Spirits of Delusion in the Church

Isaiah 44:20
Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

Something, again, to consider. Careless worship. Worship which seeks self-indulgence, self-aggrandizement, self-edification, rather than seeking the face of God. There is an abundance of this sort, right now, and we must all remain humble and contrite before the Lord, continually examining ourselves, so to refrain from slipping into that same indulgence. There’s no other course.

Christ is all, we are not. So, to take worship as an arbitrary act is rather misguided.

The point of difficulty in this lies along the line of discernment. And of necessity for progression.

All that makes sense is that in seeking Christ, truly and wholeheartedly seeking Him, as unto salvation…He let us know He will be found by us. He said as much. It’s recorded in Scripture. Just as is the necessity of striving onward, thereafter–striving to know Him evermore fully, as to be conformed to Him evermore completely. Those are Scriptural admonitions, to us all.

The thing about that is…for me, at least, they haven’t been merely Scriptural directives. The indwelling force of the Holy Spirit compels me unto Him: Having seen Christ, having caught a glimpse of Him from even such a distance, His preciousness exceeds imagining and His love is all-consuming…such that there is now nothing else which can or will do, to fill the place which He has come into, in my heart and life. Having come to abide with me, within my spirit, there’s a hollowness to other pursuits lest they include Him, now.

Now, Scripture confirms experience while directing unto further revelation. Just as Scripture remains the sound means of gauging the nature and veracity of progressive experience and revelation.

It works both ways, in other words: The Holy Spirit, dwelling within, compels toward Christ, further into Scripture; Scripture then reaffirms and further clarifies compulsions and revelations given by the Spirit, unto Christ. Not one without the other. Neither separate from the other, in any way.

Which perhaps is where comes the departure from legalism, most blatantly: there is an earnest desire to pursue Christ, to know Him, to love Him more, to experience His love more fully, and to please Him (to do His will)–thus, entailing desire to love others as He loves them, to walk as He did, to speak as He would, to be as He was and is.

The only way thus far discerned to accomplish that end is to seek Him to the exclusion of all else.

Wholeheartedly. Even as the idea of that is largely defined by a yearning unto Him, rather than by any specific methodology–that yearning is given to prayer, for guidance and direction. That yearning compels one to immerse oneself in Scripture, seeking greater glimpses of Him, seeking increasing revelation of His nature. That yearning compels unto continual prayer, praising Him, lifting Him up, and beseeching Him on behalf of one’s desire for Him and on behalf of others’ need of Him.

There is nothing else, is all: So far as what the Spirit insists and Scripture confirms. He is all.

Merely, as goes the necessity of discernment in regard to worship and congregating, He has increasingly led me to desire fellowship which honors Him, fellowship and instruction which holds Him in highest esteem. Fellowship which both fears Him utmost reverently and worships with utmost sincerity.

There is a great lack of fear of the Lord in near all houses of God, it seems. Congregating for the sake of hearing the Word, but without a desire for sanctification, yields to self-indulgence. Congregating for the sake of edification, without being open to either rebuke or chastisement or correction (as never inciting nor receiving any, per the Spirit), doesn’t much exhibit evidence the Spirit is working according to His described operation. Self-indulgence is dangerous, is the thing. It yields to an ability to believe all is well, when a house is, in truth, burning down around those who sit therein.

The Lord will give clarity, though–He will open eyes and ears. As people seek Him truly, yielding themselves to Him. Whatever it takes to bring us to that point.

We have all sinned, is the thing. We all do sin, is the thing.

So, sanctification is a continual work–lifelong, on this earth, as best has thus far been experienced and revealed: thus, it is one which progresses, not one which takes place once, then never again.

I’m just still struggling to understand how it’s possible to believe oneself saved (as I once did), while lacking all desire for sanctification…lacking all desire for further revelation of Christ, unto further and greater manifestations of holiness in one’s own life. None of which yield to a sense of self-righteousness, when in accord with the Holy Spirit’s direction. Rather, further sanctification yields to an increased awareness of one’s unworthiness before God, a greater love of Him and for others, and a deeper sense of humility and brokenness, before Him. A greater awareness of inability and insufficiency.

Not self-satisfaction and self-assuredness. Not self-sufficiency and self-justification. No, indeed.

Brokenness, before Him. Dependency upon Him. Further. And further.
To ever greater degrees.

There is a peace even in brokenness, though, when He holds the pieces. There’s a gentility there, which is soothing in the midst of the direst pain.

Even as a certain amount of fear per what lingers of desire for self-preservation oft raises itself in defiance of Him, still. Much prayer, on that account: Better to remain broken before Him than to conceive of wholeness and lose all sense of humility, as per salvation.

