Illusory Truth - Good vs Evil

They will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:4 ESV

How many know we are in a war over our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?   The absolutes of Truth is blurred.  Truth has become offensive and considered hateful.  Being offended is the new normal.  If you disagree with someone, it now means you must hate them.  

My heart is grieved by what I see and hear.  

The old adage says if you hear something over and over you begin to believe it.  For example - if while you were growing up you heard from your parents, you won’t amount to anything, you’re lazy, you’re a bum, you eventually believe it and your life follows suit.  Conversely, if you have a teacher in school that believes in you and is your best cheerleader telling you how great you are at writing, you most likely would grow up to be a great author.

Wikipedia says this:  The illusory truth effect (also known as the validity effect, truth effect or the reiteration effect) is the tendency to believe information to be correct after repeated exposure.

What we are being exposed to through Main Stream Media and Social Media is in direct opposition to real Truth!  Biblical Truth!  This is very serious.  If you watch media, you are being exposed to half truths which are really lies!!  That may sound harsh but it’s true.  Even Satan knows the word of God and twists it just enough to lead us into deception.  

Our home group just started watching a DVD Series by John Bevere, called the Bait of Satan.   I read this book early in my Christian walk which laid a great foundation of Truth in my life and something I strive to walk out daily.  The Bait of Satan is all about being offended.  Offense turns into bitterness, bitterness into anger and anger into murder.   I just read something the other day that says it this way; “offense is the baby of murder.”   John Bevere says:  “An offended heart is the way to being deceived.”   Let me say that again - “An offended heart is the way to being deceived.”  

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24 

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 

1 Timothy 4:1

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4

When I heard that offense breeds deception, it put the fear of God in me in a new way.  If we are in offense, then we are setting ourselves up to be deceived.  When we are deceived, we are completely oblivious to the Truth.  When we are oblivious to the Truth, we fall into all sorts of deception.  It’s a vicious cycle and one I don’t want to be in.  Do you?  The problem is when we are being deceived, we DON'T KNOW that we are being deceived!  

HURT PEOPLE - HURT PEOPLE ....... HURT COMES FROM OFFENSE. 

This war we are in - between good and evil - its about truth vs deception.  It is not against flesh and blood.  Eph 6.   It is a battle that we must fight on our knees and on our faces.  It must start within our own hearts and minds.  We need to seek the Lord and ask Him to reveal any hidden offense.  Ask Him what are our blindspots?  Where are we being deceived?  When He tells you, then do whatever it takes to get out the gray and get aligned with the Word of the Lord.  Forgive and pursue love!   Don’t minimize this.  We will get offended.  There is no doubt there.  What you do with the offense will dictate your future.  



HEALED PEOPLE - HEAL PEOPLE.....HEALING COMES FROM THE LORD. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

The only One we should be worrying about being offended is the Lord!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.  
Psalm 139:23-24

Let me share a quick story and then I’ll tie it back in.   When we used to go out to eat and a waitress would come to the table in an obvious bad mood, we used to say, wow what’s eating her?   Fast forward to our Christian walk - now when we have a waiter or waitress come to our table upset or rude, we stop and take the time to ask them how we can pray for them.  9 times out of 10, they didn’t even realize they were in an “attitude”.   And often they will share something personal they need prayer for.  This also sets us up to ask the Lord for something specific to encourage them. 

So, my point in all this - is this.  There are many many hurting people out there.  There are angry, broken and lost people out there.  There are quite a few that are being deceived in some way or another.  Some might be in your family, your neighbor, co-worker or even those in MSM.  They may have been told all their life or more often than not, that they should believe a certain way.  The wrong way may be all they know.  

Our role as believers is to pray for them.  Love our enemies and bless them.  Ask the Lord to open their eyes and ears to see and hear Truth.   Our job is to speak the Truth in LOVE to them and allow the Holy Spirit to convict and change their hearts.  You know the song, they will know that we are Christians by our love!!  

Our response to their words or actions should always be in love.  Speak the Truth in love, but don't argue with them.  It's the Lord's kindness that leads them into repentance.   

