The Devil’s Greatest Work of Deception

My wife passes by me at the computer, looks and says to me: “What are you discussing now?” I said, “Praying in tongues.” She says, “Again!  Why are you so into talking about that?”

That’s a fair question to ask. Let me explain.

I really do not care if anyone prays in tongues or not. To me, praying in tongues is such a minor and unimportant practice.  What I am concerned about is how people arrive at the conclusion that such a practice warrants their passion to do so.

One of the things I see happening within the Christian church that is totally demonic is our reliance and acceptance on pragmaticism.  This is the belief that if something works, it must be true and therefore worthy of practice.

This is why so many churches are opening themselves up to adopt principles of the world. The world does business using certain principles and techniques, and so leaders in churches think, “It works fine and dandy in the business world, let’s bring it to the church.” Rather than asking, “Is it right?” People are asking, “Does it work?”  Is not the bible sufficient to give us all we need to do the will of God?

One haunting passage that came from the lips of Jesus is found in Matthew 7:21-23.  Here is what Jesus said about scores of people who will stand before Him at the judgment: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Notice the key points of observation:

First, they think they know Jesus, for they call Him, “Lord, Lord.”  But that was not enough. They think they knew Him, but Jesus says to them, “I never knew you.”

Second, they apparently are church going religious people, for they bring to Him their religious works – prophesy, casting out demons, and performing miracles. But again, these things were not enough.

Third, they were successful in their experiences. They actually did perform works of prophesy, casting out demons and were involved in works of miracles. They said, “Did we not,” not “did we not try.” They were successful. They relied on their experiences and that was not enough.

Fourth, they performed such works “in the name of Jesus.” Three times they said, “Did we not do such works ‘in your Name?’”  Yet, even this was not enough!

Fifth, this is not a small group, but “many.” Jesus said, “Many will say to me on that day.” Look at the context and go to verse 13-14 where Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

The broad road that leads to destruction has “many” on it. The narrow road that leads to life only has a “few” on it.

Sixth, some will know the Lord and say, “Lord, Lord” and will be accepted by Jesus and enter into eternal life. In verse 21, Jesus said, “Not everyone,” which implies, “some will” just “not everyone.”

Seventh, Jesus gives a threefold response in verse 23:

1.   “I never knew you”

2.   “Depart from Me”

3.   “You who practice lawlessness”

Here is the application.  It is not about that they prophesied, or cast out demons or performed miracles all in the name of Jesus. It is that they relied on their pragmaticism (what works) rather than looking for the proper fruit by which Jesus said, “You shall know them” (vv. 18-20). It is the “root” that produces the “fruit.”  The Christian walk is not based on what works that determines whether it is right and worthy of practice, but on what is right that determines whether it ought to be practiced.

Since the root determines the kind of fruit, what is the root? The Holy Spirit. What is the fruit? Galatians 5:22-26: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Praying in tongues (jibberish) is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is an experience that some have tried and found it to work and therefore, they rely on it.  Just like the people who will stand before Jesus in the day of judgment and say, “Did we not prophesy, cast out demons and performs miracles all in your name?” It wasn’t enough.  These people really believed that God was in what they were doing.  Imagine the level of deception that the devil won over them to make them to believe this and how they will feel when Jesus opens their eyes?

Let me say it in another way:  “It is not about what people do, it is about who they are.  And who they are will determine what they do.  Don’t be content to ask yourself, “Do I know Jesus?” Ask, “Does Jesus know me?”

A good place to begin is to ask, “Does my own personal experiences take precedence over the Word of God?  Do I determine the validity of God’s word based on my experiences and what I see others do, or do I base my experiences and what others do on the Word of God?

Listen folks, we only have one shot to get it right. It’s now in this life. After this life is over with, it’s over. There will be no second chance.

This is a major reason why I choose not to bury my mind and turn it off when it comes to communicating with God.  I do not want my mind unfruitful when I am praying. I want my mind to be partnering with my spirit when I am talking to my Father.  The greatest deception by the devil will one day be realized.