1 Timothy 4:1- CSB
Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
A friend and I were speaking about the subtleness of Satan’s schemes in Christians lives as we were contemplating on all the things that even those who say Jesus is their Lord choose to compromise in. Every Christian should be on guard against Satan because he has been a deceiver from the beginning (Genesis chapter 3-The fall of Man) and he is still the same today. Apostle Paul’s warning about Satan’s scheme is alarming throughout his ministry. Those of us who profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, are in a spiritual war. If we are not a student of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, we will be deceived by Satan’s demons. You may say not me! If that is the attitude of your heart, he has already deceived you.
For us to be ready for battle, we must be aware of our enemy and acknowledge his strength. Satan knows the Bible and has been around God. We often forget that Satan was created by God; he has been in the presence of God and was a messenger for God before he rebelled against his creator. A great study for every Christian is to learn who Satan was before his fall in the presence of the living God. How do you think Satan was able to tempt Jesus in Mathew chapter four? He used the Word of God. Not once did Jesus deny that what Satan was saying to him was not true. Nevertheless, Jesus was also a student of God and knew the full story to fight back against Satan’s scheme. Are you a student of the Holy Bible? Not just part of it or what might suit your belief but the entire Word of the living God. If you are not convinced the entire Bible is relevant to your Journey with God, you are at risk of being deceived by the demons like Adam and Eve in the Garden. Satan will use our zeal and devotion to God to make us agree with things that are contrary to God’s Word. Look at how much fun Satan is having with our Society on a basic principle of God’s Creation. God created man and woman; Marriage is between a man and woman (Genesis 2:24; Mathew 19:4-6; Leviticus 20; etc.) anything beyond that is from Satan and his demons (Romans 1:21-32). Apostle Paul warns us about these days that will come. He specifically warns us about Satan’s scheme in 2Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Let us be on guard against the enemy’s scheme so that we do not forfeit the opportunity to see our Lord Jesus when he calls us home or returns to take us home!