You attract more bees with honey than vinegar.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 

Media has done enough damage using illusory truth.  Maybe Christians should use the same illusory truth, but with a different approach.  What if we were the ones who were consistent in showing the truth of God's love to a hurting world? What if we spoke only words of encouragement and blessing.   Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.  Ephesians 4:29   WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WOULD WE LEAVE ON THEM!  

I end with a song that is coming to mind…. Great reminder for us all. 

https://youtu.be/M9BNoNFKCBI
We are the World - Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie 

Lyrics 

There comes a time

When we heed a certain call

When the world must come together as one

There are people dying

Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life

The greatest gift of all

We can't go on

Pretending day-by-day

That someone, somewhere soon make a change

We're all a part of God's great big family

And the truth, you know, love is all we need

We are the world

We are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me

Oh, send them your heart

So they know that someone cares

And their lives will be stronger and free

As God has shown us by turning stones to bread

And so we all must lend a helping hand

We are the world

We are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving

Oh, there's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me

When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all

But if you just believe there's no way we can fall

Well, well, well, well let us realize

Oh, that a change can only come

When we stand together as one, yeah, yeah, yeah

We are the world

We are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me

We are the world

We are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and mee

We are the world (are the world)

We are the children (are the children)

We are the ones who'll make a brighter day, so let's start giving (so let's start giving)

There is a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me

Oh, let me hear you!

We are the world (we are the world)

We are the children (said we are the children)

We are the ones who'll make a brighter day so let start giving (so let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me, come on now, let me hear you

We are the world (we are the world)

We are the children (we are the children)

We are the ones who'll make a brighter day so let's start giving (so let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me, yeah

We are the world (we are the world)

We are the children (we are the children)

We are the ones who'll make a brighter day so let's start giving (so let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

And we're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me

We are the world (are the world)

We are the children (are the children)

We are the ones who'll make a brighter day so let's start giving (so let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me

We are the world, we are the world (are the world)

We are the children, yes sir (are the children)

We are the ones that make a brighter day so let's start giving (so let's start giving)

There's a choice we're making

We're saving our own lives

It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me, ooh-hoo!

We are the world (dear God) (are the world)

We are the children (are the children)

We are the ones that make a brighter day so let's start giving (all right, can you hear what I'm saying?)

There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives

Blessings,

Ken & Michele Cole

ken@wantinsight.com, michele@wantinsight.com

We are thankful and blessed by those of you who support us financially from time to time.  Would you please pray for us to have consistent, regular donors to help fund what God is doing in us and through us?  Any amount is truly a gift from the Lord.  Thank YOU!   

Here are three ways you can give:

1.  Non tax deductible donations can be made to:
     Ken & Michele Cole, PO Box 371, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744.
     This is the only way currently we can use funds for our personal needs at this time.

2.  Tax deductible options:

     Checks payable to Sonlit Fields, PO Box 371, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744
     This goes into our ministry account to be used for outreach and saving towards our vision.

     Donor Fund - The Signatry - Ken & Michele Cole - listed under Want InSight Fund.
     7171 W 95th Street, Suite 501, Overland Park, KS 66212
     Phone 913 310 0279
     www.thesignatry,com
     This is an option to keep gifts anonymous - again for outreach and savings toward our vision.

Vision

God has given us a vision to build a retreat property along with ministry equipping center.  

The retreat portion of our ministry is to provide a safe place for pastors, lay leaders & other ministry folks to come and be refreshed & encouraged through prophetic ministry (if wanted).  We will offer private cabins with kitchens & full bathrooms, and plenty of places to roam on the property to get quiet with the Lord. 

We will offer other specialty retreats - marriage, healing, prophetic teaching & activating people into the world & health and wellness retreats and more.  

The Lord has graced us with the desire to come alongside the Church - to bring healing, deliverance & freedom to new/newer believers.  We are not wanting to replace their church, but better help them be ready to serve in their church. 

In our community building - we will eventually have a 24/7 prayer room, healing & prophetic rooms and a place for community worship services for those on the property.  

Our passion is to minister to a lost & hurting world.   To equip the saints to do the same and to be a blessing to our community and surrounding areas.  Our hopes are that we can pour out God's love in a mighty way to bring more and more souls into the Kingdom, get them discipled, called into their purpose & destiny and released to do God's business!!!!  We also have a passion to give generously to help those in need and to help others launch into their God given destinies.