Righteous Joy Cures the Itch and Protects Against Deception

Posted on by joyindestructible

Itching is a maddening type of pain and pain can cause a person to reach for anything that promises relief; even poison. Many believers and non-believers these days are driven wild by an epidemic of itching ears and a plethora of hucksters have appeared in response, offering relief; selling snake oil that relieves the itch but also, produces deadly side-effects. I’m not talking of course, about physical itching but spiritual. Many people today are tired of hearing the same old things they’ve heard before regardless, of whether or not they know that those same old things are true. This is a new century, peopled by those who want and desire everything new and regard everything old as garbage. Ghetto they call it and they’ve decided that Biblical teaching is also, ghettto. They miss the point that truly, there is nothing new under the sun, when it comes to the behavior of human beings, and anything created by man apart from God is true garbage that fills real ghettos, plagued by spiritual poverty. The doctrines imbibed, bought whole-sale from preferred dealers, looking for a way to escape their own poverty, are false and even demonic. They soothe itchy ears but produce confusion, deception, strife, anger, destruction, immorality, even violence and death. The only, cure is Jesus and the only way to inoculate one’s self against deception is daily washing in the Words He lived, the Holy Bible.

The religious and spiritual world is haunted by many seductive spirits. They have no power over believers unless, we give them that power. Knowing they can’t kill those who belong to Christ Jesus, they seek to oppress them and diminish their effectiveness. The root causes of itchy ears are sin, want, emotional need, spiritual neglect, and any kind of pain. Snake oil hucksters and their CEO, the enemy of God, Satan calls to that sin and make empty promises offered to fill every need. If you are struggling financially, they promise prosperity. If you are lonely, they promise love, acceptance, and friendship. If you are sad, they promise happiness. If you struggle with sin, they offer grace without obedience. If you are sick, they promise health. If you’ve been hurt in church, they offer an alternative. Their offer comes in the form of new teachings, re-vamped doctrines, new scriptures, and new forms of fellowship. What they want in return is your allegiance, your adoration, your money, your services, and your soul. The ultimate side-effect of false, demonic doctrine is death.

All hucksters hate competition and there is no one more despised by these follower of a reformed-Jesus than a genuine believer. Their attack begins first by deception in establishing common ground and a relationship. When deceit is established they turn to seduction, using charm to feed vanity, with words of admiration designed to make someone struggling and feeling invisible, feel special. They feel around for the besetting sin that every believer must wrestle with and feed into it. Then they introduce their doctrine, knowing the weakness of their target gives them the power they desire to form a following or an allegiance. If their target escapes, the information gathered can be used to frighten them into silence and destroy their reputation. Some adopt the methods of street-gangs and even employ violence to control and punish non-compliant victims.

It’s enough to make a believer want to form a crusade and free the church from deceptive doctrine; but the war we are called to fight isn’t without but within. The right response to hucksters (even if for a time you fell victim to one or to a whole gang) is a closer walk with Jesus. Not even correct doctrine gives us eternal life. Only Jesus can offer eternal life and there is no life apart from Jesus. Doctrines teach but Jesus saves. Theologies are all human theories only, Jesus is Truth. No human being can fully comprehend or apprehend God and only, Jesus is the Way. If you have a spiritual itch, a real want, a nagging need, or a sin that just won’t let you be don’t reach for the quick, temporary cure that comes with deadly side-effects. Reach for healing in Jesus and be filled by the Holy Spirit. Read, study, and mine your Bible. All the new answers you need in this new century are in the same old place, waiting for you to rediscover them. There is no need to rely on any expert for interpretation because the Bible says of itself that “scripture interprets scripture” and over time all of its secrets will be revealed, just in the moment you need them. In combination with the Holy Spirit, under the personal tutelage of Jesus, and power of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual fruit of joy will be produced in your life. Joy is the strength of those who belong to Jesus and only one of the spiritual fruits available to those who love Jesus and seek to obey His commands. The fruits of the Spirit are the cure and the preventative for itchy ears and protection against hucksters, standing on the street corners of spiritual ghettos, offering demonic, deception. Those hucksters, having their own ears scratched and rubbed often, are only out there trying to support their habit; lost in the false relief they swallowed, in desperation to escape their suffering. Even though they may mark you as an enemy, pray for them. When they insult you, remain silent. When they pronounce curses against you, bless them. When they pursue you, driven by their pain and hatred, trust God. He is the only One with the power to deliver us from the evil that desires to swallow up all of us in death. Don’t be discouraged, embrace the righteous joy of Jesus, and look up! Our redemption is very near!

Scriptural References: 1 Timothy Chpt. 4, 2 Timothy Chpt. 4, 2 Peter Chpt. 2

31 thoughts on “Righteous Joy Cures the Itch and Protects Against Deception”

  2. ” Doctrines teach but Jesus saves”

    I have to agree with Linda; that was simply outstanding. Ignoring sound doctrine is a dangerous path, but so is getting so wrapped up in it that we come to think it saves us. In other words, if we just follow the rules, God will accept us. It’s the law all over again when we do that and we become Pharisees.

    Nice Pam.

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    1. Thank you, Wally. Keeping our focus on Jesus and measuring every teaching according to His person, keeps us from being deceived from many things; especially, those things that sound pleasing and make us comfortable with our sin. There are things out there these days that make the Pharisees almost, appealing…some days, it’s overwhelming.

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      5. Hey Pam, thanks for liking that church sign LOL. I wasn’t even finished! It’s one I am working on and it was set to publish today and I forgot to change it. So, there it was, in all it’s unfinished glory! But, thanks for the thought. Stay tuned, as it will be done eventually

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  3. For about nine years I taught weekly at a local prison. Most times, I would have between 30-40 regular attendees. One day, an inmate came in and began to dispute my teachings with un-Biblical doctrine. He was upset that I did not focus on the martyrdom of the Church. In about a period of about three weeks, this one inmate was able to sway the ears of the other inmates so that all but about three left the meetings. Of course, I was hurt and allowed myself to become depressed. However, about a month went by and God did a miraculous thing. The inmate who stirred up all the trouble was shipped out and so were many who followed his teachings. As for the meetings, the Lord sent a whole new group.

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    1. God’s purpose is woven through everything and I’m happier when I remember that. There have always been doctrinal disputes, it’s part of learning but these days there’s the same old, re-hashed arguments and then there’s bar-Jesus.:0/ People who put their faith in teachings rather than Jesus Christ will someday, be horrified.

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  5. We all deal with difficulties don’t we? I am convinced that the only resource is to lay all out before Jesus Christ and to confirm our commitment that we want Him more than anyone or anything. He is our all in all. Dear Pam, very encouraging post for one who truly needed the encouragement. Thank you and God bless you. Amen!

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    1. I quit blogging for a little over two years and I can’t believe how things have changed in that time. So many seem to be seeking a god in their own image and the result is strong delusion. Truth is the only One who can break the spell.

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