Stand Against Deception

Recorded by Tan Lay Leng

Stand Against Deception
18 May 2020 Monday
Day 37 Things Pertaining to the Kingdom
#perikingdom2020

As we focus on things of the kingdom, God has been challenging us to come out of the values of the world in this clash of the kingdoms. Obedience is key in kingdom commitment. In the second half, we sense that the intensity of the battle heightens, the alarm for soldiers to get ready sounds. With the deluge of information coming in, we recognise that orders can change in light of information and orders can remain in spite of information. [Read: There is Information and There Are Orders]

Do we know our marching orders – our kingdom assignments – so that we can process the information?

Part of all the information coming in will be deception. The critical question is, How should we stand against deception?

Against the context of the “last hour” (1 John 2:18), both the apostle John (in 1 John) and the apostle Paul (in 2 Timothy) warn against deception. 

People will not accept the truth. People will be deceived and keep deceiving. But, John writes, you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things (1 John 2:20). 

He goes on in 1 John 2:27 to say, “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 true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

John says we have the Holy Spirit who abides in us and teaches us. But that’s only one part.

Paul writes to his young friend Timothy, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15

Paul says we must hold on to the Holy Scriptures, to instruct us and give us understanding for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 

We need both the Holy Spirit and the Holy Word. They cannot be separated from one another.

Paul goes on to say, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed, inspired by the Holy Spirit. This means that the Holy Spirit will always point us to the Holy Scriptures. And to understand the Word of the kingdom, we need the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the King. 

Let’s examine what it means by all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction.

It is profitable for doctrine because doctrine gives us the reference point. Reproof is conviction. When God shows us the doctrine and brings the conviction, do not stop at being awakened. Be willing to be corrected. Correction is an aligning with the things of the Holy Spirit and His Word. As we get aligned, instruction and training are required. Alignment involves discipline. The purpose is that we will be complete and mature in Christ, to be like our King; and thoroughly equipped for good works – assigned.

In order to move on our orders and stand against deception, we need both the Word and the anointing from the Holy Spirit. We need to be awakened, aligned and assigned.

How does all this relate to #perikingdom2020?

We have been counting up to Pentecost. Day 40 will be on 21 May 2020 and 10 days after, it will be Pentecost. 

On Day 50 after the first Passover was celebrated by Israel, God gave Israel the law – the Word of the kingdom – at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20). But He wanted them not just to know the letter of the law but to follow the Spirit of the law.

On the day of the Pentecost, as the disciples gathered, God gave the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). For 40 days, the disciples listened to the King and the Word of the kingdom (Acts 1:3). And in the next 10 days, they prayed through the Word of the kingdom (Acts 1:14) before they were sent out to live out the Spirit of the law. The Holy Spirit must come upon the Word of the kingdom.

It is both the Word of the kingdom as well as the Spirit of the King. 

Likewise, for us, we do not stop focusing on the kingdom of God after 40 days. From 22 May to 31 May 2020, having the Word of the kingdom, we wait for the Holy Spirit (#stayhome #upperroom) and continue in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14).  

We wait for a deeper understanding and for the timing of God. Pressing in during the next 10 days, we will revisit these teachings and focus on the Spirit of the King. Do not limit ourselves to the charismatic manifestations of the Holy Spirit but understand who He is. Extending from things pertaining to the kingdom of God (#perikingdom2020), ask boldly for things pertaining to the Spirit of the King (#peripneuma).

As you read the Holy Scriptures, will you pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon every verse, every passage, every understanding about the kingdom of God, every teaching that there will be an awakening all over again? Let’s move from zoom to boom!

Pray for the Holy Spirit to help us align, for Him to transform us, to convict us, and to set us free that we no longer serve out of the oldness of the letter but the newness of the Spirit. To receive the new wine of the kingdom, we need new wineskins to carry it. Pray we will not only align but be assigned for Him!

Dear Archippuses, we may be nobodies but with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and in Jesus Christ, we can do great exploits for the kingdom of God. Pray for a kingdom harvest that is to come; not just for the 50th day, but every day from that time forth! 

Stand against the deception that will increase. Get aligned with the Holy Scriptures, and keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25).