The ‘Ongoing’ Deception [v267]

MAY 2021

It seems that there is more and more ‘DECEPTION’ on a daily basis. Where is it coming from, and is there a way to ‘combat’ it?

INTRODUCTION
The magician’s task is to manipulation, misdirection, and deceive. Even though every great trick has a ‘flaw’, it is the magician’s challenge to minimize, disguise, or ‘justify’ the flaw.

In theatrical magic, misdirection is a form of deception in which the performer draws audience attention to one thing to distract it from another. Magicians misdirect audience attention basically in two ways. One leads the audience to look away for a fleeting moment, so that they don’t detect some sleight of hand or ‘move’, and the other approach ‘re-frames’ the audience’s perception, distracting them into thinking that an extraneous factor has much to do with the accomplishment of the feat when it really has no bearing on the effect at all.

Magicians create illusions by taking advantage of how humans perceive stimuli and process information. For example, a dove fluttering from a hat can be used to draw an audience’s attention away from the actual trick. Be assured that every time a mind-reader puts on a blindfold, it is so the mentalist can ‘actually’ see and the audience can’t determine where he is looking. The very tool that is supposed to prevent trickery enables it!

Even the small act of asking someone to “take a card” is a dubious request. Why must the spectator remove a card and then replace it? The magician justifies this by saying, “now show it to everyone.” How else could the entire audience appreciate the effect, and what would happen if the person who selected the card forgot or misstated its name? It’s ‘insurance’ to make sure more than one person knows the name of the card. Yet, this simple and justifiable protocol of taking and replacing a card allows the magician to ‘control’ the selected card. If one could really do magic, the performer should be able to say to someone “think of a card,” and simply name that card—without even needing a deck of cards to do so.

[ VIDEO: “Magic is Deception” – From “Deception” TV Series ]

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The following is a collection of ‘snippets’ from the post that aims to give you the overall ‘jest’ of this post. [ 10-15 Minute Read ].
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WHAT IS ‘DECEPTION’?
Deception can be defined broadly as the manipulation of appearances such that they convey a false reality.

Certainly, a magician is one of the few occupations in which success depends entirely on the ability to deceive. Although deception is the essence of conjuring, such deception differs from the deception of the confidence man or that of the spy. A conjuror engages in “sanctioned deception”—they have an implicit ‘contract’ with the audience that doing a good job means fooling the onlookers. A magician would not be a good magician if he or she failed to deceive the audience. A conjuror’s ‘victims’ know, even before the tricks have been done, that the magician intends to fool them.

Deception, unlike conjuring, generally depends for its success on keeping intended victims unaware that deception is taking place—and many deceptions, unlike magic tricks, are definitely not sanctioned by society.

Dr. Paul Ekman mentions that there are other ways to lie—different ‘types’ of deception:
– Misdirecting
– Telling the truth falsely
– Half-concealment
– Incorrect inference dodge

So then, what makes a lie a lie and what distinguishes a lie from another form of untruth? Well, it has to do with the role of memory, interpretation, intention and belief in understanding deception.
Then, ‘WHY’ do we lie? Well, people resort to lying for so many different reasons that it’d be impossible to list them all. However, of the nine most common motives for telling lies:

– Obtain a reward
– Get out of an awkward situation
– Maintain privacy
– Win admiration from others
– Avoid embarrassment
– Protect someone else from punishment
– Protect one’s self from physical harm
– Exercise power over others
– Avoid punishment

[ CHARTS / IMAGE ]

An invaluable aspect in deception detection is first establishing a ‘baseline’, or behavior considered to be ‘normal’ for the individual in question. The basic process of behavioral deception detection then involves looking for clues that signal some kind of change or deviation from this baseline.

So, can one tell—for sure—that someone is lying? Well, in most cases, there’s no quick or easy way to detect deception and, even if there were, we might not like what we discover.

Staying associated with the ‘intelligence’ arena, one schematic ‘framework’ was developed for understanding deception in intelligence work in the Central Intelligence Agency. The basic idea is that of a “DECEPTION CIRCLE” that includes, as a minimum, a victim (target person or group), an inside person, and an outside person.

‘DISCERNING’ DECEPTION
Judee Burgoon, PhD, a professor of communication at the University of Arizona explained this well saying, “There really is no ‘Pinocchio’s nose’.”

Today’s researchers are exploring new methods of deception detection. Instead of looking at people for visual cues that they may be dissembling—such as a lack of eye contact or fidgeting—psychologists are now focused on developing proactive strategies that interviewers can use to elicit signs of deception, says Maria Hartwig, PhD, associate professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Ray Bull, PhD, a professor of criminal investigation at the University of Derby, in the United Kingdom, says that, “Liars have a dilemma. They have to make up a story to account for the time of wrongdoing, but they can’t be sure what evidence the interviewer has against them.”

Dr. Paul M. Clikeman says that there are ten “tell-tale signs of deception.” The following describes deviations that suggest a subject may be withholding, altering or fabricating information.
– Lack of self-reference
– Verb tense
– Answering questions with questions
– Equivocation
– Oaths
– Euphemisms
– Alluding to actions
– Lack of Detail
– Narrative balance
– Mean Length of Utterance

Unlike the magician, the world does not give prior warning to deception. Truth demands us to push past our emotions, peer pressure, and desires. Truth demands us to be objective with the facts. Truth demands us to desire to know the truth. Truth demands us to question assumptions. Truth demands integrity and awareness to our own biases. Truth demands us to take it seriously.

‘TECHNOLOGICAL’ DECEPTION
The aim of “deception technology” is to prevent a cybercriminal that has managed to infiltrate a network from doing any significant damage. The technology works by generating ‘traps’ or deception ‘decoys’ that mimic legitimate technology assets throughout the infrastructure. These decoys can run in a virtual or real operating system environment and are designed to trick the cybercriminal into thinking they have discovered a way to escalate privileges and steal credentials. Once a trap is triggered, notifications are broadcast to a centralized deception server that records the affected decoy and the attack vectors that were used by the cybercriminal.

Even though the AI ‘agent’s’ own learned behavior may seem somewhat far-off concerns—as AI is still relatively narrow in scope and can be rather ‘stupid’ in some ways—we need to have a robust understanding of all the ways AI could deceive.

So, the AI industry is currently thinking about potential technological, policy, legal, and ethical solutions to these coming problems before AI gets more advanced than it already is. It is being said that with a clearer understanding of the ‘landscape’, we can analyze potential responses to AI deception, and begin designing AI systems FOR ‘TRUTH’. (Hmmm… Who’s ‘truth’?).

‘THE’ GREAT DECEPTION IN THE BIBLE
After the account of God’s creation in Genesis, we then are told of ‘THE’ “great deception” that has affected EVERY human being from that time forward! Satan deceived Eve, both she and Adam then disobeyed God, and sin ‘entered’ the world—and we’ve been dealing with the consequences ever since! The “great deception” is that we can sin without consequences.

God had given Adam and Eve a clear command, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” [ Genesis 2:16-17 ]. (The account in Genesis 3:1-6 bears witness to the fact that no matter what anyone else says, no one can sin without suffering the consequences.)

The ‘tragedy’ of it all is that Adam and Eve’s story began with perfection and ended in catastrophe:

– They heard God’s truth but listened to Satan.
– Their innocence was turned to shame.
– They experienced the guilt, shame, and fear of sin.
– They blamed others for their sin.
– They experienced God’s judgment and their own extreme loss.
– They lost their innocence.
– They lost their relationship with God.
– They lost their perfect home in the Garden.
– All humanity became sinful.
– Pain, suffering, hardship, shame, and loss entered the world.

‘WHO’ IS SATAN?
Although the pictures of the Devil in widely separated civilizations are remarkably uniform, they don’t tell us very much about his identity, origin, or activities. To gain specific information concerning his character, we must look to the Bible. Even here, we don’t find answers to every question that comes to mind. Still, the Scriptures reveal all we need to know to take Satan seriously.

– Satan’s ‘Origin’
– Satan’s ‘Sin’
– Satan’s ‘Punishment’
– Satan’s ‘Personhood’

SATAN’S ‘NATURE’
A few descriptive qualifiers that ‘paint’ a biblical portrait of Satan would be cunning, crafty, subtlety, and guile.

Back in the 1600s John Milton wrote the famous poem, “Paradise Lost.” Now, first off, it is fiction and is not an accurate account of ‘biblical’ Heaven and earth. BUT, it does suggest something that reveals a bit about Satan’s ‘nature’.

So, in Old Testament times, the name of the person said a lot about ‘who’ there were. So, for some ‘insight’ into ‘who’ Satan is, let’s look at the names the Bible gives Satan and what they mean…

DECEPTION is ‘THE’ ESSENTIAL element of Satan’s nature, for Jesus said he is “a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Lying is one of his basic means of deceiving others.

The Apostle John wrote of “the great dragon, the serpent of old who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” [ Revelation 12:9 ]. The word “deceives” renders a present active participle (ὁ πλανῶν), which speaks of deception that is “a continuous action which has become habitual.” Satan is involved in much more than random occurrences; he deceives because it is part of his personality to do so.

So, what are some of the primary ‘OBJECTIVES’ of Satan?
– To deceive us concerning the true nature of sin.
– To cause us to doubt the truth of God’s Word.
– To cause us to feel inferior and inadequate—low self-esteem.
– To tempt us not to trust in the Lord.
– To discourage us concerning our progress in spiritual growth.
– To disappoint through the inconsistency of ourselves and others.
– To cause us to lose our vitality and credibility.
– To encourage us to abdicate the Christian life.
– To render us ineffective and unfruitful in our service of God.
– To divide us from others through unnecessary and unresolved conflict.

Then, what are some of the ‘WEAPONS’ that Satan has in his arsenal?
– Fear/False Accusation/Condemnation
– Doubt/Misinformation
– Anger/Hostility
– Worry/Anxiety
– Guilt/False Guilt
– Tempts and blinds
– Discouragement/Disappointment
– Deep Depression
– Division/Conflict
– Ignorance/Misconceptions
– Deception/Lies

WHAT IS SATAN ‘DOING’?
First off—and foremost—you need to realize that Satan IS ‘alive’ and very active in this world. He is considered the “prince of this world” (John 12:31), and he has ‘blinded’ the minds of unbelievers, and has kept them from seeing the ‘light’ of Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is ‘ruling’ over this world, ‘hostile’ against people, ‘accusing’ people and, as mentioned, ‘deceiving’ people.

– SATAN IS ‘RULING’
– SATAN IS ‘HOSTILE’
– SATAN IS ‘ACCUSING’
– SATAN IS ‘DECEIVING’

SATAN’S ‘DECEPTIONS’
Satan has always been deceiving humanity, making us believe that some sins are not sins at all, or that some truths are not really true. He has changed the very definition of sin such that most people—and even some Christians—don’t think we sin at all!

He essentially ‘camouflages’ whatever he does so that people will not know it is his doing. (He even fashions himself as an “angel of light” 2 Corinthians 11:14). All his ‘works’ are done under the cover of deceit—for he is a liar and he ALWAYS lies! (John 8:44).

– VANITY
– FLATTERY
– DEFIANCE

As Paul said, “We are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11). We know how he works. And here are some of the lies we have noticed pouring out of his factory, all geared toward destroying confidence in God’s Word.

See a ‘TREND’ here? Satan will ‘say’ anything to keep you from reading the Bible! The question is, are you ‘playing into his hands’? Are you believing his lies? If so, you do so to your OWN ‘DETRIMENT’!

So, Satan NEVER GIVES UP! If you read the Bible, he will then try to ‘COUNTERFEIT’ JESUS or get you to believe the ‘COUNTERFEIT’ RELIGIONS.

– Jesus is the unique Son of God and Satan is the son of destruction
– The “Trinity”
– “Children”
– “Apostles”
– “Marks His Own”

In the Garden of Eden, Satan seemed to win an impressive victory. Satan laid five lies upon Eve either directly or indirectly that form the foundation for false religion. Not only did Satan not want humans to worship God, he wanted humans to in some form worship him.
– REINCARNATION
– ESOTERICISM
– PANTHEISM
– RELATIVISM
– HEDONISM

Satan’s ministers often look like and sound like what deceived people think Christ’s ministers should sound like! But they preach “another Jesus” and proclaim a “different gospel.” It is up to each individual—YOU—to genuinely study the Bible and to prove what Jesus and the early apostles taught and practiced.

THE ‘WORLD’ IS UNDER SATAN’S CONTROL
Satan is ‘crafty’, and once one lets him into their lives, they start to hear subtle ‘whispers’ that appeal to their egos and feelings…

Does it seem ‘crazy’ or unbelievable that many people could be so deceived? Well, not when you acknowledge the fact that “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19) and Satan “deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). So, it might not be so crazy to believe that they are lying about everything and trying to enslave and harm us—when you realize that that is a ‘intense’ interest in satanism (In the early 1970s, interest in the occult in American culture was so high that Time Magazine devoted the cover story and a large portion of the magazine to Satanism.) [ Freemasonry and the “illuminati” blatantly use satanic symbology ].

SATAN’S MOST DEADLY ‘WEAPON’
Satan’s MOST deadly ‘weapon’ is DECEPTION. Talking to the Pharisees, 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” [ John 8:44 ].

Every time Satan ‘speaks’, his lies are intended to mislead and deceive people—to deter the unbeliever and defeat the believer.

Now, we don’t know what we don’t know, and there are two ways of not knowing: being ignorant and being deceived. Deception allows Satan to ‘fly under the radar screen’ being unnoticed.

So, if I ‘tempted’ you, you WOULD know it. However, if I ‘deceived’ you, you WOULDN’T know it. (If you know you are being deceived, then you are not being deceived.)

Satan is a ‘MASTER’ deceiver (He deceived one-third of the angels to follow him!). He deceived Eve in the perfect environment. He deceived Judas to betray the Son of God.

Today, the unbeliever is deceived into thinking that one need not be saved or that salvation is by works and that salvation can be put off to some later day. All the world religions except Christianity believe this and they are ALL deceived. Salvation is by grace alone, by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The believer is most frequently deceived by thinking of themselves in terms of their old nature (Romans 8:5-14) rather than their new nature and failing to realize who they are ‘in’ Christ.

So, instead of being deceived by the “father of lies,” when you discover who you are ‘in’ Christ and learn to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, you will be free from the bondage of Satan’s lies (2 Corinthians 10:5).

A BELIEVER’S ‘VULNERABILITY’
What is more deceitful than anything else? “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” [ Jeremiah 17:9 ]. The Apostle Paul also tells us to “put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires” [ Ephesians 4:22 ]. Jesus said that, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” [Matthew 15:19 ].

Our human ‘HEART’ is extremely and inherently sinful, and because of this, we ‘DECEIVE’ OURSELVES! The Bible tells of some specific ways we do this…

So, when is the believer vulnerable to Satan’s lies? Well, when they are most ‘ignorant’ (lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated). Jesus said that believers are to watch (remain spiritually alert) and pray. We are vulnerable to Satan’s lies if we FAIL to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, BUT they are most equipped when they are able to relate specific Scripture to specific temptations—like Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-10). Jesus essentially said, “Where is it written” [ This is the ‘slogan’ (‘battle cry’) of my denomination, the “Evangelical Covenant Church” ].

Satan has many artful methods that he uses to deceive men, though some are plainer than others. The more subtle his deceptions, the more effective he is. The Word of God reveals Satan’s methodology and tells us how we may be prepared to withstand his attacks (Ephesians 6:10-18). It also offers the beautiful promise that if we are willing, the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, which will set us free from these deceptions (John 16:13; 8:32).

