Unveiling The ‘Year of the Bride’: How God Saved Me from False Doctrine.

At 1:24 pm, on an ordinary April afternoon—I woke up, and suddenly, the fog of the past six months lifted, leaving everything startlingly clear.

Allow me to clarify further. When I say I was awake that afternoon, I mean physically. I was halfway through my workday at the office and halfway through Tiphany Montgomery's ‘Year of the Bride’ fast. I was drinking my second cup of coffee, a helpful aid to my persistent sleeplessness. On my desk was her notebook that I quickly filled with notes and thoughts documenting this 25-day fasting endeavor. While journaling, I poured my heart out—demanding God do something for me. These dangerous teachings led me to believe that I could move the heart of God to answer my prayer for a husband if I demonstrated that I had done enough. I had been obedient, hadn't I? I had fasted, I had prayed, and I waited long enough. I was so sure that I had earned His attention that my efforts should have been enough to move Him — telling God that if He truly heard the cries of my heart, then He would answer me.

And then, out of nowhere, something shifted. I felt a sudden, piercing conviction in my heart and a sinking feeling in my stomach. It was like my eyes were opened in an instant, and everything I had been demanding, everything I had been holding onto, suddenly felt very wrong. This was not my doing. I realized, amid my pride, that I had missed the mark completely. I was approaching God from the wrong posture—my obedience wasn’t a bargaining chip or a tool to earn His favor. My heart had been focused on what He could do for me, not on who He truly is. I woke up to the crushing burden of sin that had subtly ensnared my heart, warping my perception of the King of Kings. What had once been a steadfast—though immature—understanding of Scripture had gradually been contaminated by the seductive allure of New Age and Gnostic ideologies, ideas that stand in direct opposition to the clear teachings of God’s Word. How did I find myself here? Even as my zeal for God grew, I had, without realizing it, allowed myself to drift into a dangerous neglect of the truth.

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” Romans 1:25

For several months before I woke up, I found myself journaling day and night — writing prayers, emotional outpourings, dreams, and what I believed were “biblical revelations” from the many teachers and pastors I had gathered for myself — even those who have self-identified as prophets, convinced they held the answers I desperately needed. Yet, amid all these voices, I spent most of my time alone in my apartment, isolated from family, not merely weeping but sobbing— lamenting over my life, fasting continually, and growing increasingly perplexed as to why my prayers felt unanswered and why I could not hear God’s voice. I feared that God was angry with me and disappointed in my failure to touch His heart. I grasped for Him and wrestled with Him, desperate to feel something. To get an answer to my problems. Sleep, when it came, offered no rest; my mind was consumed with confusing dreams that I tried to interpret, but the more I sought to understand, the more uncertain I became. My body, too, bore the weight of this spiritual and emotional turmoil—pain in my back and shoulders that others insisted was the result of a demonic affliction. My emotions were as volatile as my thoughts; the confusion in my mind was just as heavy as the physical pain in my body. I found myself lost in a labyrinth of theological chaos, with no clear understanding of how I had wandered so far from the truth.

But God.

My faithful Father and constant Friend. He never abandoned me or left me to wander in darkness, but in His infinite love, grace, and mercy, He relentlessly pursued my soul.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.”

As my eyes were opened, the light of Scripture began to burn in my heart. The first verse that came to mind was Micah 6:8 — “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

In Micah 6, the prophet presents a dramatic scene where Israel is put on trial before the Great Judge, God Himself. The Lord begins by lodging a complaint against His people: “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.” The people, in turn, respond with bitter rebuttal, as if nothing they do is ever enough to satisfy God. They imply that He must change to conform to their expectations of who He should be. In His response, however, God’s answer is simple and clear: “I have already told you what is good. Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Me.”

How profoundly simple. Instead of striving to please God in hopes that He would grant me the desires of my heart, I came to understand that God has already given us clear instructions on how we are to live. What’s more, the beauty of the Gospel is found in the realization that there is nothing we could ever do to satisfy a perfect God — yet, in His great grace, He has made a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Christ.

Over the next few weeks, I began to research the teachings I had grown accustomed to and, unfortunately, had come to believe were biblical: bloodline repentance, deliverance ministry, territorial spirits, breaking curses and covenants, and declaratory prayers, to name a few. As I dug deeper, I discovered that these teachings were rooted in the New Apostolic Reformation, Word of Faith, and Latter Rain movements — all of which pose serious dangers to the precious body of Christ. These movements lead you to believe that you are the savior of your own story, convincing you that Jesus came merely to give you the freedom to take control and shape your own destiny, which is far from the truth. I began to share what had happened to me as I became entangled in those movements, blind to the dangers that lay within. I lost and suffered much for this because these teachings, though cloaked in the language of spirituality, only led me further from the truth and continues to hold its members in a suffocating grip. Yet in the midst of it all, I found the real Christ—whose worth surpasses all the treasures of this world, whose radiant beauty outshines every fleeting comfort of this present world. What I gained in Him is more precious than anything I ever knew, more priceless than anything or anyone that could have held my heart.

