GOD SPEAKS

We have been thinking how the clever serpent thinks. Thereby, we may escape from his deceitful tricks. In continuation to the 1^st Part, read this:

(2) Though Satan is a liar, sometimes he also speaks truth. Part of his speech may be truth or appears to be truth. We cannot deny this fact. His technique of deception is to mix up the truth with lies. Thereby, it would confuse us. Here, a follower of Christ needs to be able to break up his confusing words or communication i.e., a Christian should be expert enough to differentiate the truth from a lie.

Look at this verse. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying : the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. Acts 16:16-18

Take a look at what the spirit divination is speaking about: 1^st part: these men are the servants of the most high God 2^nd part:  which show unto us the way of salvation.

Without a question, we agree that both parts of the above statement by the spirit of divination are true. But, what about this verse which the Lord himself told –If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?  Luke 11:18. Therefore, it may be understood that even though the spirit of divination says the truth, the objective behind this is not for our gain.  Those who are against the gospel of the Lord, will proclaim good about the gospel or salvation? Observe this spirit which has proclaimed about the salvation. Will Satan divide against himself? Why did Paul command the spirit to come out of that damsel when it said the truth?

A spirit of divination is not from the Lord. The Lord is against it. (There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer Deuteronomy 18: 10-11) When God himself is in opposition to those who use divination, can He seek a testimony from them?

People will not admit a thing unless they find some substantiation. This is where we may fall in his trap. Out of ten words they hear, if they are told first two or three things truthful, without thinking much you may be under impression that the next eight words are also definitely of truth.

The Bible says –for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:5. Satan says that (1) Your eyes shall be opened (2) like gods knowing good and evil. Both these things are true. Look at this verse – And the eyes of them both were opened Genesis 3: 7.  The 2^nd part of his saying is also true. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil Genesis 3:22. The important thing our God told them that they shall surely die if they eat the fruits of tree of knowledge. He did not tell about – (1) opening of eyes (2) becoming like gods knowing good and evil. Satan told this to Eve (even to Adam). This is true. Does it mean when the Lord hide these saying he has lied to us? No. Even though when He has not told these things to us, his objective is to have your salvation. Does it mean we should follow the deceiver as he has told some truth? Satan’s objective is not to tell the secrets of unseen heaven but to only confuse us. In this instance, but he mixed them up with lies or fraud. Satan deceived them by saying exactly opposite to what God had told them with regard to consequences of eating the fruits of tree of knowledge.

Thus, it is important to be cautious to recognize and be wise as serpents (1) when other says something, identify whether the whole communication or all words are true or only some part of the statement is true?  (2) Remember, even whole communication is true, who is saying this important as seen in the case of spirit of divination. You need to identity the speaker of the communication. If he is not our Lord, pay no attention to him even if he says the truth or appear to be truth.

A prerequisite to the police is that they should have more understanding about the cunning methods devised by the malefactors than how to implement law of the land to punish them. If the police officer does not know how to catch a thief or does not know how to investigate a case, what is the use of his mastery of the law? Can the police officer implement law for punishment of the criminal unless he catches him? Therefore, having the knowledge about the cunning methods used by the criminal precede mastering the law of the land. To a police officer, knowing how others may deceive people is will be considered as duty and it is nothing wrong as their duty is to chase and catch them by thinking like a thief. This does not mean that police also implement thief’s deceiving tricks but thinking like a thief is only a taking precaution how to escape from being deceived. Thus, knowing how others could deceive you is your responsibility and there is nothing wrong until you do not use such knowledge to deceive others.

This theme is also applicable to us in our daily life. Read this verse –Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew10:16. As a Christian you need to aware of how the deceiver thinks. The phrase “Be wise as serpents” restricts you to only know how your adversary thinks but does not give permission to imitate him. Like a police, who is vigilant always, a true follower of Christ always needs to be attentive how the devil can deceive you.

Serpent is a cunning animal. Satan chooses people having cunning knowledge. Satan chose serpent to deceive Adam and Eve. He wants to use their cunning and crafty language to fulfill his aims. Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made Genesis 3:1. As the word of God confirms it is most intelligent animal than any beast of the field. On the contrast, God chooses foolish things of the world. In this regard, read this verse –but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty ; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are : that no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Corinthians 2:27-29. This part of the word confirms that we are foolish (or better say unwise). Therefore, we need to know be wise enough to know certain things. In this context, it is apt of this saying by our Lord – Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew10:16.

