There are so many ways the enemy subtly distorts our view of Christ. He can begin to alter your mind and heart and have you operating out of a place of fear that He is no longer a good Shepherd, especially when pain has had it’s way in your life in a long season. The enemy can also use the scriptures to begin to distort our view of the heart of Jesus and a spirit of legalism starts taking root. We in all our humanness believe it’s the right thing, yet it’s reinstating that which the cross did away with. Be so careful that we do not put the people back into bondage. It is a serious matter to the Lord. It will start with small things and end up being a strong root that offers a slow death of the abundant life Christ gives.

There have been times when in all the right Christian-ease and seemingly righteous platitudes that I have slipped into a place of focusing on self and withheld my hand from others. Yet, Christ always preached to think others higher than ourselves and often I must die to my own will and help another fly. While I help them…He will help me. It’s His very heart that we would also be moved by compassion.

We get cooped up in our buildings with our visions and no longer go into all the world. We feed one another ongoing bread it appears but cease to the main objective of the gospel…go and make disciples of all nations. What caution we must now take in a world that will demand us meeting them in the streets, homes, and other venues because they have found our institutionalized religion merely a social club gathering. Their heart cry is for transformation and a God who is alive….yet we keep showing them a Christ still buried in a tomb. What pity and heartbreak for our Lord to watch.

The enemy also at times works overtime to cause you to no longer dream with the Lord as if somehow He never placed dreams in your very heart that would exalt His Name. The enemy tells you there is no longer fun or adventure but a laborious endeavor you were made for and joy will not be yours. It is  a slight martyrdom syndrome that loses the pure elation of supernatural gifts and kind gestures of a Good Shepherd who beckons us His words that He gives us the desires of our hearts. Yet, we’ve made Him a stern Father in many respects. Love is His mode of operation even in times of discipline.

Go to your secret place and ask Him if the enemy has distorted your view of Him and His heart. Have you bought into another Jesus that is not quite the Jesus of the Bible? Bring yourself back into alignment with His Word and nature and know that whom the Son sets free shall be free indeed. Even in a time of testing, you will find the Lord is merciful and always for you.

It is so critical to have the correct view of Christ in all His fullness. For the view we have of Him is the view we portray to the rest of the world….and they are desperate for the LIVING CHRIST!

 

Your View

To the one who thinks God is not a giver

The enemy has distorted your view

For the Bible speaks of His goodness

And how He longs to give to you.

 

To the one who thinks God opposes dreamers

And has vowed now to never dream

The enemy has hidden the truth now

For heart’s desires Christ gives indeed.

 

For the ones who’ve settled for ritual

Where religion is masked like a gift

Where rules and regulations

Are employed as taunting whips.

Where the law is now reinstated

And sold as a bill of “goods”

The enemy has now ensnared you

And triggered a “righteous” ruin.

 

To the ones whom have no kind regard

To the people we see now in need

The enemy has robbed your vision

And came in just like a thief.

 

To the ones who live for entertainment

And plunder away all God’s gifts

Spending all your inheritance

Your Father still runs with a kiss.

 

And for those who preach of His judgement

Forgetting that mercy prevails

The enemy has stolen Christ’s image

Another Jesus is of whom you now tell.

 

March 1, 2018