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Essay 3: Things Are Not As They Seem

Copyright © 2005-2025 by Terry E. Manning

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13 ESV

Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual. The first man [was] from out of earth, made of dust (earthly-minded); the second Man [is] the Lord from out of heaven. Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust (earthly-minded); and as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are of heaven (heavenly-minded). And just as we have borne the image [of the man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:47-49 AMP

Today, our lost and dying world continues to be enshrouded in a pervasive spiritual darkness. Two very real but invisible spiritual kingdoms exist: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Spiritual darkness, which permeates through all of mankind, is the realm of Satan. He and his minions are violently opposed to the kingdom of Heaven and God’s purposes for humanity (Acts 26:15-18). God isn't dead. Fallen mankind is!

In the lower reaches of the heavens and on the Earth, fierce battles rage against God’s angelic hosts and evil schemes are directed against people who are called to receive God’s great salvation – to perceive and then enter into the kingdom of God (2 Cor. 2:9-11, 2 Cor. 11:14, Eph. 6:12 and Col. 1:9-14). Some of the major spiritual battlefields are in the mind, will and spirit of each individual person.

In this hazardous "war zone" called Earth, sin crouches at the door of every heart, always ready to pounce on the unwary – believer and unbeliever alike. Each person’s thoughts, will and motives are susceptible to the corrupt values, godless philosophies and strong delusions of the fallen world. This is because each individual is greatly influenced by their own self-serving carnal nature and Satan’s invisible spiritual forces of evil and those whom they control.

There is a colossal disconnect between the fantasies that most people want to believe and the truth – what is really going on. The Bible informs us that every individual who is born into this world is in the image and likeness of the first Adam. Because of the consequences of Adam's rebellion against God, humanity is spiritually dead and condemned. Jesus exclaimed, “None are good but God” (Mark 10:18). This means that even the "good ones," according to the various human standards of behavior and morality are self-willed, earthly-minded, prone to deception, corrupt through sin, alienated from their Creator and based on their works – potential recipients of the wrath of God (Psalm 103:6-14).

The unstable foundations of human civilization rest vainly on mankind’s "faith in man" (Psalm 118:8). The alienation of the human race from its Creator has led to crippling deceptions on which its empires, nations, tribes and individuals rise and fall. We exist in a time when what has been sown in darkness, rebellion, sin and death is beginning to be harvested "super-bountifully" (Rev. 6:16-17). Under Satan's rule and influence (Jn. 16:11), the delusion that the major difficulties that confront mankind can be solved by collective human effort still enjoys a large following.

Gains in human knowledge and understanding, which are demonstrated in scientific, educational, artistic, medical, technical, political, social, economic and military accomplishments are wrongly perceived as evidence of mankind’s ability to rise above its fallen nature. The truth is that humanity, in its present spiritual separation from its Creator, is a "house divided" – undermined by inherent conflicting drives of preservation and annihilation. Human wisdom and ability are limited and deeply flawed because each individual is spiritually dead, confined to the limiting resources of "self."

Mankind’s countless delusions are most apparent in the people, things, beliefs and values that are widely revered, idolized and worshipped (both in the secular and religious realms). For thousands of years, ungodly religion has been an effective tool and strategy for a relative few who seek to control multitudes of people and accumulate great power and wealth through their manipulations, fraud and oppression.

The numerous religions of the world, that reject the humanity, deity and sovereignty of Jesus are an integral part of the realm of darkness. Satan influences fallen mankind’s religious beliefs, laws and practices while empowering ungodly religious leaders and other "key players" to further his rebellion against God. Innumerable religious hypocrites and charlatans have been guilty of stealing portions of the truth of God and cunningly incorporating it into their lies and deceptions for the purpose of manipulating and defrauding their faithful followers with words that sound like the truth.