Read this verse- And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. Luke 16:8. In this instance, Lord gave an example of unjust steward who used his mind to preserve his stewardship. Lord himself said that the children of this world are wiser than the children of light. Thus, as you and I are children of God, we are not wiser than the children of this world in both devising and using deceit and all kinds of malice. lest Satan should get an advantage of us : for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11

Our concern is that spiritually we should not be deceived. As it is written in the Bible, we wrestle with the powers of darkness which always try to deceive us. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12.

Therefore, let us know how our adversary thinks. Thereby, we will not fall in his trap.

(1). Satan may make to you rely on a man whose testimony in the past was good. Thereby, misleads you. Since, everyone has to be steadfast in his faith every day.

Look at this conversation: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 16:15-17. In this instance, the Lord Jesus asked Peter who you say that I am. He immediately has replied that you are the Christ. The Lord is happy. The point to be noted here that Lord has said – for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Therefore, we may see that this truth has been revealed from the above. If you are there in this context, you will feel great about it and start believing whatever he says will be correct and it is from the Lord. You may continue with this belief even in present.

Now read this verse – From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me : for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16:21-23. In this context, When Jesus has spoken about the future persecutions and his sacrifice for all the human beings, Peter has answered and started rebuking Jesus. The same Peter who has accepted and told that he is Jesus, now, has started rebuking Jesus. Look at this! Now it is not the God’s Spirit that speaking now. Lord’s spirit never rebukes the Lord Jesus. Immediately, the Lord has realized that it is Satan. Therefore, he resisted the devil. It may be noticed that “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan”. The Lord has said it unto Peter but uttered the word “Satan”. Though Satan has spoken this, but for us it is Peter. If you were in that context, what would you think? Will not you think this man is with full of revelation and therefore whatever he says now is of the same kind. This could be a device of Satan to deceive you. This knowledge is required for us. This instance can be an example how not to see a man from the point of view of past credentials of faith. This is a kind of thinking that the adversary uses to deceive us. He may make you to believe the person having good testimony of the past and this belief can mislead us in the present. What and how he is now is a matter of our concern. (To be continued in next part)

Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” But Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I shall speak.” I Kings 22: 13-14

Are you trying to know God’s will by living against God? Do you think it is possible? Previously, the city Ramoth-gilead belonged to the king of Israel. And the king of Syria took the city. The king of Israel intended it to reclaim the town Ramoth-gilead. For this he consulted Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. Jehoshaphat agreed. But the king of Israel wanted to know the divine will for him to go. He had many prophets there. But there is a spirit of falsehood in their mouths. They all prophesied in his favor. But he was not satisfied. False prophecies do not satisfy our heart. Do not think that you have God’s will for you who live against God.

He spoke to Micaiah, the true prophet of God. This prophet warned the King of Israel. He explained God’s intentions. But the King of Israel did not listen to his voice. He took his purpose as important. Even when he lived against God, God told him things would happen. This is God’s love. Don’t ever try to go against God’s will. You cannot turn your intentions into God’s purposes. Going far away from the will of God, you will have no purpose except to lose. The king of Israel was defeated in battle. He lost his life. God’s words are fulfilled.

The true prophet speaks the word of God. He does not speak according to people. He says what the Lord says. He is not afraid of men. He is not afraid of kings or bosses. He fears only God. The word of God says as it is. Micaiah is a true prophet of God.     

It is written- Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably. The prophet speaks of divine inspiration but the thought of man is not prophetic. How man’s thoughts become prophecies? God’s people should notice this. Many take it all as prophecy. Beware. If the messenger says what the prophet has to speak, where is God’s inspiration? Is it prophecy? This is what is happening today. Whose words are you listening to?

Therefore, remember:

1. Do not think that you have God’s will for you who live against God.
2. Don’t ever try to go against God’s will.
3. The true prophet speaks the word of God.
4. The prophet speaks of divine inspiration but the thought of man is not prophetic.