All in all, God is merciful and has a beautiful sense of humor. Soon after I surrendered my searching, my praying, and my fasting for a husband, He brought him into my life. He blessed me with a truly wonderful, godly man named Christian, and we got married on February 1st, 2025. I am blessed beyond measure and overwhelmed with gratitude for His grace toward me. No prophecy could have foretold the way God has orchestrated our love story—it's one I can't wait to share with you. God moved countless pieces behind the scenes for our paths to cross, and all glory is due to Him alone.

Friends, as believers, we are exiles in a foreign land, a world where we have no true citizenship. It is a realm where the prince of this age will stop at nothing to deceive us, enticing us to believe a false Gospel or, worse yet, no Gospel at all. The Word of God warns us in 1 Peter 5:8: "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Here is the Gospel in its simplest form: you and I are sinners, utterly incapable of saving ourselves because of our sin and our fallen human nature. Jesus came to redeem us, offering His perfect life, His sacrificial death, and His triumphant resurrection on the cross. Those who call on His name will be saved and sanctified by the mercy of God. On that blood-stained cross, Jesus cried, Τετέλεσται — It is Finished. This was not a cry of defeat but a triumphant declaration of victory. It is Jesus who paid the penalty for our sins in full. It is Jesus who defeated Satan and all the powers of darkness. Believers don’t have to rebuke demons or break curses, nor do we have the power to do so. It is Christ and Him only — there is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Because it is finished, just as Paul said, I am fully persuaded that nothing — “death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38

Amen.

To the Unknown God: Understanding the Aseity of God in Paul's Sermon at Mars Hill

”For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring.” Acts 17:28

---

The idea for this series came to me a few months ago while I was driving south on I-75 and listening to a sermon by R.C. Sproul called “Before the Beginning: The Aseity of God.”

Aseity.

The word was unfamiliar to me, not because I didn’t understand its meaning, but because it encapsulates everything I am not.

Merriam-Webster defines "aseity" as "the quality or state of being self-derived or self-originated, specifically the absolute self-sufficiency, independence, and autonomy of God."

No human—past, present, or future—can claim this attribute. We are inherently dependent. In fact, all of creation exists at the mercy of God and is upheld by His holy and divine will. At any moment, He may choose to give or take from what He has made, and He is eternally justified in doing so because He is the God who has always existed, holding all things in their predestined place. The only thing God cannot do is change His own nature. One lie or immoral act from Him would leave us with no Savior and no hope of escape from hell. But in His perfection, God has never and will never fail.

How do I know this is true? Just step outside and look up. The world continues to be sustained, moment by moment, without the help of fallible human hands.

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” Isaiah 40:25-26

“He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.” Psalm 147:8-9

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?  Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38:1-7

When I look at nature in all its forms — from the peace of a quiet forest to the violence of a seemingly never-ending storm — I am reminded it is not in control just as I am not. There is an uncreated Creator who conducts His own symphony with the sound of the trees and winds. I remind myself of the One who upholds it all with a word. He is the One in whom my faith is steadily anchored, and I must be able to defend my belief in Him. 1 Peter 3:15-16

Who is He? He is.

The purpose of this series To The Unknown God is to discover who God is as He has revealed Himself through Scripture. It is necessary to learn who He is and how to properly & lovingly defend why you believe what you believe. We are going to learn some of His many names and characteristics down the line, but today’s post will be a masterclass in apologetics & the nature of God from Apostle Paul & his conversation with unbelieving Greek scholars, their idols, and “the altar with this inscription: “To An Unknown God” in Acts 17.

Join me as we search the depths of scripture to learn of Him.

---

Acts 17:16-34 Overview:

Paul was on his second missionary journey spreading the message of Christ. Despite opposition from Jews in Thessalonica & Athens, the Gospel was on the move. Athens, Greece was the epicenter & height of idolatry at the time.

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. 17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present. 18 And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers as well were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What could this scavenger of tidbits want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Sermon on Mars Hill

22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and [u]exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought. 30 So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, 31 because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We shall hear from you again concerning this.” 33 So Paul went out from among them. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

---

Dissection of Scripture

v. 17:  “Now while Paul was waiting for them [Silas & Timothy] at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews & the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present.” 

As believers, we tend to be upset when the world blasphemes Christ. A recent example is the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony where Da Vinci’s depiction of the Last Supper was re-created with drag queens in the name of activism & freedom of secular expression. This sacrilegious example of deathwork in art definitely struck a chord of anger with many Christians, myself included, but in the end, I had to remind myself, that was me once. I may not have done it just as they did, but I too was at enmity with God in my core nature. Colossians 1:21-23 states “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.” I am humbled by the thought that while in sin, Christ still died for me.

This does not negate idolatrous and blasphemous behavior at all — Christ still remains the Great Judge at the end of days, but Jesus reminds us of how we are to conduct ourselves around those who do not believe in Him. He gave us one job as the Church to fulfill The Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20. He also commands us to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45

In Acts 17:17, Paul faces a similar scenario. He was “beholding the city full of idols.” As an authoritative apostle of Christ [ἀπόστολος; “sent one”], he went where the Spirit led to help establish the New Testament church. Here, he finds himself in Greece, provoked by the lack of God in the heart of man which was reflected in the city.

So.. what did Paul do?

