Category Archives: Removing Delusions and Fallacies (Series)

8. The Delusion of Finding Fault

By John Thiel, Removing Delusions and Fallacies Series, mp3

Scripture reading: Psalm 15:1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 [He that] backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

We need the Lord, don’t we? So very much, and especially as we discover the sad delusions that have operated in our lives in the past and that God calls upon us to put away. One of the sources of decay in church fellowship is identified in the Spirit of Prophecy as the spirit of fault-finding. This creates a tremendous stress in the relationships in God’s family, which is still in need of being perfected. In my search to expose the delusions that have to be put away, this is one of those that came to my attention.

Let those who have been deluded give up all their fallacies. {20MR 307.5} Read the rest of this entry

7. The Delusion of Immunity to the Flesh

By John Thiel, Removing Delusions and Fallacies Series, mp3

Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.   

Am I immune to my flesh if I am a truly born again Christian? The object of this series is to remove delusions. This was triggered by an important statement of the Spirit of Prophecy:

Let those who have been deluded give up all their fallacies. The love of Jesus will not endure such rivals. {20MR 307.5} Read the rest of this entry

6. The Delusion of Superiority

By John Thiel, mp3

Scripture reading: 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

We want to meditate upon our need to put away the delusion of spiritual pride. According to prophecy, we are at this present time in a transition from the church militant to the church triumphant. There are people who say they are God’s church and they stand by and prove themselves to be God’s church on earth; but that mentality is a delusion. We should not hold on to the idea that just because we have truth we are necessarily God’s church.

The message for this time is not, “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we.” Whom does the Lord receive as vessels unto honor? Those who cooperate with Christ, those who believe the truth, who live the truth, who proclaim the truth in all its bearings. {SpM 321.6} Read the rest of this entry

5. The Delusion of “The Church Will Go Through”

By John Thiel, Removing Delusions and Fallacies Series, mp3

Scripture reading: Zephaniah 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.

When errors come into our ranks, we are not to enter into controversy over them. We are to present the message of reproof and then lead the minds of the people away from fanciful, erroneous ideas, presenting the truth in contrast with error. {20MR 307.3}

Let those who have been deluded give up all their fallacies. The love of Jesus will not endure such rivals. {20MR 307.5} Read the rest of this entry

4. Doctrinal Indifference

By John Thiel, Removing Delusions and Fallacies Series, mp3

Scripture reading: John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.

Then trim your lamps, my brethren dear,
… Let every lamp be burning.

Let every lamp, your lamp and mine, be burning. We all have our personal lamps, the Bible, and it needs to burn alive. Read the rest of this entry

3. Legal Formalism

By John Thiel, Removing Delusions and Fallacies Series, mp3

Scripture reading: Isaiah 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. Read the rest of this entry

2. Sentimentalism

By John Thiel, Removing Delusions and Fallacies Series, mp3

Scripture reading: Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

With the Word of God in hand, we may draw nearer, step by step, in consecrated love to Jesus Christ. Let those who have been deluded give up all their fallacies. The love of Jesus will not endure such rivals. As the Spirit of God becomes better known, the Bible will be received as the only foundation of faith. {20MR 307.5}

It is our purpose to examine the truths by which we can see where we may have been deluded, where we hold notions and fallacies that must be given up. Is this a challenge? Is it difficult to be challenged in reference to our delusions? What is a delusion? The dictionary tells us it is “an illusion, a misbelief, a misconception.” How challenging is it that we have to give them up? If I am deluded somewhere, do I acknowledge that it is a delusion? Do I really believe that I am deluded? No, nobody believes that. I think that what I think is right. When we are under a delusion we believe it to be correct, even though it is a delusion, a misbelief, a misconception. Read the rest of this entry

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