Removing the Veil of Deception: How to Recognize Lying Signs, False Wonders, and Seducing Spirits by Barbara Wentroble

Author:Barbara Wentroble [Wentroble, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2009-09-01T07:00:00+00:00

7

Dangers of Passivity

and Spiritual Boredom

Donald had been fasting for more than forty days with no food and no water. He had become so weak that he was having trouble walking to the bathroom.

Dale and I were Donald’s pastors at that time. Several members of our church had expressed concern that Donald would die if he did not stop fasting.

I had not slept for several nights as I prayed for him. I interceded for his health and asked the Lord for wisdom in dealing with the situation. Then Dale and I decided to visit Donald at his home.

After his wife invited us in, we found him lying on a pad on the floor. His color was gray, his eyes were dull, and he was having difficulty sitting up or even talking. We expressed our concern and told him that, as his pastors, we felt it was time for him to end his fast.

Donald replied that he had not heard from God to end his fast and that he would not do so unless he did. The Lord had told him, he said, to do a total fast. He said God had told him when he was to begin the fast and that He would tell him when to end it. But Donald could not tell us why he was fasting. He was doing it in obedience to the word he had heard, and he said he felt responsible to the Lord to be obedient.

After trying to reason with Donald, Dale and I gave him a choice: Either end the fast, or we as the church leaders would let the congregation know we were no longer responsible for him. But after much talking and trying to reason, I sensed that Donald needed a firmer word to help him face reality.

“If this is not God’s time for you to end the fast,” I said, “I will be responsible to God for your decision. As your pastor, I will take responsibility for urging you to do this.”

Suddenly Donald seemed open to what I was saying. He consulted with his wife. She urged him to listen to us and do what we were asking.

Finally Donald agreed to our counsel. We asked his wife to bring him a glass of juice and have him drink a few sips while we were there. He agreed. And by the time we left, he was on the path to recovery.

Donald had become deceived by allowing his mind to become passive. He failed to reason with the voice he had heard. He could identify no purpose in his fast. He was merely listening to and obeying a voice that had pressured him to obey without seeing any good fruit from the action.

Variations of Passivity

Donald’s may be an extreme example, but as we have seen, all believers are susceptible to deception.

Surrendering Your Will

When believers surrender their wills to God, they will be deceived if they make the mistake of becoming robots. God does not overpower or take away a person’s will.

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