He must do these things, though. I can’t. I’m incapable. He must keep me increasingly humble and broken, before Him.

It’s just not possible for me to further distance myself from a sense of self-preservation which lingers, unnecessarily. His will be done, not mine, is all. He will continue the work He has begun. He has, thus far, and it will continue.

There’s just such a great, encompassing sadness, in considering so many places where church is more of a self-satisfactory game than a quest for trembling, tearful repentance before the one true, living God. What does it benefit, to share Scripture, if no one is convicted of sins? What does it benefit, to revel in the Word of God, if Christ is not being formed and refined in the members of the congregation? There is some strange deadness, in those such places. Some strange deadness which I don’t understand, and which the Lord hasn’t explained.

All I hear, ever, is that they have what they want. They “may have what they want.”

So, for people not to desire Him? …in truth? Merely taken with minor apparitions which seem largely to conjure a self-congratulatory sense of the supernatural? But without the power of God?…as unto repentance, salvation, and sanctification?

There is great danger, there.

I don’t understand it, completely. All I know is what I’ve seen, and what He’s made clear in regard to bits and pieces of it. Grievous. To be grieved. Much prayer and supplication on behalf of those who are lost.

We must seek Him, is the thing. Wherever He leads. Disabusing us of whatever delusions we’ve long preferred to Him. Disabusing us of whatever delusions we’ve clung to, as means of security and maintaining perception of sanctity:

We are all very much living under varying degrees of delusion, you see.

To varying depths.

He is the only one to bring deliverance. Just as He’s the one who allowed us the spirits of delusion. For we won’t know the truth, unless we love it–we must seekit, wholeheartedly. We must desire the truth as though it were the air we breath (which, in ways, it is): Jesus is the truth, as it goes. And He will and does deliver from delusion: As we seek Him, wholeheartedly.

There’s no means of otherwise definitively outlining the process, or the result: He is the way, after all. That is all.

He has to guide. He has to instruct. He will lead into all truth. He will, though, as we seek Him.

Just, we each come from a different place, as delusions go. Even as some are decidedly “mainstream.” Delusions regarding long-term security, for instance:
Like, say…401(k), Roth IRA?

As opposed to:

Deuteronomy 28:8-14

The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you. The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you. The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Matthew 6:19-22

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We are to work, we are to progress, we are to go forward, but we’re not to stockpile resources.

2 Corinthians 8:12-15

For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”

Which, there are so many things. So many things, just like that particular delusion. Which I’m yet struggling with, myself: The initial response to being shown a delusion long-labored under has generally consisted of becoming defensive against the Lord: “Oh, no! That’s just fine like it is. I mean, everybody does that! There’s no way I can live without <believing such-and-such a thing>! No way, whatsoever! It’s not possible! I’m fine. I’m just fine. I can’t survive unless I do these things, this particular way, according to <such-and-such belief>. It’s just how I am. It’s how the world is, after all! So there is no other way. I can’t possibly let it go. Can’t possibly. No way, no how. And it’s fine just like it is. It’s not possible to live without acting according to these beliefs. Even if the Bible does say <Scripture such-and-such against such-and-such belief>…it doesn’t matter, does it–everybody does these things! So, they can’t possibly be wrong!” …and on, and on, and on.

Until, through continued prayer, Bible study, and seeking of His face, He brings humility to accept that, yes, I am wrong. He is right. As always. As is good.

And after the initial anger, brought to awareness of a major gaffe, unto humility as to accept error…then comes fear: “Ok, so it’s wrong. But how can I live without that belief? How will I go on? How can I possibly manage to live a life on this earth, and not ascribe to that belief? How???”

Which is every bit as bad as anger. Because, while it doesn’t seem to be flagrant rebellion, it is nonetheless abject doubt of Him. Which is no less derogatory, ultimately.

He is so merciful, though, so faithful and long-suffering. Even through all that nonsense, His love doesn’t falter. He leads to remembrance of times past when He has been faithful, leads to remembrance of how trustworthy He is. And envelops in love. So, then, unto contrition and repentance. Unto greater trust and love for Him.

But it’s all by way of looking to Him: All, per course of remaining focused upon Christ, continuing to seek Him in prayer and study.

When the difficult truths come to light, He is faithful to banish the darkness. Through continued seeking of His face, continued devotion to Him, continued striving unto Him:
All of which, He ultimately maintains and directs.

