FIGHT AGAINST THE DECEITFULLNESS OF THE DEVIL

Greetings of peace,

The Word of God last week discussed about the whole armour of God, are we still putting on the whole armour or have we experienced tiresome in the battle? We must not leave the whole armour at home only as decoration while we are doing our activities outside our home! And we also must not use the Word of God to attack each other toward the people around us! For example: husband and wife or parents and children are using Gods Word to attack one another that cause tense in marriage and household.

Who are the enemies worth to be defeated? That is the ruler, prince of the air and the wicked spirits of the air (Ephesians 6:12). How do we detect their presence? Notice this, even though they are cast out of the church (during the service) they are everywhere and ready to attack us.

What must we defeat from the devil? His deceit/trickery (wiles = trickery; Ephesians 6:11). It needs to be known that the devil and his troop act as our opposite but it is too bad that many men become the devils friends by making use of the facilities he provided such as occultism, charms, witchcraft, etc. It is very obvious that friends will not attack each other; so, if someone becomes a friend of the devil, he does not need the whole armour of God because they are friends.

Before we repent and know Jesus, then we are also the friend of the Devil (Ephesians 2:1-6) and we are encouraged to commit many wicked sins such as: cheating, being corrupt, deceiving, and so on, but by the grace of God we are saved and become His own. Knowing this matter, the devil cannot accept and try to pull us back to be his followers; therefore we must fight against the devil.

Jesus once said to the Jewish that their father was not Abraham but the devil because they followed the desire of the devil who tried to murder Jesus who manifested the righteousness of God. If they had truly been Abrahams descendants, they would have done the work that Abraham did (John 8:37-47).

Who is the Devil/Satan? He was living in heaven at the beginning, but rebelled and fought a war against Michael then defeated and thrown to the world with millions of followers. They do not sit quiet, but eager to find men who were already redeemed by Jesus and received the eternal promise to live together with Him in heaven, to trip into falling again (return to the old habit, filled with violations and sins). They were glad to be able to trip Adam and Eve, Samson, David, and so on, but were disappointed for failing to trip Job yet they would never stop to try even harder to trip Jesus too.

What deceit did the devil speak to Jesus? About food

The devil used spiritual words, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. And Jesus also answered using the Word of God, It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:3-4)

It must be admitted that though we have spiritual life (as children of God) we still live on this earth. Spiritual life cannot be seen but we still need physical body (while we are still alive) that needs food. Since the beginning of creation, the Devil with his cunningness used the chance through food to trip Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-4) also to Jesus who was hungry at that moment after fasting 40 days (Matthew 4:1-2).

Be watchful of preaching the Word of God, take the example of Jesus when fighting against the Devil, He emphasized the importance of Gods Word more than the needs of man.

Application:

the servant of God shall prioritize the Word of God more than human needs.

Spiritual matters

The devil brought Jesus to the temple of God then saying, If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone (Matthew 4:6)

Then Jesus defeated the devil by answering, “It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (verse 7). With other words, Jesus confirmed that we must love the Word of God completely. Be watchful, spiritual matters may make us arrogant if we refuse to read Gods Word completely as had done by the devil.

Actually the devil is very sophisticated and expert in using Gods Word, the verse above is quoted from Psalms 91:11 but he omitted the Word of God and displayed only part of it to tempt human.

Application:

the Word of God on pulpit should not be omitted (out of context) to motivate the congregation to come to the Lord for the fulfillment of worldly need.

The glory of the world

The devil no longer used the Word of God but directly said, All this (=the entire kingdom of the world and its luxuriousness) I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me. (Matthew 4:8-9)

Because Jesus could not be tempted in clothing, meal and spiritual arrogance, the devil used the ultimate weapon that is truly longed by man that is the glory of the world. However, Jesus continued to experience victory because He was consistent to use the Word of God. It is far different with how man see the world, that we are easily tempted to have what we see while Jesus sees with His divine perspective that do good for mankind.

After being defeated, the devil did not give up but he always waits for the good chance to strike back (Luke 4:13).

The devil can use man to attack. Who had become his vulture? Peter

Peter experienced his education for ± 3½ year, being taught by Jesus. Peter was complimented by Jesus because he gave the correct answer that Jesus is the Messiah, the living Son of God (Matthew 16:15-16). But when Jesus told about the suffering He had to experience (insulted, tortured and murdered but resurrected on the third day), the devil directly possessed Peters mind and he appeared as the disciple who defended the honor of his teacher (vv. 21-22).

