TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY JULY 25, 2016.
DECEPTION
An act of fraud, misleading or misrepresentation; deliberate concealment of the truth; dishonesty; to lead astray by a false appearance or statement; to cause to accept as true what is false.
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. II Corinthians 11:3.
Many people are being deceived today by the evil in this world. Our world is filled with false ideologies that claim to provide a way to God. We want to remind you that Satan is the power in this world and he is actively working to deceive people, especially believers in Jesus. The spiritual warfare that Satan wages against us is based on deceit.
The apostle Paul was comparing, in the verse we put above, the dangers facing the Corinthian church to Eve’s deception by Satan. The danger the believers faced came from false teachers. Paul feared that the believers in Corinth would fall prey to satanic lies that were infiltrating the church. Paul warned that the false prophets were Satan’s emissaries, a truth that he stated in verses 13-14: “For such men are false prophets, deceitful workmen, misguiding as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Paul wanted the believers to recognize the deception of these false teachers and cautioned them not to allow their false teaching to corrupt their minds and lead them astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
False teachers can be found everywhere and especially in our schools and universities and yes, even in our churches. Many sincerely believe and want everyone to believe that there is more than one way to heaven. We, as believers, must not fall for smooth talkers whose words sound convincing and whose message sounds good.
The belief that there is more than one way to God is refuted by Jesus own words. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. The validity of a message can be tested by one standard -- God’s Word. If it contradicts God’s Word in any manner it is false and no believer should listen to it.
In the sixth century BC a Chinese general named Sun Tzu wrote “THE ART OF WAR.” This has been a guide for military thinking for centuries and is still referred to today in America’s military training programs. He developed in his book just one theme and that was “All warfare is based on deception.” He taught such things as; when you are ready to attack make it seem you are unable.
When you are near, you must make the enemy feel that you are far away and when you are far away you must make the enemy feel you are near. You want your enemy to feel what is not true is true and what is true is not true so that you have the element of surprise on your side.
These thoughts on military warfare written over 26 centuries ago can help believers today to understand the tactics of Satan, our spiritual enemy. Satan’s warfare against the truth of God’s message is based on deception. The very first sin was the result of the enemy’s deceit.
Jesus in His own words, describes Satan as a “murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
What is our defense as believers? There is only one defense and that is to saturate our hearts in the truth of God’s Word. Only the inspired Word of God can protect us from the deceptions of our enemy, the evil one.
God’s truth is not only the best but the only protection for us to fight off the deception concealed in Satan’s temptations.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Leviticus 26:6.
I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land.
Father, we do know that Satan is very clever, deceptive and sly and we do not want to be deceived by him and his lies. Help me and my family to be able to discern Satan’s cunning methods. Guard our hearts and minds through the power of the truth of Your Word.
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