Beware of Deception: Recognizing Evil in Christian Walk

Lying is against God's nature and is considered sin.

Pious fraud is a type of lying that uses deceit to gain an advantage for a religious end.

Examples of pious fraud include faking miracles, forging documents, and selling indulgences.

Pious fraud uses proof texting of scripture to deceive people and gain their trust.

Music Our subject today in this message is dealing with lying. Lying is against the very person and the nature of Almighty God, who created all of humankind from the very beginning of time. Our subject is called Pious Fraud Carries an Evil Design to Ensnare and Deceive. God's word is very clear about lying. Pious fraud, whether it appears pious or not, is evil no matter how and which way it is presented. Pious fraud is sin, sin against the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4, verse 25 declares, Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Therefore, putting away lying, let each of you speak truth, truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Webster's 1828 Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines pious fraud as a fraudulent, contrived and executed to benefit the church or accomplishment in some good end upon the theory that the end justifies the means. Webster's goes on to say that pious fraud causes people to be injured or fall. This kind of fraud causes people to grow dull. You see, fraud is a deliberate deception that is practiced with a view of gaining unlawful or an unfair advantage. It is cleverly contrived trick or scheme for gaining an end to benefit a church, a political agenda, or some other twisted crafty deception in which thieves hide behind in order to trap and ensnare the victims. Webster's 1828 Dictionary also describes what is called constructive fraud, which is an act, a statement, or an omission which operates as a fraud. Webster's uses the following synonyms to describe or define fraud. deception, deceit, guile, craft, wile, sham, strife, circumvention, stratagem, trick, cheat. So pious fraud is a term used to refer to a person who uses deceit to an advantage as far as a religious end or a belief to attain what he considers a noble or a good end. Pious fraud can also refer to deception itself. History is full of pious fraud. Through the ages, people have faked miracles, forged religious documents, invented a lie about spiritual encounters, carved out idols, and even selling indulgences provide examples of pious fraud. We can't stop there because some of the latest things regarding our subject today is where people have even sold rights to sponsor an olive tree in Israel as part of a movement that gives honor to the person buying it and also to their loved ones and to their nation. Another example is an American who has an olive grove in Israel and claims the olives from his trees provide a special anointing based upon biblical patterns according to the book of Exodus. Pious fraud uses proof texting of scripture as a basis for their deception. For instance, in regards to a Christian pious fraud example, the account takes place in 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. A man named Larry Bates was sentenced to 21 years for a religious Ponzi scheme. Customers gave $87 million to former Tennessee lawmakers for financial protection. protection. Prosecutors now say that the whole program was a fraud. The article goes on to say, with predictions of religious doom and economic upheaval, a former Tennessee lawmaker used his social stature to convince listeners of a Christian broadcast program to send him millions of dollars. In exchange, they were promised gold and silver coins as a financial protection. So many times, the coins never came. Larry Bates, a Democrat who served in the Tennessee House from 1971 to 1976, now has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for what prosecutors believe was a religiously inspired Ponzi scheme centered on a foreboding crisis, supposedly imminent, called Mystery Babylon. Trusting Bates' status as a former Tennessee lawmaker and believing he was an honest Christian man, hundreds of people sent him money and waited for their shiny coins to arrive. While many received their coins, others did not. So they were bilked of their wealth. Prosecutors said Bates defrauded more than 400 people from 2002 through 2013 in the multi-million dollar scam. Bates promoted the company through Christian television and radio programs. He used the airwaves to question the stability of the world economy as it faced what he described as a religious and social collapse. He said gold and silver protect people from fluctuating a volatile money market because they always will be exchangeable even in the end times. Customers gave $87 million to the company for the purpose of buying precious metals. But the Bates family kept the money from the payments for their personal use, spending it on commodity tradings and a 10,000 square foot home in Middleton, Tennessee. By 2009, the company had more than $26 million in unfulfilled orders. Victims begged the company for their coins or reimbursement. They were told that the coins were scarce and the coins were coming from Europe and the U.S. Mint was shut down. Judith Ponder from Kerrville, Tennessee, testified at the trial that she and her mother