It wasn't a verse as much as a word that grabbed my attention today. Immediately I was like, "I wonder how other translations read?" The word DECEIVE was used In every translation I looked up. I also couldn't even believe how easily decieved people were to the enemy's tactics. He was so persuasive he gathered a HUGE army, millions strong. "WHAT THE HECK!"
“When the thousand years are up, Satan will be let loose from his cell, and will launch again his
old work of deceiving the nations, searching out victims in every nook and cranny of earth, even Gog and Magog! He’ll talk them into going to war and will gather a huge army, millions strong. They’ll stream across the earth, surround and lay siege to the camp of God’s holy people, the Beloved City. They’ll no sooner get there than fire will pour out of Heaven and burn them up. The Devil who deceived them will be hurled into Lake Fire and Brimstone, joining the Beast and False Prophet, the three in torment around the clock for ages without end.”
Revelation 20:7-10 MSG
Deceive means to persuade someone that something false is the truth, or to keep the truth hidden from someone for your own advantage.
John 8:44 Jesus said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.
When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
The primary objectives of the lies of the enemies include:
• To cause us to doubt the truth of God’s Word
• To tempt us not to trust in the Lord.
• To cause us to feel inferior and inadequate (low self-esteem)
• To discourage us concerning our progress in spiritual growth.
• To render us ineffective and unfruitful in our service of God.
• To divide us from others through unnecessary and unresolved conflict.
Some of the most common tactics of the enemy include fear, intimidation, deception, accusation, illnesses, disunity, etc. Beginning in the book of Genesis and continuing throughout the book of Revelation, God reminds us to “Fear not.”
I woke up this morning to an even greater threat from hurricane Milton. The number of families we know, and are supporting from the impact of the last storm is hard and heavy as It Is. To even think of what this storm Is possible of doing feels unimaginable. The Fear is real. Fear is contagious. I am reminding myself over and over, fear is a liar just like the devil. I am finding myself working really hard today to take every thought captive. Today's reading is such a reminder of how easy it can be to fall prey to fear. Im choosing joy! Im choosing faith. Faith and Joy are also contagious.
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