Religion and Deception Can’t Stop a Move of God

"For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?" - Isaiah 14:17

              This morning, while I was reading the Word, I began to really reflect on how the Lord's primary concern in each one of our lives is our heart, and the condition it is in. In Jeremiah 17:10 God says, "I, the Lord, search all hearts..."

            The condition of our heart is something that our Father, out of His infinite and unconditional love for us, is relentless about. Psalm 51:17 says, "The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God." As I was reading in Acts chapter 9, I began to see what took place from this perspective . Here, we find Saul, a mass murderer of these committed, born-again, Christ followers, determined to continue his mission of persecution and death amongst them. His next move was to capture, chain, torture, and annihilate the believers in Damascus. Most of us know this story, but what I began to notice was Saul's heart condition. His actual motives.

            In Acts 23:1 Paul says, "...I have lived in good conscience before God until this day," and in Acts 26:9, "I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth." From his own testimony, we see that Saul genuinely believed, (and with passionate fervor), that he was doing the will of God! His heart was in a place where, though what he was doing was absolutely atrocious, he fully and confidently believed he was doing it for God, and that God was pleased!

              What we are seeing here is the power of the spirits of Religion and Deception at work. These spirits darken a persons ability to see clearly, and especially to see oneself clearly. They numb the senses to darkness and evil, and above all, to the Spirit of God. They hate the Holy Spirit, because "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty," (2 Cor. 3:17); and we know that Satan and his cohorts hate freedom, truth, and life- because they have none! Nor will they ever! Saul was oppressed by these familiar spirits of his day, and completely blinded to the evil of his ways. These same spirits are still ruling today, and are just as, if not more destructive than ever. This is what we are seeing in effect all over the world, and just as equally in the Church, as these spirits are working hand in hand, blinding people from the truth. We can see that these spirits are covering a broad spectrum, even deceiving most of the population. From all false religions and cults, to dead Christian churches with no Spirit of God or life, to those who are open to the Holy Spirit but must maintain control over Him, His flow, and over the people, and even to ISIS.

              I say this because just as in the time of Saul, God is still all about the condition of our heart. Even though Saul was the Hitler of his day, his heart was not equivalent. He was deceived, and truly believed in his heart that what we was doing was right and honorable in the eyes of Jehovah. Here is a short recap of what takes place in Acts 9, as Saul is traveling to his next destination of destruction:

       "As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?'

'Who are you Lord?' Saul asked.

And the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.'

The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone's voice but heard no one!

Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink."

Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling,

'Ananias!'

'Yes, Lord!' he replied.

The Lord said, 'Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.'

'But Lord,' exclaimed Ananias, 'I have heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name!'

But the Lord said, 'Go, for SAUL IS MY CHOSEN INSTRUMENT TO TAKE MY MESSAGE TO THE GENTILES AND TO THE KINGS, AS WELL AS TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL...'

So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Instantly something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength." 

              Saul, whose name was later changed to Paul as he began his new life, had a radical heart for God, and one of genuine repentance. Because of this, the Lord knew that if He brought Saul deliverance from Religion and Deception, the new man, Paul, would keep his heart in a place of repentance, reverence, and obedience throughout the rest of his life. It is my belief, after seeking the Lord for years to answer my questions on deliverance, that many people today are not delivered because of His mercy. Because if their heart is not

right, and deliverance comes without radical transformation and commitment following as their way of life, it is only a matter of time before, "the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so the person is worse off than before," (Luke 11:26).

              But, if the heart is right- if it is a heart that, though they may be deceived, truly wants to know who God is, and is willing to go the distance and abandon all to follow Him- God will go the distance to save them! This is exactly what He did with Saul! Not only did God deliver him, but He personally revealed Himself to him! He set him free from the spirits of Deception and Religion, and it doesn't end there! God then chose him, anointed him, taught him by His Spirit, and then sent him out in boldness and power to preach the gospel of the Kingdom! God took Saul- a bloody Pharisaical murderer, and transformed him into Paul- one of, if not the, greatest evangelists of all time!