gave Larry Bates more than $1.8 million. Charles Grimley a pastor in Mesa Colorado said he and his wife gave the company more than of the retirement money Wow This account nearly five years ago in which the man was sentenced we see both things working in this pious fraud scheme, which was orchestrated by greed and money, and was used effectively for self-gain by this man's political office and his religious or spiritual deception. and deceit, to gain people's trust to ensnare them in his money-making Scrooge deal. Pious fraud existed throughout the Old and New Testament, warning people through the ages not to fall into the trap or snare of lying. Pious fraud exists big time today in this year of 2022, when a church in Dalton, Georgia, put oil in a Bible and the oil was said to miraculously flow out of the Bible, so they collected it and used it to heal people. But there was one big problem that was found out two years later. These people proved to be guilty of pious fraud because the oil was purchased from Tractor Supply Company. What about a church pastor who said God told him to put ATM machines strategically located in amongst the church pews so people could give their donations right there when the call was given? Another example is a church put gold-colored dust in its ventilation system so churchgoers could witness a glory cloud. That church is practicing pious fraud too. How about a church that uses machines to generate fog so the congregation would think that it's the actual glory and presence of God himself? Today, worship music in the church, amongst especially the youth and young adults, is at an all-time high in frenzy and emotional feeling, rather than the true godly awe and respect for God Almighty and his Son, Jesus Christ, as a demonstration in thankfulness for his supreme sacrifice upon the cross for one's eternal salvation. But the Bible is not a part of the lyrics of most of these songs. Our young people cannot gain or enter into the privileged place of eternity on the works of the flesh and thinking this is true worship to God and think he must be happy that they have taken time to join the crowd and have fun jumping up and down and shouting and screaming, just like they do at rock concerts. Wouldn't this be considered pious fraud too? I'll answer that. It most certainly is. And according to Webster's 1828 Dictionary, it defines pious as godly reverencing and honoring the supreme being in the heart and in practice of the duties that he has enjoined and having due veneration and affection for the character of God and habitually obeying his commandments, devoted to the services of God. And another is someone who is truly pious is dictated by reverence to God. When a pastor or a leader manipulates scripture from the pulpit to prompt his hearers in giving larger offerings, is that pastor dealing in pious fraud? Yes, he certainly is. And how about people when they are called to get up out of their pews and go up to the altar and drop their offering in the bucket on the altar? Could this be called manipulation to shame those who remain seated in the pew? Possibly they would be labeled or looked upon by being stingy or uncompliant with the law of giving. Possibly some people remaining in their pews mailed in their offerings or didn't get paid yet to give their offering, and maybe they just absolutely didn't have any money to give in the offering. This is called manipulation. Pious or not, the intent is not sincere. The motive is not pure and clean. It is artful and clever maneuver to control for one's own advantage. And there are situations as well when a person who says they're Christian and relates an impassioned or emotional story to the news media and they exaggerate and embellish it to be more dramatic in order to draw the desired response from their audience. That person is a pious fraud as well, because their motive was for self-seeking gain under the guise of being a Christian. A genuine believer in Jesus Christ would never go beyond the bounds of what is good and acceptable in the eyes of their Savior and friend. The real kicker is when people set up after these interviews, these emotional interviews, and they set up a GoFundMe account as part of their scheme. Deceit is often subtle, but understand please, it is deceit. God's word is very clear in that any kind of deceit is sinful. Colossians chapter 3 verse 9 declares, Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices. Revelation chapter 21 verse 8 declares, But as for the cowards and the ignoble and the contemptible and the cravingly lacking in courage and the cowardly submissive, as far as the unbelieving and faithless and as far as the depraved and defiled with abominations, and for the murderers and the lewd and adulterous and the practicers of magic art and the idolaters, those who give supreme devotion to anyone or anything other than God. And for all liars, those who knowingly convey untruth or word or deed, all of these shall have their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone. This is called the second half. pious fraud in this year is at the top of political campaigns in the year of 2022 we have political candidates using a religious stance of their faith to use as political weapons or qualifications for the office which they're running for we have