Deception and Satan’s Masquerade
Paul reminds us that Satan is the ultimate deceiver. Satan even masquerades as an angel of light. He tries to look like God, so that you will follow his wicked ways. He deliberately tries to confuse you, and mislead you. The dictionary defines masquerade as “a false show or pretense.” Synonyms include, “pretense, deception, pose, act, front, facade, disguise, dissimulation, bluff, play-acting, make-believe; an informal definition is to put-on”. He tries to look like God to keep you from your God-given power and authority, peace, understanding, wisdom, love, all the goodness that comes from God.
Image courtesy of: Muse Rosli
Scripture:
“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” – 2 Corinthians 11:14
Observation/Application:
So how can we discern between God’s voice and the voice of the enemy so that we are not tricked and deceived? We know God’s Word. We pray earnestly. We believe. We don’t make hasty decisions, and instead we pray, meditate, seek God’s counsel. And we can ask others to pray for us as well because there is power in prayer. God will reveal to others what we need to hear. We just have to be able to discern others being tricked and used by the enemy, and ensure that what is coming through them is coming from God. When it is from God you will know it in your gut, the stills small voice will encourage it, and God’s Word will affirm it.
When we seek the Lord with all our heart, we will come to know His voice and receive His direction. We will have clarity and peace. The best way to hear His voice is voice is to fill ourselves with His Word. Without His Word is is easy to be deceived because the enemy is good at stealing our joy, our peace, our love, our blessings. That is the devil’s games and schemes. But when we seek God, we will know His voice from that of the enemy. Let us draw so close to God that we know Him like the voice of our best friend, the kind of friend who knows exactly what the other one is thinking without either saying a thing. This is the relationship that God wants for us. God has amazing plans for us, and is waiting for us with arms wide open, for those who seek Him.
#So-Full-Of-God’s-Word-The-Enemy-Has-No-Foothold
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word this morning. Fill us with your wisdom and understanding so that we can make the right choices each day. Help us to know you more, help us to hear you more, help us to see you more, help us to feel you more. We want to love you more. Keep us from temptation and from hearing and being deceived by the voice of the enemy. Let us be so full of your Word that the enemy has no place to take root. Let us take our every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and all goodness that only comes from You. Help us to us walk in Your Ways, to the glory of your Holy Name. Amen.
Today’s full reading: 1 Samuel 11,12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11
Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:
- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – (Jeremiah 29:11)
- “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – (John 10:10)
- “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” – (Matthew 6:33)
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