Defenses Against Deception | Episode 9 | God's Word

Duane Sheriff Ministries - Messages

In the ninth episode of "Defenses Against Deception," Duane teaches that God has provided two critical safeguards to protect believers from deception. God's Word is the first defense against deception, which must be exalted above human reasoning, philosophies, and cultural influences. When there is a lack of God's Word, it becomes difficult to discern His voice, as seen in the story of young Samuel.

The second defense is recognizing the voice of the Lord. According to Romans 8:14, believers must be led by the Spirit of God. However, many Christians struggle to recognize God's voice. God's voice is often a still, small voice within and may not always be in English. The language of the Holy Spirit includes dreams, visions, impressions, and a sense of peace. These are ways in which God speaks to His people. Believers should expect to receive dreams and visions from the Lord, as these are the primary language of the Holy Spirit.

Additionally, God can speak through prophecy, godly counsel, spiritual leaders, and impressions or gut feelings. The Holy Spirit may also grieve within us when we are about to make a wrong choice, which is another way God guides us.

One of the main ways God speaks is through His peace. Colossians 3:15 instructs believers to let the peace of God rule in their hearts. When we are about to be misled or stray from the path of light, we will lose our inner peace, God's voice warning us.

When we are grounded in God's Word, it heightens spiritual discernment and sensitivity to the Lord's voice. However, when the Word of God is rare or neglected, it becomes harder to recognize God's voice. Believers must immerse themselves in the Scriptures to become attuned to how the Holy Spirit speaks and leads them so they will not be deceived.