OUR DECEIVING ENEMY

Over the years I have met a number of Christians who I would consider to be MORE DEVIL CENTRED, THAN JESUS CENTRED, and I have often said, I don’t want to be like that, I WANT TO KEEP JESUS AT THE VERY CENTRE OF MY FOCUS.

I feel I need to write this blog to state that I have come to see in a greater way WE AS CHRISTIANS HAVE AN ENEMY, who will seek to do anything to rob us of our relationship with the Lord. Basically half of the New Testament books were written by the Apostle Paul and he clearly brings to our attention this enemy we have. His excellent teaching for example in Eph. 6, where tells us, that not only do we have an enemy but that through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ we have available to us a COMPLETE SET OF ARMOUR that we must learn to put on to deal with the enemy’s attacks, he also have millions of assistants (demons) who want to trip us up. I also I am so pleased to know the truth of Heb. 7:25 NKJV Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He JESUS) ALWAYS LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM. We sure couldn’t make it on our own, but with the Lord’s enabling we say with Paul on Rom.8:37 NKJV Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV tells us Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. We are so aware of his roaring ,as we see it and hear it in the media and news every day, It is generally so obvious we usually recognise it so easily and steer clear of it.

I have come to see that the enemy is not only a “roaring lion” but also a SUBTLE SILENT DECEIVING SNAKE. The word deception is defined as “The act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false and invalid”.

Other words for deception are: duplicity,fraud, cunning trickery,cheating, craftiness. The enemy is an expert in these areas, that is why Paul wrote in Eph.6:11-18 NKJV Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,

PASSION Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.
Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.
In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God.
Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.

N.L.T. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

MESSAGE So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

May I encourage you to slowly go through each of these translations, and let the Holy Spirit speak to you (give you revelation) of all that is available to you as a Believer, to deal with our common enemy.

The frustrating problem is that generally a person who is deceived by the enemy doesn’t even realise it!!!! The devil knows the Word of God so well, and is a past master at twisting the Scriptures, we have so many false cults in our world today supposedly built on verses from the Bible!!! I don’t know whether I should highlight any specifics, except to say I have written in the past of such things as “legalism” which can and does cause Believers to live in bondage. I also think “exclusivity“ can be a deception where a person, thinks what they believe and practice, and what church they attend is better than what others go too, and what they believe. The Body of Christ is made of people who experience the Lord through liturgical worship, and practice, others are happy in a totally different atmosphere. The Lord looks at a Believers “seeking heart”, not on the externals. I am sure the list could go on and on.

I have written of my burden that Believers around the world have not seen the current pandemic something the Sovereign Lord has permitted to cause us His Church to see Him wanting to move in our world Rom. 8:28 NKJV tells us “And we know that all things work together for GOOD to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”.

I think the pandemic should produce the challenge we read in 2 Chron. 7:14 NKJV if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Why are we so blind to the needs all around us? I would suggest the enemy has so many Believers caught up with the materialism and cares of this world they “hardly even see a problem unless it is effecting them”.

Is there an answer? I believe there is, and two things come to mind,

1. We need people in our world, who can speak into our lives GODLY FRIENDS &MENTORS, often see what we can’t see in ourselves, and we need an open heart to receive what a Godly Mentor/Friend would share with us from the Word of God to help us recognise there is an area/s if deception in our lives.
2. James tells us in 4:3 NKJV Yet you do not have because you do not ask, we need to start ASKING, and lay hold of the promise found in John 16:13 NKJV However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; I personally think the Lord often takes the initiative as well, as I sincerely believe the Lord has been leading out of deception, into a greater understanding of truth

“Lord open our eyes that we may see your truth, and if there are any areas of deception in our lives, set us free in Jesus Name, and we pray for Your Church, the Body of Christ around the world, let it be free of deception, and may it fulfil your purposes in these the closing days of time amen.