local and state elections coming up this year, and we see new lows in campaign advertising under the guise of spirituality. These people have taken the manipulation of religion for partisan political advantage to an incredible almost unbelievable extreme violation of the laws of the Almighty whom they claim to know Apostle Paul makes it very clear in Titus chapter 1 verse 16 when he declares they profess to know God to recognize perceive and be acquainted with him But they deny and disown and renounce him by what they do and are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving, and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and they are unfit and worthless for the good work, the deed, or enterprise of any kind. Denial of Jesus Christ manifests itself in various ways in the New Testament, and it can take the form of forsaking or repudiating the Christian faith and its truths, particularly the truth concerning our precious Lord Jesus Christ. In doing so, one personally denies Christ and the Eternal Father, many who profess to know God, but by their words and their deeds they deny him. Many are trying to outdo one another with their draw of combining Christian worship with their political campaigns. With smiles on their faces, some of these gather in groups and blatantly recite their New Age prayers and sound good appeals to we the people of the United States of America. Many baby Christians and ignorant church goers don't know the difference between a true and genuine prayer before God Almighty or a satanic prayer that speaks about the seven demonic lights. They think that born-again, blood-bought, blood-washed believers in Jesus Christ, who dearly love their precious Savior, cannot discern truth from air in what comes out of their mouths to deceive their ears. Let those who are true and genuine believers and are running for an office in this day and time example their Christianity by their actions, their words and deeds by true humility. Too many are using America's free speech or the First Amendment right to promote their communistic agenda. In Joshua chapter 24, verse 14, the word declares, Now therefore reverently fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth. put away the gods which your father served on the other side of the euphrates and in egypt and serve the lord and if it seems evil to you to serve the lord choose for yourself this day whom you will serve whether the gods which your father served on the other side of the river or the god of the amorites in whose land you dwell as for me in my house we will serve the lord and the people answered far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods rise up you hidden bride of Christ rise up and call a spade a spade and speak out to warn those who will have ears to hear and what the word of God speaks in the truth of God which will save his sheep from the vicious wolves Psalms 58, 1 through 3 declares justice. Do you rulers not know the meaning of the word? Do you judge people fairly? No, you plot injustice in your hearts. You spread violence through the land. And these wicked people are born sinners even from birth. They have lied and have gone their own way. Wow. And with smiles on their faces, These politicians and pastors alike lie through their teeth with intent to deceive the masses. Many church leaders in all denominations are working together, for instance, with the COVID vaccination pandemic agenda. Pastors tell their congregations they can't come to church unless they have the vaccine injections. and to report that over a million people have died in the United States alone with unfold numbers in the millions around the world with permanent injuries due to these vaccines. Heart problems, strokes, and blood clots have plagued millions with issues and many are seriously injured or have even died from this horrendous lie that they have inflicted upon the people worldwide. The CDC and other three-letter organizations have admitted and come out saying that these vaccines were tests to see how they could prevent this dangerous, deadly virus. Dear one, if you have had even one of these vaccine injections, you were used as a guinea pig in their experiment and you were lied to because their bottom line goal was and is still today to murder millions of people worldwide for their leader who is Satan the devil. The cabal belongs to him, to Satan. and as he lead people around the world, they worship him. If your pastor or church leader told you to get the vaccine injection, he or she was most likely getting paid by the government to do so and you were sold out and lied to by a Judas in your church. They work together because money is their God. They use their pious, fraudulent faith to entrap and ensnare millions millions in their trap for self-gain and political weapons. Do your own homework on what I have been saying. In reality, these pious fraudsters are fighting against Almighty God of heaven and earth, and they are so blinded by their greed and their power and money and fame, they cannot see one iota of truth. Psalms chapter 21 verse 11 declares, they have planned evil against you, O Lord. They conceived a mischievous plan which they are not able to perform. For you will make them turn their backs and you will aim your bow of divine justice at their faces. Be