2-- Deceit And Distractions Etrs

Deceit and Distraction (by Bill Stevenson, October 2 & 7, 2005) First, please answer the following questions with specific examples and e-mail me your answers. What does deceit mean to you (or what are the kinds of deception) in secular situations? What does deceit mean to you (or what are the kinds of deception) in Christian situations? Now, how would you define the word deceit? What are the worse distractions in secular situations for you or/and against you? What are the worse distractions in Christian situations for you or/and against you? So how would you define the word distraction now? Before going on, please do the above and send me an e-mail about the results. Why did I start thinking about how deception and distraction relate? I had a few weeks of challenges to my beliefs and convictions during my e-mail ministry. I had done a Bible study about deceit in 1983 after my children were used for a deceptive advertisement about a Tutorial Center that didn’t exist. I found out that God hates all forms deception. My life has been full of being deceived by teachers, preachers, politicians, loved-ones, and articles. The Holy Spirit doesn’t warn us all of the time for various reasons. But I never thought of deceit being a distraction until now. In my e-mail ministry for the past month, I have been debated and attacked by a few very spiritually prideful individuals. Responding to their e-mails takes a lot time. Most of the rest of the e-mails I get require just very brief and quick responses. But when I am representing God’s wonderful truths in the Bible, I need to be very careful in the statements I make. When accusations are made against me in such ministry, I do share such with a one or two mature Christian friends for confirmation, correction, or/and advice. I don’t like to have to argue, exhort, or rebuke, and the Holy Spirit has to repeat such urgings until I do it. I would rather just stop communicating and do intercessory prayer hoping that time and situations will change the others’ contentions. Did I waste time with these individuals who had unBiblical beliefs? No, but they were distractions from my other ministries’ needs. What should take more and more of our time each day? Philippians 3:8-9 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Philippians 2:1-8 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

1

Jude 1:20-25 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Luke 8:11-15 Jesus Christ said, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” 2 Timothy 2:15-16 & 22-26 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more unGodliness. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” Now, what in your life needs to be changed so that you won’t be deceived and distracted? If you want me to do intercessory prayer in relation to such, just send your hopes of repentance to me.

2