A reality of the Kingdom of God, is there are some among us who are not true followers. How can we tell if we are not of this sort?

Only the Lord knows our heart and when we are true.  He draws near to us when we draw near to Him.  He awakens us to Himself. When we are awakened, we see how futile and vain our life is without Him. We forsake all to come and follow Him.  He becomes our world, and what gives us joy and sustains us.  He gives us counsel through His word, and we follow this, gladly.  This is the mark of Christ living in us – and being one who has been born again.  Why?  Because we live out of our new heart in Christ and not our old – flesh and carnal heart.  The flesh heart will prevent us from knowing the Lord and Him knowing us. 

When we live deceived, it is because we are choosing to live according to our flesh and carnal heart.  We are driven by our feelings and emotions. Our carnal minds and fears also drive us. The fear of man and need to be accepted influence us as well. We are led by lusts and addictions, habits and preferences. Our broken hearts and stubborn wills guide us too.   It will be clear when we are living deceived lives. We will not progress in the Kingdom of God. We will know nothing of what this even means.  We will not seek to live according to the Spirit, because the Spirit is not in us.  We think we live believing lives. We consider ourselves followers of Christ. However, we do this externally by our flesh and carnal understanding.   We do not understand what it means to be sensitive to the Spirit. We are not easily convicted to yield to the truth and repent. What we know very well is the feeling of guilt, and is what motivates us to do good.  We hide from God – because of the shame that has not been washed by His blood.  Surrendering to the Lord is something we do not desire. It is fearful to us. We believe its cost is way too high for us to pay.  We love our lives of lust, and living for self.  Surrender is offensive to us if we really were to be truthful.  The flesh is who rules and sits on the throne of our lives – that is why.  We are deceived, by our own selfish choice.  We exalt ourselves and so the Lord is not near us.  We pretend we know the Lord, and tell ourselves He loves us and so continue our deception. 

A true follower of Christ is well acquainted with the daily war we live. It is a war with our flesh and carnal minds. Those who are deceived, know nothing of this. Yet to do so is to be at enmity with the Lord we profess to believe!

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Romans 8:7