Except the Very Elect Be Deceived . . .

Most of us feel we have the discernment to avoid deception, but do we really?  Messiah did say, "except the very elect be deceived . . ."  That has always served to remind me to not be too sure of myself or anyone else.  I asked for discernment when I received the indwelling of the Great Spirit of YHWH, and confessed my need.  I told Him straight out, I needed discernment, I'd fall for all sorts of "songs and dances."  I accepted the lies of others over my own intuition, until, Ruach HaKodesh came into my spirit.  Even with His indwelling Spirit, I still seem to be a target for a sad manipulative story, but; with discernment I don't fall for it.  I am also aware of the fact, I must remain surrendered and dependent to the Voice of Abba, or I could indeed, fall for something . . .  I don't think I'm alone in the following statement.  "I could genuinely believe something and be genuinely wrong."

We all receive requests for help on social media, I'm sure.  I pray about those.  Some, I'm willing to respond and others, there's a check in my spirit.  Let me say again, my insight comes from Abba.  Many people call me wise, that is a gift of the Spirit.  When I discern, that is a gift of the Spirit.  I'm idealistic, creative, and frugal, naturally; but I don't have a lick of common sense!  In this article, I'm going to use myself as an example, because I know what I'm really living and that's the point of this.  We can think we know someone, but even before social media, there have always been reports in the news in which the neighbors were shocked to discover . . . So-and-so was capable of whatever.

 As this subject came to mind, I was reminded of the ad years ago, and it has be at least 15 years ago, because I saw it on television.  It was an ad for the internet.  A couple had become emotionally "involved" via the internet, and decided to meet; when they both individually realized their profile pic was nothing like their reality . . . There are days I'm bombarded with requests for donations, but the profile information is sketchy or the photos appear to be generic downloads.  I've seen marriage advice posted by people who I know are living in a bigger mess than I am.  I actually read comments by a "teacher" who espoused being a mighty spiritual warrior of no compromise. proceed to tell their followers all the things the compromises they made to "participate" in a mainstream prayer group to blend in . . .  We simply do not know anyone's entire story, so even in fellowship or attempts thereof; we must keep our eyes on Messiah.

I promised earlier to use myself as an example, so I will.  I am homesteading.  I was doing it before I knew it had a trendy label.  I haven't simplified and roughed it as much as some others, but I'm certainly heading off the grid and out of the dependency upon the systems.  I'll admit it, there are times when I see a good price on chicken breasts at one particular market, I'll buy it and enjoy the fact I don't have to take the feathers off of dinner.  I'm still operating in experimental mode and last winter when I ran out of potatoes before I planted, I realized two things.  I needed a better plan and if I wanted potatoes, I'd have to go to the store and buy them.  I don't have this all figured out yet.  When I established the domain www.holyhomesteading.com, I introduced it with the qualification that I would share the steps of  my successes and confess my failures to serve as a horrible warning, which I think I've done.  Point being, however; we know our information is filtered and often misrepresented.

The reality is, the digital age affords the potential for real deception and difficulty in retracing the original report.  For example.  I could be sitting in a penthouse apartment, eating bonbons while surfing the net for images of goats and full canning jars.  I could be promoting all kinds of natural health while taking pharmaceuticals and smoking a cigarette.  I have written about my undivorced status, but I could be undivorced and just cohabitating with a guy that likes me better.  Our society has done some interesting redefinition to the point; "fake it til you make it". . . is no longer hypocrisy, but supposedly, effort that should be appreciated.  The excuse is often made "that G-d is still working on me" or it's not being dishonest, "I'm just speaking it into existence."  There are old sayings about "walkin' the walk or talkin' the talk," but in reality we are called to "walk our talk!"  Social media and digital history allows a great deal of latitude and internet teachings abound.

I don't think I could quote Scripture while intentionally trying to be deceptive, but we do know the enemy can and has!