The Counterfeit Predecessor
If he notices a blessing (usually in the form of a truth to be imbibed) is headed your way, he sends a counterfeit to that message ahead of it. If you accept the counterfeit, it fails you, and that experience hardens you. And when the real truth comes, you find it difficult to accept because of the failure of the previous event.
He did it with the perverted prosperity gospel. People are sold a version of God that fulfils all their heart's desires of wealth, health and happiness, as long as they ask in "faith". They are convinced to accept Christianity on this premise. Then comes a time where they call on that genie version of God and get no response. (Because the true God has a purpose for His children that supersedes their notions and timelines on health, wealth and happiness). These people become unhappy and turn away from God, saying "I asked him to heal my loved one/ keep that tragedy away/ provide me money, etc but He didn't respond". And a whole category of atheists comprised of disappointed folks as these has emerged.
The devil keeps playing this hand even in the more subtle ways. Focused on implanting falsehoods that appear true in our minds, whose eventual failure will cause us to refuse the actual truth when it shows up.
It's crucial we are mindful of this strain of deception.This is an area in which even those who have been in the faith for decades can still be deceived, because truths learned can be forgotten over time. Like Our Lord Jesus' parable of the sower and the seeds, the sown truth can wither up, be snatched away or be choked by weeds. If we do not imbibe what truths we hear, we can hear a counterfeit and believe it to be the truth.
Here are 5 ways to watch out so as not to fall prey to this deception of the Counterfeit Predecessor
1. Be mindful of misrepresentations of attributes of God and Christ, as they start trails of thinking that end in falsehood. Be careful when anyone reframes Jesus or God with new language for "shock value", or to show you "something you didn't know" about them. Prayerfully search the scriptures and confirm that new knowledge is true. If you can't find any proof, discard it, immediately.
2. Be mindful of those that put words in God's mouth to drive their own agenda. That mistranslate bible truths to make them "palatable" to the agenda of the day. Be on guard any time someone randomly drops a bible verse in the middle of a narrative just to score a point, even if you agree with that person's side of the argument. Open your bible and confirm that verse actually means what it is being implied to mean in that argument.
3. Be mindful of exposés and conspiracy theorists that focus on uncovering works of darkness. There was a wave a while back on those bent on exposing the celebrities involved in the illuminati. And more recently, someone was in the news for their talk stories of their prior involvement in the marine kingdom and other dominions of darkness. No matter how accurate and charismatic the messenger is, if their focus is only on uncovering the works of darkness and not broadcasting the light, take what they share with a pinch of salt. Remember we are called to “pick our cross and follow Jesus”, not pick our megaphones and follow Satan.
It has become commonplace to find people broadcasting all kinds of conspiracy theories - the mark of the beast one in particular is making waves. If you critically look at these, the theories are designed to elicit fear - fear of the government, the elite, the future, everything. But Christ told us specifically in Matthew 24:6 to NOT be afraid or troubled when signs of the end time start manifesting. This in itself should make you question the agenda behind those formulating and broadcasting these theories. Always remember there's a bigger strategy behind the broadcasting of all these tales and theories - so do not allow yourself to get entertained or carried away by them.
4. Be mindful of mystic revelations that focus on self-elevation "discovering the divine in you". We can't find true peace except in God. In His light we see light (Psalm 36:9). If anyone is pointing a path to happiness that leads to more revelation of self, rather than more revelation of God, turn away.
5. Be mindful of mantras that sound good but are not biblically sound. A couple of these pseudo-biblical buzzwords and catchphrases make their way into the everyday Christian lingo every now and then. And some unfortunately take them literally and try to apply them in spiritual warfare, which yields no results as the foundation is false.
Amen
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