So, with places where there is never any progressive sanctification of members?…the Lord may and does still work, as He wills. Even as the church, as a whole, isn’t seeking Him so much as seeking to placate themselves: Knowing oneself in need of a Savior is one thing, professing to have one another, and yet even further removed from the all is a life driven unto and by Christ, post-regeneration.

There is just such fear and longing for those who aren’t aware of the difference between “profession” and salvation. Even as I lived four years believing myself saved, before He had mercy on me in allowing my life to fall completely apart–shredding the last vestiges of a persistent and all-encompassing self-sufficiency which prevented me from acknowledging and desiring Him as Lord: Even having prayed to Him as “Lord,” I had still refused to acknowledge Him as Lord, in my heart of hearts. My spirit was unregenerate. I was not saved. I was “self-justified,” per having said a prayer and spoken that He was Lord.

Words don’t have weight, any longer, is the problem. People have no more significance attached to the word “believe” than to the word “confess,” these days–and neither has any more weight than the word “Wednesday.” All words have been abused to mean anything whatsoever at any time whatsoever, that even so weighty a word as “love” no longer possesses intrinsic weight. So, should it be any wonder that God no longer has value in His own house, when nothing is sacred or valued except superficially? A travesty, beyond travesties. And moreso for what will come of it, unless people do begin to heed His words.

We cannot make play of the things of God, without recompense. He is so long-suffering and good as to allow us room to repent, as to reach out to us earnestly in admonition, as to entreat us to return to Him. He is long-suffering.

He is very patient. We would have no hope, otherwise.

For, even the most learned, even the most reverent, still knows so little of who and how He truly is as to surely transgress in ways unawares.

Yet He seems to many times weigh sincerity of desire to do honor to Him, against the brunt of our wholescale ignorance. Or, who knows? Maybe it’s really just a matter that He still does have mercy on whom He will, even on that count.

All I know is that I’ve erred grievously against Him, time and time again, and He hasn’t outright destroyed me. He has had mercy beyond reckoning. Grace beyond measure. And love beyond comprehension. Guiding me, showing me the way. Leading me in His ways. Despite my petulance. Despite my nonsensical dissensions. He bears with me, and keeps me. Tells me I am His, and continues to disabuse me of faulty notions in regard to who He is. He continues to draw me nearer, as I seek Him.

We all have many delusions, is all. Just continue to seek Him, is all I know: Accepting no substitutes or imitations.

He’s had a great deal of patience with me, in the course of seeking Him. So many times I’ve turned aside, still, getting distracted by various points which aren’t at all necessary to becoming more like Him. And I have no idea, still, how utterly puerile my approach to Him may tend to be. But…in the scheme of things, everything less than Him is absolutely nothing, in comparison. So, more important to just seek Him, regardless, hoping and praying all the while to do so in ways which are ever more pleasing to Him.

Maybe, even, there is some accommodation made for those who choose not to pursue Him, beyond regeneration? I really don’t know.

I hear bits and pieces about people who are Christians who don’t “go all out.” I hear about people who walk with Him, but don’t feel a call to sacrifice self. Somehow.

I’m just not sure how that works. I can’t comprehend how it could. But, then, there are countless many other things which are absolutely beyond my comprehension.

Moreso, though, I just now wonder how many other people there are who were like me, until this time last year: having said a prayer and beginning attendance at church, periodic unto regular, I believed I was saved, given the actions I’d taken. Interpreting the verses in Scripture literally, rather than according to the Spirit, in terms of repentance, belief, and confession, I believed I’d done everything required, and was secure: Much as was taught by all those around me, as though my actions controlled God’s will to save, I thought I’d done everything required of me to secure salvation.

We don’t dictate to Him, though.

We don’t.

That’s not in purview of our abilities as created beings.

And salvation for the sake of salvation really isn’t at all in line with the entirety of what the process it, regardless. It’s about Christ. It’s about reconciliation to God.

Not about avoiding punishment. Not about avoiding wrath. Those things are part of the results, yes, but it’s about coming into obedience, having always prior been disobedient. In ways, in keeping with the two mounts which Moses was given to illustrate the difference between obedience and disobedience. One wrought blessings, the other curses. Both were of God. Disobedience to God yields life under a curse. That is the first Adam’s mandate upon us: life under a curse, the law of sin unto death.

Our only means of coming out from under that curse is to come into Christ. And that’s something which is only as complicated as seeking Him wholeheartedly. In Scripture, through prayer, through teaching.

Howsoever He gives, as a means to seek unto finding Him: who knows what might be part or parcel, for some, depending upon where they begin?

Just seek. Let Him be all, in all.

We can all only hope for that, further to become reality.