He reasoned with them. He never cursed them. I’m sure he spent time praying for them as well. One thing we can learn from the Word is that the best & only effective spiritual warfare method is the Gospel. This is spiritual warfare/apologetics 101 — a war against a lie for the establishment of Truth.

---

v. 18: “And also some of the Epicurean & Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. And some were saying ‘What would this idle babbler wish to say?’ Others, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities.’ — because he was preaching Jesus & the resurrection.”

Okay, so Paul is reasoning, great. But, with whom? A key to effective spiritual warfare is to be aware of your audience, and we will see how Paul skilfully crafts an argument based on what is familiar to that particular individual:

19 “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

From verse 18, we learn Paul is talking to Epicurean & Stoic philosophers. As we well know, Greece was a city of intellectualism where new philosophies and schools of thought would be discussed. Both the Epicurean & Stoic philosophies arose out of Greek thought & promoted ideals that would be foreign to a believer & would also cause the Greeks to count the historical account of Jesus as foolishness. We see this as they respond to Paul’s teachings: “ And some were saying ‘What would this idle babbler wish to say?’ Others, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities.’ — because he was preaching Jesus & the resurrection.” Their key beliefs are summarized below:

—  Epicurean philosophy & beliefs: (est. Epicurius ~307 BC)

• they believe there is no connection between man & God. 

• death is nothing and life is all about peace & avoiding suffering. 

• they reject the afterlife and the supernatural. 

—  Stoic philosophy & beliefs : (est. Zeno of Citium ~300 BC)

• they believe that virtue comes through knowledge (logos) and that connects you to the divine. 

• believe in morality and not spiritual regeneration.

• you are to have no emotion towards what you cannot control. 

• everything is God. 

• they reject any concept of the afterlife.

---

v. 19-21:  And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

— Aeropagus/Mars Hill: “Northwest of the city of Athens, Greece, is a small hill covered in stone seats. This area was once used as a forum for the rulers of Athens to hold trials, debate, and discuss important matters. This location was called Areopagus, a combination of the Greek words for “god of war” and “stone”: the Areopagus is literally “Ares’ Rock.” The equivalent to Ares in Roman mythology is Mars. By the time of Paul and the early Christian church, this location was under Roman control, so the spot was known as Mars Hill.”

“False gods patiently endure the existence of other false gods. Dagon can stand with Bel, and Bel with Ashtaroth; how should stone, and wood, and silver, be moved to indignation; but because God is the only living and true God, Dagon must fall before His ark; Bel must be broken, and Ashtaroth must be consumed with fire.” — Charles Spurgeon

---

ANCIENT GREEK CULTURE & MYTHOLOGY — WHAT PAUL WAS UP AGAINST.

Not only was Paul up against the most brilliant minds in Athens, but this was also a spiritual war against culture. Grecian culture emphasized idol worship, rituals, sacrifices, sexual deviancy, and debauchery in all its forms.

• Greek pantheon gods. Zeus, Demeter, Athena, Poseidon, Hermes, etc. were normal household gods to be worshipped.

• Society was polytheistic & hierarchical with Zeus being “king” of the gods.

• These gods, confirmed through their own myths, were not all-encompassing in power or authority, did terrible things (raped, deceived, cheated), and had vices.

• Each god had rule over a territory or fulfilled a specific role. (ex — Poseidon, god of war. Hera, goddess of love.)

Obviously, the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be completely foreign to their thoughts about God & religion.

---

SERMON AT MARS HILL.

v. 22: So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

Something of note is Paul called the men of Athens religious. Not just religious, but very religious. In Koine Greek, this means “knowledgeable, ceremonial, and superstitious.” Here is a good time to mention that humans have an innate need to worship. When God is not the object of our worship, something else will inevitably be. When sin entered the timeline of human history, we no longer were in perfect alignment with God, but opposed against His will in our hearts. As time has evolved, humanity has not — we look for whatever temporal solution that can be the source of our worship free from accountability, obligation, and the suffering of holy sanctification.

“The cow gave no law and demanded no obedience. It had no wrath or justice or holiness to be feared. It was deaf, dumb, and impotent. But at least it could not intrude on their fun and call them to judgment. This was a religion designed by men, practiced by men, but ultimately useless to men.” — R. C. Sproul.

Although bright and religious with fidelity to innumerable gods, the Greeks still missed the mark “for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” They knew there was a god out there they inevitably missed, so they carved a unique inscription on an altar: “To An Unknown God.”

One of the many characteristics I can credit Paul with is his skills of observance. He recognized and appealed to the philosophical nature of his audience, took note of his surroundings by seeing the altar, and skillfully catered his message by incorporating it all to announce the true Gospel of Jesus. Also, notice Paul does not speak to them in an expository tone as if they are already aware of Old Testament history, but he speaks to these wise men as children, discussing the nature of God which should be obvious to them. Instead, he gives them milk. (Proverbs 9:10, Ps. 115:5-8, 1 Cor. 3:2, 1 Cor. 9:19-23)

Next, we see how Paul reveals who the Unknown God truly is and some aspects of His nature.

