We have this funny strategy that we use to wake my younger daughter up or get her to stand up to do stuff. We would tell her; “See rat beside your leg…” She would jump up immediately with eyes cleared. Recently, I noticed that she no longer falls for the trick. The other day, her mum was trying to wake her up for family devotion. As she shouted; “See rat around your leg”, my daughter responded; “It’s a lie!” I learnt a vital lesson.
Friend, when the devil tries to pull the wool over your eyes, simply shout at him; “It’s a lie!” Don’t forget that the devil is not only a liar; he is also the father of all liars (John 8:44). In fact, the devil is a lie. He has been lying from the beginning. Just as truth is God’s nature and person, the nature of the devil is lie. There is nothing truthful about the devil. Even if it looks true, he is only using that to gain an advantage over you (Genesis 3:4-5).
The greatest and most effective weapon in the arsenal of the devil is deception. He is a deciever by trade (Revelation 12:9). Until the devil deceives you, he cannot destroy you. Ignorance will often sell the believer cheap to the devil (2 Corinthians 2:11). This is why we are admonished to beware that no man deceives us (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 1 John 3:7). This cannot overemphasised.
A major characteristic of the last days is deception. Deception will so much increase that if care is not taken, even the elect will fall for it (Matthew 24:24). Deception is trying to present what is wrong as right, what is error as truth, and what is black as white (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Your discernment must be sharp these last days if you would be safe. You must see things beyond what they seem (Isaiah 11:1-3). You must probe deeper by the Word and Spirit (1 John 4:1).
Whereas the devil is a master deceiver, the truth is our stabiliser (Ephesians 6:14). Your constant exposure to truth is your shield against lies and deception. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). The word of God is truth (John 17:17). The Church of God is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Genuine shepherds in the kingdom expose us to truth (Jeremiah 3:15, John 10:27, 18:37). When you hold all these at the centre of your life and activities, you would be a victor and not a victim.
Why does my daughter no longer fall for the family prank? She has grown (Luke 2:40). Growth is your stabiliser. Some things don’t answer to prayer. They simply answer to growth (Galatians 4:1-2). Stop running from pillar to post, looking for prayers and deliverance, when you should be developing a sound walk with the Lord (Ephesians 4:14-15). Don’t let the devil exploit your immaturity to deceive you. Where are those areas you need to grow up today?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria