Domination by Deception

“For of whom a man is overcome (by deception, false teaching), of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19

In the grand scheme, the leaders are pivotal. At the hands of wicked leaders, Israel was steered into dismal deception and darkness (Isaiah 9:16). The essence of what Christ hates with the “deeds” and “doctrine of the Nicolaitans,” is that they seek to control the people for their own self-serving purposes and thereby move Christ’s church/people away from the LORD’s intended purpose for His body (Ephesians 4:11-16). False leadership, “Nicolaitan” leadership, is conquering the people and that includes squandering their heart affections, energies, and resources (Revelation 2:6, 15). Jesus told us that He hates such. Nico means to conquer and laitans means the people. So, “Nicolaitan” leadership is that false leadership which conquers God’s people and exploits them for their own self-serving purposes (Isaiah 56:10-12; Philippians 3:18-19). | Beware of the Nicolaitans Among Us

“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24

The LORD, strong and mighty, will severely judge those who have conquered the people, taking the glory from the LORD, spoiling fruitfulness (Jeremiah 12:10).

Leaders who betray the LORD and His people.

Remember that according to the record of the Gospels, it was the wicked religious leaders, the Jews of Christ day, who betrayed the Son of God, their KING to the Roman authorities, calling out for His crucifixion (Matthew 27; John 19, etc.).

Broad Way Robbery

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Matthew 7:13-16

One of the more obvious observations of the visible church-building based system is the demoting, shunning antichrist spirit which does not uphold Christ but rather mere men and their organizations. To the discerning disciple, this becomes clearer daily. Hirelings who are busy fostering allegiance to programs, personalities, things, organizations, and mere men, have robbed Christ of the glory due to His holy name alone (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 4:5; Galatians 6:14). For example: Becoming a church member has replaced the daily cross Jesus mandated for all who will follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24). Going to church in America has become a tradition where people are made to think they are right with God because of their church membership and attendance. Recently, I met a couple who bragged about their pastor and how long they had been going to and members of that church. They never mentioned Jesus. There was no personal testimony of His life and work in their lives. Yet, at the hearing of God’s Word during our conversation, they were convicted and hurried away. This is so very common in this apostate last generation (Matthew 24:10-13; 2 Timothy 3:1-8, 13; 4:2-4, etc.). This shunning of God’s very Word, would clearly indicate that they have no life with the LORD in His Word (John 8:47). You see, their pastor is a professional hireling who only says those things that are going to help him garner the mortgage money and keep that franchise open for business. That means that he will never preach on anything from God’s Word that would possibly bring the conviction of sin in order not to anger his customers who are unrepentant worldly consumers. Jesus died to save individuals and those individuals He saves love and hear His Word and worship Him alone. Jesus did not come to save a local church body per se. No, He came and died to save individuals who make up His church. So, joining an organization does zilch to secure one for the King and His blessed, eternal kingdom.

Now are you beginning to see why many are beginning to see that visible church is a hell hole – an agent of Satan on the wide road that leads to destruction? (Matthew 7:13-14)

The Mandate to Equip

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-15

Instead of preparing, edifying, and sending forth the body of Christ “for the work of the ministry,” hireling wolves have actually become the leading roadblock of Christian maturity (Ephesians 4:11-15). Nothing makes this more obvious than the fact that we have a nation of people – millions of them – who are good church members and faithful attenders and yet don’t have a lick of knowledge of God’s Word. The average person claiming to be saved today couldn’t quote 3 Bible verses verbatim! Shocking! They simply do not know the Word and will be “destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6) 

False leadership knows that knowledge is power and so the epidemic of wolves doesn’t want the average individual to be empowered by knowing God’s Word for themselves. Dumb people are easy to deceive and control. On that note: Please know that without exception, any person in leadership who is not teaching the people to get into the Word of God for themselves, is a vile, godless, devilish wolf.

Darrel Moore notes:

“The wolves depend on the lack of biblical knowledge and and lack of discernment in order to deceive. They rely upon the sheep not to read and study God’s Word for themselves and to look to them (the wolves) for their daily sustenance.”

***GUARDING AND DEFENDING THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL 

“That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.” 2 Timothy 1:14-15

“A pastoral leader must guard and defend the gospel committed to him in a day when many depart from the N.T. faith (2 Tim. 3:13-15; 4:2-5; 1  Tim. 4:1).  (1) He must defend it against attack and challenge the church if it is tempted to lay aside the truth. This duty is essential to ensure salvation for himself and for those under his charge (see 2 tim. 3:14-15; 1 Tim. 4:16).  (2) Guarding of the deposit of faith must be done with the help of the Holy Spirit. It is He who inspired the infallible truths of Scripture (2 tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21) and it is He who is the great guide and defender of the truth (John 16:13). Defending the ancient faith once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3) means standing faithfully beside the Holy Spirit (John 14:17; 15:26-27; 16:13).” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 1918

Note the sequence here in 1 Timothy 4:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;   … If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things (apostasy and the truth), thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. … Till I come, give attendance to reading (the Scriptures), to exhortation, to doctrine. … Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Timothy 4:1, 6, 13, 16

Those who servant-lead are called and accountable before the LORD to equip Christ’s people to do His blessed work and yet, in most cases they are the greatest hindrance to such a New Testament purpose for elders.

False Leaders in the Church: A Nation of Gullible Sheep Breeds a Priesthood of Wolves

Being too hard on leadership? Let’s read a sampling of what God says in His Word about apostate leadership:

“Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.” Jeremiah 12:10

“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachersamong you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

“For there are certain men crept in unawares (undiscerned), who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4

“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:13

“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. ² Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:1-2

“Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.” Ezekiel 34:10

“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. ¹¹ Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. ¹² Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.” Isaiah 56:10-12

Now, as a student of the LORD, a student of Holy Scripture, read Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 34, Matthew 23, Jude 1, and 2 Peter 2.

This divinely stated case and warning concerning false leaders makes it incumbent upon the individual disciple to seek and to study to show his own self approved unto God so that he will not be ashamed in that hour (2 Timothy 2:15). We must denounce at once any undue allegiance to mere men and the organizations they have set up to intercept our affections from the One who alone bled to buy us to the Father.

Deceivers and False Prophets Among Us | Predators in Our Pulpits

Pastors According to Mine Heart | What’s Wrong with the Modern Church World? | Domination Through Indoctrination

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“False teachers are not to be followed. Teachers sent of God are to be followed, as with the example given by the apostle Paul, who said by the Spirit, “Become followers of me, even as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). A false teacher leads into the emptiness of self-righteousness and death, but a true teacher leads to the fullness of Christ and life.” Carol B.