---

THE DIVINE NATURE OF GOD — HIS ATTRIBUTES.

v. 24: The God who made the world and all things in it,

What a profound statement. The God who made the world. The universe did not just appear by chance or accident but was created intentionally with perfection and intelligent precision. I love space & its infinite vastness — even still, it reminds me there is One greater than itself who rules every planet and places every star just so.

Shakespeare famously writes “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts…”, but I will add, “yet it is God from whom all things start.”

God is the ultimate scientist and mathematician. See, science is not an enemy of Christianity nor is it secular. The study of science is discovering how God did it, and it’s absolutely fascinating.

v.24 cont. “…since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

Psalm 24:1-4 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”

He rules by Himself. He needs no pantheon of gods as the Greeks arrogantly concluded.

God, the King: ruler & justifier of those He calls.

---

v. 25: nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

Not only does He not rule within a pantheon, what kind of temple could possibly contain the presence of the Lord? The human mind cannot conceptualize how big God truly is even though we do our best to minimize Him physically and spiritually. He cannot be contained in what He owns. The glory of God shines through His creation. It is not through human effort, thought, or imagination that God was made or given a home (as the Greeks thought), but God is all by himself. His name is YHWH, the Existing One that gives to all, not man. That is the correct hierarchy.

---

v. 26-27: and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

“Not far away” breaks both the Stoic & Epicurean philosophy of divine relationship to man. The Stoics proclaimed that God is all, yet all is not God but God is above all. The Epicureans proclaimed that God had no relationship with man, yet God made man in His image.

He designed us to seek Him because He is near. Sin is what blinds us and causes us to grope, but God constantly reveals Himself through His word, nature, and when we seek him. Also, He draws those called unto Himself. (Psalm 19:1-6, Romans 1:18-23, Hebrews 11:6)

---

 v.28-29: for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29 Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 

For in this unknown God we live, we move, and have our being. We are also His offspring. Here, Paul is not saying we are gods ourselves, but we have a Maker that exists out of the scope of imperfect human philosophy.

---

v. 30-31: Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Because Jesus came, lived, died & resurrected (and the Genesis 3:15 prophecy was fulfilled), there is no excuse for ignorance. God now declared the Gospel that all men should repent. 

“Paul ends his sermon by announcing that the time of ignorance is over and calling for eschatological repentance (17:30-31). Now Paul’s purpose is clear. He is not seeking to add a new god to the Athenian Pantheon; he is rather seeking the Athenians’ repentance! God will no longer “overlook” this ignorance (cf. 14:16; Romans 3:25); now is the time for repentance (17:30). Just as God had made all the nations to inhabit the whole earth from one man (17:26), so God will judge the world through the one man whom God appointed (cf. Romans 5). That this man is Jesus is confirmed when Paul says that God raised him from the dead (17:31). Paul has deferred the misunderstood subject of resurrection (17:18) until the end of his speech. The sermon ends with God as the main actor: God overlooks, commands, sets the day, judges the world, and provides proof through the resurrection.” Working Preacher from Luther Seminary.

---

I believe the last few verses succinctly express how a friendly conversation with a skeptic may end:

“32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We shall hear from you again concerning this.” 33 So Paul went out from among them. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”

It is important to remember when discussing your beliefs (and I’m preaching to the choir here) that the purpose of your discussion is not to win an argument or to prove that you are right. It is to reveal the story of God’s mercy to one in need of it — as you once were — so that He may be glorified and Jesus may receive the reward of His suffering on Calvary. Some may mock you, others may ponder, and prayerfully some will believe, but your one job, dear Christian, is to plant the seed of His grace in that heart.

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-laborers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

False Freedom: Why Deliverance Ministry Can't Replace the Gospel of Jesus

5 “You hem me in both behind and before, and have laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in the depths, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall guide me, And Your right hand shall hold me fast.” Psalm 139: 5-10

---

Hey, it's Tiffanni. If you haven’t already, I recommend reading part one and then coming back for part two.

Let’s talk about deliverance. You’ve probably seen it before — maybe you’ve even experienced it yourself — the shaking, the shouting, the expelling, and the rebuking of demons from a person’s body or mind. But what is deliverance, really? Some people explain it like this: even though someone may be saved and believe in Christ, there are still curses lingering from past sins or generational bloodlines that need to be broken. They claim that Jesus died to give believers the authority to break those curses and walk in the fullness of what God has for them. What was once a somewhat taboo subject has now become a mainstream practice in many Christian circles.

In Hebrew, the word for deliverance (תְּשׁוּעָה) is simply translated as "salvation." But salvation from what? The Bible speaks of deliverance in many ways — physical, mental, and spiritual. For Moses and the Israelites in Egypt, it was salvation from Pharaoh's oppression. For Daniel, it was deliverance from the lions' den. For all believers, it’s deliverance from sin and death, leading us into eternal life with Jesus.

So, here’s the big question: Is that enough? Why, then, does the practice of deliverance seem to point to something more, something beyond what Scripture teaches? The practice of deliverance in some circles often teaches a different gospel than the one presented in the Bible. What was once a simple message of salvation through Christ has, in some places, been turned into a spectacle. How did we get here?

Before I go further, I want to address something that may be on your mind already:

I am fully aware that demonic forces are real and active in the world today. Ephesians 6:12 makes it clear that Christians are in a spiritual battle. Demons can harass and attack believers just as they have since the fall of man.