DECEIVING ‘SPIRITS’
So, how can one be aware of deceiving spirits? Well, in addition to deceiving ourselves (and being deceived by others), demonic spirits are normally viewed as “influences.” Their effectiveness in the lives of people is undetected because they are not seen as real personalities that are totally and unreservedly evil. These ‘ambassadors’ of Satan are busy doing what they do best—deceiving men and women, both believers and unbelievers.

The Bible describes that the unbeliever can be ‘blinded’ and ‘imprisoned’ by Satan in “the dominion of darkness” (Colossians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 4:4). “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 ]. The unbeliever cannot escape this prison by himself, nor can the Christian rescue him through the Christian’s own abilities. God is the only ‘One’ that can rescue a person

The Scriptures, in general—and Jesus, in particular—also warns against false prophets and false teachers. As Satan did with Eve, he can counterfeit God’s message and deceive us into believing they are ‘from’ God. That’s why the Scriptures instruct us to “put everything to the test.” As I mentioned in last month’s posts, the Apostle Paul said, “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”

False prophets and teachers exist because Christians uncritically accept them. A prophetic message should motivate people to righteousness, not placate them in their sin. Manipulating people by claiming a word from the Lord is spiritual abuse. Beware of people who tell you that, “the Lord told me to tell you something.”

False prophets can even be among us. “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute” [ 2 Peter 2:1-2 ].

The Bible is replete with warnings…

THE BELIEVER’S ‘DEFENSE’
‘WARFARE’ terminology is frequently used to describe the SPIRITUAL BATTLE that believers face. “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” [ 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ].

The Apostle Paul continues in saying, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” [ Ephesians 6:12 ].

Satan is spoken of as a “roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8) and it is in the darkness that people are easily attacked and deceived. The Apostle Paul said, “Lest that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his devices” [ 2 Corinthians 2:11 ]. Ignorance IS NOT bliss, especially when it comes to knowing your enemy!

One of the cardinal rules of military warfare is to know your enemy. The better we know what we are up against, the more likely we are to recognize how and when the enemy attacks and the more likely we will be able to resist the “fiery darts” of the Devil.

Satan will fire his ‘darts’ of temptation your way, but the believer can confidently ’stand’ with the invincible weapon of God’s Word! “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” [ 1 Corinthians 10:13 ].

Just as the U.S. Army does before they fight a war, they ‘suit up’ in their protective gear. Similarly, the Apostle Paul, using the metaphor of a well-equipped Roman soldier, instructs the believer to be prepared for spiritual warfare by using their own protective ‘suit’—the “ARMOR OF GOD.”
– The Belt of Truth
– The Breastplate of Righteousness
– The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
– The Shield of Faith
– The Helmet of Salvation
– The Sword of the Spirit

So, be aware of Satan’s strategies because he will try to take advantage of you if you are “ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Believers who are walking in obedience to God’s Word have nothing to fear because they are ‘protected’ by Jesus. “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves” [ Colossians 1:13 ]. However, when we ‘knowingly’ commit sin, we open ourselves up to Satan’s deception.

A BELIEVER’S ‘INOCULATION’
So, can one be ‘inoculated’ against deceptions? Well, yes, but one needs to:

– Believe God wants you to know—He wants His people free! (John 8:32; 16:13)
– Be willing to do His will in advance of knowing it. (James 1:22; John 7:17)
– Believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and our final authority. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
– Be diligent is studying God’s Word with a humble, teachable attitude. (2 Timothy 2:15)

The “default setting” in this ‘fallen’ world is to live under Satan’s deception. In order to live in God’s design, we must consciously and actively choose to submit to Him. The ‘choice’ is YOURS!

WHY DOES GOD ‘ALLOW’ DECEPTION?
Eve didn’t sin because she was hopelessly outmatched by a demonic force, she ‘CHOSE’ to listen and to believe the lie. God has given humanity “FREE WILL.”

Now, if “free will” means that God gives humans the opportunity to make choices that genuinely affect their destiny, then yes, human beings do have a free will—and the world’s current ‘sinful state’ is directly linked to choices made by Adam and Eve.

Jesus identified the problem of some unbelievers when He told them, “You refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:40). Clearly, they could have come if they wanted to, but their ‘problem’ was they chose not to. “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7), and those who are outside of salvation are “without excuse” (Romans 1:20-21).

So, all human sin is based in human choice (1 Corinthians 10:13). When people reject the truth, they make themselves vulnerable to the lie—so repeated rejection of spiritual truth brings spiritual deception as a divine ‘consequence’.

God then often allows spiritual deception as a form of punishment for willful sin, and in order to cultivate an awareness in a person’s life of how badly they need the Truth, Jesus (John 14:6).

JESUS IS ‘GREATER’ THAN SATAN’S DECEPTIONS
Much of what Jesus said and did was controversial by the standards of his time and, because of this, Jesus’ public ministry was not treated with cheers by the guardians of the culture. The scribes from Jerusalem follow him to Nazareth and accuse him of being “possessed by Beelzebub” (Mark 3:22). They claim that his mastery over demons is a result of demonic powers. Jesus answers them this way: Mark 3:23-27

Far from denying the reality of the Devil, one needs to understand that their lives are being lived out on a ‘battlefield’, putting on the ‘Armor of God’. So, one also needs to understand that the evil forces arrayed against them are NO ‘MATCH’ for Jesus!

‘END TIMES’ DECEPTIONS
Usually, when people speak of the “great deception,” they refer to 2 Thessalonians 2:11, an end-times judgment, send “a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.” This great deception is associated with the satanic work of the Antichrist and his “displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

The same passage also speaks of a great ‘apostasy’ that will take place before the man of lawlessness is revealed. Similar apostasies are predicted elsewhere: 2 Timothy 4:3-4

In this passage, after people have refused the truth for so long, God causes them to believe what is false—a “strong delusion.” This is not an instance where God actively deceives people; rather, God is simply ‘GIVING’ THOSE who reject the truth WHAT THEY ‘REALLY’ WANT!

The Apostle Paul tells of a similar pattern where people reject God’s truth for so long that He simply abandons them to their own sinfulness. They have, as it were, crossed the ‘POINT’ OF NO RETURN: Romans 1:18-25

We don’t know exactly what the great deception will be, only that it will be a strong delusion capable of swaying the world’s allegiance toward the Antichrist. The Bible says that, in the time of the Antichrist and false prophet, there will be many signs to bolster their lies. The false prophet “performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth” [ Revelation 13:13-14 ]. It is hard to imagine, but the deception during the Tribulation WILL BE WORSE than all of Satan’s other deceptions! The Antichrist will have a deadly wound healed, his “image” will breathe and speak and give orders (Revelation 13:12, 15).

WRAP-UP
Ignorance is NOT ‘bliss’! Satan IS real and is a SERIOUS ’THREAT’ with his dangerous ‘devices’—especially ‘DECEPTION’. The better we know what we are up against the more likely we are to recognize how and when the enemy ‘attacks’, and the more likely we will be able to resist his “fiery darts.”

ALL OF US are vulnerable to Satan’s lies if we fail to exercise mental discipline. The believer is most equipped when they are able to immediately relate specific Scripture to specific temptations—like Jesus did in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-10).

The believer needs to take advantage of the resources that God has provided in order to successfully resist the ‘attacks’ from the Devil—spiritual discernment gained by the study of the Word of God, and the council of the Holy Spirit. The believer WILL overcome Satan by learning to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). The good news is that they have available to them the first line of defense—the ‘Armor of God’ (Ephesians 6:10-18).

What in the world was Satan originally thinking? Well, he said in his heart, “I will ascend to Heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will make myself like the Most High” [ Isaiah 14:13-14 ].

Through his PRIDE, Satan believed he could be greater than God. (He even tried to get Jesus to bow down and worship him! – Matthew 4:8-9). But when he rallied an army of angels and rebelled against God, God ‘threw’ them all out of Heaven.

Satan’s goal is to deceive and subjugate human beings under his power by seducing us to disbelieve God and to “do it our own way.” BUT, God ALWAYS PROVIDES everything we need to ‘OVERCOME’ Satan!

Resistance MUST be done with faith. One must believe that Jesus has already ‘destroyed’ the works of the Devil, that He has overcome the attacks of Satan, that His resurrection put Satan to shame, and that His ascension into Heaven transcends the power of Satan—which the believer HAS ‘access’ to via the Holy Spirit ‘indwelling’ them! (1 John 3:8; Revelation 12:11; Hebrews 2:14; and Ephesians 2:6).

In the 1970’s, comedian Flip Wilson popularized the catchphrase, “The Devil made me do it.” It was funny when he associated it with something in his comedy routine, but the thing is, in reality, it is a ‘joke’—since the Devil CANNOT ‘make’ you sin. He cannot ‘control’ a believer’s thoughts, but he CAN ‘INFLUENCE’ them—so that one’s thought ‘pattern’ begins to change, and one’s mind ‘appropriates’ the thought and makes it ‘THEIR’ decision, influencing their actions.

Satan also chooses his timing when a person is most vulnerable. He is an ‘opportunist’. He will ‘whisper’ thoughts of fear to us so that we accept them a true. He will ‘inject’ imaginations into one’s thought life such that they thing that it is their own, with the intent of making one veer off the ‘straight and narrow’—with the ultimate purpose of ‘controlling’ one’s life!

HOWEVER, God gives the believer two ‘tools’—prayer and the Bible. When the Devil knocks on your ‘door’, turn to Jesus and ask Him to please ‘answer it’! You DO NOT need to ‘deal’ with the Devil on your own!

Lies will ‘restrict’ you from entering Heaven. The Bible teaches that all liars “will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” [ Revelation 21:8 ]. (Proverbs 19:9 also teaches that anyone who lies will be punished.)

SO, avoid this fate: “Repent and believe in the Gospel” [ Mark 1:15c ]. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), and He will never deceive you. Those who come to Jesus in faith will find that, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” [ John 8:32 ].

Satan is a ‘crafty’ character, and he will do whatever it takes to make us think we are on the right ‘road’ when really we are headed down the wrong one—and he is not beyond using Scripture to deceive Christians. He will do WHATEVER it takes!

So, NEVER ‘UNDERESTIMATE’ Satan’s power, and never underestimate his ability to deceive us, and be aware that his ‘attacks’ center in in two areas: the mind and the emotions. Satan wants to snatch the Word of God from you and fill you mind with lies, immorality, and false doctrine. He wants you to think that sin is not that bad. He wants to drown you in a ‘sea’ of sin such that you become tolerant of it. He wants to entertain you with sin so that you won’t think it’s as evil as it really is. He wants you to laugh at sin on television, at the movies, or on the Internet. He wants to twist your thinking by putting sinful ideas to appealing music. He wants to confuse your emotions by corrupting your desires and drawing your affections to the wrong things. He wants to ‘destroy’ your conscience so it will no longer ‘warn’ you. He wants to debilitate your will and get you to do things you shouldn’t do.

He wants to make you think that he isn’t to be feared. In fact, he even deceives some people into thinking he doesn’t exist. He is not as powerful as God, but he still is a powerful spiritual force who works against God in every way he can.

So, how are supposed to respond to Satan’s ‘attacks’? Well, the Apostle Paul gave us the answer: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” [ 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ], and “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground” [ Ephesians 6:13 ].

ALSO, the believer should be encouraged that the Devil is, in the end, a DEFEATED ‘FOE’! So, RESIST the Devil and he will ‘FLEE’ from you! (James 4:7)

[ VIDEO: Pilgrim’s Progress: Journey To Heaven – “Christian Battles With Apollyon” ]

For me, one of the ‘BIGGEST’ deceptions Satan is using these days is that “you have a lot of time to believe in Jesus and you don’t have to ‘rush’—so, enjoy life!

HOWEVER, as I have discussed in the past, I and MANY scholars are seeing a “CONVERGENCE” happening with all of the ‘signs’ that Jesus talked about that would happen in the “end times” [ Note: You can get more details by viewing posts 249-255 ].

Based on this, there is VERY LITTLE TIME before Jesus returns to ‘banish’ Satan into the “Lake of Fire,” and to ‘JUDGE’ the world!

Sadly, too many ‘Christians’ will settle for comfort, indifference, and worldiness, and Satan has a ‘heyday’ with such people. My prayer for you is that you INCREASE your ‘commitment’ level to Jesus and ESCALATE your spiritual ‘defense’ when you fully understand the times we are in and the how disturbed and pugnacious the ‘enemy’ of our souls, Satan, is right now, since he knows his days to ‘destroy’ God’s people are few!

So, DON’T BE ‘DECEIVED’!!! There is very little time to GET ‘SAVED’ and be ‘promised’ Heaven!

REPENT and BELIEVE in Jesus NOW and you will get help to ‘deal’ with Satan, and be on your ‘way’ to Heaven!

<<< END OF SUMMARY >>>

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ALL THE ‘DETAILS’

The following is a comprehensive presentation of the topic that follows the ‘headings’ laid out in the Summary.
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WHAT IS ‘DECEPTION’?
Deception can be defined broadly as the manipulation of appearances such that they convey a false reality.

According to deception expert Dr. Paul Ekman, a lie is “an act in which someone makes a deliberate choice to mislead another person(s) without giving prior notification of that intention.”

He points out that there are two ‘primary’ types of lies: ‘Concealing’ and ‘Falsifying’.

Concealing is withholding some information. An example would be when asked by your spouse how your day was at work, you shrug it off and refrain from mentioning that you were actually laid off that day. Falsifying is presenting false information as if it were true. An example of this would be when asked by your significant other how your day was at work, you say, “Great! I was promoted,” when in reality you were laid off that day.

Other researchers term these as “sins of commission” and “sins of omission”—omitting information and concealing the truth are considered lies when they are done with an “intent to deceive.” In addition to statements that are false, deception encompasses statements that misrepresent or distort facts as well as the withholding of information. People can lie through outright statements or by strategic silence.

However, Ekman continues in saying that not everyone considers concealment to be lying. When there is a choice about HOW to lie, most prefer concealing to falsifying, because it is typically easier than making up an elaborate story (and then having to remember it). Concealment may also seem less reprehensible than falsifying as it is passive, not active.

Ekman also mentions that there are other ways to lie—different ‘types’ of deception:

‘Misdirecting’ is acknowledging an emotion but misidentifying what caused that emotion. An example would be when being questioned about lying, you admit to feeling panicked but claim it is due to the fear that your innocence is under suspicion rather than the truth which is that you’re panicking about being caught in a lie.

‘Telling the truth falsely’ is telling the truth but with such exaggeration or humor that the target remains uninformed or misled. An example of this would be a teenager that doesn’t want to take their vitamins one morning and decides to flush them down the toilet instead. When their parent asks them if they took their vitamins, the teen sarcastically admits, “No, I flushed them down the toilet!” The teen states this with such irony that the parent is misled to believe that they did, in fact, take their vitamins.

‘Half-concealment’ is admitting only part of the truth, allowing the liar to maintain the lie without ever saying anything untrue. An example of this is when asked about their company’s performance, a CEO responds, “We’re doing great! We made twice as much money this year,” while failing to mention that they also spent four times as much money than the previous period and lost half their staff.

The ‘incorrect inference dodge’ is telling the truth but in a way that implies the opposite of what is said. An example of this is a friend that invited you to their dinner party and asks how you liked their casserole dish. You thought it was disgusting but your respond with a dodge, saying, “Wow! I’ve never tasted anything like that before,” deceptively implying you enjoyed your meal without actually saying anything untrue.

