The Great Deceptions

By Carey Ingram

In this chaotic world, one thing that is obvious is that the enemy of God, Satan, is using his powers to attempt to deceive the Christian Church and those who have no relationship with Christ at all. He does this by any means necessary. His greatest power is that he knows our weaknesses. He is sullen, taking his time and making light of godly issues. And he is seductive, luring his prey into the world and into his train of thoughts. You must know that this is the only response that this defeated foe can have: try to bring others down into the pit of eternal damnation with him. Keep in mind that Satan has evil spirits who possess people whose only objective is to deceive God's people and the sinner man. As I am convicted to share my thoughts and ideas, my objective is to touch the hearts of people. I am one of many fighting for the very souls of mankind. This is spiritual warfare, and as a soldier, I am just doing what my Commanding Officer has commissioned me to do. I know many people will disagree with me as it is their right; however, I pray those who read this book with an open heart will be blessed in the way God intends. This work is about learning to make good choices that one might grow and be in an intimate relationship with God. This work is not about judging and condemning, but rather, in the spirit of love, I want to be sensitive and enlightening in my efforts to explain what I see as the danger of living worldly lifestyles. However, in order for me to do this, I pray that my readers will hear me out, and give me a real chance to express my beliefs and feelings. In the words of Pastor Rick Warren: "Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone's lifestyle, then you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You do not have to compromise your convictions to be compassionate." We are all saved by the grace of God. However, that grace was not free. It was purchased by the blood of Jesus. Therefore, there is no room for compromise. We must know Christ as our Lord and Savior. I pray that this work will help define truth according to God's Holy Word and that this truth will set us all free.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644711200

Book preview

Foreword

One of the most gut-wrenching events to take place in modern times was the forty-year Tuskegee Experiment conducted by a group of public health service officials between the years 1932–1972. It was officially known as The Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male. The study was done under the guise of doing a public service for African- American men with a promise by the officials to provide free health care from the United States government, and we all know how this story ended. According to Carol A. Heintzelman in Tuskegee Syphilis Study and Its Implications for the 21st Century, denied access to the syphilis vaccine, many died, wives contracted syphilis, and several children were born with congenital syphilis. Other critics have labeled this experiment as infamous, unethical, and malicious. According to Heintzelman, it was not until May 16, 1997, that President Bill Clinton offered a formal apology on behalf of the United States to victims of this experiment. The Tuskegee Experiment—what a deception!

Acts of deceptions are as old as time. According to biblical teachings, their genesis can be traced back to the Garden of Adam and Eve, and these ungodly acts continue to permeate our culture to this date. We see it in our everyday lives, the media, our government, and the list is endless. It appears that our society has truly become a culture of deceptions. Such deceptions have impacted our lives in such a way that we, as a people, are becoming distorted in our thinking as we struggle to make the right choices in a world filled with unending chaos and uncertainties.

Pastor Ingram’s book, The Great Deceptions, is a guiding light through a tangled maze of misinterpretations, misconceptions, and overall misguiding principles for all Christian believers and would-be believers. For those of us who have been blessed to have him as a spiritual guide for any length of time know that he is most passionate about people not being deceived by the ills of this world and that all be saved to a life everlasting. He preaches this. He teaches this. And the Christian Bible declares this. An underlying theme emphasized repeatedly in this book can be found in Matthew 6:24, which states that man cannot serve two masters. Pastor Ingram has written simply, but boldly, of the two opposing forces that constitute the good and evil in our lives, and of the multiplicity of deceptions facing each of us daily. He challenges us to put on the whole armor so that we will not allow ourselves to be deceived by the pressing evil in our world, and that we choose this day whom we shall serve. According to Pastor Ingram, putting on the whole armor will protect us from false gods and false prophets. And there are many.

Finally, Pastor Ingram has provided us with a road map to eternal salvation and further challenges each of us to examine the scriptures for ourselves. Plainly stated, the Christian believer is left with a sense of great hope in attaining life eternal.

Laney Montgomery Stevenson

Retired Educator, Lovejoy Member

Introduction

I do not think anyone will disagree with me when I say that we are living in an ever-changing world like never before. The truth is we are living in the last days, but that is not to say we should take a doomsday attitude. We have been living in the last days since Jesus physically left the Earth. Unfortunately, many who truly believed in God through Jesus Christ have changed their point of view which serves as proof that we are a part of an on toward generation.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:18–19)

Generally speaking, Matthew Henry’s commentary suggests that every man is an antichrist, who denies the Person, or any of the offices of Christ, and in denying the Son, he denies the Father also, and has no part in his favor while he rejects his great salvation. This brings me to the point of my writing. Are we living the Christian life Christ called us to, or are we a part of an antichrist agenda that embraces the things of the world? Further, could it be that some people have an antichrist spirit and are not even aware that they have turned against God? How does one get to such a place? Perhaps, it happens when we are seduced into the worldly systems, the world’s way of thinking instead of putting Christ first in our lives.

Again, it is John, the one who had a special love for Christ and knew Him well, who makes this declaration:

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." (1 John 2:12–17)

As I begin this journey of raising and attempting to answer the question of The Great Deceptions, I know that it begins and ends with whether or not we love this world or whether we love the true and living God. We cannot serve both. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). So, the great deceptions must be centered around whether one is serving God or serving mammon, that which is of the world.

Finally, just know that my primary objective for raising this question is my sincere desire to see people secure in the saving Grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I want people to be saved. It is not for us to be worried about the end time, but rather, just to be ready when Jesus returns. Yes, I want to see people blessed in this world and prepared to meet our Creator whenever He shall appear. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

One thing that must be obvious is that the enemy of God, Satan, is using his powers to deceive the Christian Church and those who have no relationship with Christ at all. And he does this by any means necessary. His great power is that he knows our weaknesses. He is sullen, taking his time, and making light of godly issues. And he is seductive, luring his prey into the world and into his train of thought. You must know that this is the only response that a defeated foe can do: try to bring others down into the pit of eternal destruction with him. Keep in mind that Satan has evil spirits who possess people whose only objective is to deceive God’s people and the sinner.

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and