If you’ve experienced deliverance, or if you believe in it, I want you to know you are not alone — I’ve been there too. But I ask you to prayerfully consider God’s Word as you reflect on this subject. The question I want to pose is simple: Is deliverance really a part of the believer’s life in Christ? Does Scripture support this practice for those who have already been saved by grace, or is something more being added to the gospel?

---

Question #1: What is Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification? (Romans 8:29-30)

Before we get into the doctrine itself, it is important to lay a foundational and Biblical framework for the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. God’s work in our lives is little by little, behind the scenes, but so glorious. It is not in one moment or experience with God that we are changed but in the daily wringing out of our hearts and death to our former selves.

Step 1— Justification: Before we were saved, we were directly opposed to God — His enemies, yet He chose us in spite of ourselves. Romans 5:10 lets us know, “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” What kind of love is that that God turns His captives into His children? Salvation is an unearned gift. By faith and His grace, you are justified when you accept Jesus Christ and surrender to Him (Eph. 2:8-9). To be justified is to be made righteous in Christ and to be acquitted of former transgressions. The Bible says, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6:23)

See, the objective balance due for all humanity post Genesis 3 was death — point blank period. You and I cannot afford to pay that price. When sin entered the world through the first Adam, so did this death. But God. Before the foundations of the World were framed, God made a covenant with Himself to send His Son, Jesus, as the remission for all of our sins and to be the last Adam by whom we are redeemed. (1 Peter 1:18-21; Romans 5:12-17) Justification is salvation. Salvation is deliverance. Deliverance is once and for all from death and into life hidden in Christ. The devil can try all he can, but believers cannot be found guilty unto death before the Judge of all judges anymore.

Step 2 — Sanctification: This is where we are now. Sanctification is a process of being made holy and presenting our bodies as “living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God—which is our reasonable response.” (Romans 12:1-3) What does sanctification look like? There is no specific pattern, but its fruit is maturity in your walk with Christ, holding firm to Truth, putting off the old, and “pressing toward the mark of the highest calling which is in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) In my opinion, this is where confusion about deliverance enters in. Sanctification is not wrestling demons and obsessing over tactics to stop the enemy from operating in your life, but a daily fight against the flesh and your human nature. Real spiritual warfare is a war for truth and against the doctrines of demons. This is why God calls us to diligently and rightly divide the Word because the devil is very cunning. (2 Timothy 2:15) And as we are being sanctified even in our sufferings, we rejoice for Christ is coming, and it is our joy to see Him.

Step 3 — Glorification: Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! We are looking forward to the return of Jesus when He appears. Are you on a search for miracles, signs, and wonders? Just wait. Glorification is the totality of Christ’s promises in our lives. Much of what we are seeking on this Earth will not be revealed until the moment that the last trumpet sounds. Sin will be no more. We will stand before God perfect. In the twinkle of an eye, we will all be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52) Believers in Christ will be in complete restoration and harmony at home with our Father once and for all. We cannot rush glorification nor can we rush God for the desires of our hearts. (Romans 8:18) I know the New Earth will be beyond the scope of our imagination. The wheelchair-bound will be bound no more! The blind will see again! The lame will walk! The deaf will hear!

“12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” — 1 Corinthians 13:12

With this prayerfully being understood, I present the case against this doctrine.

---

Question #2: Is deliverance a doctrinal issue of first importance? “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 

Answer: In my opinion, yes, because it challenges how we are justified (cleared of all charges) and sanctified (made holy). Is it through the finished work of Christ? Did Christ actually finish His work on the Cross? Do we have to “activate” His blood or complete this work by renouncing, rebuking, and curse-breaking over and over again? To answer these questions: Yes. Yes. No. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Below are verses that support Jesus’ work being finished once & for all:

• “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:30  (When Jesus uttered those words, He was declaring the debt humanity owed to His Father beginning in Genesis 3 was wiped away completely and forever.)

• “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” Galatians 2:21 

• “Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:2-3 

---

Refutation #1: Deliverance from demons is not for believers.

Claims of Christian deliverance are usually based on:

1. Personal Experience. Hebrews 1:1-2

2. Misuse of Scripture.  2 Timothy 4:3-4

3. Out of Context Old Testament Application. 

A quick search on GotQuestions lets us know that “the generally agreed-upon definition of “deliverance ministry” will usually focus on the casting out of demons or spirits in an attempt to solve problems related to specific demons. For example, a deliverance minister may seek to help someone overcome anger by casting out a spirit of anger. Deliverance ministries also focus on tearing down spiritual strongholds in one’s life, finding inner healing, and claiming the victory in Christ over all enemies. Many refer to soul ties, curses, and the “legal rights” of demons. Biblically, demons or evil spirits are known to be fallen angels that rebelled in heaven with Satan.” (Revelation 12:4, 9; Isaiah 14:12–20; Ezekiel 28:1–19).”

Curses… Let’s look into that.

