In the context of the Bible, delusions are often understood as false beliefs or deceptions that lead individuals away from the truth of God. The concept of delusion is closely tied to themes of deception, false prophecy, and spiritual blindness, which are recurrent throughout the Scriptures.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament frequently addresses the issue of delusion, particularly in the context of idolatry and false prophecy. In Jeremiah 23:16, the prophet warns against listening to false prophets who speak visions from their own minds rather than from the mouth of the Lord: "This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.'" Here, delusion is linked to the rejection of God's truth in favor of human invention.

Isaiah also speaks to the theme of delusion in Isaiah 44:20, where he describes the folly of idol worship: "He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?'" This passage illustrates how delusion can lead individuals to place their trust in worthless and powerless objects, turning them away from the living God.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, delusion is often associated with the end times and the rise of false teachings. In 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, the Apostle Paul writes about a strong delusion sent by God as a judgment upon those who refuse to love the truth: "For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie, in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness." This passage underscores the seriousness of rejecting the truth of the Gospel and the consequences that follow.

The theme of delusion is also present in the warnings against false teachers and antichrists. In 1 John 4:1, believers are admonished to test the spirits to discern whether they are from God: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." This call to discernment highlights the need for vigilance against spiritual deception.

Spiritual Warfare and Delusion

Delusion is a key element in the spiritual warfare that believers face. Ephesians 6:11-12 exhorts Christians to "put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The devil's schemes often involve deception and delusion, aiming to lead believers away from the truth.

The Role of Truth

The antidote to delusion is the truth of God's Word. Jesus declares in John 8:31-32, "If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The truth of Scripture is the foundation upon which believers can stand firm against the delusions of the world and the deceptions of the enemy.

Conclusion

While the Bible warns of the dangers of delusion, it also provides the means to overcome it through the truth of God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Believers are called to remain vigilant, discerning, and rooted in the truth to avoid the snares of delusion and to walk faithfully in the light of Christ.

Letter x. --Delusions in Prayer.
... SECOND BOOK: ON THE EXERCISE OF THE VIRTUE OF ABANDONMENT Letter X."Delusions in
Prayer. On the same subject. This is my reply about the person in question. ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter x delusions in prayer.htm

Conclusion of the Subject. Pain of the Awakening. Light against ...
... Chapter XXI. Conclusion of the Subject. Pain of the Awakening. Light Against
Delusions. 1. To bring this matter to an end, I say ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxi conclusion of the.htm

How Shall the Soul Make Use of Christ, as the Life, which is under ...
... 9. Yea, they may come to this, to scout the whole gospel to be nothing but a heap
of delusions, and a cunningly-devised fable, or but mere notions and fancies. ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxiv how shall the.htm

1 John iv. 1-3
... be hurried away as the blind instruments of every influence; or, detecting the
suggestions of the undivine spirit and seeking to avoid its delusions, might be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john iv 3-jan.htm

How to Ascertain the Will of God
... If so, I make myself liable to great delusions. ... If I look to the Spirit alone
without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/muller/answers to prayer/how to ascertain the will.htm

Conditions of Being Saved
... to be saved. When the Gospel was first preached, Satan had not introduced
as many delusions to mislead men as he has now. It was ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/x conditions of being saved.htm

And Let this Also be a Token for You...
... did for Mary and Zacharias, and as he did who appeared to the women at the tomb;
but rather whenever they see men afraid they increase their delusions that men ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 37.htm

If, Therefore, the Devil Himself Confesses that his Power is Gone. ...
... For when they come they approach us in a form corresponding to the state in which
they discover us [1082] , and adapt their delusions to the condition of mind ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 42.htm

What are Consequences of Backsliding in Heart.
... 19. The backslider in heart will be full of his own delusions. ... He will almost certainly
fall into delusions in regard to doctrines and in regard to practices. ...
/.../finney/the backslider in heart/iv what are consequences of.htm

'He is Beside Himself'
... kinsman from danger, and laying hands upon Him, to carry Him off to some safe restraint
in Nazareth, where He might indulge His delusions without doing any ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/he is beside himself.htm

Delusions (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Delusions (7 Occurrences). Matthew 13:22 He who
has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears ...
/d/delusions.htm - 8k

Delusion (12 Occurrences)
... de-lu'-zhun: (1) Isaiah 66:4, "I also will choose their delusions" (the Revised
Version, margin "mockings"), Hebrew ta`alulim, which occurs only here and ...
/d/delusion.htm - 11k

Quite (55 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 He who has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears
the Message, but the cares of the present age and the delusions of riches ...
/q/quite.htm - 22k

Insanity (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) Such a mental condition, as, either from the existence of delusions, or
from incapacity to distinguish between right and wrong, with regard to any ...
/i/insanity.htm - 7k

Festus (14 Occurrences)
... While Festus displayed a certain contempt for what he regarded as the empty delusions
of a harmless maniac, his conduct throughout the whole proceeding was ...
/f/festus.htm - 15k

Delusive (4 Occurrences)

/d/delusive.htm - 7k

Delight (213 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 He who has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears
the Message, but the cares of the present age and the delusions of riches ...
/d/delight.htm - 40k

Message (222 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 He who has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears
the Message, but the cares of the present age and the delusions of riches ...
/m/message.htm - 34k

Mockings (2 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon
them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear ...
/m/mockings.htm - 7k

Porcius (1 Occurrence)
... While Festus displayed a certain contempt for what he regarded as the empty delusions
of a harmless maniac, his conduct throughout the whole proceeding was ...
/p/porcius.htm - 11k

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