Now, some ‘experts’ say that simply telling a person incorrect or untrue information does not necessarily mean deception has occurred. In fact, there are four common ways we mislead others without ever intending to deceive them. Such scenarios include memory failure, false statements, misinterpreting events, and believing the lie.

So then, what makes a lie a lie and what distinguishes a lie from another form of untruth? Well, it has to do with the role of memory, interpretation, intention and belief in understanding deception.

– Failure to Remember (Memory)
The failure to remember is not a lie, although liars will often try to excuse their lies, once discovered, by claiming a memory failure. It is not uncommon to forget actions that one regrets, but if the forgetting truly has occurred, we should not consider that a lie, for there was no choice involved. Often it will not be possible to determine whether a memory failure has occurred or whether its invocation is itself a lie.

– False Statements (Interpretation)
If someone provides a false account of what truly occurred, that does not necessarily mean the person intended to mislead, and, if there is not a deliberate intent to mislead, a false statement should not be considered a lie. Why should it matter what we call a false statement? It is not simply a matter of semantics or definition. If the person is not lying or, rather, if the person does not believe he is engaged in deception at the moment he is doing it, then I expect his demeanor will be that of a truthful person, and there should be no behavioral clues that the account is untrue. There are a number of ways in which people may provide false information that they believe to be true.

– Misinterpreting Events (Intention)
People do misinterpret events, especially the meaning of other people’s actions and the motives that lead people to act one way or another. The fact that someone interprets matters in a way that reflects well upon them, a way that allows them to engage in actions they finds desirable, does not mean that they are necessarily lying rather than misinterpreting. I would not consider such an occurrence necessarily an instance of self-deception. Not every misunderstanding or misinterpretation is self-deception.

– Believing the Lie (Belief)
Misinterpreting is not the only route by which someone may believe his or her false account is true. A person initially may know he is lying, but over time he may come to believe in his lie. Once he has come to believe his lie is a faithful account of what transpired, he may appear truthful. Over time, one may come to believe their false story is true. It is conceivable they could maintain in consciousness both the memory of the true event, and the constructed belief—or, the true memory might overtime become much less accessible than the constructed belief, or perhaps not accessible at all.

So then, do we all lie? Whether or not we like it, deception is a central characteristic of life. Most (if not all) human relationships involve some form of deceit, or at least the possibility of it. Lies occur between those we love and trust as much as they do with those we dislike, and even happens among complete strangers.

Then, ‘WHY’ do we lie? Well, people resort to lying for so many different reasons that it’d be impossible to list them all. However, of the nine most common motives for telling lies:

Why-do-we-lie-1

As the chart shows—with the size of the circle—AVOIDING PUNISHMENT is the primary motivator for both children and adults.

So, is there an instance where lying can be a good thing? Well, ‘experts’ say just as lies can be cruel, sometimes the truth can be used to inflict pain, too. Similarly, while the truth is often well-intentioned, there are occasions where lies can be used for altruistic purposes as well. [ So, for me, the truth is ALWAYS BETTER, even if it ‘hurts’—and that is ‘biblical’].

Then, why do some lies ‘fail’? Well, most frequently, lies ‘fail’ due to some noticeable change in our voice, posture and/or facial expression which gives away an emotion we are feeling but trying to hide. The more emotions involved, and the stronger they are, the more likely it is that the lie will be betrayed by some form of emotional ‘leakage’. Lies also fail because of ‘bad lines’, cover stories that are inconsistent or discrepant with other indisputable facts.

It is said that there are five ‘primary’ methods that are used to ‘detect’ deception: Facial expression, body language, voice, verbal style, and verbal content.

Five Signs of Lying to Observe

Typically, the ‘CLUES’ to be observed are:

– A deviation from baseline (e.g., a talkative child is uncharacteristically quiet when asked about a broken vase)

– A momentary conflict between what is being communicated verbally and what is being presented nonverbally (e.g., assuring someone you don’t feel angry with them while clenching your jaw and raising your voice).

When lying, the face often contains two ‘messages’—what the liar wants to show and what the liar wants to conceal. Often, these hidden emotions ‘leak’ in the form of a “micro expression,” a brief (half a second or less) involuntary facial expression revealing true emotion.

While a single micro expression or flash of ‘leakage’ does not offer conclusive proof of lying, micro expressions are one of the most effective nonverbal behaviors to monitor to indicate a person is being dishonest.

Now, any emotional expression can be falsified and/or used to conceal any other emotion. Across all emotions, studies have shown that often faked emotional facial expressions are asymmetrical.

Real and False Smile

[ Real Smile (on left) | False smile (on right) – Source: Dr. Paul Ekman, a lie detection expert ].

So, can one tell—for sure—that someone is lying? Well, in most cases, there’s no quick or easy way to detect deception and, even if there were, we might not like what we discover.

While people often claim to want to know the truth, there are many instances in which it is more comforting to believe the lies. In these circumstances, we tend to ignore deception clues and excuse otherwise suspicious behaviors to avoid the potentially negative consequences of uncovering the lies we are told.

[ FYI: Can you tell if someone is lying? Well, take this DECEPTION ‘QUIZ’ to find out how much you know about the signs and reasons for lying:
https://www.paulekman.com/quizzes/lying-quiz/

[ NOTE: The television series “Lie to Me” was inspired by Dr. Ekman’s expertise, using his ‘science’ behind deception and the ability to differentiate fact from fiction. Links to the trailer and an episode is in the “Articles” section below ].

Researchers say that every deception is comprised of two parts: dissimulation (covert, hiding what is real) and simulation (overt, showing the false), and both dissimulation and simulation come in three forms.

The three types of dissimulation are masking, repackaging, and dazzling, and the three types of simulation are mimicking, inventing, and decoying. In decreasing order of effectiveness, these components of deception can be listed as masking, repackaging, dazzling, mimicking, inventing, and decoying. So, nine ‘categories’ of deception are obtained by combining the three kinds of dissimulation with the three kinds of simulation.

Barton Whaley—who worked in the U.S. Army Psychological Warfare—claims that these nine types exhaustively classify all deceptions, and he was able to classify every magic trick into one of these nine categories. Whether other researchers and independent judges can use his system to reliably classify the same magic tricks, as well as other deceptions, into these categories remains to be seen.

[ FYI: From another viewpoint, virtual magic virtuoso Jon Finch says that only eight fundamental categories comprise all magic tricks you have ever seen: Vanishes; Transformations; Restorations; Teleportation; Transposition; Penetration; Levitation; Mentalism. Details: https://www.finchmagician.com/magic/types-of-magic-tricks/#kinds-of-magic-tricks ].

The outside person is typically an enemy agent who pretends to have become an informant. He is the source of disinformation to the target group. For the disinformation to be effective, however, the enemy must know how it is being accepted and interpreted by the target group. The feedback comes to the enemy from the inside man (usually a “mole” or other enemy agent who has managed, over a period of years, to penetrate the innermost sanctums of the target group). With the appropriate feedback, the enemy can tailor and fine-tune the disinformation so that it is more consistent with what the target group believes or wants to believe.

This deception circle—which also characterizes many other successful forms of deception, such as confidence games—provides a potent and almost irresistible way to plant disinformation. Although this model is relatively simple, it is important in making clear that the dynamics of successful deception typically involve organizational and social factors that go beyond the simple dyadic relationship of the informer and the “informed.”

Now, while most people are generally honest, even those who subscribe to honesty engage in deception sometimes. Studies show that the average person lies several times a day. Some of those lies are big (“I’ve never cheated on you!”) but most often they are little “white lies” (“That dress looks fine”), that are deployed to avoid uncomfortable situations or spare someone’s feelings.

Trust is the ‘BEDROCK’ of social life at all levels, from romance and parenting to national government. Deception ALWAYS undermines it. Because truth is so essential to the human enterprise, which relies on a shared view of reality, the default assumption most people have is that others are truthful in their communications and dealings. Most cultures have powerful social sanctions against lying.

So then, why do people engage in deception? Well, according to one expert, lies are like wishes—often, what is said are things people ‘wish’ were true. A large body of research identifies three major reasons why people lie: to get something they want, so-called instrumental reasons; to protect or promote themselves; and to harm others. Avoiding punishment may be the main motivation for both children and adults.

While everyone lies a little, it appears that only a small percentage of people do most of the lying. There is evidence that prolific liars share the personality trait of “Machiavellianism” (a personality trait which sees a person so focused on their own interests they will manipulate, deceive, and exploit others to achieve their goals). They are manipulative and exploitative of others.

So, is honesty always the best policy? Well, the ‘experts’ say that sometimes lies are told to prevent difficult conversations, such as those involving critical feedback, and they may appear protective. BUT, most to the time, they ultimately disadvantage the recipient by depriving them of useful information that can promote positive change.

Then, is deception always harmful? Well, I, and MANY ‘experts’, believe that even white lies, told with the aim of protecting others or smoothing social relationships, are damaging, because they deny people the experience of reality that could be used to improve their lives. Lies are damaging to relationships because they block intimacy, and lies are considered harmful because they destroy trust—the bedrock of society—the belief that others are dependable and intend no harm.

‘DISCERNING’ DECEPTION
Who is not mesmerized by the magician’s ‘deception’? Everyone says the same thing: “How was that done?”

Magicians are masters of deception, but they are honest, too—telling you upfront they plan to trick you. However, they are not alone in the craft of deception. From scammers to counterfeiters, our lives are saturated with lies and half-truths.

[ FYI: View last month’s post for details on counterfeiters and how to spot them. ]

Judee Burgoon, PhD, a professor of communication at the University of Arizona explained this well saying, “There really is no ‘Pinocchio’s nose’.”

The research consistently shows that “being strategic” about revealing evidence of criminal acts to suspects increases deception detection accuracy rates above chance levels (revealing insignificant evidence first and the increasing the significance).

Aldert Vrij, PhD says that it is increasingly difficult to keep up with people’s deception. “Liars typically have a prepared story with little more to say. They might not have the imagination to come up with more or they may be reluctant to say more for fear they will get caught.”

“Compared with truth tellers, when liars tell their story together they tend to not interact with each other and they are less likely to elaborate on each other’s responses,” Vrij says. “Truthful dyads are much more interactive as they reconstruct a shared event from memory.”

Linguistic text analysis involves studying the language, grammar and syntax a subject uses to describe an event to detect any anomalies. Because text analysis evaluates only the subject’s words, investigators can apply it to written as well as oral statements (many investigators prefer to analyze suspects’ written statements for signs of deception before conducting face-to-face interviews).

Dr. Paul M. Clikeman says that there are ten “tell-tale signs of deception.” The following describes deviations that suggest a subject may be withholding, altering or fabricating information.

1) Lack of self-reference
Truthful people make frequent use of the pronoun “I” to describe their actions:

Deceptive people often use language that minimizes references to themselves.

2) Verb tense
Truthful people usually describe historical events in the past tense. Deceptive people sometimes refer to past events as if the events were occurring in the present.

3) Answering questions with questions
Before answering a question with a lie, a deceptive person will usually try to avoid answering the question at all—dodging questions.

4) Equivocation
The subject avoids an interviewer’s questions by filling his or her statements with expressions of uncertainty, weak modifiers and vague expressions.

5) Oaths
Deceptive subjects often use mild oaths to try to make their statements sound more convincing.

6) Euphemisms
Euphemisms portray the subject’s behavior in a more favorable light and minimize any harm the subject’s actions might have caused.

7) Alluding to actions
People sometimes allude to actions without saying they actually performed them.

8) Lack of Detail
Truthful statements usually contain specific details, some of which may not even be relevant to the question asked.

Those who fabricate a story, however, tend to keep their statements simple and brief. Plus, a deceptive person wants to minimize the risk that an investigator will discover evidence contradicting any aspect of his or her statement; the fewer facts that might be proved false, the better.

9) Narrative balance
A narrative consists of three parts: prologue, critical event, and aftermath. The prologue contains background information and describes events that took place before the critical event. The critical event is the most important occurrence in the narrative. The aftermath describes what happened after the critical event. In a complete and truthful narrative, the balance will be approximately 20-25% prologue, 40-60% critical event, and 25-35% aftermath.

10) Mean Length of Utterance
Most people tend to speak in sentences of between 10-15 words. When people feel anxious about an issue, they tend to speak in sentences that are either significantly longer or significantly shorter than the norm.

Now, truthful statements generally contain numerous self-referencing pronouns and include at least a few seemingly inconsequential details. Truthful statements rarely contain oaths, equivocation or euphemisms.

Sometimes deceptive individuals display a reluctance to refer to past events as past, particularly if the past event is the subject of investigation. They refer to past events as if they were occurring in the present.

Often, people use the present tense for past events when they are rehearsing the events in their mind. It is a device for keeping things straight. Maybe the person is just being careful, but most likely he is being deceptive.

Now, no security solution can stop all attacks from occurring on a network, but deception technology helps to give attackers a false sense of security by making them believe they have gained a foothold on your network. The information you record about attacker behavior and techniques can be used to further secure your network from attack.

Many deception security solutions have machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) built into their core. These features not only ensure deception techniques are kept dynamic but also help to reduce operational overheads and the impact on security teams by freeing them from constantly creating new deception campaigns.

Now, given the likely importance that advances in artificial intelligence could play in shaping our future, it is critical to begin a discussion about ways to take advantage of the benefits of AI and autonomous systems, while mitigating the risks.

A senior research analyst at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Heather Roff, says that, “we need to understand the kinds of deception an AI agent may learn on its own before we can start proposing technological defenses.”

In artificial intelligence circles, we hear a lot about adversarial attacks, especially ones that attempt to “deceive” an AI into believing, or to be more accurate, classifying, something incorrectly.

One can also point to using AI to manipulate the perceptions and beliefs of a person through “deepfakes” in video, audio, and images—this is when AI ‘learns’ to lie for itself. So, Roff insists that we need to develop detection mechanisms for this… NOW!

Just a few years ago, the idea that artificial intelligence could imitate real people and make them say things that they never actually said probably seemed impossible. But not anymore! With the introduction and development of deep fakes—falsified but realistic photos and videos of people —this is now becoming a reality! As the technology improves, discerning the true from the false will become increasingly difficult. Already, videos of political figures making preposterous statements have been circulating on the web.

[ Deepfake videos of Tom Cruise ]

Deception may be as old as the world itself, and it is certainly not the sole provenance of human beings. Adaptation and evolution for survival with traits like camouflage are deceptive acts, as are forms of mimicry commonly seen in animals. But pinning down exactly what constitutes deception for an AI agent is not an easy task—it requires quite a bit of thinking about acts, outcomes, agents, targets, means and methods, and motives.

In “multi-agent” AI systems, some agents can learn deceptive behaviors without having a true appreciation or comprehension of what “deception” actually is. This could be as simple as hiding resources or information, or providing false information to achieve some goal. So, if we say that an agent can “unintentionally deceive,” then we really have opened the aperture for existing AI agents to deceive in many ways.

So then, what about the way in which deception occurs? That is, what are the deceptive act ‘types’? Well, these two broad categories are “acts of commission,” where an agent actively engages in a behavior like sending misinformation; and “acts of omission,” where an agent is passive but may be withholding information or hiding. The thing is, AI agents can learn all sorts of these types of behaviors given the right conditions.

Just consider how AI agents used for cyber defense may learn to signal various forms of misinformation, or how swarms of AI-enabled robotic systems could learn deceptive behaviors on a battlefield to escape adversary detection.

The AI industry faces a myriad of challenges related to AI deception, and these challenges are only going to increase as the cognitive capacities of AI increase. If AI gets this ability to understand another’s feelings, beliefs, emotions, and intentions—along with the ability to act to influence those feelings, beliefs, emotions, or intentions—then deception is much more likely to occur.