---

Question #3: What are these ‘curses’ & where do they come from? There are three alleged sources for their origins:

1. From the sins of your ancestors in your bloodline. Spirits follow your bloodline and keep you bound in patterns of their sins also known as “Generational Curses.” This comes from a misinterpretation of Exodus 20:5 which says “You shall not bow down to them [idols] or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me.”  There are so many ways I  can go with this, but I will hone in on three points: 
             1a.) This has nothing to do with evil spirits haunting a bloodline, but it was God who gave these punishments. Think of a mother who struggles with drug addiction, her child is susceptible to adopting that pattern, yes. Those are called consequences for sins that affect others, but there’s no Biblical support for a demon following your ancestral line as a curse. The only cursed individual in this situation is Satan himself, and he has no chance of redemption. A curse is a death. God cursed him and only punished Adam and Eve with consequences we feel to this day, but He never cursed them. Since Adam was the first of humanity all sins and their consequences entered through him. (Romans 5:12-21) There is a stark distinction between curses and consequences.

                  1b.) God Himself refutes the idea of generational curses in Ezekiel 18 — “The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For everyone belongs to Me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to Me. The one who sins is the one who will die.”  This was a popular saying in Israel. The people believed that God was unfair and children were being punished because of their parent’s sins, but God made it clear that every individual is responsible for themselves. Your actions can affect others not because they are related to you, but solely because this is the nature of humanity.

                 1c.)  Is God not One who desires mercy rather than sacrifice? Exodus 20:5 is followed up by verse 6: “but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” His blessings and mercy innumerably outweigh His punishments. Why would a merciful God who gave up His own Son for you continue to punish you for a sin you never committed? Or why would He allow demons to re-enter a born-again believer? What is the scriptural support for this type of cruelty? You won’t find it because it is not in His nature.

2. When you have unconfessed sin in your daily life, you can come into a covenant with spirits that grant them a “legal right” to harass you and even possess you. For instance, soul ties. I agree that your sins have punishments and unbelievers have no protection from demonic possession unless the Lord chooses to intervene. I reject the statement that believers can remain under a curse. See, there is a difference between the love that God has for all people and the covenantal love He has for His church. That love is found in the terms and conditions of the New Covenant mediated between God and man through Jesus. Believers in Christ are promised a new heart and spirit, the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and eternal life (Ezekiel 36:26-27.) The true curse and wages of sin is death according to Romans 6:23. Galatians 3:13 lets us know “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Repentance of sin is important, but if you forget to pray against something specific does not mean the devil has free reign in that area. He does not have that much power, and thankfully, neither do we. God forgives us.

3. Those who practice witchcraft and divination can put curses on you that allow the enemy access to you. By faith, we know that Christ became sin who knew no sin. We also know Ephesians 1:13 says, “After listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.” 

Sealed — “to set a mark upon, to stamp, to brand, confirm their hopes, and in respect to God denotes total ownership.” Because we have been branded by God through the sealing of the Holy Spirit, who are we to fear? Do you truly believe a child of God can be affected by vain sacrifices to idols that cannot see and cannot hear? I hope you understand the answer is absolutely not. Since we have been found innocent by the blood of Christ, every charge that comes against us has no legal grounds. You cannot curse what God has eternally protected, and committing such an abomination without repentance has dire consequences. (Revelation 21:8)

---

Now that we have covered how curses operate in believers’ lives, (they don’t), we can debunk this “casting out of spirits” business. Now, demon possession can occur in unsaved people, and I’m positive we encounter these spirits quite often. In the New Testament, we see Jesus, the Apostles, and those to whom he gave authority preaching, healing, and casting out unclean spirits.

The Koine Greek word for “casting out” is ekballo, insinuating authority, force, and violence. The power of Jesus’ words and presence expelled any demonic force possessing an unbeliever — in an instant, unclean spirits fled the scene. With this information, it is now appropriate to ask, “Can demons possess born-again Christians?” The short answer is no. 

Below are some common manipulations of the text to try and prove this point. There are many passages, but I will show two examples:

A. “Deliverance is the children’s bread.” Mark 7:24-29

• Jesus, a Jew, traveled to the Gentile region of Tyre, an area where His presence was unexpected. A Syrophoenician woman from that region heard about His arrival and, in desperation, sought Him out because her daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit. Initially, Jesus responds, saying, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not right to take the children's bread [salvation] and throw it to the dogs." However, due to her persistence and faith, Jesus tells her that the demon has been cast out of her daughter. She returns home to find her daughter lying on the bed, free from the possession.

• Context: The “children’s bread” in question is salvation. The Greek word for salvation means deliverance. Jesus was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel so that through their reinstatement all nations would receive the Gospel through them. It was only when they rejected Him that He pioneered the invitation to the Gentiles Himself. The conversation between Jesus and the woman reveals what God has been looking for all throughout history — faith. Because of her faith that was accounted to her as righteousness, Jesus delivered her unsaved and possessed daughter. 

• Application: This verse has nothing to do with deliverance from demonic possession after believing in Christ. This is about deliverance from sin being given to the Jew first, and then the Gentile. There is an emphasis that neither she nor her daughter were saved at all, nor technically could they be yet, but for her faith, they were — similar to those of old who were justified without seeing the promised Messiah. If her daughter was already saved, there would be no demon to cast out, because there would be an instant indwelling of the Holy Spirit and instant fleeing of unclean spirits. 

