The only way in which we can escape being deceived, escape being part of the False Prophet and Antichrist, escape being part of Babylon (man-directed Christianity), is to bear our cross patiently after the Lord Jesus.

The personal cross of the believer is God's answer to the deceit and lawlessness of our adamic nature.

The False Prophet, the spirit of delusion, is a counterfeit of the Christian saint. The only difference is, the deeds of the False Prophet are directed by the soul of the believer; the deeds of the Christian saint are directed by the Spirit of God because his soul has been pressed into the death of Christ.

The spirit of seduction cries, "In Jesus' name," and then goes forth to set up a "Christian" kingdom on the earth.

The true saint cries, "Not my will but Yours be done," and plods along faithfully after his Master.

Today, only those who wait on the Lord with utmost faithfulness are able to distinguish between the voice of Satan and the voice of God.

Great tribulation and temptation are coming upon the world. The only persons able to escape being harmed spiritually by the darkness of the last days will be those who have died in Christ and now are part of His resurrection Life.

We understand, therefore, that arrogant, soulish faith is the opposite of the goal of Divine redemption. It is of Satan, not of God.

True Bible faith comes from God into the spirit of the believer. Soulish faith comes from the soul of the believer.

Those who practice true Bible faith are led by the Spirit of God. Those who practice soulish faith are led by their mental knowledge of the Scriptures.

True Bible faith leads to trust, humility, courage, patience. Soulish faith leads to arrogance and satanic pride.

True Bible faith holds steady in the belief that the answer will come from God in His time. Soulish faith presumptuously states that it already possesses what it has declared and demanded, that the object of the request already is a reality because "the Bible says so."

True Bible faith is restful and confident. Soulish faith often is brash, boastful, arrogant, demanding, self-centered, full of bluster.

True Bible faith trusts and hopes in God's scriptural and personal promises. True Bible faith is a normal part of righteous living and is the basis for righteous living. Prayer becomes the means for proving and bringing to pass God's will in our life. True Bible faith is displayed by our obedience to God and stands as our testimony of the faithfulness of God's Character.

Soulish faith leads us into the occult. It is of religion, of magic. People who are not Christians practice positive thinking in order to get what they want. Soulish faith is the application of supernatural forces (directed by the believer, not by the Lord) in order to manipulate people, things, and circumstances according to the desires and understanding of the believer. It is a form of sorcery.

To be continued.