So then, what kinds of things did Satan do in the Garden of Eden?

Satan as “The Tempter”
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made” [ Genesis 3:1 ]. This serpent was not like the snakes we know today because it probably stood erect and may even have been attractive since Eve was not repulsed when it started a conversation with her. Only after it was cursed by God for its part in the fall of mankind was it condemned to crawl on its belly in the dust.

This was a creature God allowed in the Garden to ‘test’ Adam and Eve, and he’s still around today. His goal was to convince Eve that what God had said was incorrect. He is identified in Revelation as “the great dragon” and “the serpent of old who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Neither his goal nor his tactics have changed since then. He is opposed to God and continually lies—trying to deceive mankind into believing that there are no consequences for sin.

Satan as “The Temptation”
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had everything they needed or could possibly want. There was only one restriction given by God, and that’s exactly what the Devil focused upon when he asked Eve, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the Garden?’” [ Genesis 3:1 ]. Eve answered, “From the fruit of the trees of the Garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the Garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die’” [ Genesis 2-3 ]. The Devil wanted her to desire what she didn’t have.

Then Satan directly contradicted God saying, “You surely will not die!” (v. 4) and pointed out something else Eve lacked. “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (v. 5). As she started considering the forbidden tree, Eve noticed it was “good for food” and “a delight to the eyes” and “desirable to make one wise” (v. 6). Satan uses the same approach today trying to get us to focus on what we don’t have but would like to possess. He wants us to doubt what God has said in His Word, and desire an experience that will stimulate and satisfy our senses.

This is why some people pick and choose what they want to believe in the Bible. They want a loving God but not One who restricts them in any way or warns them about the consequences of disobedience.

Satan’s “Tactics”
Satan’s deception is progressive in nature. First he used doubt. He led Eve to question God’s Word. He then used denial. Doubt leads to the denial of truth. He then used deception. Once one denies the truth of God’s Word, they are headed for full blown deception regarding His nature and commands.

Next, there is disobedience. We do what God has forbidden because we don’t believe Him. Finally, there is destruction. One suffers the destructive consequences of sin because of their disobedience.

Satan masks his deceptions in beautiful ‘packaging’ that appeals to our natural senses and desires. He promises that there will be no repercussions for indulging in sinful practices that God clearly says will end in destruction. Before yielding to the Devil’s temptations, we should always consider the consequences that will inevitably follow. The last thing Satan wants us to think about is the devastating outcome of sin. That’s why he tempts us to minimize our sin by claiming that nobody’s perfect or that we just made a mistake. We’ve also fallen for his deception when we only focus on the goodness of God and not on His righteousness and holiness, which require that consequences follow sin.

When the Holy Spirit controls one’s life, He reminds us of the painful outcome of disobedience because He’s both the giver of truth and our protector. People who are living righteously and obediently before God can recognize sin and deception and know what is right and wrong.

God’s Word leads us into truth and warns us of the self-destructive and harmful nature of sin. The Lord’s commands are not harsh but loving. He knows we’re fighting a spiritual war against Satan, and He wants to protect us from the damage that disobedience and sin will wreak in our lives. Our obedience to God and His Word is our protection and a witness to those around us. Any form of disobedience in our lives results in ‘static’ in our souls, a feeling of distance that, if not corrected, leads to separation and spiritual decline until eventually our spirit becomes hardened to the things of God. At this point the Lord may use calamity to bring us back into fellowship with Him.

The ‘tragedy’ of it all is that Adam and Eve’s story began with perfection and ended in catastrophe:

Satan’s ‘Origin’
Satan has not always existed. He and all the other angels were created (Psalm 148:2,5; Colossians 1:16). In Ezekiel (28:12-15) we find a description of Satan before he sinned. (Although the prophet was speaking to the king of Tyre, there are certain indications in the passage that he was speaking beyond the king to Satan himself.) Created by God as “the anointed cherub who covers” (v.14), he was “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (v.12) and covered with “every precious stone” (v.13). He was in “Eden, the garden of God” (v.13) and placed “on the holy mountain of God” (v.14). Satan most likely had a special place of prominence in his service to God.

Satan’s ‘Sin’
Referring to Satan, Ezekiel states, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you” (v. 28:15). Ezekiel then added, “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor” (v.17).

Satan’s sin originated in pride, grew into self-deception, and ended in rebellion. In Isaiah we read, “You have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High’” [ Isaiah 14:13-14 ]. Satan’s pride so deluded him that he claimed equality with God. This led him to spark a rebellion in which he induced a large number of angels to join him (Revelation 12:4).

Satan’s ‘Punishment’
After Satan sinned, God ‘threw’ him out of Heaven to the earth (Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:16-17). His final punishment will come shortly after the end of the millennial reign of Jesus on the earth. At that time, Satan will be “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” [ Revelation 20:10 ].

Satan’s ‘Personhood’
Satan is not an impersonal evil force. He possesses the traits of personality: intellect (2 Corinthians 11:3), emotion (Revelation 12:17), and will (2 Timothy 2:26). Furthermore, personal pronouns are used of him in both the Old and New Testament (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; Zechariah 3:1-2; Matthew 4:1-12).

SATAN’S ‘NATURE’
A few descriptive qualifiers that ‘paint’ a biblical portrait of Satan would be cunning, crafty, subtlety, and guile.

One comment that I’ve always thought interesting is when Satan says, “It is better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.” This is sort of a remarkable insight into the archangel (Lucifer, the “brilliant one”) who became the adversary of God. He’s so filled with self pride that he finds serving God and God’s way of loving others as repulsive. He hates how God thinks. He hates His mercy, he hates His judgment, and he hates God’s love for us.

“Abaddon”
The Hebrew name for Satan means “Destruction.” “And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon” [ Revelation 9:11 ].

“Accuser”
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down’” [ Revelation 12:10 ].

“Adversary”
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” [ 1 Peter 5:8 ].

“Angel of light”
“And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” [ 2 Corinthians 11:14 ].

“Angel of the bottomless pit”
“And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon” [ Revelation 9:11 ].

“Anointed guardian cherub”
“You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you” [ Ezekiel 28:14-15 ].

“Antichrist”
“And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world” [ 1 John 4:3 ].

“Apollyon”
The Greek name for Satan means “Destroyer.” “And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon” [ Revelation 9:11 ].

“Beast”
“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb’” [ Revelation 14:9,10 ].

“Beelzebub”
“Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons’” [ Matthew 12:24 ].

“Belial”
“And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” [ 2 Corinthians 6:15 ].

“Deceiver”
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” [ Revelation 12:9 ].

“Devil”
The term “diabolos” in the Greek translates to “Devil,” and means “slanderer, defamer, false accuser, deceiver.” “He who sins is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil” [ 1 John 3:8 ].

“Dragon”
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” [ Revelation 12:9 ].

“Enemy”
“The enemy who sowed them is the Devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels” [ Matthew 13:39 ].

“Evil one”
“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” [ John 17:15 ].

“Father of lies”
“You are of your father the Devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” [ John 8:44 ].

“God of this age”
“Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” [ 2 Corinthians 4:4 ].

“Great Dragon”
Satan is great in his power, his intelligence and in his hatred toward mankind, especially God’s people. He has great violence in mind for God’s people. While throughout history this blood thirst has reared it’s ugly head, it is during the Tribulation period that the world will endure the greatest of bloody slaughter it has ever known. “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” [ Revelation 12:9 ].

“King of the bottomless pit”
“And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon” [ Revelation 9:11 ].

“Lawless one”
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 ].

“Leviathan”
“In that day the LORD with His severe sword, great and strong, Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea” [ Isaiah 27:1 ].

“Liar”
“You are of your father the Devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” [ John 8:44 ].

“Lucifer”
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’’” [ Isaiah 14:12-14 ].

“Man of sin”
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 ].

“Murderer”
“You are of your father the Devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” [ John 8:44 ].

“Power of darkness”
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” [ Colossians 1:13-14 ].

“Prince of the power of the air”
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” [ Ephesians 2:1-2 ].

“Roaring lion”
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” [ 1 Peter 5:8 ].

“Ruler of demons”
“But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons’” [ Luke 11:15 ]

“Ruler of this world”
“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” [ John 12:31-32 ].

“Satan”
Satan (“satanos” in the Greek) means “adversary.” Satan is adverse to each and everything that God does, and each and everything that God’s people do. The one who deceives the whole world. This is Satan’s world system, as he is “the god of this world.” [ How sad it is that Lucifer went from being the “morning star” and “light bringer” to Satan, the “adversary.” “And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him” [ Mark 1:13 ].

“Serpent of Old”
This is a reference to Satan’s appearance in the Garden of Eden, and the deception of Adam and Eve into sin that permanently damaged the entire world… and universe. “He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” [ Revelation 20:2 ].

“Son of perdition”
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 ].

“Star”
“Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit” [ Revelation 9:1 ].

“Thief”
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” [ John 10:10 ].

“Wicked one”
“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” [ Ephesians 6:16 ].

From the beginning, Satan has been a liar (John 8:44). God speaks the truth and Satan says the opposite—and man is confused. Satan uses the ‘world system’ to disseminate his lies (1 John 5:19), and the lies are always growing in number and complexity.

Satan takes God’s truth and twists or contradicts it so that people are led away from Him. The Scriptures says God is love (1 John 4:7-8), but Satan says, “how can a loving God allow so much suffering?” God says Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6), but Satan says, “a good person of any belief system can get there.” Jesus spoke of everlasting torment for those who reject Him (Matthew 25:46), but Satan says, “there’s no Hell.” God claims to exist, and to be a personal Being that interacts with us (Hebrews 11:6), but Satan says, “God is dead.”

Unfortunately, since humanity is finite and ‘fallen’, we are susceptible to these lies. So, Satan continues to use them, and rehash even the original lie he told (“Did God really say?”) in order to get us off track.

The Bible is attacked often and viciously by false religions and worldly men who want us to think that the Bible is not literal, is not authoritative, is not reliable. So, why do so many people put so much thought and effort into contradicting the Bible? Well, because Satan is working to convince us that God is the liar—and that is the ULTIMATE LIE!

As previous mentioned, since there are “tell-tale signs of deception” for humans, I’m thinking that there are also similar ‘signs’ or clues the will ‘GIVE AWAY’ Satan. Here’s a few I found that the Bible mentions:

– Satan is not omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, nor eternal (Colossians 1:16-17).

– Satan exercises his otherworldly dominion by way of a hierarchical, geographical, and militaristic strategy (John 12:31; Daniel 10:13, 20; Matthew 12:24; Colossians 2:15; 1 Peter 5:8-9).

– Satan can manipulate matter, weather systems, and bacterial life (Job 1; Job 2:8).

– Satan can influence and sway legal proceedings and governmental structures (Revelation 2:10; Job 1:17).

– Satan aggressively seeks to trap individual Christians (1 Timothy 3:7).

– Satan is more skilled at deception than any other created being (John 8:44; Colossians 2:15).

– Satan is able to kill Christians (Job 1-2), but not eternally (Romans 8)

– Satan is the Lord’s ‘lackey’ for the Christian’s holiness (2 Corinthians 12:7)

– Satan will be thrown into Hell in the end (Matthew 25:41; Colossians 2:14)

– Satan is resistible (James 4:7)

So, what are some of the primary ‘OBJECTIVES’ of Satan?

– To deceive us concerning the true nature of sin.
– To cause us to doubt the truth of God’s Word.
– To cause us to feel inferior and inadequate—low self-esteem.
– To tempt us not to trust in the Lord.
– To discourage us concerning our progress in spiritual growth.
– To disappoint through the inconsistency of ourselves and others.
– To cause us to lose our vitality and credibility.
– To encourage us to abdicate the Christian life.
– To render us ineffective and unfruitful in our service of God.
– To divide us from others through unnecessary and unresolved conflict.

Then, what are some of the ‘WEAPONS’ that Satan has in his arsenal?

– Fear/False Accusation/Condemnation
– Doubt/Misinformation
– Anger/Hostility
– Worry/Anxiety
– Guilt/False Guilt
– Tempts and blinds
– Discouragement/Disappointment
– Deep Depression
– Division/Conflict
– Ignorance/Misconceptions
– Deception/Lies

Believers need to know what satanic temptation ‘looks like’. Entering primarily—if not exclusively—in the form of thoughts and ideas that find their place in complete imagination and NOT in reality. When Satan tempts people, he does not say, “This is a satantic temptation.” Of course, if he did, people would definitely resist it. No, he is crafty and causes deception and false thinking without a ‘ripple’—all of his deceptions are done in a manner that does not cause unwanted attention.

Now, satanic thoughts CAN be withstood. The Reformer Martin Luther said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” So, you can’t keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts and stop them from passing through one’s brain, but they don’t have to be ‘entertained’, dwelled on, or acted upon! The Scriptures states that, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” [ Philippians 4:8 ].

Satan will not find it easy to ‘inject’ his thoughts into your mind if you learn to use your mind for thinking about these things. When your mind is positively engaged and your thoughts are not idle, Satan has very little opportunity to put things into your mind. However, if your mind is unoccupied or idle then, your ‘unguarded’ mind is open to all sorts of trickery, and as the saying goes, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” Jesus said that when one “Resists the Devil, he will flee from you” [ James 4:7 ].

SATAN IS ‘RULING’
The Devil heads a great ‘kingdom’ of evil. As mentioned, the New Testament refers to him as “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4), “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), and the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31). Jesus identifies Satan with Beelzebub, prince of the demons (Luke 11:14-23). In addition, his human followers are “the sons of the wicked one” (Matthew 13:38), “ministers” of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:15), the “synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9), and the “children of the Devil” (1 John 3:10). He exercised authority over the rulers of Persia through a demon called “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” (Daniel 10:12-13). Jude portrays him as so awesome in his power and authority that the archangel “dared not bring against him a reviling accusation” (v.9). He is pictured as heading a well-organized army of spiritual agents (Ephesians 6:12).

The Devil, however, is NOT everywhere-present, all-powerful, or all-knowing like God. He is subject to the limitations of ‘creature-hood’. To carry out his program he must work through subordinates—both demonic and human.

Satan has organized his demons into a ‘military’ structure. A demon was assigned to influence the leaders of Persia (Daniel 10:12-13). The terms “principalities,” “powers,” “rulers of this darkness,” and “spiritual hosts of wickedness” (Ephesians 6:12) denote the ranks in his army. Through them he gathers information and implements his will. Just as a competent general can impose a high degree of control over his army and through his troops carry out his program over a vast area, the Devil can rule his worldwide kingdom of darkness.

The Devil also ‘uses’ people. Although he can be in only one place at one time and cannot personally work in every human heart, he influences multitudes both through his demonic followers and through a system of thought the Bible calls “the world.” John wrote:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” [ 1 John 2:15-17 ].

The “world” in this context is a way of thinking that dominates the life of runaway humanity. The characteristics of this thought-system may vary from one culture to another, but these differences are relatively insignificant. What is consistent, however, is an emphasis on the temporal rather than the eternal. He influences multitudes as they ‘buy into’ the thinking of their day.

He also uses mankind’s sinful nature. Paul declared that before we came to Christ we “were dead in trespasses and sins, walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh” (Ephesians 2:1-3). When people willfully choose evil, they become the “children of the Devil” (John 8:44; Acts 13:10; 1 John 3:10). Thus multitudes of people either knowingly or unknowingly help Satan in his role as “the god of this world.”

