THE PRETENDER MUST BE UNVEILED

2Corinthians 2:11 KJV
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Dear Believer,

There is a sense in which Satan must be ignored, and there is a sense in which you watch out for his tricks.

Satan seeks to exploit us. The passage above is thus rendered in a modern version of the Bible:

2Corinthians 2:11 NET
So that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

So we see clearly here that Satan wants to exploit the Believer. He takes advantage of the Believer’s ignorance.

When we warn Believers not to be ignorant, what comes to their mind is not being ignorant of God’s Word. That is a good thing but there’s more.

Believers aren’t supposed to be ignorant of Satan’s schemes, too. If you don’t recognize the way satan works, you get caught up in the web of his lies and find yourself entrapped in his snares.

Let’s consider this example:

Peter once showed so much care to Jesus that he began to rebuke Him when He mentioned that He was going to die. You see, it was Jesus’ purpose to go to the cross, but Peter was so caring that He insisted Jesus must ‘stop that nonsense.’

How did Jesus respond?

Matthew 16:23 KJV
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Jesus saw past Peter’s fleshly concern. That was the devil right there trying to stop Him from doing His Father’s will.

Jesus wasn’t ignorant of the Father’s will, and he wasn’t ignorant of the devil’s devices either.

Satan came disguising, but Jesus unveiled the pretender.

You must learn to discern between Good and evil by exercising your spiritual senses. (Hebrews 5:14). There’s no place for spiritual gullibility in true Christianity.

Some of the things Satan tries to pin on a Believer can be disguised as good things. Some of these evil things can be sold to the Believer as just a natural occurrence or phenomenon.

Trouble in the home, sickness in the body, confusion, some spiritual attacks and all kinds of misfortunes can be brought to you as something natural. If you cannot discern the works of the devil and deal with them in the name of Jesus, he may take advantage of your ignorance.

Resist the devil, friend. Ask the Lord to beam His light on any place in your life where Satan is trying to hide. Ask the Spirit of God to strip him of his disguises and let you see him for who he really is.

Spend time with the Word of God and in praying in the Spirit also, and your spiritual senses will be sharpened to recognize Satan’s schemes. That way you won’t confuse his work with the work of God or natural occurrences.

You shall not be ignorant.

Have a pleasant day.

Your friend,
Deon.