Tag: deception

June 8, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

Eyes to See the Fakes

Opening Verse

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.”- 2 Corinthians 11:13 (KJV)

 

Introduction

In our journey of faith, we must be vigilant. The devil and the world are experts in deception, offering fake counterfeits that seem genuine but lead us astray. These distractions can divert us from God’s true plan and purpose for our lives. Therefore, it is crucial to pray for discernment and wisdom to recognize these falsehoods.

Devotional Story

A man named Peter was deeply committed to his walk with Christ. One day, he was presented with a job offer that promised a significant increase in salary and prestige. On the surface, it appeared to be a blessing. However, the job required Peter to compromise his values and spend less time with his family and in ministry.

As Peter prayed for guidance, he felt a nagging sense of unease. He sought counsel from trusted Christian friends and continued to pray for clarity. Finally, he realized that the offer, although attractive, was a counterfeit. It was a distraction meant to pull him away from his true calling. Peter declined the job and soon found another opportunity that aligned perfectly with his faith and allowed him to grow in his relationship with God.

What This Means

Peter’s story reminds us that not every opportunity or situation that looks good is from God. The devil often uses attractive counterfeits to lure us away from God’s will. By seeking God’s guidance and praying for discernment, we can develop the ability to recognize these deceptions and stay on the right path.

Think About This

– Are there areas in your life where you might be accepting counterfeits?
– How can you develop a stronger sense of discernment to recognize what is truly from God?
– What steps can you take to ensure that your decisions align with God’s plan?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for Your wisdom and discernment in my life. Help me to see through the deceptions of the enemy and the world. Give me eyes to recognize the counterfeits that are meant to distract and derail me from Your path. Strengthen my heart to choose Your truth above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

-2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)

May 30, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

The Blinding of Bar-Jesus

Opening Verse

“And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”
— Acts 13:10 (KJV)

Introduction

In the book of Acts, we encounter a man named Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas the sorcerer. He used his cunning and deceitful ways to mislead people, opposing the truth of God’s word. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of falsehood and the ultimate triumph of truth.

Devotional Story

Bar-Jesus was a false prophet who used sorcery to influence and deceive the people. He tried to turn the proconsul Sergius Paulus away from the faith when Paul and Barnabas were sharing the gospel. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked him sharply, and Bar-Jesus was struck with blindness. This physical blindness mirrored the spiritual blindness he was spreading among the people.

Just as Bar-Jesus used his skills to lead people away from the truth, there are many today who employ persuasive speech and deceitful practices to keep others from seeing the light of Christ. These modern-day “sorcerers” may not use magic, but their words and actions can be just as misleading and harmful.

What This Means

Bar-Jesus’ temporary blindness was a direct result of his attempt to blind others from the truth. It symbolizes how spiritual blindness can afflict those who choose to deceive and those who are deceived. In a world full of distractions and false teachings, it is crucial to stay rooted in the word of God and discern truth from lies.

Think About This

– Are there areas in your life where you might be influenced by deceitful teachings or false information?
– How can you strengthen your understanding and discernment of the truth?
– Consider the ways you can help others see the light of Christ amidst the confusion of today’s world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom and discernment in a world filled with deception. Help us to see clearly through the lies and to stand firm in your truth. Guide us to be lights in the darkness, leading others to the clarity and salvation found in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Closing Verse

“Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”
— Acts 13:12 (KJV

March 5, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

The Subtle Twist

Opening Verse

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3 (KJV)

Introduction

In our spiritual journey, understanding the nature of our adversary, the Devil, is crucial. He is not just a foe to be underestimated; he is cunning, crafty, and skilled in the art of deception. It is his subtlety, the ability to twist and manipulate, that poses a significant danger to our understanding and living out of God’s Word.

Devotional Story

Consider a moment in a peaceful garden, where everything began. Here, the Devil, taking the form of a serpent, approached Eve. His tactic? He simply twisted God’s words, changing just one little word, to sow seeds of doubt and disobedience. This wasn’t a grand gesture or a blatant lie; it was a subtle twist, yet it had profound consequences. From this moment, humanity’s relationship with God was altered, illustrating how potent a single word can be when twisted by the enemy.

What This Means

This means we must be vigilant and discerning. The Devil’s tactics have not changed; he still seeks to pervert God’s Word by altering it ever so slightly. A word here, a concept there – it might seem insignificant, but it can lead to confusion, doubt, and a departure from the truth. The purity of God’s Word is our foundation, and any alteration, no matter how small, can lead us away from the path God has set for us.

