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Scripture References:
• Genesis 3:1-13
• Revelation 12
• Ephesians 6:10-17, The Amplified Bible
• 2 Timothy 3
• 2 Corinthians 10
The Bible speaks about the deception of the Last Days, and illustrates how scores of people will be seduced by lies. However, the Word admonishes Christians to continue in the things they have already learned or been told. I used to wonder why God would tell Christians to continue in what they’ve learned; isn’t that just understood? God is telling us to continue because He knew that deception in the Last Days would be so rampant, yet so subtle, that almost any person might easily be deluded.
As children of God, you and I have a God-given authority and charge. We’re fully equipped, anointed, and destined to carry out God’s plan, and nothing or no one can stop us, but us. Even Satan himself is limited in his ability to hinder the plan of God for our lives. He has only three weapons—the ability to tempt, accuse, and deceive.
These are weapons he primarily uses against the Body of Christ. Nevertheless, the power to deceive frequently proves to be his weapon of choice. The Bible tells us that in the Garden of Eden, Satan deceived Adam and Eve into believing God was keeping something good from them. I believe his ability to deceive is what has kept so many Believers from fulfilling the will of God for their lives.
Revelation 12 talks about Satan being the great deceiver. So we as Christians have to wake up and recognize that the devil is attempting to interfere with the way we think. If he can infect the way we think, he can affect our end result. We cannot allow Satan to be successful in his ploys against us. So how do we protect ourselves from his demonic attacks? We protect ourselves with the Word of God.
The Word is our refuge. When we keep our thoughts aligned with the Scriptures, we are safeguarded from deception and every other attack of the enemy. However, if we fail to hide under the protection of God’s Word, not only are we vulnerable and susceptible to the tricks of the enemy, we also risk being out of the will of God for our lives. If there’s one place we don’t want to be in these Last Days, it’s outside the will of God.
Now, more than ever, I urge you to know the Word of God. You cannot depend on your grandmother or the pastor to know the Word for you; you must know it for yourself. As you learn the Word, be vigilantly on guard against deception, even in the little things. Remember it’s the little things that create a big mess.
— Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
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