A trick of Satan’s ministers that you need to know. by alan ballou.
Satan tried to use part truth and part lies with Jesus (Matthew 4:5), just as his followers are doing today. Beware of anyone who uses part truth and part lies (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
What’s wrong with simply preaching what the Bible says? I’m going to show you some scriptures that nobody teaches to prove my point, and I want you to ask yourself this question. Why would any preacher, who is called by God to preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-2), refuse to preach the Word of God if he was not a minister of Satan?
Okay, maybe he doesn’t know any better, but then again, did God send someone to teach you that doesn’t even know what God told him to teach? Okay, let’s say that there is such a preacher, then after reading this article he will repent and start preaching the Word of God, right?
Here is an example. I have never heard a preacher preach John 15:4-6. In fact, most denominations preach the exact opposite.
John 15:4-6
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. NKJV
I can’t find one preacher, not even on Christian TV or radio that preaches that passage of scripture; no not one. Why? Do they think Jesus lied?
I went and checked every Bible version in the Christian book store, just to make sure that these verses were in every Bible out there, and they were. They may read a little different, but they were there.
I even went to some of these churches that I watched on TV, just to see which version of the Bible they used, and I was shocked that many of them used my Bible. I even wrote some of these churches and never received a reply.
What is the doctrine of abiding in Jesus so important? Listen to our instructions found in 2 John below, and ask yourself if you are willing to obey God, or man?
2 John 9-11
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. NKJV
Do what you think is best, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, and we will accept and believe His Word, even if we are the last household in this country that does so, point, blank, period.
My friend, know this. If you do not believe what Jesus Christ said according to John 15:4-6, then you do not believe Jesus. I don’t know what you have been told, but we got to hear Jesus’ Word and believe God in order to make it. Check the verse.
John 5:24
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. NKJV
I’ve already been kicked out of two churches for teaching the doctrine of abiding in Jesus. Imagine that. I’ve been listening and checking for just one preacher in this country who is willing to preach it for the past twenty something years, and haven’t found one, and I live in the Bible belt. In fact, most of them preach the exact opposite.
Therefore, this may be your last opportunity to hear the truth, my friend. You don’t need me, just take these verses back to your church and ask, “Why aren’t we preaching these verses?” Although, be prepared, since you may get kicked out too.
Let me give you another example. Most do not preach that we have to come to know Jesus, but out of the few that do, they may show you Matthew 7:21-23 and tell you that you must “come to know Jesus.” However, they will not tell you how to come to know Jesus according to the scriptures.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ NKJV
We do “have to” come to know Jesus in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven according to what Jesus said above, and in Luke 13:22-28, but how do we come to know Him according to the scriptures?
Most will tell you to “go have a personal relationship with Jesus,” in order to come to know Him, but they will never tell you that you must obey Jesus in order to know Him in keeping with scriptures below.
1 John 2:3-5
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. NKJV
Just like the devil in Matthew 4:5, they too may start with scripture, but then they finish with philosophy that is not written in the Bible anywhere, and if followed, it will not accomplish what scriptures would instruct you to do.
They will tell you that Jesus is your friend, but they will never preach in accordance with John 15:14 (below), which is clearly written in their Bibles.
John 15:14
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. NKJV
Why would any preacher tell you the exact opposite of what Jesus taught? Did Jesus send His disciples out to oppose Him? Let us repent and return to the Lord!
“Go have a personal relationship with Jesus” sounds good and seems right, but it isn’t written in the Bible. It’s philosophy, and we are warned not to be taken captive by it.
Colossians 2:8-9
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. NKJV
Just as there are verses that explain that we need to come to know Jesus, there are verses that explain “how” we come to know Jesus that false teachers will never teach you (1 John 3:2, Ephesians 4:20-24 below).
