24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. (Matthew 7:24-25)
Are they building sand castles or on the Rock of Jesus Christ?
This is how we will start to learn more about having our spiritual ears hear & our spiritual eyes to see.
What is their building material?
Now let's study Elisha...
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” 14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. (2 Kings 6:11-18)
A few things we can learn from Elisha.
He believed our God is greater than the enemies threats.
He prayed and humbled himself before the Lord.
He prayed a spiritual warfare prayer against the enemy.
Elisha prayed for the eyes to be open. "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see."
Elisha spoke & believed God's truth "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them".
Elisha prayed a spiritual warfare prayer "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness".
We can learn so much from how Elisha moved in times of adversity.
Our level of humility and reverence towards God will give us this true authority and power!
A few things we can learn from Elisha.
He believed our God is greater than the enemies threats.
He prayed and humbled himself before the Lord.
He prayed a spiritual warfare prayer against the enemy.
Elisha prayed for the eyes to be open. "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see."
Elisha spoke & believed God's truth "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them".
Elisha prayed a spiritual warfare prayer "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness".
We can learn so much from how Elisha moved in times of adversity.
Our level of humility and reverence towards God will give us this true authority and power!
You can’t live in sin & have discernment. If there is compromise in your life, there will be deception in your mind. If there is darkness in your deeds, there will be darkness in your heart.
We must learn how to be lovers of truth & continue to allow the Lord to cleanse our heart.
Jesus warns us in Matthew 24 several times about the deception that is coming...
We must learn how to be lovers of truth & continue to allow the Lord to cleanse our heart.
Jesus warns us in Matthew 24 several times about the deception that is coming...
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:4-5)
11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)
11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
4 Different voices
#1 World
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
The ‘world’ is the godless system.
Don’t let this godless system influence you.
#2 Devil
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:3-4)
The devil spoke and tempted Jesus in the wilderness.
If Jesus heard the devils voice, what makes us think we don’t?
#3 Flesh
The flesh wants to glorify self.
The spirit wants to glorify God.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Galatians 5:16-17)
Now the works of the flesh are in the next few verses in Galatians that are ‘evidence’ of the work of the flesh.
#4 God
What are the different ways God speaks?
God speaks through people.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. (Proverbs 19:20)
God speaks through prayer.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)
God speaks through dreams & visions.
Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I , the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. (Numbers 12:6)
God speaks through the bible.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ( 2 Timothy 3:16)
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
Out of all 4 mentioned, the best way to know when God speaks is through the bible.
In fact, Jesus warns us to not be deceived several times in Matthew 24 alone.
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:4-5)
11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)
Here are 4 strategies the enemy uses to deceive us...
#1 What you SOW INTO…
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7)
The law of sowing and reaping is a biblical principle.
Be mindful what you sow into.
Time, energy, focus, resources, etc...
#2 Empty words
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:6)
Words create worlds.
Be mindful what words are spoken over your life and spoke directly to you.
We must stay sharp in the spirit & continue to discern.
#3 Your circle & environment
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
The people we hang around and spend time with has an effect us on us as believers.
Your circle has an effect on how you think, speak, act, & make decisions in life.
Make sure those influences around you are fruitful for the kingdom of God.
Iron sharpens iron.
#4 Not being a doer the word
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)
We must not just KNOW the word, we must LIVE the word.
Practical examples of deception:
Spiritual abuse is the worst kind of abuse. That’s not a church, that’s a CULT!
15 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.” (Psalm 105:15)
How to overcome the deception?
#1 Heart Transformation - pure heart.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8) God resists the proud. You can’t be prideful & prayerful.
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)
#2 Studying Information - the word of God.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
#3 Meditating on Revelation - seeking God.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the [a]ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)
#4 Living in Application - walking with the Lord.
Prayer.
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:2-4)
#5 Exercise in demonstration - anointing & power of the Holy Spirit
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)