This week we continue to answer the following question: How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting and derailing them from being involved in God's great mission?
As we survey Pauline literature we will discover fourteen tactical strategies that the enemy will use to come after God's people along with specific antidotes in addressing that problem. See the introduction to this series to receive an overview of this subject.
"Even Satan can quote scripture out of context why are we surprised when men do it." - Gary Rohrmayer
5. Deceptive Leaders with Slick Teaching
Text: II Corinthians 11:14-15 - And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Problem: “Satan can counterfeit good things that attract believers (e.g. apparent good teaching; false apostles). Satan can appear like a messenger from God to deceive Christians.” J. Robert Clinton
Antidote: “Get discernment on apparent good teaching, apparent dynamic leaders. This may involve having to depend on people with revelatory gifts (discerning of spirits; a word of knowledge; a word of prophecy; a word of wisdom, etc.).” J. Robert Clinton
Reflective Questions:
- When is the last time you prayed for the spiritual protection of your church?
- Would you describe your church as one with the spirit of the Bereans? (Acts 17:11)
- How dependant are you on the revelatory gifts of Scripture?
- Who in your circles would have those revelatory gifts?
Prayer: Father of Light, protect my life from the deception of the enemy, protect your church from false teachers and hirelings, produce a spiritual depth and a hunger for truth throughout your church. May we have the noble character of the Bereans receiving the word of God with eagerness and thoroughly examine the Scriptures every day. May you grant the church with the spiritual gift of discernment to see behind the slick or even successful teaching. May we see ‘sound doctrine’ promoted and embraced throughout the church, my we learn to ‘think correctly’ and ‘practice the truth appropriately’ for your glory and honor. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Next week: Unchecked Anger
To view the entire series of posts on Spiritual Warfare
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