exalted, Lord in your strength and we will sing and praise you for your power. You see, dear listener, pious fraud is really lying against the very nature and character of our eternal Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter 2.1, the word of God declares, be so done with every trace of wickedness, of depravity, of malignity, all deceit and insincerity, of pretense, hypocrisy and grudges, envy, jealousy and slander and evil speaking of any kind. Jesus had to deal with pious fraud too. For instance in Mark 12 verses 38 through 40 You see, the word of God is not just for believers alone who acknowledge that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior, but it is a word given to all of mankind as the guide and road map into the eternal kingdom called heaven. Everyone has the choice to accept and obey God's commands in Jesus Christ as the way to this eternal place of bliss called heaven. Or they can reject his goodness and love and choose only the other place offered as a final destination, which is called hell, a place of fire and brimstone forever and eternity. In Jude chapter 1 verse 12, it describes false teachers in this way. They're clouds without rain, blown along by the wind, autumn trees without fruit, and uprooted, twice dead. As clouds that promised rain, but never delivered it, and trees that promised fruit, but never grew it, False teachers and politicians alike are fraudulent because they use pious fraud to dupe and lie and ensnare and deceive those who might fall into their nets. In fact, that they peddle their lies in religious circles makes them pious fraudsters, whether or not they purport to be a Christian believer or politician who uses Christianity to further their political office. The world is full of falsehood and fraud of many kinds. Things like in accounting, there's fraud. Insurance fraud. Payroll fraud. Medical fraud. Mail fraud. Bank fraud. Identity fraud. Voter fraud and pious fraud are just a few. Fraud of any type should never happen in the church. And pious fraud is especially heinous because it preys on religious commitment. We can be avoid being deceived by pious fraud by abiding in the word of God and learning what it says. Romans chapter 12 verse 2 gives us insight and encouragement as to the precious word of God do not be conformed to this world this age fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs but be transformed changed by the entire renewal of your mind by its new ideals and new attitudes so you may prove to yourselves What is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect for you in his sight? Another is found in Psalms 25.5. Guide me in your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. For you, you alone and altogether do I wait expectantly all day long. And finally, in James chapter 5, verses 3 through 8, we see the warning and righteous justice that will come and be given to those who do not heed the word of the Almighty who made them. The word declares, Your gold and silver are completely rusted through, and their rust will be the testimony against you, and it will devour your flesh as if it were fire. You have reaped together treasure for the last days. Verse 4, But look, here are the wages that you have withheld by fraud from the laborers who have reaped your fields, crying out for vengeance, and the cries of the harvesters have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts. Here on earth you have abandoned yourself to soft prodigal living and to the pleasures of a self-indulgent and gratification. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. Verse 6. And you have condemned and have murdered the righteous innocent man while he offers no resistance to you. in verse 7 we see the encouragement and the promise the advice to those who remain faithful in these difficult times verse 7 declares so be patient brethren as you wait till the coming of the lord see how the farmer waits expectantly for the precious harvest from the land see how he keeps up his patient vigil over it until it receives the early and late rains? Verse 8, you must also be patient. Establish your hearts, strengthen and confirm them in the final certainty, for the coming of the Lord is very near. In the meantime, dear listener, dear believer, while we patiently wait for the coming of the Lord of Jesus Christ in our day and time. Don't neglect, don't forget to include in your prayers the rescue of multi-millions of deceived believers who are following either blind or pious, fraudulent spiritual leaders or pious, fraudulent men and women using the guise of religion or Christianity in this day and time when our freedoms in this nation are teetering on the brink of extinction. And when the standard for the church has brought down levels from what she should be elevated to in whom this should be grievous to those who know the difference. Jesus Christ is not cheap. He paid a high price to have a pure virgin bride. we all will stand before the judgment seat of the Lord one day and give account for our lives and hopefully what you have believed and followed was not built on sand but the solid rock of our Lord Jesus Christ and are found to be genuine new creatures in your precious Lord and Master Jesus Christ. May God have mercy on us all for his precious namesake.

Playlist coming soon.