Carnal religion is often "in sync" with corrupt political leaders; their tyrannies, greed and evil agendas. The Scriptures reveal the real power behind the countless religious charades. In the Bible, the many Satan-inspired, man-led religions are identified as the worshipping of demons and spiritual Babylon the Great. One of the most dangerous and deceptive "religious counterfeits" is human-led Christianity ("churchianity"). The numerous Holy Spirit-grieving Christian sects and cults are jewels in the devil’s machinations, schemes and stratagems against the testimony of Lord Jesus and His true followers (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

Self-ruled men and women, who live according to their Adamic natures, strategically populate every level of worldly Christian religious systems, organizations and cults (2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1). Demonic forces work effectively through these compromised vessels to do Satan’s bidding as they are presumptuously engaged in "God’s work of transforming the world in the name of Christ."

For centuries "churchianity" has successfully taken the name of the Lord in vain while "man-handling" the things, people and truth of God. Today, doctrines of devils have become so ingrained in "churchianity" that the majority, who consider themselves Christian, live predominantly according to their flesh with their faith in themselves and in fallen mankind’s limited capabilities. The deep influence of the Beast, False Prophet and Dragon spirits is nowhere more evident than in human-led Christianity.

Because of their spiritual immaturity and unbelief, undiscerning "laity" highly regard and inquire of unanointed "clergy" and "lay leaders" while resisting the Holy Spirit and keeping their personal distance from Lord Jesus. If "hirelings" and "false shepherds" aren’t positioning themselves between God and His people, willful believers strive to elevate their "spiritual leaders" and "mentors" to a place in their lives that should only be occupied by Father God, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus ascended to the Father, the very life of God was poured out on the Earth through the Person of the Holy Spirit. Over the centuries that have followed, the indwelling Spirit has manifested the light, life and love of God that is only attainable through a strong faith in Jesus, mankind's only Messiah, and a deep personal commitment to the will of the Father.

The Holy Spirit continues to convict the world of sin and fill, teach, guide, comfort, cleanse, transform, enable and empower believers who answer Lord Jesus' call to become His disciples, submit to His sovereignty and obediently follow Him. For a believer who becomes Jesus' disciple; faith in God, a persevering commitment and personal daily obedience to Lord Jesus and His (Holy) Spirit are key.

Lucifer aspired to an existence independent of his Creator’s sovereignty. Adam and Eve, through their rebellion, also chose independence from their Creator. While falsely claiming otherwise, human-led Christian organizations (and cults) and self-willed clergy and laity repeatedly choose independence from the Creator’s counsel, direction and sovereignty.

The carnal minds of unbelievers and shallow believers look outwardly for visible, human-led religious organizations and people or inwardly to their flesh. Because they persistently walk according to their flesh; their understanding, discernment, wisdom and example are horribly flawed.

An early example of believers sowing to their flesh and thereby distancing themselves from the Lord is found in the book of Revelation. In His seventh letter to the churches located in Asia Minor, Jesus described the self-willed, independent believers in Laodicea as "lukewarm" and something that He would “vomit out of His mouth” (Rev. 3:14-22).

Over the centuries; unanointed leaders, false gospels, deceptions and erroneous traditions have repeatedly taken the place of the Holy Spirit, God-fearing ministers and the Truth. This has exacted an enormous toll on the chronically timid believers who remain weak in their faith in God. Among believers who have been called to follow Jesus as His disciples, many lack courage or commitment and either answer His call by rejecting it or follow Him carelessly and eventually choose to remain self-willed and self-serving. For these reasons, few are chosen by the Lord (Matt. 25:1-12, Rom. 8:26-30).

There is a vast difference from having at one time (or occasionally) drunk from the fountain of Life and having committed and submitted yourself to the will and sovereignty of the Father, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The latter is found in Ezekiel's vision of the river of Life that flows from the Throne of God. Many perceive this spiritual river as a trickle. Some believers wade into the river ankle-deep and go no further. A smaller number progress to a deeper level where the water is knee-deep. A small minority go further in their walk with God to where the river covers them to the waist. A faithful few persist in Christ and immerse themselves completely in the deepest part of the river of God (Ezekiel 47:1-12). How far and how deep you progress in your relationship with Lord Jesus has everything to do with the call of God on your life and your responses to Him.

