DISCERNING DEVIL’S DECEPTIONS
Jesus Christ, the living Word of God said: “false christs and false prophets will rise…to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). However, the written words of God, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, can help us discern deceptive spirits (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12-13).
DISCERNING BY PAYING
By Jesus praying to God, the Lord was able to recognize and defeat the devil’s attempts to deceive him (Matthews 4:1-11). Jesus often prayed to his Father for help to overcome the god of this world (Luke 5:16).
Jesus taught his disciple to pray to God the Father, as the Son had prayed (Luke 11:1-4). The disciple learned that praying plays an important part in recognizing the schemes of the devil and defeating him (Ephesians 6:11-18).
In our battle with the devil and his schemes, our Lord advises us to “watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41).
DISCERNING BY SCRIPTURES
After thwarting a scheme of the devil, Jesus said: “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Subsequently, the Son of God said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Contrary to the Word of God, many religions teach that there are many ways to God. Some say they believe in “Christ”–but they are “not talking about the Jesus of Nazareth,” that the Bible talks about. Such religions may use various Bible terms, but with different meanings than the definitions of the Bible. They distort terms like God, Christ, love, sin, prosperity, meditation, etc., to attract people away from “the only true God and Jesus Christ,” whom He has sent to die for sins of believers (Acts 20:30; John 17:3).
Even some Christian churches, evidently being deceived, accept the doctrine of religious diversity. They do not exclusively preach the full gospel of Jesus Christ, as the only way to God as the Bible teaches (John 14:6; John 3:16-18)
The Bible counsels us to search the scriptures diligently for the truth(2 Timothy 2:15). We should carefully examine the scriptures, as some believers of the early church did to see if what even the Lord’s chosen apostle Paul was teaching was the truth (Acts 17:11).
The Bible says “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Jesus Christ, who is the truth, tells us: “search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 15:39). And “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[ and life” (John 6:63)
DISCERNING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
“Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1; John 6:63). Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit is able to expose deceitful spirits to Spirit-filled believers. For instance when a couple in the early church tried to deceive the disciples, the Holy Spirit exposed their deceitfulness. The Holy Spirit caused them to die (Acts 5:1-11).
The Holy Spirit enables you as a Spirit-filled believer in Jesus Christ to discern and avoid the consequences of being deceived by sin. The Holy Spirits inspires you to pray to the Father; to study the Word of God; to follow the leading of the Spirit…
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [a]direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
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