              This is also exactly what the Lord has done in my life. I was so bound not only by these spirits, but literally hundreds upon hundreds of others. My life was a continuous nightmare, and I was horribly bound. Even when things were better, I was empty. There was a deep void of purpose in me and hunger that needed to be filled and I could never seem to satisfy it no matter what, or who I tried. I was broken. I was desperate. I was dead. I knew there was a God and I wanted to know who He was... Deep down we all want to know our Maker and the Lover of our souls.

              After looking everywhere, God finally removed the scales off my eyes, just as He did Saul. I realized that God really was Jesus,  not a religion, but a person who wanted a real and living relationship with me. Someone who truly did want to be intimate with me and search the depths of my heart. Who wanted to walk with me and talk with me every day. Who wanted to help me, and teach me. Who wanted to show me the truth of what is going on in this world- breaking me free from complete ignorance and deception. And above all, who wanted to show me the power and reality of His Kingdom, and teach me how to thrive in it. And not only this, but a God who wanted to set me free from the chains this life had me in, to heal all my brokenness, and remove all of the deep, deep pain in my heart and soul.

           When I was finally able to see the truth- JESUS- I ran after Him! I wanted to be whoever and do whatever it takes to be a full-blown lover and follower of Him. Because I knew it was the truth and nothing else mattered anymore! I was no longer blind and purposeless. My life had meaning, and I had a living and tangible hope. And when you find Truth, you find Life!

Jesus was the key to life. Eternal life! Not only dying and going to heaven, but beginning that new life here and now, and having His Holy Spirit come live inside of me and be my Helper and Teacher! Oh how I wanted to know Him! And once I did, I wanted to be free. He said I could be healed, and that He does not lie. So I made it a mission to see this in my body, my mind, and my life. I wanted to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ was really the truth, above every other god and way in the world. That the Bible and every Word God wrote is 100% true. If this were so, I would go out and tell everyone: "I found something real! This is it! Jesus is the Way! He is the Truth! He healed me and set me free! Look at how much he has done in my life! Look at how much he has changed me! He is so real, so alive, and so amazing! HE IS THE ONLY TRUTH!!" And you bet, it ended up being so! He was true to His Word, and has supernaturally healed me physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally in every single way!

              Being my Deliverer and Healer is who He continues to be in my life daily. My part is to remain genuine in heart, obedient, and in a place of receptivity and repentance. As I have remained faithful, passionate, devoted, and surrendered, the spirits, circumstances, and deceptive attacks of the enemy he has delivered me from have been incredible. As Psalm 34 says, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all..."

              I had no idea that I was deceived. I thought I was a "good" person. I wasn’t- but God knew my heart. Saul had no idea he was deceived. He thought he was a "good" person. He thought he was serving God! He wasn't- but God knew his heart. As we see with Saul, and just as I saw in my own life, no one is safe from the redemptive hand and power of our Almighty God when He chooses to move upon a heart!

So what about ISIS? When I think about Saul and imagine what was taking place in that day, I see exactly what is taking place in our world right now. Is it very well possible that there are followers of ISIS who genuinely believe that allah is God, and that they are truly right in what they are doing?  Who are blinded by Religion and Deception? Saul was just as guilty. I was just as guilty. We are all guilty. We are all in need of forgiveness, which comes only by the precious Blood of Jesus- by His death and resurrection on the cross, and our belief in His perfect sacrifice and propitiation for our sins.   

          As far as Religion and Deception are concerned: Are these spirits, these fallen angels who were created by the All Powerful God Himself, too big for God? Are all of these people's hearts unchangeable? Are they so blinded and bound that they cannot ever see the light that Saul saw? That I saw? That so many of us by God's grace and mercy saw? On the contrary...

              It looks to me like God is orchestrating some pretty extravagant Damascus Road encounters!


              ...His Kingdom is being manifested! All for His Glory!

              Hallelujah!  He reigns!