The Devil’s power over mankind, though limited by God’s permissive and directive will, is fearful. He and his evil spirits can assume visible form (Matthew 4, Luke 4); cause blindness (Matthew 12:22), paralysis (Acts 8:7), and convulsions (Luke 9:39); induce self-destructive or bizarre behavior (Matthew 17:15; Luke 8:27); compel animals to destroy themselves (Matthew 8:28-34); create powerful illusions (Exodus 7:11-12); and perform signs and wonders (Matthew 24:24).

Evil spirits have the power to directly influence our health, moods, imagination, and thoughts. For example, it is sobering to read that, “Satan entered Judas” (Luke 22:3) and led him to betray Christ and finally commit suicide. It is frightening to read about the horrible condition of the two demon-possessed men (in Matthew 8:28-29).

We must not make the mistake of minimizing Satan’s power or denying the reality of his kingdom of evil. But we must also avoid the error of giving in to despair. He cannot go beyond the limits set by God. Moreover, the Christian who submits to God and resists the Devil can put him to flight (James 4:7).

SATAN IS ‘HOSTILE’
A life of faith in Jesus Christ is a life of conflict. Jesus referred to the Devil as our enemy (Matthew 13:39; Luke 10:19), and he is also called our adversary (1 Peter 5:8). As such, he hates God’s people and tries to destroy them. He does this with a strategy of infiltration, neutralization, and destruction.

Satan is an inhuman, merciless fiend whose ultimate goal is the ‘destruction’ of the human race. He should never be taken lightly. Peter, who learned by personal experience what it meant to be shaken in the grip of Satan (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62), later referred to the Devil as our enemy who prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Author and lay theologian C. S. Lewis depicts Satan and evil spirits as motivated by “a kind of hunger.” He also points out that very self-centered people often try to gain total control over their companions. He compares their desire to “absorb” the personalities of other people to Satan: It is for this that Satan desires all his own followers and all the sons of Eve and all the hosts of heaven. His dream is of the day when all shall be inside him and all that says “I” can say it only through him (from “The Screwtape Letters”). Of course, Satan hasn’t been granted the power to devour the children of God. But he can influence us to the point of making us serve his ends.

Satan, therefore, is our enemy—clever, cruel, hungry, always on the ‘prowl’. As the enemy of the Church, he plants counterfeit Christians alongside the genuine. We must be on guard against these tactics. Believers must ‘counterattack’ by bearing fruit for God wherever they have been planted. As the devouring enemy, he will draw them into himself and make them his instruments unless they maintain a serious attitude toward life and keep on the alert.

SATAN IS ‘ACCUSING’
In Revelation, the Devil is portrayed as the “accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night” (v. 12:10). The Greek word for Devil is “diabolos,” which means “slanderer,” and “false accuser.” The classic statement on the role of Satan as “the great accuser” is found in the book of Job (1:6-12; 2:1-5). In the vision recorded in Zechariah, Satan is standing at the right hand of Joshua to make accusation against him (v. 3:1-10). God apparently allowed him this privilege so that His grace to sinners might be magnified.

Because Satan hates those who don’t believe his lie, he is an accuser of Jesus and all who follow Him. Because he denies the goodness of God’s creation, we can expect him to place the worst possible interpretation on any act of faith and obedience. Since Satan’s accusing spirit is duplicated in the fleshly nature of every person, obedient Christians are exposed to constant accusation from within and without (Rom. 7:13-25).

The Devil shares his character with all who join him in doubting the goodness of God. People who resist the truth and thus become “the children of the Devil” become so warped and twisted in mind that even the best actions of God’s people are often perceived as being rooted in evil. (We see this trait of fallen man illustrated in the Pharisees’ attitude toward Jesus. They called the sinless Son of God “a drunkard,” “a glutton,” “a friend of immoral people,” “a violator of the law,” “a sorcerer,” “an insurrectionist,” and “a blasphemer.”)

Anyone who has felt the ‘force’ of the accuser’s power realizes how helpless we are to resist his temptations and accusations in our own strength. Each of us is so compromised by sin and impure motives that we can be confused, paralyzed, and even driven to despair when we are exposed to the merciless attack of either the fleshly nature within or demonic accusations without. If it were not for the saving and interceding role of Christ, we would quickly succumb to the charges of our accuser.

Peter learned this lesson the hard way. When self-confidence prompted him to declare his willingness to live and die for Christ, the Lord warned him:

“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” [ Luke 22:31-32 ].

Knowing that Peter had opened the ‘door’ for the Devil by his self-confidence, Jesus told him what the Devil would be doing and promised to intercede for him. The Devil’s accusations would sift Peter like wheat, confusing him, demoralizing him, and separating him from his faith as wheat is separated from chaff.

Peter did lose his courage, and he denied Jesus three times. But, because of Christ’s intercession, his faith did not fail. Here is a solemn warning against self-confidence! Our sins and failings make us vulnerable to Satan’s accusations. We must stand before God, therefore, on the basis of Christ’s righteousness (Philippians 3:1-9; Titus 3:5), not our own. We need the intercession of Him who had no shade of falseness or improper motive. He, and He alone, could say, “the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (John 14:30).

SATAN IS ‘DECEIVING’
Jesus placed heavy emphasis on the deceitful nature of the Devil. In a confrontation with the Pharisees, He declared that their inability to recognize the truth was due to the fact that they were allied with the Devil.

“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” [ John 8:44 ].

New Testament scholar Dr. William Hendriksen made this comment: “The Devil, then, is the very wellspring of lies, the creator of falsehoods. When he lies, he is the original. When he does not lie (Acts 16:16-17), he quotes or even plagiarizes; but even then he gives the borrowed words a false setting in order to create an illusion. He ever strives to lie and to deceive, and this he does in order to murder.”

As was said earlier, it is the Devil’s very ‘nature’ to lie, because he began his ‘career’ in an act of self-delusion. “You have said in your heart: I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will be like the Most High” [ Isaiah 14:13-14 ].

By deluding himself into believing that he could claim a position of equality with the Most High, Satan fell from his position of high honor. He became the “father of lies,” depending on a web of self-deceit and illusion to maintain his fantasy of equality with God.

By claiming equality with God, the Devil is forced to lie to himself about every aspect of reality. His rebellion has locked him into an irrational posture in which he desperately denies the evidence of his own hopelessness and meaninglessness.

The psychological term for such irrational willfulness is “narcissism,” and we are all aware of people who to a greater or lesser degree exhibit this tendency. Such people eventually accept reality (however painful it may be) or they defy it by either withdrawing into their own inner world or attempting to reconstruct reality so that it fits their false ideas. The Devil is the ‘ultimate’ narcissist. He is powerful and willful enough to attempt to restructure all of God’s created reality in order to keep his false sense of self-importance.

Satan does not deceive others in the manner of one who knows the truth and merely seeks to mislead. Satan lies because his own intelligence has been darkened by his perverted will. He is the “father of lies” because he has deluded himself and willfully persists in his self-delusion.

So, let’s take a look at how the self-deceived one has been aggressively deceiving mankind from the very beginning of human history.

The ‘Elements’ Of Satan’s Lie
The basic elements of Satan’s lie are recorded in Genesis 3:1-8. His words seem to have been chosen carefully to cause Eve to question God’s trustworthiness: “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the Garden’?” He wanted Eve to perceive God from his own diabolic perspective, questioning God’s motives and intentions. He wanted her to fear that God’s plans for her would violate her individuality and run contrary to her deepest needs and desires.

The Devil next denied the truth of God’s warning. He said, “You will not surely die.” Having planted doubt in Eve’s mind concerning God’s goodness, he wanted her to believe that no consequences would result from her disobedience.

He continued: “God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (v.5). These words were a direct attack on God’s goodness and an appeal to Eve’s pride. Satan portrayed the Lord as denying Adam and Eve the one thing that would bring them ultimate fulfillment—equality with God. These perverse words came straight from the Devil’s heart, reflecting his own view of God.

When Adam and Eve acted in accordance with the lie, they became the helpless pawns of Satan’s rebellion. His lie remains unchanged today.

The ‘Results’ Of Believing Satan’s Lie
The story of the fall shows us that when people believe Satan’s lie that God cannot be fully trusted, they fall into the fear of self-exposure. After Adam and Eve had eaten from the forbidden tree, they became conscious of their nakedness, made a feeble attempt to cover their shame with fig leaves, and tried to hide from God (Genesis 3:7-10).

Christian psychologist Larry Crabb says that the primary motivation for all of our social behavior is a fear that if others really knew us as we are, they would reject us in disgust. This fear of exposure is rooted in our sense of the ugliness of our fallen natures as they have been perverted and corrupted by sin. Satan delights in inflaming this fear until we, like the Pharisees, transform ourselves into “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:27) of self-deceit and self-righteousness.

Psychiatrist and author M. Scott Peck has observed that the central defect of evil people lies not in the fact that they sin, but in the fact “that they refuse to acknowledge [their sin].” He also points out that evil people are the people of the lie “deceiving others as they also build layer upon layer of self-deception.”

This fear of self-exposure drives people into relativism, mysticism, and legalism. Often they find themselves confronted with intense experiences and “counterfeit gods” so compelling that they become convinced that they are on the right track. When this happens, they fall helplessly into the clutches of that self-deluded serpent who is masquerading as the source of truth.

Satan’s ‘Disguise’
Paul warned us that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). This is necessarily so, since anyone would flee from him if they sensed his true nature. A master of disguise, Satan appears in many forms to conceal the truth of the incarnation.

The New Age movement gives us many examples of how this happens. While it denies the reality of a separate creator and claims a form of deity for man, this current cosmic charade is replete with accounts of encounters with “guides,” “spirits,” “entities,” and figures from pagan mythology. American author Carlos Castenada’s books on Yacqui Sorcery contain hair-raising accounts of his meetings with demonic figures. Actress Shirley MacLaine’s popularization of the practices of “channeling” and “astral projection” is just a resurfacing of occultic practices that have long been widespread. Psychoanalyst Carl Jung—the founder of the Jungian School of Psychology—was noted for his occult interests. While he vehemently denied the truth of the incarnation, he embraced the theory of reincarnation on the authority of figures who spoke to him in his visions and dreams.

Satan’s kingdom works through sinister figures like the Nazi leaders (all of whom were deeply involved with occultism). But he also deceives people through innocent-appearing means. There were reports that Nancy Reagan relied on astrology for advice on important decisions, when she was in the White House, are deeply disturbing to me. The kingdom of darkness also tempts us with many things that are not evil in themselves. Wealth, property, fame, power, family, friends, science, art, and even religion can become false gods if they distract us from an understanding of our loving Creator as He has revealed Himself in Jesus.

He has cleverly used the media to change what is righteous. Here are some of Satan’s “Fake News”:

– There is no God; the world and those who occupy it are the result of millions, if not billions, of years of evolution. BIBLICALLY FALSE!

– The is a God, and it is His fault that sin and suffering exist, because God created everything—both good and evil. BIBLICALLY FALSE!

– When you die, that’s it. There is no life of any kind after death. This is all there is to life, so eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die! BIBLICALLY FALSE!

– There is no death because your soul is immortal. When you die, you pass from life into eternal life—either in Heaven or in Hell! BIBLICALLY FALSE!

– There is no such thing as Hell. Hell is just something religion has invented in order to control people. BIBLICALLY FALSE!

– God’s Ten Commandments are just a human invention and doesn’t have any divine authority for anyone. BIBLICALLY FALSE!

In World War II, the Allies planned the greatest sea-land invasion in Europe’s history on June 6, 1944. The U.S. along with Britain planned a full front line assault against German occupied France in the battle of Normandy. The success of this invasion required a lot of deception. The Allies deceived Germany, so Germany could not put the full force of their might to repel the attack. If the Germans had only 24 to 48 hours in advance that they were to be attacked, it could have been disastrous. The Allies used several methods, knowing this end battle was the real goal.

First off, German agents operating in Britain were given false information. Secondly, U.S. and other countries against Germany used inflatable tanks and airplanes, German spy planes were allowed to take pictures of inflatable tanks at British ports thinking they were real. The photos confirmed German intelligence, or so the Germans thought.

All that said, the deception worked—Germany diverted their resources from the main battle to false battle—and the Normandy invasion was a success, and that caused a great victory against Germany in World War II.

There is a spiritual ‘battle’ all around us, and Satan is a master planner. He constantly feeds the world false information about himself and his plans. Many people, including Christians don’t believe he existence, while others see Satan as joke, a cartoon character, sitting on your shoulder whispering ‘bad’ things to them.

But, like the battle of Normandy, his deceptions about himself, make his assault on a lot of folks easier, because people don’t expect it. Some don’t even believe he exists!

HOWEVER, the Bible provides the ‘intelligence’ and the ‘war plan’ for the Christian to understand just how Satan operates, so his strategies and deception will not take them in.

Now, just like the war of Normandy was won—it was staging a false war at one place to win a war in another—with deception. HOWEVER, Satan uses the same ‘tactics’ to take his ‘enemy’ down—YOU!

Lucifer was God’s most beautiful and most intellect being He ever created—‘THE’ Arc angel. But, God gave him choices—just as God does us—and Satan’s desire was to take God’s throne.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” [ Isaiah 14:12-14 ].

Satan’s lies take different forms in each generation, but the overarching strategies have been essentially the same since the Garden of Eden. He uses three ‘overall’ varieties of deception: vanity, flattery, and defiance.

VANITY
There could hardly be a more powerful description of our culture today. We are living, in a world of trivia where “everyone utters emptiness to his neighbor.” It’s a world dominated by the next game, the most recent reality show, or the most shocking sound bite. We’re all talking about NOTHING important!.

The effect of all this is that ‘serious’ conversation feels really odd. When someone says, “What do you believe about God?” and everyone feels that this kind of talk is too ‘heavy’. Satan aims to keep one from ever thinking ‘seriously’ about the life here on earth and the life to come.

Satan is in the business of ‘blinding’ people’s minds so they “cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ” [ 2 Corinthians 4:4 ]. It is possible to go to church, hang out with your friends, and never think seriously about the meaning of life or what will come after it! Vanity is one of Satan’s primary strategies for accomplishing this.

FLATTERY
Flattery always becomes the spoken language in a culture where people give themselves to vanity. It says only what other people want to hear and hearing only what you want other people to say.

If you only hear what you want other people to say, then you end up not being able to see the light of the Gospel of Jesus. This desire for flattery runs deep. The prophet Isaiah describes God’s people as:

“Children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord, who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things… Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.’” [ Isaiah 30:9-11 ].

We just want to be affirmed and comfortable. However, Jesus said the work of the Holy Spirit begins with convincing of sin and righteousness and judgment. Sadly, there is not much of that going on in flattering ‘ministries’ that stroke one’s ego by saying ‘smooth’ things.

DEFIANCE
This brand of lying shows itself in defiance. The person who has bought into this clenches their ‘fist’ and says, “It’s my life. I am the captain of this ship. No one rules this life but me! I will find my own way. I will be my own lord and savior, my own master, my own guide.”

This is an act of insulting or showing contempt for God. (Defiance then turns into blasphemy where the person it’s putting themselves in the place of God—which goes back to the Garden of Eden when Satan said to Eve, “You shall be like God.”)

The previous were the general ‘categories’ of deceptions. HOWEVER, the PRIMARY ‘WAY’ Satan does this is to ‘attack’ the Bible—humanity’s source for ‘who’ God is, His ‘nature’, and his ‘manual’ about how to live here on earth and how to get to Heaven to live with God for eternity.

Because of this, Satan does everything in his power to keep you from the Word of God. I would say anything I could think of, anything I thought you would believe, anything that works, to get you to read other things.

