enslave people with lies. In the second episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane Sheriff teaches the dangers of being deceived and the importance of guarding our hearts against deception. In Matthew 24, Jesus cautions that many deceivers will come and deceive multitudes. The New Testament instructs believers not to be deceived. Galatians 6:7 states, "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, he will also reap." This scripture shows that deception is possible, so God warns against it. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 lists fornication, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, thievery, and drunkenness and states, Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Yet some Christians seem to believe that unrighteous people embracing these sinful lifestyles can still go to heaven. That's the danger of deception. Once you accept one lie, it paves the way for more lies and greater deception. A "spirit of antichrist" is working through today's world systems, governments, corporations, and individuals to strip away humanity's God-given freedoms. As society rejects God's moral foundations as "hateful" or "misinformation," the Bible itself may become banned. Jesus came to set people free and give them abundant life. The gospel brings freedom of thought, speech, and movement - liberties the deceptive agenda of the antichrist seeks to steal. Satan's lies may promise freedom but ultimately leads to enslavement of the mind, soul, and spirit. With so many lies bombarding us from the world and even seeping into the church, we must remain watchful and discerning. The spiritual well-being of future generations depends on boldly living out the freedom and abundant life found in the Gospel of Christ.