(Heaven Serenades are poems that could be read or sung, called Psalms)

 

Do you remember the movie, “The Pretender?” It was a television series in 2001, an action drama movie that became a weekly series. Jarod, the main character, was a crime fighter who disguised himself as different people to catch bad guys. It was amazing how Jarod could go undetected as he deceived people pretending to be a pilot, doctor, and other professions. This movie came to mind because lately, I have seen and encountered ‘pretenders or imposters’ posing to be Christ-followers but they weren’t at all. They were wolves in sheep clothing.

 

 

Oh, they say the right Christian words, they recite scriptures, pray illustrious prayers; they play their part with precision. Underneath the covers, they are in darkness, lost, deceitful, and elusive to all but not to the eyes of Christ who know those who are His. If we are not careful, we can be deceived by them. They have learned to be “smooth operators.” They are sent by the enemy to distract, harass, and deter us from Jesus Christ, THE TRUTH. They are also used to plant doubt and fear in our lives. We can waste a lot of energy and time ministering to these imposters because they will drain our energy and life from us. We must be vigilant not to get ensnared in their web of lies and be sensitive to the Lord as He direct us moment by moment. 

 

Our Lord Jesus had ‘pretenders and imposters’ in His day as well. Not only did our Lord have to deal with the Pharisees and Sadducees, (the religious sects of his day) but even His disciples. Remember, He started with 120 disciples who followed Him, then there were 12.  Judas was planted by the enemy to walk with, then betray Him. Our Lord Jesus truly understands our predicament. Jesus stated, living among us, there will always be:

 

The Wheat and the Tares

The Sheep and the Goats

The Followers of Christ and the Anti-Christs.

 

What do we do when we encounter tares, goats, and anti-Christs in our midst? We do whatever our Lord commands us to do and that is to love them as He has loved us but to be wise as serpents, yet harmless as little doves. Remember His words to us in these verses of scripture:

 

Matthew Chapter 13: Jesus explained His words are life; they are like seeds sown into the hearts of men. Some rejected them, some listened for a moment to them and went their way and kept doing what they wanted to do. Some followed His words for a while until things got hard, then rejected them. But some embraced His words, His life, and allowed the seeds to take deep root and they grew. They allowed the Lord to change them into who He had intended them to be. Then, Jesus said something interesting, He said, “Let them all grow up together, the wheat and the tares, and I will separate them in my timing.” (paraphrased)

 

 

Matthew Chapter 25: Jesus talked about the Wise and Foolish Virgins, the Diligent and Lazy Servant, the Sheep and the Goats.’

 ³¹ “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory and majesty and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

³² All the nations will be gathered before Him [for judgment]; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates His sheep from the goats;

 ³³ and He will put the sheep on His right [the place of honor], and the goats on His left [the place of rejection].

 

  

2 Thessalonian 2:3 states: Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed].

 

 

2 John 1:7 reminds us: “For many deceivers [heretics, posing as Christians] have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge and confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (bodily form). This [person, the kind who does this] is the deceiver and the antichrist [that is, the antagonist of Christ].”

 

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So my precious brothers and sisters, we who love Christ, will continue to follow and obey Him no matter what challenges we have to face. Jesus said, “My sheep hears my voice, and they will follow me, and a stranger’s voice they will run from.” So stay diligent and don’t be deceived by the many voices sent to distract us from the voice of our Beloved Shepherd and Lord, Jesus Christ.

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 PRAYER FOR OUR GENERATION

Copyright © 2005 Tresca S. Grannum

 

 

 

Father, burn the embers of our hearts to know You

To truly know You.

Father, let not lies of the enemy deter our hearts

And from your tender calling, we depart.

Father, let not religiosity or unbelief bring us asunder.

And like our forefathers in the wilderness, we wander.

Father, draw us, forever call us, to Your bosom, where we are safe.

 

 

Lord, may our hearts always be faithful

Always faithful to You.

No matter what it takes, keep us faithful, purely faithful, and true.

Let not our souls chase the winds of riches and conceit.

Let our hearts remain humble and pure without deceit.

Lord, make us faithful, forever faithful, pure virgins to You.

 

 

Holy Spirit, keep us fruitful always bearing Your fruit

Always bearing Your fruit.

May our character reflect Your life of integrity and Truth.

As we draw from Your life and strength each day.

Keep us sensitive to Your leading in every way.

Holy Spirit, keep us fruitful, yes keep us fruitful in You.

 

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Enjoy Christ, Enjoy Life!