Be Firmly Established in Christ

We have just come through the 9^th of AV, the time when the Israelites missed entering the promised land because 10 of 12 spies gave an evil report of unbelief. Only two, Joshua and Caleb stood strong to stir faith in the nation to move forward into the land God had promised to give them. But the unbelief overtook the Israelites, causing them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness until the next generation could rise in faith and go into the promised land. This unbelief resulted in a curse that revisited them for many years.

Unbelief is a powerful spiritual force that can deceive many when they are not rooted in faith. Deception is one of the enemy’s tools, and it can keep people trapped in ungodly cycles for generations. This is why the Hebrew month of Av is often associated with a new level of discernment.

I see deception actively moving in society, attempting to mislead another generation and pull them away from the paths of righteousness. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:24 that false christs and false prophets would perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen people.

 (Matthew 24:24)  NIV: “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”  

The new movie Disclosure Day shows how the enemy can use media to cause people to question the truth of God’s Word. Some scenes appear to imitate the genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit and present them as good or trustworthy. Yet their source is not Jesus Christ or Yahweh; it is evil. Not everything that looks or sounds miraculous comes from God. Without discernment and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can be deceived by false messages spread through media and drawn away from the path of Jesus Christ, which leads to life. The supernatural is drawing many to a dark agenda with its roots in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Colossians 2:6-7 emphasizes the importance of being firmly established in Christ: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7). This verse uses the imagery of roots to illustrate spiritual growth and stability, encouraging believers to continually deepen their relationship with Christ.

When people do not know Jesus, or His Word or His Spirit, they are usually looking for something greater than themselves, making them easy to lead astray.

For this reason, 1 John 4:1 reminds believers not to accept every spiritual message at face value, but to test the spirits to determine whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1–3 ESV gives us a clear standard for discernment and teaches us how to recognize the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,

for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

As we move from the end of Av into Elul—the Hebrew month associated with “the King is in the field” and the declaration, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine”—Holy Spirit invites us to draw closer to King Jesus. In this season, let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, sharpen our discernment, and prepare our hearts for the days ahead.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the Holy Spirit, who leads us into truth, and for Your Word, which lights our path. Fill us with the knowledge of Your will, with wisdom and spiritual understanding. Give us discernment to recognize darkness, love that reflects Your heart, and faith to trust all You have spoken. Protect us from deception, strengthen us to walk in righteousness, and reveal Your glory through our lives so others may see Your light and be drawn out of darkness into Your kingdom.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.