Exposing Deception

Deception builds on a lack of truth.  Jesus wasn’t deceived because there was no foundation for the enemy to build on.1  What lies have I believed that the enemy is building on?‭

‭‭The truth displaces lies like light displaces darkness; there is no argument, truth and light prevail.  To be victorious we must remain in the truth.  Jesus is the truth, it is his character and identity, he cannot be separated from who he is.2

‭‭The enemy wants to redefine our identity and trash our character.  If we press into God who created our identity, and restores our character, we are victorious.3  4  5

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.‭ 6

 

If Jesus had sinned, his identity would have been lost.  If we sin we deny our identity however, in Christ, we are not lost.  My identity comes from God, sin obscures my identity; being created in God’s image, how can I understand my identity without growing in the knowledge of God?

Consider:‭ How does sin deceive?  For sin to deceive it must appear as good on some level; the greater the appearance of good the greater the deception.  Eve saw the fruit as good, took some and ate it.7 The enemy uses what God has made in a sinful way; let us not forget that the root of deception is hiding what is bad to create an illusion of good.‭

Further Consideration:‭ Repentance, though Christ Jesus, trumps sin and death.  I have no power except to agree or disagree with God.  I have the opportunity to agree before, during, and after participating in sin.  Maturity, though the Holy Spirit, agrees with God and avoids sin altogether. ‭

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.‭8

 

My Prayer: God, thank you for providing a way of escape from sin.  My love of sin prevents me from seeing a way of escape, please soften my heart, give me a hatred for sin and open my eyes to the way of escape you always provide.  I humble myself before you, confess my sins in agreement with you and by faith take hold of the righteousness of Christ who died for my sins.9  10 Thank you for loving me.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.‭ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.‭ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.‭11

Lies, Lies, and More Lies

Remember the enemy speaks lies.12 Lies are his native tongue.  Let’s look through the eyes of faith at our circumstances.  Is anything impossible for God?2  3 God is not sleeping4 – He sees the totality of our circumstances.  He is able to make ALL THINGS work for our good.5 In faith let’s continue to do good for at the proper time we will reap a reward!6 As men we are called to love our wives like Christ loved the church.7  8 Remember he didn’t lose His life, He laid it down.9 Let’s see all things as an opportunity to love.  It’s way bigger than us, we cannot go it alone.  Remember Jesus said he could do nothing on His own.10  11 It is an impossible task that is possible with God.  We must ask Him to give us His love for our wives.  It is important for us to remove all hindrances to love by confessing our sins in agreement with God.  God is love12  13 therefore if we are in agreement with Him we are in agreement with love.  Our hardened hearts create blind spots within us.  We must examine the overflow of our hearts through our words and actions to see the areas that are in opposition with God.14  15 If we ask God to soften our hearts, He will through repentance.  To maintain a softened heart we must confess every time we sin even if we commit it over and over.  The enemy will tell us we don’t need to confess it again because we just confessed it 5 minutes ago.  He is a liar!

05.17.11

Continue to Work Out Your Salvation

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed— not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence— continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling16

 

We are solely responsible for what we believe.  No matter who tells us something, we MUST validate the ideas and concepts within the word of God!2  3 If we do not know the word of God, we are like a ship without a rudder, the enemy will carry us off into captivity with his lies.4  5  We MUST desire God above all things, even above the very things of God!6  The kingdom of God does not consist of his things but of his right and authority to rule.7  8  9

Consider: If I don’t know the truth how can I recognize a lie?  By reading the account of Jesus’ temptation I learn that the enemy can be very subtle, slightly twisting and taking the truth out of context in an attempt to deceive.10 Jesus prevails because he is truth, the word made flesh.11  12 The word is a person, how can I know and have a relationship with Jesus and not know the word that became flesh?

Further Consideration: How important is the word of God in my life?  What role does it play?  If someone looked at my life what would they conclude?  Do I really believe hiding God’s word in my heart is essential?13  14

My Prayer: Lord, my failures are eclipsed by your blood and righteousness; I trust that you will complete the work that you have begun in me.15 I humble myself, have your way in me.  Please give me a delight in you and your word that awakens me to your call and the grace to whole heartedly respond in agreement with you! Amen.