27 “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.”  Romans 3:27-31

B. “The Parable of The Empty House.” Matthew 12:22-45

• Background: Drawn-out, ritualistic, and useless exorcisms were common in these days, usually performed by Pharisees. In the middle of these practices, Jesus appears on the scene and casts spirits out of people immediately with a shocking amount of authority. The aforementioned Pharisees encounter Him after He delivers a deaf and mute man who was demon-possessed. The Pharisees believed He was casting out unclean spirits by the power of Satan. He exposes this logical fallacy by stating, “If  Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Soon after, they ask Him for a sign to determine His credibility as Messiah. He rebukes them and uses the deliverance that just occurred as a real-life example of what it means to deny Christ. 

• Context: He was exposing the evil generation of Pharisees and Israelites who rejected Him as Messiah. They were looking for a military figure or political leader who would deliver them from the oppression of the Roman Empire, not a man similar in appearance to them preaching salvation. If Jesus chose to satisfy their itching ears with signs, they may have believed in Him on a surface level, yet their hearts would not be possessed by God. Because they would be empty, their state of wickedness after knowing the truth of God would be 7 times worse than before. He uses the Empty House analogy to explain this.

• Application:  Aside from the fact that this verse is not about demonic possession, He uses the literal concept to prove His spiritual point. In regards to literal demon possession, Jesus is not talking about believers either way. He is speaking to a group of people who rejected Him and were not filled with the Holy Spirit. In a spiritual sense, believers are not empty houses. Demons can possess an empty person, but the Holy Spirit evicts darkness and illuminates a true believer of Christ. The moment you accept and believe in Christ is the moment you are indwelled with and sealed by the Holy Spirit. (John 14:17; Role of the Holy Spirit). 

“The foul fiend calls the man, "my house." His audacity is amazing. He did not build or buy that house, and he has no right to it. He speaks of his leaving the man as a mere coming out: "I came out," he says, as if it were an easy matter, "I will return." Evidently, he considers that he has the freehold of man's nature, and can go and come at his pleasure. If Satan quits a man of his own will, he is sure to return just when it suits his purpose. Only the divine force which ejects him can secure his non-return. Reformations which are not the work of conquering grace are usually temporary, and often lead up to a worse condition in after years. The unclean spirit carries out his resolve: he returns, "and when he is come, he finds it empty": no one else has taken possession, and so no one hinders his entrance into his own tenement. It is true it is swept from certain grosser sins, and garnished with some pretty moralities; but the Holy Spirit is not there, and no divine change has been wrought, and therefore the unclean spirit is as much at home there as ever he was. The parable needs no further explanation; temporary reformation is well-pictured. The devil has no objection to his house being swept and garnished; for a moralist may be as truly his slave as the man of debauched habits. So long as the heart is not occupied by his great foe, and he can use the man for his own purposes, the adversary of souls will let him reform as much as he pleases.” (Spurgeon)

---

To hold firm the idea of Christian deliverance, you would have to adhere (in some way) to these beliefs: 

• Jesus’ work on the cross was not sufficient because all He did was give us authority to take salvation into our own hands. Acts 4:12. 

• The Holy Spirit does not have the power to fully uphold His end of the redemptive covenant and sanctify you. Psalm 89:34. 

• The full Gospel is not enough to save anyone. 2 Corinthians 5:14. 

• Your personal experience trumps the word of God. 

---

Questions to Consider and Additional Resources:

1. Why would demons be permitted to live in the house of God? They can’t. They have no “legal right” to ever enter under the New Covenant. They can attack and tempt as far as God allows, but never dwell inside of you to be expelled as a blood-bought believer. You were bought at a high price to be saved from this very torment. (1 Cor. 6:19).  You no longer have rights over what can come into your body. You are now in total possession to God, and He doesn’t cohabitate with demonic forces. They flee at His name in an instant. (Mark 1:21-28)

2. If a demon could even enter you as a believer, where does the Holy Spirit go? He doesn’t leave His home, for you are sealed unto Him covenantally according to Romans 8:9. (See John 14:16; 2 Corinthians 1:22, & Ephesians 4:30 as well.) We can grieve & quench Him, but He will not leave a believer. That is Old Covenant. 

3. How can two kingdoms be at war and housed within the same body and yet that body is outwardly at war against the kingdom of darkness? Jesus talks about this in Matthew 12:24-33. It is not possible to resist Satan outwardly but then house the enemy inside of you as well. Satan cannot cast out Satan, for that is an oxymoron. If we claim to have demons and need deliverance, but then we cast demons out of others, by whom are we doing the casting?

4. If we keep binding things, how are they becoming unbound again? One, because demons don’t listen to us. We do not have the authority to operate in their realm — God is sovereign while we are to be still. If you peer into the demonic, it will peer back. You are opening yourself up to things you shouldn’t be messing with and are not even necessary for your spiritual growth. (Binding & Loosing.)

