The following is an excerpt from the book ANATOMY FOR DECEPTION If Possible Even the Very Elect Will be Deceived, by Karen Connell …NOTE: Hebrew and Greek definitions and reference numbers are from the STRONG’S CONCORDANCE and the COMPLETE WORD STUDIES DICTIONARY.
For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones… See, I have warned you about this ahead of time. (Matthew 24:24-25)
The battle for the control of the minds of every human on earth at this time has increased exponentially since Jesus gave us the above warning before His ascension into heaven. Just as He warned, great deception is captivating the minds and hearts of multitudes of God’s people, so that even the very elect or chosen ones of God are being deceived.
God wants His people to be successful in their walk and life with Him. Walking in truth is the key to overcoming all of the enemy’s power. However, it is up to us seek the truth and walk in it so we can be successful. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 2-4, NKJV).
Our mind or soul is like a “gate” to a city and the Bible likens a city to the heart of a person. Just as cities are the heart of a nation, every “gate” needs to be guarded by “gatekeepers.” The word “prospers” in (3rd John 2), however, is often misunderstood. We often think of it in terms of being only financial and material prosperity. It is the Greek word “euodoo” (yoo-od-o’-o) which means “to be successful in obtaining abundant help on a journey to a destination, or in reaching a destination and it also means to be successful in business affairs (Strong’s, 2137). God wants us to be successful while we are about our Father’s business!
The context for (3rd John 2) is the Apostle John expressing his desire to Gaius in this letter to be prosperous – to have all of his needs met while he was on his journey. Having all our needs met, which is God’s idea of prosperity, is not how this concept is often taught. The Greek word “euodoo” also means to “be led by a direct way” (Thayer’s, 2137). Therefore, prosperity includes no “diversions” or wrong turns that lead us away from, or hinder us from reaching our goal or destination. Every human being is taking a “journey through this place called “earth” and this journey is destined to end in one of two places – in heaven or hell!
First of all, it is God’s desire for all to be on the road “He has destined” for people to choose. This is called the “narrow road.” Satan, on the other hand, is bent on diverting people into choosing his road which is called the “broad road.” Once we find and choose the road of God’s destiny for us, He wants us to be “prosperous” as we travel His path of life. This will cause us to prosper as we go about our Father’s business on the path that leads to His eternal kingdom of “righteous, peace and joy”(Luke 17:21,KJV). “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it” (Matthew 7:13- 14, NLT).
Please notice that the above text not only talks about which road people are on but also the “gate” which determines their road. Thus the “gate” determines our destiny. As we have shown in detail, the “gate” means “door, entrance” or “an open place” (Strong’s, 8179). Here again is a reference to the “open door policy” which was explained earlier. Thus, the word “gate” is a clear reference to our mind. Satan cannot control the world unless he can control the minds of people. Therefore, which road people end up on depends on the “state” of the gate, which is to say, the state of their minds. God promised Abraham that “his seed” would “possess the gate” of the enemy. “Your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies” (Genesis 22:17, KJV, and NKJV).
The word “possess” expresses the idea of “inheritance.” The Hebrew word “yarash” (yaw-rash) means to “drive out previous tenants” or to “expel, impoverish, ruin” and “cast” them out so the place of the previous tenants can be received as an inheritance (Strong’s, 3423). God gave His people the land of Canaan as their inheritance, (which symbolizes dwelling or living our life in Christ) but in order to possess it they had to drive out the enemies who controlled it. But those who are complacent will not do this.
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them: for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you…these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive; but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations” (Deuteronomy 20:1-4,16-18, NKJV)
All of these “ites” represent demonic forces that try to get their wrong thoughts and opinions through our “gate” or into our minds. If we want to possess all that God intends for us to have, we must make every thought subject to the truth. We cannot be passive about them because we need to possess the gate (mindsets) of every enemy by “Casting down imaginations, arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, AMP).
Jesus told us we have all power or authority over the mind controlling tactics of Satan’s use of sorcery (represented by serpents [lies] and scorpions [doubts]. This means there are “mindsets” that need to be exposed and repented of so we can take dominion over all that God has given us as individuals. This includes our mental, physical and spiritual prosperity. If we want to see families, cities and nations reformed, this will only happen by having the true followers of Christ transformed by the reforming (renewing) of their minds. Jesus promised us that enemy mindsets will not prevail in the lives of His true followers. This is how He intends on building His true church.” I will build My church, and the gates (mindsets) of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18, NKJV, parenthesis mine).
