Daily devotion – Satan’s way to deceive
Wednesday evening, we covered Satan’s strategy for seeking to have us fall to temptation. Satan today continues to masquerade as an angel of light – 2Co 11:14 And do not marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
When he made his grand entrance in the Garden of Eden, he used the body of a serpent, one of God’s creatures that He had pronounced ‘good’! Gen 1:31.
Satan today continues to work as the great impersonator and he has manufactured a counterfeit righteousness apart from the righteousness that only comes by faith in Jesus Christ.
Satan even has false ministers working for him today who preach a false gospel – 2 Cor 11:- 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Satan questioned God’s Word – Gen 3:1 and he targeted Eve’s mind to raise doubts in her mind concerning the truthfulness of God’s Word and the goodness of God’s heart. Satan also denied God’s Word – Gen 3:4 – You will not surely die…which is a direct contradiction of God’s You shall surely die…Genesis 2:17.
Once we start to question God’s Word, we are prepared to deny His Word and believe Satan’s lies. Then it is just a short step to believing Satan’s promises and disobeying God’s commands.
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He answered Satan’s lies with God’s truth and three times affirmed, It is written….
Satan wants to deceive our minds – 2 Cor 11: 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
But we defeat him by using the spiritual weapons God provides:
2 Cor 10:4 – For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[fn] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 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.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Be safe this week as you stay in God’s Word and ignore the lies and trickery of the enemy!