There is a lot of deception happening in the world around us. Therefore, we must be on watch and pray against it! Understand that Satan’s greatest weapon is deception. When you read the book of Revelations, it says that Satan deceives the whole world. Revelation means to simply reveal or to make known. Make known what? The things that are happening in the spiritual realm and Bible prophecy. Let’s look at Rev. 12:9 below.
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world he was cast out to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Rev. 12:9)
So, we see hear that Satan and his angels were cast down to the earth and his main objective is to deceive. A person who is easily deceived and caught off guard is someone who usually lacks knowledge, wisdom, and discernment. So, Satan targets those who are ignorant of God’s Word. Satan is a spirit being who exist in the spiritual realm.
Since Satan exist in the spiritual realm, he can influence human minds as he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1). A biblical example of how a person can be under satanic influence, is how Satan used Judas Iscariot to betray Christ (Luke 22:2-4).
So, as we see in Scripture, the first thing Satan will target is your mind. Hosea 4:6 says, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Satan’s objective is to distract you from knowing the Word of God. He will make every attempt to present you with lies in order to cause doubt in your mind. Therefore, he has to get you to drop your guard. Why? He knows that the Word of God is your greatest armor of defense and weapon of offense.
When the Mind’s Eye Is Blind
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Cor. 4:3-4)
Satan is a master of deception and is known for pulling the wool over people’s eyes. This Scripture informs us that people’s minds are blind, through deception, until they repent and receive Christ into their hearts and become born of the Spirit.
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4)
When they nailed our Savior to the Cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do”. Why? The Lord understood the condition of their fallen nature. Therefore, Jesus Christ came to give light to man’s fallen nature. Once saved, the rest of the faith walk is to become a disciple by renewing your mind with the truth. Otherwise, sin left unchecked is also how a person can become spiritually blind (1 Timothy 4:2).
Gateways to the Soul
In the natural, anything that’s precious, people usually make sure that it’s secured right? Certain places, you can’t even enter without getting past a security gate. Listen, nothing is more valuable than a human soul. Therefore, the Bible tells us to guard our hearts with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23).
- The eye gates- Job said, he made a covenant with his eyes (Job 31:1). Certain things you don’t need to see or entertain. Why? Because certain things can contaminate your soul. Satan knows it. So he uses movies and television shows that influence the way people think.
- The ear gates- Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). Be careful how you hear (Luke 8:18). Therefore, Satan will try to get you to hear lies until you buy in to it. Music was ultimately created to glorify God. Today, Satan uses it to corrupt the minds of our youth at an early age. It’s called bewitchment. In other words, to cast a spell on. He uses music to charm, fascinate and alter your mind with words that influences you or entices you to do the opposite of what God’s Word says.
Stages of Temptation
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)
If Satan can cause you to doubt God’s Word, his next move is to present you with temptation. Therefore, he will look for any area of weakness or vulnerability. To give an analogy, if you have someone who is a recovering alcoholic, the worst thing is for someone to keep putting drinks in front of their face. At some point, they’re going to give in to it if they’re not yet strong enough to resist the temptation.
Mankind’s fallen nature is prone to sin. The Bible says that all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. So, these are the three areas that Satan will present you with ungodly temptation. And it is through the power of the Spirit that we develop self-control to withstand temptation.
Beware of False Teachings
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. (1 Tim. 4:1-5)
First, Satan has to get you to believe a lie. The Bible says that he was a liar from the beginning (John 8:44). The Bible also tells us that Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). However, for those who are in Christ, we are no longer of this world, as we’ve been transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). So, if Satan is the god of this world, then think it not strange that he controls the systems of this world. He specializes in lies that cause doubt and confusion, which leads to chaos and destruction.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
From childhood, the systems of this world has taught us fairy tales. In addition, the world has taught vain philosophies, such as lies like humans descended from monkeys or apes. Then they said, it was a big bang theory, as if everything was created without intelligence. Now they’re saying humans were created from aliens from other planets. Do you see a trend in the spread of lies as the second coming of Christ is more close than ever? Know that the Word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8)!
Deception is running so rampant that some of the church leaders are deceived. There are pastors who no longer preach the full gospel. They only touch on certain areas not to offend. Therefore, you must know the Word of God for yourself in order to identify what is true and what is false.
There’s always a counterfeit
The whole world lies under the sway (influence) of the wicked one (1 John 5:19). Every good thing is counterfeited by a bad thing. How do you spot a counterfeit? You spend time with the real thing. Illustration: People who work at banks know how to determine the real from the fake. Satan disguises himself as something that he is not. 2 Cor. 11:13-15-
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is a true follower of Christ! And not every church has been ordained by God. The Bible forewarns us that there are wolves in sheep clothing and tares among the wheat. In addition, the Bible says, for they are not all Israel who are of Israel. (Romans 9:6)
Wisdom and Discernment
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15)
Wisdom is knowing how and when to apply knowledge. The Lord says to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. That being said, you must understand that the Devil uses people. The Bible says that Satan works through the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2) . How? According to Romans 6:16, you become a slave to whom you choose to obey, whether slaves of sin, which leads to death or obedience, which leads to righteousness. That being said, you can’t be so easy to trust everyone.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:14)
Discernment is the ability to decide between truth and error beyond what may appear obvious on the surface level. Peter was one of Jesus disciples and Jesus had enough discernment to know when it was Peter talking and when Peter was being influenced by Satan. This says to us that there may be people close to you that have good intentions but may not be aware that they are under the influence of Satan.
Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thess. 5:21-22) Society has a bad habit of judging an entire ethnicity, race, or organization based on a negative experience they had with someone who either looks like or identifies them self with a particular group. Having that type of mindset is unwise. No matter where you go on this earth, you will always find good and evil. What people really lack and should be praying for, is discernment.
We Must Put up Resistance
Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee. (James 4:7)
The focus is not so much on the Devil. However, we are not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices, as he’s been deceiving people for a long time. One of his devices is the use of the media. However, through the eyes of the Spirit, we can spot out his deception from many miles away. Therefore, we must know the Word of God and use the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16).
In conclusion, although Satan roams the earth like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, there is a line that he cannot cross. It’s called the blood line, which is a blood covenant between God and man through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ came that we may have life and life more abundantly. For as many as received Him, He gave the right to become sons and daughters of God.
The problems of this world is the result of sin. However, the sin debt has already been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ! If you haven’t submitted your life to Christ, then you can receive Christ into your heart today. Please don’t be like the stubborn goats that Jesus talks about, when He says that He will separate the sheep from the goats.
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25:31-33)
PRAYER OF SALVATION
Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen.” Welcome to the Family of God!
If you don’t have a church home, then ask God to lead you to a Bible-based church where you can become water baptized, become a disciple, and strengthened in the company of spiritual leaders and other believers in Christ. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!