If they are trying to help people (minister) why do they hide the truth? Could they be hiding these scriptures from you because they are following a deceiving spirit that wants to destroy you (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. NKJV
If you follow their advice, you will never come to know Jesus according to how your Bible instructs you to come to know Jesus, which means you will not make it.
Intentional or not, they are making sons of hell, because they deceive people and keep them from following the truth. If they repent, praise God, but if they repent, then they would have to start preaching the truth.
How do we learn Christ according to the scriptures? What does the Bible say?
Ephesians 4:20-24
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. NKJV
Does that say go have a personal relationship or put off your old self, be renewed in your mind, and put on the new man (Ephesians 4:22-23) ? You can’t get that from “go have a personal relationship.”
If someone told you to go have a personal relationship with Jesus, you wouldn’t even leave the conversation with obeying Jesus, or putting off you former way of life on your mind. Therefore, don’t be taken captive by philosophy (Colossians 2:8)!
When will Jesus make His home on the inside of us according to the following verses? Is it before, or after we obey His teachings, according to the Words of Jesus below?
John 14:23-24
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. NKJV
If your Bible says turn right, then do not allow anyone to talk you in to turning left with a “fine sounding argument,” or “deceptive words” (2 Peter 2:3, 18). Remember Eve? What she heard sounded good and seemed right, but she had to disobey God in order to do it.
Learn from her mistake, and test every word you hear with your ears and cast out anything that changes what is written in God’s Word. That would be doing what God’s wants you to do in keeping with the next two passages of scripture.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. NKJV
2 Corinthians 10:5
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. NKJV
That’s what Christians are supposed to be doing. That’s how we fight; take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). How can we do that when we don’t even teach the doctrine of abiding in Jesus found in John 15:1-6?
How did Jesus instruct us to make disciples? Did He say baptize them and teach them to follow all of His teachings, or just tell them to “go have a personal relationship?”
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. NKJV
Does the Bible say “Go have a personal relationship with Jesus? No, it does not. What’s wrong with simply teaching what the Bible does say? Nothing, if your desire is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Only an enemy would tell you “don’t teach what the Bible says, but teach what it does not say.”
Think about that. That’s like the serpent asking Eve, “Did God really say?” Did God really say this or that? Look it up and see before you are deceived! Learn to say, “Where is it written?” “Show it to me and I will accept it and believe it!” That can keep you safe if you do not know the Word for yourself (Ephesians 4:13-14).
Ask me and I will tell you without cost and without denominational junk mixed in. I’m not asking you to follow me, or like my post. I’m trying to save souls here.
Does the Bible say that if we wander from the truth, we could lose our soul? Check the verses below!
James 5:19-20
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. NKJV
Does the Bible say that we can neglect our salvation by not paying close attention to the Word of God? Check the verses below.
Hebrews 2:1-3
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, NKJV
If it is in the Bible, I will teach it. If it isn’t, let those who love to listen to false teachers have it until they burn in hell (2 Thessalonians 2:10).
As quick as you hear made-up junk being preached, then you should know that you are dealing with someone following a deceiving spirit or the doctrine of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-2). Run!
1 Timothy 6:3-5
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. NKJV
Is it okay to use a word that transfers a thought? Yes, it is. For example, we could say myths instead of fables. They mean the same thing (made up stories) and do not change, take away, or add to the verses they are used in (Proverbs 30:5-6, 1 Corinthians 4:6). However, as quickly as we use a word that adds to, or takes away from the scriptures in our explanations or interpretations, then we are wrong; point, blank, period.
When you hear something like that, don’t put up with it so that you will not be deceived (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted — you may well put up with it! NKJV
I’m alan ballou; a servant. Got questions? Ask and Lord willing I will answer according to what is written and not with worldly wisdom, philosophy, or denominational garbage.
Hey good honest work of the Lord. I had some questions for you if you could reach back. I recently came to this same stuff you teach from the word of God and the wisdom God has provided me.
Praise God. If you send me a comment from my main site, I will reply back thru regular email, but this blog only has post