Think About This

How often do we critically evaluate the information we receive against the unchanging truth of the Bible? Are we aware that even the smallest deviation from God’s Word can have significant implications for our faith and life? The enemy is cunning, using half-truths and subtle changes to lead us astray. It’s a reminder to not only read the Bible but to study it, understand it, and ask the Holy Spirit for discernment.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, grant us wisdom and discernment to recognize the subtleties of the enemy’s deceptions. Help us to hold fast to Your Word, examining everything in the light of Your truth. May we not be led astray by the cunning alterations of the evil one, but stay firm in the simplicity and purity of our devotion to Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” – 2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)

November 29, 2023 Devotional Post a Comment

Spiritual Warfare

Opening Verse:

“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.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)

Introduction:

In today’s devotional, we explore a profound truth about spiritual warfare – the subtle ways the enemy attacks our identity in Christ. Our identity, deeply rooted in the love and redemption offered by Jesus, is often the prime target of the devil’s schemes.

Devotional Story:

Once there was a man named John, a devoted believer, known for his faith and love for Christ. John’s life was a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel. However, as John grew in faith, the devil, much like a prowling lion, sought to disrupt his spiritual journey.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” -1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

The devil did not come with evident evil; instead, he appeared as an angel of light, whispering lies and doubts into John’s heart.

“And no wonder, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” – Corinthians 11:14 (NKJV)

He reminded John of his past, his failures, and his inadequacies. “Are you truly saved? Are you good enough for God’s kingdom?” These whispers slowly corroded John’s confidence in his identity in Christ.

John remembered the story of Adam, who, though not deceived like Eve, still fell into sin. It was not deception that led Adam astray, but pride and a failure to uphold his God-given role and identity. This realization hit John profoundly; he saw how the devil was attacking not just his actions, but his very identity as a child of God.

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” – 1 Timothy 2:14 (NKJV)

What This Means:

Our enemy often uses subtle tactics, disguising himself as an angel of light, to make us question our identity in Christ. He knows that if he can shake our understanding of who we are in Jesus, he can disrupt our faith and effectiveness for the Kingdom. Remember one thing, when the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future…

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelations 20:10 (NKJV)

Jesus has wiped away all our sins, the enemy knows this and wants to put stumbling blocks in your way to keep you from a TRUE relationship with Jesus!

“Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” – Colossians 2:14 (NKJV)

 Think About This:

– How can you guard against the enemy’s attempts to make you doubt your identity in Christ?
– In what ways can remembering your true identity in Jesus help you overcome spiritual attacks?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for my identity in Christ. Help me to stand firm in the truth of Your Word, especially when the enemy tries to deceive me. Strengthen my heart against the lies that seek to undermine my faith. Lord, as Your Word says in Matthew 18:18, whatever I bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever I loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. In Jesus’ name, I declare this truth over my life. Amen.

Closing Verse:

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” – 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (NKJV)

 

October 13, 2023 Devotional Post a Comment

Wandering in a Reflective Maze

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)

Introduction

Envision traversing through a mirror maze: a plethora of paths, each reflection presenting a seemingly viable route, yet some merely illusions, presenting a metaphor for how societal norms and varying interactions may attempt to deviate our moral and ethical compass.

Devotional Story

Let’s walk with Tom, who ventured into a mirror maze, lured by the promise of a hidden treasure. The confusing paths, reflections clear and distorted, symbolize our struggle with societal and self-perceptions.

One mirror presented Tom amidst wealth and opulence, a tempting offer. However, every attempt to grasp it found him facing a barrier, representing society’s illusory promise of happiness and wealth through potentially unethical means.

In another mirror, Tom saw himself, basked in applause and celebration, but it was an illusion as he stepped forward, symbolizing societal pressure to gain applause by conforming to popular but potentially misleading norms.

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
– Matthew 7:14 (KJV)

Conclusion

Tom discerned that pursuing these illusory reflections veered him away from the maze’s true treasure – a peaceful garden symbolizing genuine happiness and spiritual tranquility. These deceptive mirrors metaphorically represent society’s false promises and misleading paths, diverting us from our true, ethical path.

Genuine fulfillment isn’t found in the misleading allure of societal applause, wealth, or deviating reflections, but in maintaining fidelity to our moral compass amidst a plethora of confusing and conflicting messages.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
– Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

Faith Notes

As we navigate life, akin to Tom in the mirror maze, we will encounter reflections that appear promising yet lead us astray. The mirrors, promising wealth and acceptance through potential compromise of our values, deviate us from a true path that brings genuine spiritual and emotional fulfillment.

We are called to discern these deceptive reflections, choose the narrow and accurate path, and persist in doing good, upholding our ethical beliefs, even when life’s maze offers enticing yet misleading alternatives.

May your journey through life’s maze remain steadfast and true, steering clear of misleading reflections, guiding you toward the genuine treasure of peace and righteousness in adhering to your moral and spiritual compass.