Title: Truth That Lies/ Topic: Enemy Tactics
Today’s Reading: Job 11; Job 12; Acts 15; Acts 16
Scripture: Acts 16:16-18
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
Observation: This slave girl has a demon spirit by which she makes a living predicting the future. She probably wouldn't make a very good living if what she predicted never came true. In fact, evidence of her "truth-telling" prophetic gift is demonstrated by what she shouts out as she follows Paul and those with him. They, indeed, are servants of the Most High God as she says. But her prophetic gift is used to bother them and distract them from effective ministry. Why didn't Paul cast the spirit out of the girl the first day if she was so distracting and bothersome? We're not told, but I think it's logical to assume that Paul was unsure of the source of her prophetic gift precisely because she was telling the truth. We are used to the enemy lying; he is the father of lies. We aren't used to him using the truth as a weapon against us. It can be difficult to discern demonic forces coming against us when they use truth but with motives that are impure.
Application: Prayer, knowledge of the Word and a dependence on the Spirit of God are necessary if we are to tell when the truth is being used in the enemy's hands as a weapon against us. Jesus says in the end times that Satan and his minions will perform signs, wonders and miracles to rival any that Jesus did. He will also deceive people with talk about peace (something that God promises to us). His "prophets" will sound much like God's people. We need to recognize that accuracy in words and even philosophy is not always the same "truth" that sets us free.
Prayer: Father, it can be so difficult for us to know truth from error when it becomes a tactic of the enemy used against us. Teach us to hear you clearly so that we are not deceived. Discernment is one of the gifts we need most in order to win the spiritual battle. Help us Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 Comments:
Cynthia,
How true it is that people with bad motives can say good things about you and tell the truth when it suits them. You and I have experienced people who use flattery and agreement to gain trust, only to abuse their position of trust later. Some of these are actually doing it without being aware that they are being used by the enemy. However, the results can be very damaging just the same. We need discernment and wisdom to "lay hands on no man suddenly" and to "test the spirits" before promoting anyone.
Michael
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