The true Church is a spiritual entity made up of Spirit-filled, Spirit-taught and Spirit-led followers of Jesus who are progressively submitting their self-rule to the will and sovereignty of God. There are many believers who have been initially baptized with the Holy Spirit, but have not committed themselves to Lord Jesus to follow Him. Daily they choose to resist and grieve the Holy Spirit and walk according to their flesh (with many thinking themselves superior to believers who have not been baptized with the Holy Spirit). Because of their self-willed and self-serving choices, they are not being made part of the true Church, the Body and Bride of Christ.

Christ's spiritual Body has one Head, the Lord Jesus. In the spiritual Church there are no services to attend or buildings in which to meet. On a twenty-four/seven basis, spiritual-minded men and women of God look outwardly to Lord Jesus and inwardly to His Spirit and are learning to rely on the Lord in every aspect of their lives. Godly wisdom and true spiritual discernment are accessible to those who live according to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

Since the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, many have been called to become conformed to the image and likeness of Christ. A small remnant from each generation have learned to actually abide in Christ and overcome many challenges to become the called, chosen and faithful of the Lord (Rev. 17:14).

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Col. 3:1-10 ESV, [emphasis added]

Faithful believers in Jesus progressively move from the authority and rule of Satan to the authority and rule of God as they live according to the Holy Spirit and put to death what is carnal and earthly within them (as directed by Lord Jesus). Compromising believers are Satan’s "pawns." Claiming to be"‘saved"’ and therefore needing no further purifying or cleansing, is a poor substitute for working out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12-17). As always, the challenge is to cooperate with the indwelling Holy Spirit each day and obey as He leads you to become conformed to the image and likeness of the last Adam, Jesus the Messiah.

Father God’s goal for each believer isn’t human goodness but godliness consistently emanating from the life of Christ within them. New believers may mistakenly think that what is produced naturally from their Adamic human nature is acceptable to God. This may be because they are inexperienced in the ways of God, ignorant of the word of God and unaware of the will of God.

The challenge for them is to grow beyond spiritual infancy to the level of maturity in Christ that is God's will for them personally. Weak believers have chosen something less than the will of God for their lives and have become habitually undiscerning and fairly content with their imaginings, assumptions and delusions. In today's religious confusion, the majority of contemporary Christians regress from becoming "new believers" in Christ to "weak believers" of little faith or worse.

Of those who are called to go further in Christ, the majority eventually become complacent in following through with a commitment of their lives to the Lord and remain self-serving. Compromises at both of these levels of Christian fruitfulness reap eternal consequences. There is a third level of Christian commitment and fruitfulness where men and women of God move beyond yielding their will to the will of God to become bond slaves of the Lord and mature sons of God in the pattern of their elder brother Jesus. According to Ezekiel's vision of the river of life, they have progressed to where the water is over their heads and they have immersed themselves in it (Ez. 47:1-12).

Only diligent and faithful followers of Jesus can come to know the will of the Father, the word of God and the Lord Himself to any depth. This first-hand knowledge is necessary for overcoming in Christ to apprehend the fullness of God's redemption. Father God will have a holy people in and among whom the Godhead can dwell and manifest Their glory on the Earth (Rev. 21:1-22:21).

The question is whether you, if you are called to become one of the elect of God, will be counted among them – a matter that will require a firm commitment and determined obedience to Lord Jesus through many challenges. The true Christian life has never been the shallow, superficial, self-serving and self-willed example that is commonly portrayed by worldly believers and religious hypocrites. Nor is it the adulterated teachings and culture of a carnal religious group, organization, order or cult. These are all counterfeits of a life lived in obedience to Lord Jesus and His commands.