5. “Is this point of view coming from naivete? You know “Satan loves when you don’t believe in deliverance.” He actually hates it, because he plays an excellent game of deception and chasing after shadows. It is a mere distraction. The devil cannot stop our salvation, but he can delay our sanctification if we allow him. God cleanses us from all unrighteousness as we walk in the light of Christ according to 1 John 1:5-10. — “If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

6. Can the Holy Spirit leave?

7. Can a Christian be Possessed? — Costi Hinn. 

8. The Cycle of Deliverance. 

9. Do Old Testament Curses Apply Today?

10. Demons don’t have Legal Rights. 

11. Your Legal Rights as a Believer. 
    
    More Supporting Verses: Romans 2:4, 1 John 4:1-3, 1 Timothy 4:1, Ephesians 6:10-20, Romans 13:14, Romans 8:1-39, 1 Corinthians 8, Colossians 3:15, John 17, John 8:31-32, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6, Matthew 6:25-33, Colossians 2, Galatians 3, Jude 1

---

FINAL THOUGHTS: 

Deliverance is seen as a quick fix instead of a spiritual danger for believers. Sanctification is for the long haul. The promise of our perfection is heavenly and eternal, so it’s okay to be in the trenches on this Earth — that doesn’t mean you have a demon, it means you’re human and we live in a fallen world, but you are being kept by God. After setting sinners free, Jesus told them, “Go and sin no more,” not “Okay, now you need to repent on behalf of your bloodline, break these covenants, rebuke spirits, and then go through deliverance.” Jesus is deliverance personified. Your post-salvation deliverance experience may very well be genuine, but that does not ever trump the Word of God.

We put ourselves in unnecessary bondage when we have the Key inside of us. Our job is to spread the Gospel and pray for His will to be done. We can pray for those who are demon-possessed, and if we end up encountering them in a possessed state, we ask the Lord to grant them freedom & repentance. It is by His will, not ours, but in all demonic situations, the light of Christ drowns out darkness every single time. At His name and in His presence, they must flee. It is not through formulaic prayers but submission unto His will. Rejecting the need for deliverance is not rejecting the move of the Holy Spirit; it is embracing His supernatural authority all the more. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of  Jesus. 

He loves you, and His desire is for you to truly understand that you are free—free indeed. He has already secured the promise of your deliverance, a promise made long before the world was even created.

My purpose in life is to honor Him by accepting the freedom He has given me. I am no longer bound by the scrutiny of any law; I am simply under His protection and grace.

I pray that this message strengthens and refines your faith. Take everything shared here and measure it against the truth of God's Word.

20 “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

Yours in Christ,

Tiffanni x

Zeal Without Christ: How False Doctrines Arise in the Absence of Biblical Truth

You can be burning, but not in His will, and that is the most dangerous place to be. 

• ”preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.“ 2 Timothy 4:2 

• “instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15

• “now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”  Acts 17:11

• “ study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

---

The enemy will never deny God, but his one goal is to lead us into confusion and to eventually question & manipulate what God has said. I know it is popular to point out the issues of the unsaved (and it is important to be aware of these), but the truth is the world will continue to descend into unbelieving madness until the Lord returns. It is no lie that Satan is the prince of this world, so we are not to be that surprised when the world acts…satanically. What is not as overt is how the body of Christ can be deceived when we interpret Biblical text incorrectly.

You see, from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, the Bible proclaims the goodness, mercy, and fidelity of God, and Genesis 3 displays the depravity of man for “more.” More power, more authority, more wisdom, and even divinity. This quest for “more” has been perpetually fueled by two factors: Satan’s manipulation and the believer’s Biblical illiteracy. And I am not coming from a place of judgment — I, too, subscribed to false doctrines, but Scripture is the final authority on truth. If you know in your gut that something doesn’t sound right, follow that and test it by Scripture in context. So, as you continue to read, please hear my heart.

---

These movements are not new, but they have made a significant resurgence in the Church and quickly with my generation. I started to pay attention to the content that I’d usually bypass on social media — certain keywords began to ring in my ear: “I proclaim this is my season!”, “Speak life into your situation!” or “God is about to push you into your new era.” This sounds good, but what are these claims based on? To whom are we to give credit for our successes? God, right? If you look closely at these beliefs, they hold a piece of the Genesis 3 deception — you can be like God. I will take my time observing each subject microscopically, but for now, what does God say about Himself and His nature?

---

14 “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” (The Existing One) And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14

10 “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10

10 “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 “I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. 12 “If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains.” Psalm 50:10-12

10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from Me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. 13 Yes, and from ancient days I am He. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” Isaiah 43:10-13

5 “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me, 6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. 7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. 8 “You heavens above, rain down My righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it.” Isaiah 45:5-8

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

---

To comprehend sound doctrine, we must understand the sheer magnitude of the power, glory, justice, yet mercy of God. We as humans can never live in the sphere of divinity nor can we measure up in any way to Him. We have tried repeatedly to be “like gods”, but every time it has led to disaster. Consider the account of Noah and the wickedness of humanity in Genesis 6: 5 “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” 

Even if we seemingly claim that there is only one God and He is completely sovereign, why do we chase after the doctrines made up of our nature and those that bring glory to ourselves? Inadvertently or advertently, this can happen if we are not firmly rooted in the fullness of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

So, which topic will I tackle first? Deliverance.

Keep reading for part two.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,

Tiffanni x