As I have repeatedly said, sorcery (manipulates our emotions) by creating immense “feelings” of guilt which in turn creates overwhelming “pressure” causing us to be defensive about unresolved sin issues. This “pressure” is also the foundation for those who struggle with “addictions” and compulsory behaviors. As I stated previously, python as a “creeping thing” is a spirit that seeks out “dry places” and causes overwhelming “mental pressure” that results in confusion and chaos. NOTE: CHAOS IS RAMPANT AT THIS PRESENT TIME AND WILL INCREASE IN THESE END TIMES! Remember also that God forbid His people to be defiled by this. “Or if a soul touch the unclean thing, whether it be a carcass or unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he shall be unclean, and guilty” (Leviticus 5:2, NKJV).
The above verse talks about sorcery as something “hidden.” Things stay “hidden” as long as pride is an issue. This means we will be defensive because of unresolved guilt and create masks or false images to keep sinful things hidden. Sorcery, and especially python, is especially good at keeping itself “hidden” (an occult term) by masking itself as a “prophetic anointing.” I have also seen this spirit go into hiding for a time, only to manifest when people are on the verge (or threshold) of receiving a victory over something they have battled with for a long time. Therefore, we must stay humble (stay out of pride) in order to withstand any form of sorcery that God may reveal in our lives (otherwise we become a target for mind control by the enemy). Please must understand that no one in the body of Christ, from the least to the greatest, is immune from its influence—if they become focused on the wrong thing!
This spirit robs God’s people of “discernment” through its power to twist and pervert the truth. This is why I believe those who pervert and distort God’s word are prime candidates for “sexual perversion” as well, because as I have said, sorcery and perversion go hand in hand. When people forsake God’s standard for truth, they get “fat” – they become self-centered, self-satisfied and self-indulgent which opens the door to sorcery’s perversions. “But Israel (God’s people) soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation…For they are a people void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them…For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter. Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps (reptile spirits)” (Deut 32:15,28, 31-33, NLT & NKJV).
When people take lightly the “rock,” the Word of God, they open themselves up to all kinds of perversion. The above text reveals that those who take lightly God’s word are tapped into the same vine of perversion that is represented by the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It goes on to state that their clusters are bitter. One thing a “cluster” can represent is a gathering or ministry networks. There are many present day ministry “networks” that are “bitter.” In other words they are involved in “witchcraft” practices, that are manifesting (supernatural) false anointings, and lying signs and wonders. Their wine, or spiritual revelation (inspiration) is coming from “dragons” and “asps” (sorcery). The Hebrew word for “asps” is “pethen,” (Strong’s, 6620) another form of the word “python”—working as a “dragon” and appearing deceptively at the “threshold” to any “open door given to the enemy.
Sorcery not only shows up at the “threshold” of an open door given to Satan, but we must be keenly aware of its presence and working when God is about to have us “cross over” a new threshold and go through a door He has opened to us. “The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore” (Psalm 121:5-8, NKJV).
According to this Psalm, the Lord is the protective shade of Israel. The Hebrew word for “shade” is tsel (tsale) and it means to “hover over in defense” (Strong’s, 6738). When did they need protection from evil? It is when they were “going out and coming in” (Vs. 8). This is referring to those times of transition into a new place that requires crossing a “threshold.” Whether you go out or come in a door, you must cross over its “threshold.” But the enemy does not want us to leave the old to enter into the new places with God. Therefore, the spirit of sorcery awaits us at the threshold, ready to ambush us by getting us to readily “agree” with its “twisted perceptions and thoughts” to prevent our entry. This agreement, however, is SIN, which is precisely what God told Cain, who had “sorcery thoughts” about his brother Able. God said, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies (lurking) at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7, NKJV, parenthesis mine).
Walking Through Sorcery’s Valley of Death
Every door God opens to us requires new testing—and doing battle against Satan’s deceptive tactics! I believe (Psalm 23) is the key to freedom for those wanting to stay free of sorcery! Remember that (Psalm 44:19) told us that the spirit of the “dragon” or “serpent” is related to the “shadow of death” which is found in the place of dragons – a place that “covers” people with the shadow of death. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, the comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head (mind/thought life) with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever” (Psalm 23:4-6, NKJV).
It is definitely our choice to live under the “shadow of death” – to allow pride to anoint our head and be our defense! Or we can choose to “abide” instead “under the shadow” of the Almighty in “the secret place” and allow God to anoint our head and be our defense (Psalm 91:1). Thus, in order to deal with any sorcery issues in our lives, we must “walk through” this valley called the “shadow of death,” and NOT live there. If we do, we will die!