– “You already know it, so don’t read it.”
He’s lying to you. You do not know it. I’ve studied the Bible all my life and in no way could I say I “know” it. I know a great deal about it, but there is so much more. For the typical church member to shun the Bible because “I’ve been there and done that” is laughable.

– “No one can understand it, so don’t read it.”
He’s lying. Even a child can understand a great deal of Scripture. Meanwhile, the Ph.D. will find plenty to challenge his thinking. Only a book from the Almighty could touch so many at every level of their existence.

– “It is boring. So don’t read it.”
He’s lying. The Bible is a lot of things, but boring is not one of them. We’re boring, and that’s the problem.

– “It is better left to the professionals. So, don’t read it.”
He’s lying, using a lie he once sold to the Catholic church during the Middle Ages. By keeping the Holy Scriptures in the Latin (and not in the language of the people) the church could give it whatever slant they chose. Some hardy individuals paid for the right for us to own Scriptures in our own tongue with their very lives. We must not take lightly the privilege we have to own a copy of the very Word of God in our own language.

– “You need Greek and Hebrews to know what it really means. So, don’t bother reading it.”
He’s lying. The English conveys very well the meanings of Scripture in their original languages. However, reading the Bible in its original forms is still thrilling, and we encourage people to study Hebrew and Greek if possible.

– “The English Bible was not translated correctly.”
If you doubt that, listen to preachers say, ‘The translators got this wrong. What it really says is….’ So, don’t read it.” The Devil is lying, and half the time those preachers are misrepresenting the truth too. Just read it.

– “It is contradictory. So don’t read it.”
He’s got a half-truth here, but he’s still lying. There are no contradictions in scripture regarding any doctrine or teaching of consequence. There are places where one writer says 100 people were killed and another writer said it was 1000. That sort of thing. Scholars often have explanations for this. [ To me, I trust those little ‘shades’ of differences (if they were ‘exact’, I would think they were ‘coordinated’ amongst the people telling the story). They are the very answer to the charge that the Church tampered with the Bible to make it say what they want. If so, they would have cleaned up those loose ends! ;^D ].

– “Experts disagree on what it means. So, don’t read it.”
He’s lying. The Christian church, no matter what denomination, agrees with 90 percent of the Scripture message. Or even more.

– “The Bible is outdated. Not for our modern times. So, don’t read it.”
He’s lying. It’s as contemporary as this morning’s paper. Or even more so. And as C. S. Lewis once asked, “What does today’s date have to do with anything?”

– “The Bible is just a bunch of rules. So, don’t read it.”
He’s lying once again. Scripture is anything but that. It contains the greatest stories, most inspiring teachings, and blessed insights imaginable.

– “You are so far beyond that. The Bible has nothing for you. So, don’t read it.”
He’s lying. And the best response to this is: “Well, I’ll see for myself,” as you open it up.

– “Men wrote it. So, forget about it being divine. Don’t waste your time reading it.”
Another half-truth that is a whole lie. True: “Holy men of old wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” [ 2 Peter 1:21 ]. God used men and women to write the Scripture; it did not drop to earth fully written.

– “Reading the Bible will turn you into a religious fanatic. And you don’t want people thinking you’re a nut. Do not risk that by reading the Bible.”
He’s lying. They say that, “a fanatic is someone who loves Jesus more than you do.” What reading the Bible will do is introduce you to the Savior, teach you about salvation, and nourish your soul. Anything that can do that is your friend and, instead of making you weird, it will make you whole (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Once again, Satan is lying.

– “No one with intelligence reads the Bible any more. Only religious fundamentalists and extremists. So, don’t read it.”
Again, he’s lying. Some of the smartest people on the planet–including scientists and professors and philosophers and my neighbor down the street–read and love the Holy Bible. And they are among the sanest people on the planet.

-“You’re too busy. You can read it some other time when you are feeling spiritual, when you have plenty of time, when you’re older. Just don’t read it now.”
He’s lying. You are not too busy; maybe too lazy. Or too worldly, too unbelieving, or too lost. To wait until you are “feeling spiritual”–whatever that means–is a fool’s errand, and you should not fall for that. To wait until you are older is another ploy he uses on the simple-minded. Many a person has gone out into eternity lost who had planned to take care of these matters down the road when they were elderly. The only problem is they didn’t live to become elderly. Don’t let it happen to you.

[ FYI: For more details on how to read and understand the Bible, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/ ].

So, Satan NEVER GIVES UP! If you read the Bible, he will then try to ‘COUNTERFEIT’ JESUS or get you to believe the ‘COUNTERFEIT’ RELIGIONS.

– Jesus is the unique Son of God and Satan is the son of destruction
“His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). The Greek work for “begotten” is “monotones,” which means “only” or “pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship.”

On the other hand, in a sense, Satan has his ‘son’, the man of sin. He is called “the son of destruction” or “son of perdition,” which is referring to the Antichrist, who will appear in the end times before Jesus’ return (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Though not a literal offspring of Satan, this man of sin is the counterfeit of Jesus.

[ FYI: God willing, next month’s post will be about Satan’s ‘final’ deception, the Antichrist ].

– The “Trinity”
The ‘biblical’ Trinity is made up of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Satan has his own unholy trinity—himself, the beast, and the false prophet.

However, the Devil, the beast, and the false prophet shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

– “Children”
God has His own ‘children’—those who have put their trust in Him (John 1:12). Satan, on the other hand, has his own brand of children—those that practice evil.

“The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one” [ Matthew 13:38 ].

– “Apostles”
Jesus chose twelve apostles to be do His will (Matthew 10:1-2). Again, Satan has his own ‘apostles’, false apostles, and deceitful workers (2 Corinthians 11:13).

– “Marks His Own”
God will demonstrate His ‘seal’ of ownership on His servants with a mark on their forehead (Revelation 7:3).

In the same manner, Satan will have a mark of ownership placed upon his followers: “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead” [ Revelation 13:16 ].

Satan, the great counterfeiter, has attempted to ‘IMITATE’ JESUS in many ways. However, if he can’t get you to ‘fall’ for these deceptions, he will try to get you to believe one the ‘FALSE’ RELIGIONS—even though Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” [ John 14:6 ]. I’m thinking that is kind of an ‘exclusive’ statement on how to ‘get’ to God/Heaven!

REINCARNATION
God told Adam that if he ate from the tree, he would “surely die” (Genesis 2: 17), but Satan promised Eve, “You surely shall not die.” Satan blatantly contradicted God with this lie. This lie in modern religion with a lie called “reincarnation.” In this life you are one being, but after death you return as another. The hope is that one moves upward in this cycle and becomes better and better with each new habitation. Reincarnation is based on the teaching of “Karma,” that everyone gets what he or she deserves. (Hinduism is the most extreme of this reincarnation/karma system.) Reincarnation and karma are cruel ‘hoaxes’ of the Devil.

Most of us don’t want to die, so Satan says, “You won’t die.” You are reincarnated according to karma.

ESOTERICISM
In the temptation, Satan encourages Eve to set aside God’s word for a substitute word from Satan. He promises that, “her eyes will be opened” (Genesis 3:5), and he promises her an ‘enlightened’ experience. According to Satan, he came to ‘rescue’ her. Satan claims that God had been ‘holding out’. Satan is promising a counterfeit religious experience. He wants humans to encounter him and think they are in touch with him as the real god. This is a belief in a transformation of consciousness that initiates us into true ‘enlightened’ spirituality.

In our era, the New Age is often referred to as “enlightenment.” This knowledge is gained by searching one’s soul. However, what it really is an encounter with a spiritual being sent by Satan. (One has this encounter either through transcendental meditation or hallucinogenic drugs.)

PANTHEISM
Another one of Satan’s lies is “you will be like God.” What a thought! (Because there is some truth here.) We are created in God’s image, so there is resemblance. However, most humans easily recognize that we are not God.

Satan extends the idea of divinity to everything that exists. “Humans are god. Nature is god. Why, everything is god.” This is the heart of pantheism, that “all is god,” and “god is all.” For a pantheist, final reality is spiritual, and matter is illusion. Pantheists deny the existence of the material world to escape. (Hinduism is also pantheistic.)

RELATIVISM
“You will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Satan trolled (Genesis 3:5). Satan promised an ‘experiential’ knowledge of good and evil. Humanity would now be able to choose between what is good and evil instead of a god imposing a code of right and wrong.

In our age, this lie takes the form of relativism: “What is true for you might not be true for me.” Morality like language is relative to a culture, and therefore no one has superior morality. Most Eastern religions believe in relativism. If it’s true that God is everything, it follows that God is also evil. (Hinduism teaches that good and evil are only illusions.)

With no objective standard for right and wrong, hideous crimes can be justified. “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” [ Judges 21:25 ].

HEDONISM
“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate” [ Genesis 3:6 ]. This is the subtle result of Satan’s lies. Eve is tempted and is attempting to sort out the temptation within herself without referring to God. When we ignore God’s in moral choices, our human inclination is to think and to feel, not obey. Satan deceives with pleasure as the highest good and human thought as reasonable, while targeting God’s Word as limiting, unreasonable, and/or false.

Some have sought to adjust hedonism by suggesting that we should maximize not individual happiness, but happiness for the greatest number. This too is dangerous. The problem is that 90 million Germans believed 6 million Jews limited their happiness—then there was the “Holocaust.”

MANY religions of this world, to this very day, turn on the lies that Satan began in the Garden. In addition to the humanistic and postmodern philosophies, New Age mysticism, naturalistic scientism, and outspoken atheism, there are specific ’cults’ and ‘sects’ of Christianity that try to ‘imitate’ and ‘distract’ for true biblical Christianity.

Again, Jesus declared many time that He was God in the flesh, and was the ‘ONLY’ WAY of salvation. So, He is either a liar or He is telling truth!

So, essentially He is saying, if a religious ’system—not matter how popular or attractive—denies His claims, it IS a ‘false’ belief system! If any teaching denies that Jesus is ‘fully’ God, and He is the ONLY ‘WAY’ to God and Heaven (John 14:6), that teaching is from Satan!

The ‘demonic’ spirit of false religion is Satan’s most prolific and powerful ‘weapon’ to distract, deceive, and destroy—all wrapped up in an alluring ‘package’ of “truth”!

Man-made religions are complex ’systems’ of dominion meant to ‘enslave’ people in deception. They are an example of man always attempting to create his own god that he can ‘control’—a ‘god’ that makes him feel ‘comfortable’—while ACTUALLY ‘wallowing’ in his sin, which he WILL BE ‘JUDGED’ for!

As part of Satan’s conspiracy to thwart God and overthrow His great plan for mankind, Satan has his own ministers! The Apostle Paul warned Christians about the great deception caused by Satan and his ‘ministers’: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” [ 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ].

[ FYI: For more details on false ‘teachings’ and false ‘teachers’, view these two previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” posts:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-misunderstood-v265/
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-discerning-v266/ ].

THE ‘WORLD’ IS UNDER SATAN’S CONTROL
Satan is ‘crafty’, and once one lets him into their lives, they start to hear subtle ‘whispers’ that appeal to their egos and feelings:

– If I’m not happy, then God must not love me.
– My past defines me. (God doesn’t want me if I’m not ‘pure’).
– You are worthless and you can never succeed.
– I am alone. (I’m the only one who struggles with…)
– I must be perfect to get to Heaven.
– I’ll be happy when ________ (Fill in the blank).
– God is really not good.
– I’m my own authority (I know what’s best for my life.)
– I need a boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife to ‘complete’ me.
– Everyone’s beliefs are true.
– It’s all about me.
– If you don’t put yourself first in life, you will be unhappy.
– If you’re unhappy, it’s someone else’s fault.
– The more stuff you have, the happier you will be.
– I’m not as bad as that other guy.
– You can never forgive those who have wronged you.
– I don’t give because I don’t have enough to give.
– The Bible isn’t relevant for today.
– Living a life of sin is more fun than living for God.
– There is nothing after this life—so what you do now makes no lasting difference.
– and many more!

In society—and even among some Christians—there is this false idea and misconception “whatever is most popular is probably the best way to do things.” This is DEAD WRONG. It seems that the positions of power are running our society today, and they are NOT doing a very good job of it with all the turmoil in the world. However, I’m going to suggest that it is Satan that is ‘behind’ most of all the turmoil (1 John 5:19).

If you stop and really examine what is going on, all the spheres of power in our society are controlled by enemies of God—Hollywood, the ‘press’, television ‘news’ media, universities and academia, major religious institutions, big banking and big corporations, and governments. This is why they promote a ‘secular’ and atheistic agenda, and at every ‘turn’ are promoting some form of degeneracy and wickedness.

Almost everything we are taught to believe by these ‘authorities’ in society (on issues of importance) is a lie, half-truth, and deception that is designed to enslave and destroy us. Almost everything that is ‘popular’ and what most people believe is wrong—or at least a ‘half truth’.

The phrase “god of this world” (or “god of this age”) indicates that Satan is the major influence on the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes, and views of the majority of people. His influence also encompasses the world’s philosophies, education, and commerce. The thoughts, ideas, speculations and false religions of the world are under his control and have sprung from his lies and deceptions.

Satan is also the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31). These titles and many more signify Satan’s capabilities. To say, for example, that Satan is the “prince of the power of the air” is to signify that in some way he rules over the world and the people in it.

This is not to say that he rules the world completely—God is still sovereign. BUT, it does mean that God, in His infinite wisdom, has ‘allowed’ Satan to operate in this world within the boundaries God has set for him. When the Bible says Satan has power over the world, we must remember that God has given him domain over unbelievers only. Believers are no longer under the rule of Satan (Colossians 1:13). Unbelievers, on the other hand, are caught “in the snare of the Devil” (2 Timothy 2:26), lie in the “power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), and are in bondage to Satan (Ephesians 2:2).

So, when the Bible says that Satan is the “god of this world,” it is not saying that he has ultimate authority. It is conveying the idea that Satan rules over the unbelieving world in a specific way. The unbeliever follows Satan’s agenda: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” [ 2 Corinthians 4:4 ]. Satan’s scheme includes promoting false philosophies in the world—philosophies that blind the unbeliever to the truth of the Gospel. Satan’s philosophies are the fortresses in which people are imprisoned, and they must be set free by Christ.

An example of one such false philosophy is the belief that man can earn God’s favor by a certain act or acts. In almost every false religion, meriting God’s favor or earning eternal life is a predominant theme. Earning salvation by works, however, is contrary to biblical revelation. Man cannot work to earn God’s favor; eternal life is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). That free gift is available through Jesus Christ and Him alone (John 3:16; 14:6).

You may ask why mankind does not simply receive the free gift of salvation (John 1:12). The answer is that Satan—the god of this world—has tempted mankind to follow his pride instead. Satan sets the agenda, the unbelieving world follows, and mankind continues to be deceived. It is no wonder that Scripture calls Satan “a liar” (John 8:44).

Every time Satan ‘speaks’, his lies are intended to mislead and deceive people—to deter the unbeliever and defeat the believer.

Now, we don’t know what we don’t know, and there are two ways of not knowing: being ignorant and being deceived. Deception allows Satan to ‘fly under the radar screen’ being unnoticed.

So, if I ‘tempted’ you, you WOULD know it. However, if I ‘deceived’ you, you WOULDN’T know it. (If you know you are being deceived, then you are not being deceived.)

The Bible says that our ‘original’ parents were deceived because Eve believed the lie that God did not want what was best for her, but didn’t know it was a lie. We then see (from Genesis 3) that deception was the primary strategy of Satan from the beginning. Perhaps some of us ‘look down’ on Eve for being deceived by the serpent in the Garden, but each time we sin we are deceived by the same lie!