Was Jesus pleased with Peters defence? Jesus was not easily carried away when hearing Peters praise but rebuked him, Get behind me, Satan! (v. 23)

Peter must have been shocked and did not understand his mistake but Jesus knew that Peter was deceived by the devil when he avoided physical suffering. Honestly, didnt we try to avoid even if possible - refuse suffering? That is why Apostle Paul wept when writing the epistle in Phillippi because many Christians had become the enmity to the cross of Christ (Phillippians 3:18). Do not think that the evil spirits are only in the air that we are negligent if they can enter our mind!

If Jesus obeyed Peters words, it means He refused the plan of God who sent Him into this world. Jesus won over the temptations from the devil because He knew the deceit of the devil.

Implication:

we must not take any sermons for granted - without disrespecting- but it must be filtered whether it is purely the voice of Gods Word or already seasoned for the interest of the flesh because our flesh really dislike to be hurt, cornered, neglected, etc. Be watchful, the servants of God also can be used by the devil to take the congregation to refuse the cross of Christ.

Peter was rebuked hard by Jesus and he repented also did not want to experience the same thing again. What was the proof? He did not rejoice when Ananias offered part of his property selling (though it might be in a large amount), he rebuked Ananias who lied to the Holy Spirit and his heart was overpowered by the devil. What was done by Ananias was known by his wife, Saphira, who ended tragically with their death (Acts 5:1-10).

Application:

we must be careful in using the money we receive as much as the Lord blessed us because the devil can use this blessing to tempt us, including tempting ourselves to get the glory of the world. The fact is, man is very clever in counting the loss and benefit of his money and the devil sees this opportunity to make use of man.

Also for the preacher of Gods Word pastor, evangelist, and so on do not differentiate the congregation members based on the amount of offering (money) they give for the ministry work. A servant of God whose life is ruled by the Word of God will see the congregation members as how they are looking at man by the heart not by the amount of his offering.

In other chance, Peter was tempted again to receive money from Simon who tried to pay for the power of the Holy Spirit when Peter and John prayed for the Samaritan to obtain the Holy Spirit. What was Peters answer? “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! (Acts 8:14-20)

We deserve to be joyful to see ex-paranormal repent but is he truly freed from the occultism he had believed all these times? The fact is, many ministry practices were mixed with occultism practices. For example: when the governor of Pafos island, Sergios Paul called Apostle Paul and Barnabas to listen to the Word of God, a witch and a false prophet named Barjesus (Elimas) tried to divert the faith of that governor.

What did Apostle Paul say? You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! …Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun. (Acts 13:6-11) It was proven that the devil used Elimas to influence the people in the government at that time.

Seeing the cunningness of the devil, Apostle Paul wrote the Lord gave different gifts (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher) to equip the saints for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up and become mature, that they we will no longer be tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:11-14).

Apostle Paul also reminded the Corinthians who had been bethroted as a virgin toward Christ but were patient to accept those who preach other Christ, other spirit or other gospel than what they had received (2 Corinthians 11:2-4). Their faith was shaken because of the cunningness of false prophets and cheat workers who used the same Bible and liturgy as used by the children of God at that time but being turned upside down. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Application:

our spirituality must grow into maturity so that will not be easily shaken by the falseness attacked by the devil. The strong Christian does not mean there will not be any distraction of the devils attack in his life. Although the devil is still disturbing to this second, the person who has faith in Jesus Christ (who died and resurrected) will be released from the deceit of the devil.

Judas Iscariot

If Peter was rebuked hard by Jesus to repent, Judas was ignored to follow his hearts desire. Why? Since the beginning, Jesus knew that Judas did not believe in the Word of God. Judas even protested the action of Mary who broke the pint of pure nard to be poured on Jesus feet while He let Mary did it for the preparation of His burial. For Judas, this kind of action was such a waste while actually he was the thief who often took the oferring money (John 12:3-7) and already had the intention to sell Jesus. Without emotional words, Jesus let Judas succeeded his plan because he was possessed by the devil (John 12:3-7). It was really tragic what was experienced by Judas Iscariot, he could not enjoy the betrayal money toward his teacher because he committed suicide (Matthew 27:3-5).

Implication:

by refusing the Word of God actually the seed to betray that Word has been growing and the devil does not enter right away but waiting for the good chance when to influence that person.

It must be admitted that we still need basic necessities (clothing, meal and housing) but let us not be easily tricked by the cuningness of the devil who offered the comfort and the glory of the world to be exchanged with the eternal salvation the Lord had promised.

If we remain to follow the Lord, we must be ready to accept the rebuke of the Word of God and entering the suffering of the cross; this is far better than to be ignored to lead to eternal perishment. Therefore, always put on the whole armor of God and continue to fight against the deceit of the devil and his followers until we reach absolute victory. Amen.

Transalator: Samuel Sirait

Editor : Interpreter Team