I believe the shadow in this valley is our hidden issues of “pride.” I say this because the Hebrew words for “valley” is “gevah” (gay-vaw’) and “gev” which mean “arrogance and pride” with reference to the “body,” and more specifically, the “back” (Strong’s, 1466 & 1465). I find this most interesting because throughout many years in our ministry, I have found that people with unresolved issues of pride often suffer “back problems.” When people turn their “backs” on the truth which exposes pride issues, they are met with a lot of pressure to defend themselves – they choose to makes excuses for sin, justify it, blame others or deny it and go so far as to redefine sin. But this is a heavy burden that no “body” and “back” can bear! The “valley of pride” in (Psalm 23) is the “shadow of death,” where sorcery abides, which literally means to “defend” what causes “ruin” and “death” (Strong’s 6738 & 4194). Whenever we defend what is not right, we are in sorcery’s valley of the “shadow of death.” But if we allow God to “walk us through” the valley of our pride issues, we do not have to live in fear of what the enemy can do to us. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” (Psalm 23:4, NKJV).
I have stressed that unresolved pride causes a fear of exposure of anything that is not “right.” I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but no one is “right” all the time! When we are wrong (or sin) it is God’s rod and His staff that are there to “comfort” us. We all need correction and we need to be open and honest about it, especially if sorcery (deception) is working in our lives so it can be dealt with. The “rod” represents “correction” that results in “comfort” which is our release from sorcery’s pressure. If we really want to get rid of what is not right in our lives, we must be willing to receive God’s “rod” of exposure, correction and instruction in any areas in which we are wrong.
Since God is surely with us, for us and not against us, we do not have to live in fear of having our wrong stuff exposed (and corrected). He will not only use His rod but also His “staff.” The Hebrew word for “staff” is “mish`enah” (mish-ay-naw’) and it means His ability to support and “sustain” us (Strong’s, 4938). God’s sustaining power is needed during those times we are under His “rod.” God’s sustaining power is a majestic display of His grace, as seen by how this word was previously defined. God will prepare a table for us in the presence of the enemy in our lives and lay the whole matter of our pride and defensiveness out before us. If we are honest and teachable we will be able “face” the enemy with a fresh anointing for deliverance from all of his deceits and strategies.
In (Psalm 23) it goes on to say our “cup” will “run over.” These Hebrew Words are “kowc” (koce) and “revayah” (rev-aw-yaw’) and they mean that our lives will “contain satisfaction” and that we will be truly “wealthy”(Strong’s, 3563 & 7310). These words refer specifically to having the “richness, safety, and blessing of God’s deliverance from enemies”(Complete Word Study Dictionary,7310).
As the glorious bride of Christ, as God’s church, we must be pure and free from all of sorcery’s defiling influences in all of its various forms. We can no longer afford to overlook or redefine these issues among us. As His people, we must be serious about not allowing defilement to pollute our personal lives, homes, families and churches. “The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he compensated me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil” (Psalm 18:20-21, NLT).
We need BOLD LEADERS who are “discerning” and willing to please God and not people. We need leaders who can actually lead God’s sheep in the “right paths” and “protect” them from the dangers of the enemy. But since it is getting harder and harder to find faithful and upright leaders who will not compromise the Word of God, I believe God is bringing a powerful visitation through His righteous judgments to (awaken and) restore justice among His people.
“Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, Like those who glean vintage grapes; There is no cluster to eat of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires. The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net. That they may successfully do evil with both hands — the leaders asks for gifts (offerings), the judge seeks a bribe, and the great man utters his evil desire; So they scheme together. The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; the day of your watchman and your punishment comes; now shall be their perplexity. (Micah 7:1-4, NKJV, parenthesis mine).
Too many leaders are more concerned about asking for “love gifts” than they are about asking their congregations the hard questions that expose the sin and deception which is surrounds them. Especially those who call themselves apostolic leaders, who are to “judge” and “set in order”… those things that are terribly out of order in the body of Christ. Instead, many self proclaimed apostles are more focused on asking for “offerings” and are into taking “bribes.” The Hebrew word for “bribe” is “shilluwm” (shil-loom’). It is something that is “advantageous” and “used to distort justice” (CWSD, 7966). Those who are in a position of trust and receive “bribes” have no care for what is right or wrong but only in what they will receive. Thus, a bribe persuades them to corrupt or withhold their judgment.
There are many in leadership positions today who do not speak out against sin because sorcery has bribed them and has corrupted their judgment. As a result, false teachers, heresies and demonic influences, which are clearly at work, go unchecked because corrupted leaders are persuaded that speaking out against them would damage their ministries, personal reputations and more importantly, their pocketbooks. As I have stressed before, I do not believe in attacking people and condemning them, but I do believe in attacking the lies and deceptions, and wrongdoing that people embrace. I also believe in exposing the sinful behavior that brings shame to our holy God and to the reputation of Christianity. In these last days of sorcery’s rampant deceptions, we need more than ever “uncompromising (truly sanctified) holy” leaders who are God’s watchmen and are willing to seek God’s face and not just His hand! We need leaders who can stand in the Lord’s presence and fight against every force of darkness, by upholding truth, no matter the cost!
“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah. Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in! Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah” (Psalm 24:3-10, NKJV).
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