Scripture Reading: Matthew 24: 11-14
Scripture Text: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matthew 24:12 (KJV)

Are you tired of being deceived? About 5 million or so Tea-party participants will say a HARDY, "YES!" to that question.

But friend it's not just in government - it permeates everything we do in everyday life. Case it point:

I have been having some problems with the service of my current web-host so I began looking for the 10 best Webhosts out there...  and invariably each entry there on Google had a different #1, 2 and 3 company. Each one boasted of the best quality for the price  or the best service for the price - and it all come down to reading each and every feature before you made a choice. It took me  nearly an hour and a half to choose what "I thought" was the best one for In The Garden.

It seems like everywhere we turn people are being lied to and darkness is having it's way with not only the secularist population but this darkness and we know where it comes from seems to have been been on a search and destroy mission for all "those who love God and are the called according to His Purpose".

Now, only those who attend Sunday School or read their Bible on a regular basis will recognize that last part of that last sentence in italics as being a direct quote from God's Word. And get this - that 28th verse of Romans chapter 8 follows verses like these:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Those verses sound a lot like a roadmap to VICTORY! But if you re-read them you will see that they wind through some fairly deep, dark valleys. But you know what I like about Valleys? Wherever there's a valley there's sure to be a Mountain top. Do you know what I like about our Christian Walk? You know, those mountain top experiences that open Heaven's Portals and reveal to us the  very heart of God? First of all - those revelations only come to us by the Spirit of God. And the Spirit of God does not need to dwell in the Mountain Tops - He is The Spirit of God! the WORD tells us that "he bloweth where he listeth". (ref., John 3:8)

Oh you may recognize the sound of the Spirit: you may even know His Character and be prepared for his coming. But you will never know when he will come or where he will come and meet you at the source of your need. He is not partial to the Mountain top  experiences, he is partial to the visitation of the Saints no matter where they be, on the mountain or in the valley.

Now, there may be some of those who have experienced the valleys a whole lot more than the Mountain tops here lately, and in fact, there are some who are saying that they believe the Mountain top experiences have ceased. I believe they may have for some people but it is because they are not willing to seek God and they certainly don't want any part of that Holy Ghost phenomena. That's liable to cost them more than they want to give. They're just not willing to go through the strife and the tempests of life just so they can "be blessed". You all know what I'm talking about here. The raising of the eyebrows when someone says, "Amen" or "Praise the Lord!" The goading of the "supposed misguided" who "speak in tongues" or "pray for the sick" or do that "name it and claim it" thing. They are what so many in the faith call "the receivers of the deceivers": lost in a frenzy of emotion and that "imaginary world" of "the Spirit realm".

Well friend, That's the very reason why so many have not yet recognized that the TRUE DECEIVER of The RECEIVERS is he who has so indoctrinated the thinking of the average believer, that their love for God has "waxed cold" and their "hope in Christ" is tempered with another episode of American Idol or Big Brother - or heaven help us all... another round of the Celebrity Apprentice. I'm speaking of the Nicolaitans of the day who, "...have the form of Godliness, yet deny the power therof" (ref., 2 Timothy 3:5) I'm speaking of the Clergy of the day who have not been doused with a good measure of "anything God" lately. They are long in their explanations of why God doesn't heal today and take great care to explain away sin as an error against oneself rather than God - assuring us that God could really care less if we falter and ultimately fail. I'm speaking of the LIARS who have traded their  "Sunday-go-to-meetin'" clothes, with a pair of ripped up jeans, a T-shirt and a pair of tongs or flip-flops because they say they want to appeal to the masses - meeting them, "where they are".

Well preacher..., and oh how I cringe when I even refer to them as such - if you want to appeal to the people - tell them about a God WHO IS ALIVE and can meet their every need. If you want to appeal to the people - tell them about a GOD who STILL SAVES HEALS AND DELIVERS and does His best work when He lets His Spirit speak with the spirit of His Creation... using the language of the Spirit - despite "their" (speaking of the so-called preachers)
indifference of it.

Oh how we need men and women of God who will stand for the TRUTH of God's Word and not some watered -down translation of it. How we need men and women who will not allow the shadowed presence of Christ in the Church to be  inculcated by the duldrums of "what might have been". GOD IS ALIVE!!! He is NOT DEAD... and He has a message for every Believer today and that is to GET BUSY!!! There is too much work to be done to allow the darkness of the Underworld to steal the HOPE of His Glory within us.

Oh Child of God "

Cease not to give thanks that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what is  the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." (ref., Eph.
1:16-21)

CEASE TO BE A RECEIVER OF THE DECEIVER and get into your prayer closet and put down the Newspaper and Pick up God's WORD. COME ALIVE IN CHRIST FOR HE IS SOON COMING AND HE IS LOOKING FOR A BRIDE  WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE - WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!

Let's pray.

Father. I bow my heart, my mind, my soul, my all before you this day and say, "Holy... Holy... Holy art Thou Oh LORD, and WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!" Oh GLORY TO YOUR NAME LORD GOD AND I GIVE YOU ALL PRAISE this morning for my very life - because if I got what I deserved Oh God... I would have been consumed already, Yet your mercies are everlasting to everlasting and once again I give you Praise.

Come now O Lord and visit this heart of mine and cleanse me of every unclean thought. Open my mind and my heart to hear only your words and know only your truth and to be filled with Your Spirit as you mold and reshape those areas of my life that I have kept to myself - unwilling to "follow" and to surrender to Your Leading. I bow to you O Lord and I listen to Your voice Just now. Speak O Lord, Thy Servant heareth. In Jesus' Name, Amen.