Deception is believing a lie. It’s being ‘blind sided’ with false information. It is a major ‘weapon’ of Satan.

[ FYI: For more details about being spiritually ’blind’, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/are-you-blind-v252/ ].

Satan is a ‘MASTER’ deceiver (He deceived one-third of the angels to follow him!). He deceived Eve in the perfect environment. He deceived Judas to betray the Son of God.

The believer is most frequently deceived by thinking of themselves in terms of their old nature (Romans 8:5-14) rather than their new nature and failing to realize who they are ‘in’ Christ.

[ FYI: For more detail about one’s ‘identity’ in Christ, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/new-identity-v220/ ].

Just because you read and study the Bible, it doesn’t mean you are ‘saved’! According to Barna Research, at least 50% of the people sitting in the ‘pews’ of a Christian church do not believe in the ‘basic’ tenets of the faith—the ‘doctrines’.

Deception runs deep in the Church. Deception takes just a small lie and mixes it with the truth. (Kind of like putting just a drop of cyanide or strychnine in a glass of water—it’s ‘deadly’!). The same goes for ‘sound’ biblically doctrine—it’s got to be ‘pure’.

Satan likes to convince people that they have real “faith” (vocabulary) in God. Yet when you ask them what that means, their definition is a far cry from the biblical meaning of faith (dictionary). They say things like, “Oh ya—I have faith in God—I believe in Him.” You believe in Him? That’s all? Well, isn’t that special! You know who else believes in God? The demons!… and they shudder! (James 2:19)

Deception is an amazing ‘tool’. Sometimes Satan convinces people they’re right with God when they really are not!

Our human ‘HEART’ is extremely and inherently sinful, and because of this, we ‘DECEIVE’ OURSELVES! The Bible tells of some specific ways we do this:

– We deceive ourselves when we hear the Word and don’t do it. We fail to practice what we preach. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” [ James 1:22 ].

– We deceive ourselves when, because of our pride, we say we have no sin. We are not sinless saints. We are saints who sin and the church is a hospital for sinners. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” [ 1 John 1:8-10 ], and “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” [ James 4:6 ].

– We deceive ourselves when we think we are something that we are not. “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” [ Romans 12:3 ], and “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself” [ Galatians 6:3 ].

The Apostle Paul also said we are what we are by the grace of God: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” [ 1 Corinthians 15:10 ].

– We deceive ourselves when we mistake the world’s wisdom for God’s wisdom. “Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a ‘fool’ so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’” [ 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 ].

The height of arrogance is to think that we know better than the “all-wise God.” Paul said, “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools” [ Romans 1:22 ]. We cannot match wits with the ‘god’ of this world, let alone the God of this universe. Whenever we think we can out smart Satan we are candidates for being led astray by his crafty deceitfulness. It’s important that we not rely on our own understanding but rather acknowledge God in all our ways (Proverbs 3:5-6).

– We deceive ourselves when we think we are religious but do not bridle our tongue. “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless” [ James 1:26 ].

– We deceive ourselves when we think we will not reap what we sow. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” [ Galatians 6:7 ].

– We deceive ourselves when we think that the unrighteous will inherit the kingdom of God. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God”
[ 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ].

– We deceive ourselves when we thing that we can continually associate with bad company and not be corrupted. “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” [ 1 Corinthians 15:33 ].

Because God made us ‘spiritual’ beings, ‘bad’ spiritualism always leads one away from the God of the Bible. If Satan can deceive us by spiritualistic practices, we will become “[enemies] of righteousness” and “pervert the ways of the Lord.” (Acts 13:8-10).

Today, there are many forms of spiritualism. Satan has many falsehoods, some not appearing as dangerous as séances. For example, anything that promotes witches, wizards, ghosts, and goblins deals with ‘spiritualism’. These are often depicted in television and movie comedies, but they are nonetheless dangerous. Many forms of entertainment, such as music, video gaming, Halloween, astrology charts, tarot cards, palm reading, and even prayers and baptisms for the dead, are used by Satan to lure us into his world of darkness (1 Samuel 28:7).

Satan used three principle ‘deceptions’ against the Christian: the ‘world’ (false prophets and teachers), the ‘flesh’ (self-deception), and ‘himself’ (demonic spirits). “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” [ Ephesians 2:1-3 ].

Satan is the arch-deceiver of the universe. He has many methods of gaining control of people’s minds, and most of them are extremely subtle. Satan knows that if we recognize that he is behind the deceptions and temptations and that if we claim the powers of God to overcome, he will be helpless to deceive us. The Bible serves to reveal some of his more subtle methods, as well as those that are obvious.

– “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry” [ 1 Samuel 15:23 ].

– “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” [ James 3:14-16 ].

– “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” [ Ephesians 5:1-6 ].

The Apostle Paul tells us that, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” [ Ephesians 6:12 ], and “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” [ 1 Timothy 4:1 ].

The Bible cautions us to test the spirits in order to unmask the antichrists (1 John 2:18; 4:16). Satan’s forces are at work attempting to pollute our minds with lies to keep us from walking in the truth.

[ For more details about being ‘blinded’ by Satan, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/are-you-blind-v252/ ].

[ FYI: For more details about ‘testing everything’, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-discerning-v266/ ].

The Bible is replete with warnings:

– “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we[a] have worked for, but may win a full reward” [ 2 John 7-8 ].

– “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” [ 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 ].

– “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive” [ Romans 16:17-18 ].

– “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” [ Acts 20:29-30 ].

– “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray” [ Mathew 24:10-11 ].

– “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” [ 2 Peter 2:1-3 ].

– “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” [ Galatians 1:6-9 ].

– “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” [ 2 Corinthians 11:14 ].

[ FYI: For more details about false teachings and false teachers, view last month’s “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-discerning-v266/ ].

THE BELIEVER’S ‘DEFENSE’
Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. Just a few hours later, Clark Airfield in the Philippines was also attacked and the entire air wing dedicated to defending the Philippines and American interests in Asia was destroyed. Then, just a few days after the Pearl Harbor attack, the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk outside of the Singapore harbor on December 10th.

How could such a strong military power such as the United States and Great Britain be destroyed so thoroughly and so quickly? Well, if you have ever watched the film “Pearl Harbor” you can get a picture of why this happened. Sailors and military personnel in Hawaii prior to the Japanese invasion were living as if there was no real enemy. They were NOT ‘EXPECTING’ to be attacked. The Japanese were engaged in a MASSIVE ‘DECEPTION’, trying to convince the US that Japan was seeking peace, all the while planning war. Japan was an enemy planning to destroy the U.S. and we didn’t realize it.

A similar situation exists for many believers today. They do not realize that there is a spiritual ‘battle’ going on in their lives. It’s ‘December 7th’, but they are living as if it were ‘December 6th’!

‘WARFARE’ terminology is frequently used to describe the SPIRITUAL BATTLE that believers face. “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” [ 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ].

A Christian should learn from what happened to the U.S. in Pearl Harbor—they should have a ‘warrior’ attitude. One that is always ‘on guard’, NOT like the unsuspecting soldier who falls into the ‘trap’ of the enemy!

It is like when you play the game “Stratego.” The ‘key’ to victory is DON’T GET ‘CAPTURED’! Similarly, for the believer, there are consequences of ‘capture’—they are ‘taken away’ to a place not of their choosing. The Apostle Paul pointed out that there are powerful ‘forces’ that will take the believer away from God’s message with ‘traps’ like philosophy and empty deceit (worldly wisdom that rejects God) and human traditions (earthly focus) for example.

Just as Satan successfully tempted Adam and Eve to sin, he still tempts each believer today. His lies don’t change. Satan still tells them, “You can’t trust God. He isn’t concerned about your happiness. There is no danger in disobeying His laws. He knows that you can be equal to Him. You know what is best for you.”

Man cannot answer the Devil’s lie with an appeal to nature or human experience. These can present mixed messages, sometimes giving the impression that God is good, and at other times implying that He is not.

The natural world is merciless, offering horrible spectacles of terror and suffering. Catastrophes such as storms, floods, and earthquakes claim thousands of innocent lives, and scores of terrible diseases spread death and despair. The natural man is easily convinced that any evidences of God’s love, goodness, and mercy are only a cruel joke in light of the real world—the world ruled by a ‘dog-eat-dog’ attitude.

Now, God understood the effects of our fears on our darkened minds. He knew that we were not capable of resisting Satan’s lies—that our personal experiences of life in a fallen world would cause us to have insurmountable doubts about His goodness and love. Only a supreme act of grace could overcome the deep impression made by natural evil and satanic lies. This is one of the reasons God became a man, in the person of Jesus Christ, the holy light of God’s love shone brilliantly in the midst of our world’s darkness, dispelling Satan’s power to deceive us (John 1:9-10; Hebrews 2:14-15).

One of the popular depictions of the Devil is a comical cartoon creature with horns, tail, and pitchfork, ludicrously dressed in long red underwear. HOWEVER, the Bible says that he is an adversary, who is clever, crafty, deceptive, and dangerous! (1 Peter 5:8).

Satan knows our weakness and exploits them to great advantage against us. The Bible does not speak so much about the power of Satan as of his extreme subtlety, trickery and deceptiveness, but how he uses clever wiles, deceptive devices, wily stratagems, and deceitful designs against people, especially against God’s ‘children’—since it is his desire to ‘destroy’ them.

In the old hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Martin Luther alerts us to be on guard:

“For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.”

That is definitely true, HOWEVER, one must read on to the third stanza:

“And though this world, with Devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.”

The Christian must learn that Satan is a DEFEATED ‘FOE’! (Revelation 12:11; Colossians 2:12). “For He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” [ 1 John 4:4 ]. The Holy Spirit WILL help the believer discern when Satan tries to deceive.

In C. S. Lewis’ classic “The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe,” Edmund makes his way through the wardrobe into “Narnia,” where he meets the White Witch. Unaware of the evil of the White Witch, Edmund climbs up into her sleigh. She asks Edmund what he would like. His request is for some “Turkish Delight.” Later, Edmund would forsake his friends and seek out the Witch for more of the Turkish Delight. The White Witch did not force Edmund to eat the Turkish Delight or to leave his friends. Edmund did so out of his own desires ‘within’ himself.

Likewise Satan will never ‘make’ you do anything, and he can’t ‘force’ you to sin. Rather he will put things in front of you that you would enjoy (like ‘Turkish Delight’). “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” [ James 1:14-15 ].

If the believer is going to overcome the enemy, then they must learn to recognize Satan’s deceptions.

[ For more details about how to be ‘discerning’, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-discerning-v266/ ].

So, how should the believer respond to an ‘attack’ from the Devil? Well, the same way Jesus did in the wilderness: “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone’” [ Luke 4:4 ].

Jesus didn’t try to resist Satan’s attack and just say, “No!” Jesus was not trying to use His will power or a superhuman determination to overcome the enemy. Jesus’ IMMEDIATELY responded with the ‘WORD’ OF GOD—the Bible.

God has given you an invincible ‘weapon’ that Satan CANNOT ‘OVERCOME’. But, you need to know what it says and how to USE IT ‘PROPERLY’.

[ FYI: For more details on how to study the Bible, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/ ].

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the Devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
[ Ephesians 6:10-20 ]

The following is a brief explanation of each piece of the ‘armor’:

– The Belt of Truth:
Since Satan depends on deceit to maintain his power, our first line of defense is to be truthful. We must never distort or misrepresent the truth, regardless of any advantage we might gain by doing so.

– The Breastplate of Righteousness:
Any sin in our life leaves us open to Satan’s attack. Even though we are given the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), we must still continually put on the protection of holy living.

– The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace:
With our feet firmly planted on the truth that we are at peace with God and that He is on our side, we can stand firmly against Satan’s attacks.

– The Shield of Faith:
In order to quench the “fiery darts” of Satan’s temptations, we must trust and believe what God has said about every area of our life.

– The Helmet of Salvation:
This is the confidence that there is coming in the future a great victory celebration. It’s also referred to as the “hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8). This helmet protects us against Satan’s two-edged sword of discouragement and doubt.

– The Sword of the Spirit:
Since the Word of God is the basis of our faith, we need to learn how to wield it with authority. Scripture is our best offensive weapon against the Devil (Matthew 4:1-11).

After he described the armor, Paul said that we are also to be in constant prayer. Prayer expresses our dependence on God. We can fight against Satan only “in the [strength of the] Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). In the power of Jesus, with the armor of the Spirit, the believer WILL ALWAYS be the victors in their ‘skirmishes’ with Satan.

[ FYI: For more details about the “Armor of God,” view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/ready-for-battle-v235/ ].

If we’re surrendered to God, Satan has no ‘hold’ on us because our lives will be shielded by the ‘armor’ of God.

One of the reasons why Jesus came to earth was to ‘destroy’ the Devil: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil” [ Hebrews 2:14 ].

The Apostle John said that, “The one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one does not touch him” [ 1 John 5:18 ].

A BELIEVER’S ‘INOCULATION’
So, can one be ‘inoculated’ against deceptions? Well, yes, but one needs to:

God’s design is that a Christian’s spirit be in submission to the Holy Spirit’s authority. (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

(John 15:1-8; Romans 1:9; Romans 8:4; Ezekiel 36:27; and Galatians 3:3).

The mind can choose to either submit to the spirit that is communicating what the Holy Spirit desires (Romans 1:9, 8:14; Ezekiel 36:27; and Galatians 3:3), or it can chose to submit to the flesh and its desires (Romans 7:23).

Satan, the Accuser, has no authority over anything in our lives at all! He is defeated and cast down!

BUT, Satan is permitted to spread his lies for now, and he is doing his best to deceive mankind into accepting his hierarchy, which completely turns God’s design on its head.

According to Satan, he is the ultimate authority with the world under his sway (1 John 5:19).

The mind, thus influenced turns the soul to carnality and together they work to suppress the spirit.

The spirit rebels against God the Holy Spirit and rejects God the Father and His authority. A person so deceived is influenced by his Creator only a little or not at all.

However, free will does not mean that mankind can do ‘anything’ they please. Their choices are limited to what is in keeping with their ‘nature’. For example, a man may choose to walk across a bridge or not to walk across it; what he may not choose is to fly over the bridge—his nature prevents him from flying. In a similar way, a man cannot choose to make himself righteous—his (sin) nature prevents him from canceling his guilt (Romans 3:23). So, free will is ‘limited’ by humanity’s nature.

HOWEVER, this limitation does not mitigate their accountability. The Bible is clear that people not only have the ability to choose, but they also have the responsibility to choose wisely. In the Old Testament, God chose a nation (Israel), but individuals within that nation still bore an obligation to choose obedience to God. Individuals that were ‘outside’ of Israel (like Ruth and Rahab), were able to choose to believe and follow God as well.

God then often allows spiritual deception as a form of punishment for willful sin, and in order to cultivate an awareness in a person’s life of how badly they need the Truth, Jesus (John 14:6).

“‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house” [ Mark 3:23-27 ].

The Devil is ‘bad’ and he has a fair amount of ‘power’. This is called the, “strong man.” Jesus does not deny that the Devil has power enough to dominate those who have come under his influence. But, since demons are far from being all-powerful, Jesus then gives insight into how He deals with the demonic. In short, He ‘binds’ them. You cannot plunder a strong man’s house unless you first tie him up. So, while Jesus does refer to the Devil as the strong man, it is clear that He is the MUCH stronger ‘Man’ (and the believer has ‘access’ to and ‘protection’ by that Man!)

