Not Fooled

Not Fooled

Revelation 20: ⁴ Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been executed because they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed and the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image, nor had they received the mark of the beast on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and ruled as kings with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first raising of the dead. ⁶ Happy and greatly blessed are those who are included in this first raising of the dead. The second death has no power over them; they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him for a thousand years.

 

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Being gullible was a problem I faced. I took what was said as face value. I repeated some of the words without checking whether the information was right or wrong. “Do you know what you are saying?” someone challenged me.

 

• I was saying things that contained half-truths.
• I believed in what people said without checking their character.
• I was fooled quite easily, because I wanted to be part of a crowd.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw thrones of people given power to judge. They had not been fooled by the beast or the false prophet or Satan. All things that looked glamorous but took people away from CHRIST, did not penetrate their hearts and they remained followers of JESUS, even unto death.

 

My Observations:

• It takes prayer to not be fooled.
• It takes giving up “my” desire to have a kingdom to hear the truth from GOD.
• It is worth losing the world and gaining my soul.

 

Relative truth can fool me into deep problems. I mean, when something sort of makes sense, but has a slight dab of lie mixed in, I sometimes cannot tell what is the real truth. Then my desires blind me further to want to believe in lies more than the truth. BUT GOD gave me a way to know the truth.

 

JESUS is the Way, the TRUTH and the life. Following HIM means getting to know HIM. It means I love HIM more than I love “being known” for studying HIM and becoming a Pharisee. It also means that the world has nothing to offer me, BUT JESUS has everything I need. I gladly give up the world’s lies for the TRUTH.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer mention about the “first raising of the dead?”
• Has life gotten so difficult that you are willing to believe in a lie?
• Will you seek the truth yourself by reading the Bible without someone else’s interpretation so GOD can speak to you through HIS word today?

Dilemma Answers

Matthew 21: ²³ Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

²⁴ Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ²⁵ John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

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“Have the answer before you ask the question” was the advice of the person who seemingly had “made it.” I tried it and I could suddenly tell when a person was lying. He then told me I could use this as an advantage to put people in a dilemma they could not get out of.” Hmm, this may be a good idea” I thought to myself.

• There were times I listened to hear what politics were being played.
• There were times I tried to hear words so I could have a better political stance.
• There were times I would collect my position way before I met with “that” person.

Twisted thinking brings out twisted words. Trying to “think ahead” of GOD is very impossible, but that is what the Pharisees were trying to do. They tried to twist JESUS’s words against HIM so their questions were well thought out for their advantage.

JESUS saw right through their twisted plot and did not answer their question. HE knew they were not “with” HIM rather their questions were only collecting evidence against HIM.

• GOD wants me to ask questions that come from HIS words.
• GOD wants me to ask questions that inspire people to love HIM.
• GOD wants me to ask questions that enable people to be drawn to HIS love, not repel them.

Twisting words and acting political is not trait of GOD and HE doesn’t like it when I am trying to do the same. HE wants me to hold onto the truth HE gives me and then I don’t have to twist or mince words. HE leads me to a place that leads others to HIM.

• Are you twisting words for your gain?
• Are you manipulating the situation for yourself?
• Can you stop your political thinking and start bringing people to GOD today?