One skeptic wrote: “It seems that Satan, if it existed,
could quite easily convince someone that he was sent from God, and thereby
confuse someone.”
I responded: “This is true. However, there are several ways that we can be assured that we are not being led by Satan. For one thing, Paul contrasts the fruits of the flesh and Satan from the fruits of the Spirit:
I responded: “This is true. However, there are several ways that we can be assured that we are not being led by Satan. For one thing, Paul contrasts the fruits of the flesh and Satan from the fruits of the Spirit:
·
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not
gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the
Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are
opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if
you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the
flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy,
drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians
5:16-23)
However, I must admit that Satan is clever. He can present
himself as a minister of righteousness and deceive many:
·
…for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of
light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as
servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2
Corinthians 11:14-15)
Eventually, we will come to know these “servants of
righteousness” by their deeds (Matthew 7:15). But ultimately, our hope is in
the Lord. He will protect our heart and mind. However, when we confidently step
outside of the parameters of His protective Word, we become fair game for
Satan. This is why Jesus, when being tempted by Satan quoted Scripture:
·
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not
live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew
4:4)
We are all under powerful spiritual influences. When we reject
God, we become pawns of Satan:
·
We know that we are from God, and the whole
world lies in the power of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
How can Satan do this to us? This is a testimony to the fact
that we ordinarily feel more comfortable in the deceptions of Satan than we do
in the scrutinizing light of God (John 3:19-20). It is Satan’s darkness that
allows us to hide and to believe that we are far better than what we are. He is
a flatterer.
This also pertains to those who seem to be moral and righteous,
even self-sacrificing. Appearances, as you point out, can be very deceiving.
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