Deceived vs. Diligent
“Then you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” ~~ John 8:32 (NIV).
Recently I've been thinking about how the enemy works to deceive God's people. But what is deception, and how can we prevent from being deceived? Deception is defined as “using a lie to promote something that is not of value. The intent of deception is to exchange something of inferior value for something that is of value.” ~~ (www.access-jesus.com)
Satan is the known as the father of lies - lies that we believe about God, self, and others. What core lies have you believed? What has the enemy whispered in your ear? What lies have taken you further away from His truth?
Do you believe the lie that you are NOT worthy? Those who are in Christ can say “I am worthy.”
The enemy's lie is that you are NOT loved. But now you can say, “I am loved.”
Satan says you are NOT accepted. But as a Believer in Jesus, you can say with confidence “I am accepted.”
In the world or your own family you may feel that you are NOT valued. Yet this is a lie of the enemy, for as a believer you may know and joyfully say “I am valued.”
The Holy Bible is an unfolding story wherein God points out the many ways people are deceived by satan himself. The devil is a liar and the father of lies. But God equips us through His Word revealing his lies when we diligently seek the Lord, read and meditate upon God's promises, and then speak forth these truths over our lives.
In the Book of Genesis God specifically warns Adam and Eve “You shall not eat from fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it or you will die” (Genesis 3:3).
When the enemy essentially whispered to Adam and Eve “You can have knowledge of this world and material things. You can be the ruler”, what happened? Eve bought into the lie and exchanged the truth and commandment of God for a lie. Then Adam bought into that lie, too. They were both trapped by the devil's deceptive words.
Can you relate? Have you ever been deceived by what you can see versus what you cannot? Have you ever bought into the lie that “Well, I really need this or that, I deserve to have this or that? Or better yet, I really do not do too much of this or that. (You can fill in the blank.)
What about the story of Samson who God specifically called and chose as “a son set apart by God as a Nazarite”? ~~Judges 13:5. Samson was a man who was known for his unusual strength and power so that no man was a match for him. The Source for his great strength was hidden deep within his heart - in his obedience to God's command not to cut his hair. His hair was the source of his strength. Samson knew that if his hair was ever to be cut, he would lose his supernatural strength.
Several chapters later in the Book of Judges we learn that Samson shared the secret of his great strength to Delilah whom he loved. But that was not the cause of his defeat. He was defeated as the Spirit of God withdrew from him. Samson then tried to deliver himself from the physical bondage in human strength. Delilah's wiles were a trap, and Samson fell for it. His hair got cut off, the Spirit of God departed from him for a season, and the devil thought he had won. What a story! Samson was blinded and put in chains - turning a mill wheel until his hair grew back.
Have you ever experienced a type of deception? Maybe you have bought into the lie that you are lonely, or he really thinks I am pretty, and my husband is gone all the time. (You can fill in the rest). Or maybe you got married, and your husband was addicted to pornography. Most of us have stories that include deception and lies that have invaded and crushed us leaving destruction and despair in its path.
Do you recall the story of Ananias in the Book of Acts, and how he sold his land and decided to make it appear as if he generously gave all the money as an offering? But he decided to keep some for himself. His wife agreed, too, and in Acts 5:1-5: “Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the Apostle’s feet. Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? While you had the land, it was your own. After it was sold, you could have done as you pleased with the money. So how could you do a thing like this? You didn’t lie to people but to God!'”
Ananias and Sapphira both immediately dropped dead because of the deception and their lie. Satan had deceived them and caused them to be separated from God because of it.
Consider Your Own Story . . .
Today I encourage you to ask yourself these important questions:
1. “Has satan filled my heart and caused me to believe a lie about myself, God, or others?"
2. “Has he caused me to be deceived like Ananias who exchanged the spiritual relationship he had with God for material things?”
Take some time, and think about your own story. What keeps you hidden, deceived, or isolated from the presence of the Holy Spirit? Maybe nothing; maybe you are one of the lucky ones that aren't deceived by the enemy. I know for me, though, if I am totally honest, opportunities to be deceived are at my door daily. And the thing about deception is that we don't recognize it. We can't see it coming. That is why it is so insidious. I have to be diligent and maintain my close walk with my Savior, asking and seeking Christ for what I am to believe.
What Is Your Story?. . .
We know the devil constantly attempts to enslave us at the point where we are most vulnerable. What part of your own past does the enemy still have you trapped? It seems like the devil will never give up. So, let us be diligent as we follow the Lord.
In Jeremiah 9:6 makes this plea, “Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me.”
Let Us Choose . . .
Let's choose to rewrite our narrative ... from deception to diligence ... diligence to know Him and comprehend Who He is for us. His great love that saves, changes, and delivers us! Proverbs 10:4 reads this way, “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of diligent makes rich.” The choice is ours: being a slacker or being diligent.
Seek the Lord At All Times . . .
Become willing and open to press into His throne room; ask Him to reveal that which is in your heart. Notice in Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all of your heart and with all your soul.”
Will you seek and search for Him with me daily?
Pray At All Times . . .
In order for this transformation to take place within you, ask Him to reveal the lies that the enemy has tried to get you to believe. What lies have you believed about God, yourself, and others? Are you willing to write those down, and ask Him to replace those lies with His truth of Who He says He is and who you are? Be defined only by HIM! Proverbs 8:17 says:“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently shall find me.”
Hebrews 11:6 instructs us: “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.”
Read and Meditate Upon the Bible . . .
In order to know Him and His character fully, God has provided His written, eternal Word. And we are able to read it and meditate upon it day and night. When we meditate upon the holy scriptures we grasp that He is good, Sovereign, all knowing, and most of all our personal, loving God. We thank God for these promises:
“You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently. Oh, that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes! Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all Your commandments. I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments” ~~ Psalms 119: 4-7 (NASB).
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” ~~ Joshua 1:8 (NASB).
Forgive Others of Every Offense . . .
Why must we forgive? We must forgive others of their trespasses against us in order for us to be forgiven and so we can live confidently in God's presence. In that place of safety, the enemy cannot touch us. We also forgive because we ourselves have already been forgiven by God. We forgive others for our own good, peace, and welfare. Then we are less likely to be deceived by the enemy's lies.
Pray With Me . . .
Heavenly Father, I now see how easily I can be deceived by the enemy and the lies he whispers in my ear. Lord, I know when I seek You first, then pray, and finally meditate on Your Word - committing to memory Your scriptures day and night, then I am equipped for the daily spiritual battle. I now choose to take hold of Your truth and who You say I am. From now on I'll recognize the lies that the enemy tries to get me to believe that would take me away from You; and I will have the fortitude to resist the first stirrings of temptation. Help me be prepared, diligent, and ready knowing who I am as defined by You! Amen.
Scriptures for Further Study . . .
“Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him belongs the power forever. Amen” ~~ 1 Peter 5:8-11 (NET BIBLE).
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” ~~ Ephesians 6:12.
“If you forgive someone, so do I. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did in the presence of Christ for your benefit. I don’t want Satan to outwit us. After all, we are not ignorant about Satan’s scheming” ~~2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (NET BIBLE).
~ Elizabeth Bowman