Genuine equipping ministers are a gift from Lord Jesus. They are diligent followers of their Shepherd and "stand to the side" – anointed to build stronger relationships between the recipients of their ministry and Father God and Jesus as the indwelling Holy Spirit directs, enables and empowers them. Rivers of living water flow freely through them as they are led, anointed and continually filled by the Holy Spirit of God.

The primary purpose of true ministry is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the Body of Christ. Not according to their measure but according to the will of God as it is revealed in the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. True followers of Jesus are actively seeking and obeying their Master and are not insulating themselves from His actual sovereignty in their lives (Eph. 4:11-20). In every generation, the Bride of the Lamb has been making herself ready for Jesus the Bridegroom. In this present generation, those who are part of the Bride may only be a tiny fraction of the millions who call themselves Christian.

Unfortunately, because things are not as they seem; weak, careless and lukewarm believers are unaware of the fact that every day they are immersed in a "life-or-death" struggle and that the spiritual battles have intensified. For them, "church games" or self-rule have replaced the necessity of growing up into the image and likeness of Christ.

Initially, for an individual to come to Jesus self-centered, self-reliant and self-directed is allowable by God. This is just the inherited Adamic nature that everyone who is born into this world shares. After receiving divine forgiveness for their sins and the Seed of the only begotten Son quickened in their spirit, to resist God and remain self-serving is a shame and an avoidable tragedy. Eternal life is God's quality of life. It comes from the growth of the Life of Christ in the individual at the expense of their Adamic life – a spiritual transformation that occurs as a believer diligently follows Jesus on the difficult way of the Lord over the time that they are given.

On the low end, large numbers of "still-born" and "spiritually-retarded" believers cling tightly to their worldly values, complacency and religious nonsense instead of seeking a firm grasp on Jesus Himself. It is as if they choose to wallow in the dust of the ground and avoid entering and partaking of the river of Life that flows from the Throne of God.

Lacking a true fear of God, many "lukewarm" Christians assail the Scriptures with their unanointed minds which are focused on "filtering" God’s word through false doctrines, Christian myths, erroneous traditions, carnal presumptions, worldly values and "watered-down"’ versions of the Gospel of the kingdom of God. Through their unbelief and callousness, religious hypocrites grieve and blaspheme the Holy Spirit. The main reason behind such an affront to God may be the sinful nature of the individual that desires to indulge in unrighteousness, self-will and lusts and have a carnal "religious support system" to help justify their self-serving choices.

Polls show that a great majority of United States citizens continue to claim to believe in God with many of them stating that they believe in Jesus. Along with a love of the Truth, a sincere disciple’s commitment to Lord Jesus and a spiritual warrior’s diligent mind-set are rare or entirely missing. It seems that many equate believing things about Jesus with faithfully believing in Him and firmly relying on Him. Whatever careless believers claim; the arrogance, ignorance and "lukewarmness" of the Laodicean church prevails in them (Rev. 3:14-22). As Lord Jesus warned, few find and faithfully walk the difficult way of the Lord (Matt. 7:14).

Today, the challenges are enormous, but they serve to separate the holy from the profane. The rewards for those who persist and overcome in Christ are unimaginable and eternal. Overcoming begins when you hear Lord Jesus call to you to follow Him and you respond with a commitment of your life to Him. If you are fervently seeking to make Jesus your refuge and persist, chances are good that you will measure up as a "lively stone" in the spiritual dwelling place that God is building and will later inhabit on the new Earth (Eph. 2:19-22).

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:31-34 ESV, [emphasis added]

You only gain your inheritance in Christ by faithfully living as Jesus desires and the will of the Father requires. You must embrace Jesus as your Lord, learn to consistently abide in His love and live according to His Holy Spirit as you obey the Lord's words and commands. Remember, when Jesus calls to you to deny yourself, pick up your cross daily and follow Him, there are no legitimate "shortcuts."

Things are not as they seem.

— Terry E. Manning
 

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Copyright © 2005-2025 by Terry E. Manning. All rights reserved.