Jesus claims authority over the demonic, and they do as He commands. Far from ignoring them, He binds them and “plunders” their homes. One needs to remember that in one’s struggle for holiness, there will be opposition—but one is NOT helpless! In Jesus’ authority, they need to stand firm against every tactic of Satan. When the demonic ‘whispers’ corrupt inspiration, one, like Jesus, needs to stand in the authority as a believer, and ‘rebuke’ the voice of temptation—casting it away in Jesus’ name.

The same passage also speaks of a great ‘apostasy’ that will take place before the man of lawlessness is revealed. Similar apostasies are predicted elsewhere: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons (1 Timothy 4:1). Of course, people are complicit in the deception, for they reject the truth and prefer lies: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” [ 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ].

Jesus spoke about a time to come when the deception will be especially great when false messiahs and false prophets will appear. Even the people of God could be deceived if it were not for God’s providential protection: “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:5-6; and Luke 21:8).

All of these deceptions are ‘instigated’ by the Devil. However, there will also be a deception as God’s punishment on people who refuse to believe the truth. “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). Since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, “God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” [ Romans 1:28 ].

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen” [ Romans 1:18-25 ].

[ Note: Pastor John MacArthur recently preached a sermon concerning America’s moral ‘free fall’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqJjF5aemj0 ].

Much the same thing happened to Pharaoh after he refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt, and God ‘hardened’ his heart. It was not as though Pharaoh would have been an obedient follower of the Lord if God had not hardened his heart. Pharaoh had ALREADY ‘set’ his heart against the Lord, and God simply ‘confirmed’ for all time Pharaoh’s decision (Exodus 8:15, 8:32, 9:34, 10:1).

The deception spoken of in the Gospels has to do with false prophets and/or messiahs who appear and seem to be authenticated by miracles. Taking the futurist position, we see the great deception spoken of by the Apostle Paul (in 2 Thessalonians 2), as a future event associated with the coming of the Antichrist after the rapture of the church. “Those who are perishing” will willingly embrace the imitation and follow the beast of the end times; they will perish “because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:10 ].

[ For more details about being ‘discerning’, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-discerning-v266/ ].

[ For more details about the “Armor of God,” view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/ready-for-battle-v235/ ].

The Apostle John also gives the believer encouraging reminder:

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood” [ 1 John 4:4-6 ].

Scripture plainly declares that there is an evil being in the world with many names reflecting his sinister nature. “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” [ Revelation 12:9 ].

Jesus said that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” [ John 8:44 ]. Satan is “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10).

Originally God gave over the authority to Adam and Eve—human beings with flesh and blood. He instructed Adam to be “fruitful and multiply, to subdue the earth and rule over it” (Genesis 1:28). However, Satan gained earthly power by deceiving Adam and Eve into acting on his behalf. Since then, human beings have been deceived and “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one [Satan]” (1 John 5:19). This produced an inheritance of continual rebellion in the human race.

Satan’s deceptive ways have not changed since then. “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” [ 2 Corinthians 11:14 ], and “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). His evil influence will continue until God removes him from the earth. [ Which will happen! (Revelation 12:9) ].

In the meantime, the believer must always be ON THE ‘ALERT’. Remember, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” [ Ephesians 6:12 ], “You (the believer) are from God have overcome them (Satan and his evil angels), because “greater is He (the Holy Spirit) who is in you than he (Satan) who is in the world” [1 John 4:40 ], and “Submit therefore to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you” [ James 4:7 ].

For the believer to resist the Devil, they must ‘fear not’, ‘know the truth’, and ‘have faith’.

Whenever Satan works against a believer, he must first secure some ‘ground’ in them. So, that’s why the Apostle Paul exhorted the believer to “give no opportunity to the Devil.” Without a ‘foothold’, Satan cannot operate (just the reason why Roman soldiers had ‘stakes’ attached to the bottom of their shoes—to create a substantial ‘foothold’).

The second kind of resistance is to know the truth—what the Scriptures say. The ‘power’ of Satan is in his deception. If he cannot deceive, he loses his power. Hence, when one is surrounded with the perils, they will not be able to overcome if they don’t take these ‘attacks’ seriously. To deal with Satan, it takes more than just opposing him, since it IS DIFFICULT to fight against his falsehoods. But, then you recognize his tactics, you can then resist, and he WILL ‘flee’ from you!

If I were the Devil (hopefully, I’m not ‘that’ evil!), I would instruct all my ‘minions’ about your ‘bouts’ with doubt, and convince you that the Bible is a ‘joke’.

– I would take your joy away by ‘loading’ you with so much anxiety, fear, dread and trepidation that you can’t sleep.

– I would take the ‘spring’ from your step, the sleep from your night, and the love from your relationships, and dump a ‘truck load’ of guilt upon you.

– I would remind you of the time you ’stumbled’ last week, keeping a ‘scrapbook’ of sin continuously circulating through your mind—leaving a shadow of doubt that the believer is even saved.

– I would ‘load you up’ with tasks to complete—keeping you busy with even ‘good’ things—to become exhausted, so you don’t have any time to read the Bible. [ “B.U.S.Y.” = “Being Under Satans Yoke” ]

– I would get you to ‘measure’ your self-worth according to the number of ‘friends’ you have on Social Media, creating the desire of never felling content.

– I would ‘lurk’ in the shadows of the unseen (Ephesian 6:12), and try to ‘split’ your marriage, your families and your friendships. [ Note: Satan is the great ‘divider’. He took one-third of the angels with him when he was cast out of Heaven. He instigated division in the first family pitting Cain against Abel, and will use the same ‘tactics’ he used then on you! ]

– I would persuade the believer to ‘worship’ anything or anyone other than God—career, retirement account, boat, second house, girlfriend, boyfriend, kids, spouse, OR preferably me (Satan). [ You see, when one worships something, they ‘depend’ upon that thing or person for their ‘identity’. ]

Now, are these some of the things that you have experienced? Well, some of them may have been the Devil’s ‘doing’.

Fear is another thing that Satan uses to try to control people. Fear keeps one from going forward, so he wants you ‘afraid’ all the time!

In addition to that, one can load their ‘pistol’ with the Word of God and keep their finger on the ‘trigger’! In the wilderness, Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation by quoting Scripture—and you can do that, too! God’s Word is an indispensable ‘weapon’ in your ongoing warfare with the Devil.

According to the Apostle Paul, you ARE greater than the Devil who is in the world! “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” [1 John 4:4 ].

It’s important to remember that this weaponry is ‘defensive’ in nature. Believers ARE NOT to take the battle ‘to’ Satan—the battle belongs to Jesus and not the believer (1 Samuel 17:47; 2 Chronicles 20:15). But they are called to defend themselves, we are to take up this spiritual ‘armor’ and withstand or stand firm.

“Armor” in the Greek, is also about always being ready for a sneak attack, since the “wiles” of Satan are constant. The believer can only resist if they are “strong in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10).

Lying is Satan’s primary weapon against God’s children. He uses the tactic of deceit to separate people from God. Some of his more common lies are “there is no God,” “God doesn’t care about you,” “the Bible cannot be trusted,” and “your good works will get you into Heaven.” The Apostle Paul tells us that Satan “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), so that what he says and does sounds good and seems reasonable—but it is nothing more than a false appearance.

Many of Satan’s lies tend to perpetuate themselves. This is what happened when Eve persuaded Adam to also believe in his lie. Today, Satan still uses foolish people to spread his lies for him, combined with the teaching of false religions and cults. One once said, “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.”

Even though Satan was ‘thrown out’ of Heaven, he STILL desires worship more than anything else, and he knows that if he can deceive God’s people and distract God’s people he can ‘steal’ the worship away from God.

If Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus in the wilderness, to attempt to tempt Him (Matthew 4:1-6), would he not also misuse Scripture in an effort to deceive God’s people?

One of his favorite ways to mislead the people of God is by twisting Scripture and teaching false doctrines. This is why we need to be like the Bereans—searching the Scriptures daily! (Acts 17:11)

Not only does the believer need to test all things against Scripture, they must also have a love for truth. “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” [ 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 ].

Satan is also ‘angry’ with the remnant of people who do God’s will. (Revelation 12: 12,17), and is roaming the earth like a roaring lion ready to attack! (1 Peter 5:8)

Satan knows that if he comes out looking like the ‘boogie man’, no one would fall for his lies. Instead, he appears as an “angel of light” and his angels appear as “ministers of righteousness”! SO, the believer MUST be alert, ready for whatever comes their way in order not to be deceived! “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles for Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” [ 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 ].

HOWEVER, the believer CAN ‘OVERCOME’ the Devil! “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” [ Revelation 12:11 ].

Isn’t it amazing that people will stand in roaring ovations for the illusionists, escape artists, and magicians. Much of it, in the form of entertainment, tricks the mind, causing us to think we are seeing something real when truthfully it is a deception—which is similar to what the Devil does.

One of the reasons illusionists are able to cause us to go “Wow,” is that they are distracting us by ‘guiding’ our gaze to the right while they are really doing something on the left. The thing is, Satan does the same thing. He will ‘tell’ you something to get your attention on it while he is doing something in the ‘background’, which is what is ‘really’ happening, and will possibly ‘destroy’ you in the future. However, when you realize he did destroy your future, he will then ‘blame’ you for it and make you feel bad about doing it (or if you are a believer, will say that you can’t possibly be a Christian since you just did this ‘horrendous’ thing!). Satan will only tell you about the ‘good’ part, and never the ‘bad’ consequences! [ Kind of like the ‘high’ one gets the first time they try ‘hard’ drugs, but don’t realize the ‘hell’ they will be going through in the future when they are ‘hooked’ ].

We must have discerning spirits—to determine right from wrong—and God will give the believer the ‘power’ to know truth if we submit wholly to Him.

[ FYI: For more details on how to be more ‘discerning’, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-discerning-v266/ ]

In the Bible, James tells us that “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” [ James 1:14-15 ]. Now, this doesn’t mean that one will drop dead ‘physically’, but IT DOES mean that there will an illegitimate ‘separation’ from God, so it’s Satan’s strategy to deceive as much as he can and ‘trap’ people. So, just like a ‘physical’ trap, when you find it you stay away from it, you DON’T keep walking by it to see how ‘close’ you can get to it!

The Scriptures tell us that Satan ‘masquerades’ as an angel of light. Even when Satan appears to be on the side of good, he is only using it as a ‘mask’ to deceive us. His real intentions are ALWAYS evil! “Therefore it is no great thing if [Satan’s] ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness” [ 2 Corinthians 11:15a ].

ALSO, the believer should be encouraged that the Devil is, in the end, a DEFEATED ‘FOE’! So, RESIST the Devil and he will ‘FLEE’ from you! (James 4:7)

[ Pilgrim’s Progress: Journey To Heaven – “Christian Battles With Apollyon” ]

For me, one of the ‘BIGGEST’ deceptions Satan is using these days is that, “you have a lot of time to believe in Jesus and you don’t have to ‘rush’—so, enjoy life!”

Based on this, there is VERY LITTLE TIME before Jesus returns to ‘banish’ Satan into the “Lake of Fire,” and to ‘JUDGE’ the world!

There is an intriguing painting that was once displayed at the Louvre art museum in France called “Checkmate.” It was painted by Friedrich Moritz August Retzsch. (It is now said to be in private hands after being sold at Christie’s in 1999.)

This painting depicts two chess players, one is Satan whom appears arrogantly confident, and the other player is a man who looks forlorn. If Satan wins, he gets the man’s soul.

According to legend, a chess champion visited the museum once, and after studying the painting, noted that even though the Devil’s facial expression depicts that he is about to win, he was, in fact, not winning! The man, who thought he was losing, was winning, because according to the pieces left on the chessboard, his king had one more move left, which would make him the winner of the game!

He called the curator and they determined that the title didn’t fit the scene because the forlorn-looking player actually has the ability to defeat his opponent, though he obviously doesn’t realize it. The painting is a lie. His king can still make another move!

Satan is STILL deceiving people into thinking that he has ‘won’! DON’T BE ‘DECEIVED’!!! You have one ‘MOVE’ left, and it’s not an ‘illusion’!

REPENT and BELIEVE in Jesus NOW and you will get help to ‘deal’ with Satan, and be on your ‘way’ to Heaven!

[ Excerpts by: Bernie Shine; Dr. Paul Ekman; Laura Zimmerman; Paul M. Clikeman; Maurice Schweitzer; Jeremy Yip; Daniel Currier; Heather Roff; Colin Smith; Billy Graham; Sam Bierig; Above Inspiration; Joe Crews; Carey Nieuwhof; Jerome Huebner; John Ankerberg; Ronnie Miller; DeWayne Wright; Don Stewart; Andy Clipperton; Glasswolf Guerrilla; Betsy Mayer; Gary Petty; Gregory H. Harris; Richard Ames; Melissa Ringstaff; GotQuestions; Ken Harrison; Roderick C. Meredith; Jeff Hughes; Paul Barreca; Darell Stetler; Stephen E. Trail; D. Greg Ebie; Steven J. Lawson; Dave Hunt; Hope on Demand; Rob Trahan; Tony Anthony ]

RELATED POSTS:

“Being ‘Discerning’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-discerning-v266/

“Being ‘Misunderstood’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-misunderstood-v265/

“Gaining A Deep ‘Understanding’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/

“‘Kingdoms’ Past, Present, and Future”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/kingdoms-past-present-and-future-v262/

“Got Your ‘Attention’ Yet?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/got-your-attention-yet-v255/

“Are You ‘Blind’?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/are-you-blind-v252/

“Ready For ‘Battle’?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/ready-for-battle-v235/

“New ‘Identity’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/new-identity-v220/

‘PRAYER’ OF REPENTANCE
In the Bible, there is a parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the Temple. He notes that the tax collector didn’t even dare to lift his eyes toward Heaven as he prayed. Instead he “beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner’”—and Jesus said that the tax collector “went home justified,” he had been “born again” and ‘reconciled’ by God. (Luke 18:9-14).

If you are ‘sensing’ something like that right now, let me strongly encourage you to HUMBLE YOURSELF, CRY OUT to God, and PLEAD for Him to mercifully ‘SAVE’ YOU! None of us have a ‘claim’ on our salvation, nor do we have any ‘works’ that would cause us to deserve it or earn it—it is purely a gift of Divine grace—and all any of us can do is ask. So, CONFESS YOUR SINS and acknowledge to God that you have no hope for Heaven apart from what He provides through Jesus.

There is no ‘formula’ or certain words for this. So just talk to God, in your own words—He knows your ‘heart’. If you are genuinely sincere, and God does respond to your plea, one will usually have a sense of joy and peace.

Jesus said, “He that comes to Me, I will not cast out” [ John 6:37 ].

[ FYI: This is a great sermon on the “Call to Repentance” by John MacArthur from his book “The Gospel According to Jesus”: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-22/the-call-to-repentance
(Transcript: http://www.spiritedesign.com/TheCallToRepentance-JohnMacArthur(Jul-27-2019).pdf) ].

[ NOTE: If you have ‘tasted the kindness of the Lord’, please e-mail me—I would love to CELEBRATE with you, and help you get started on your ‘journey’ with Jesus! ].

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RESOURCES

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“The Secret History of Magic: The True Story of the Deceptive Art”
By: Peter Lamont and Jim Steinmeyer

Pull back the curtain on the real history of magic – and discover why magic really matters

If you read a standard history of magic, you learn that it begins in ancient Egypt, with the resurrection of a goose in front of the Pharaoh. You discover how magicians were tortured and killed during the age of witchcraft. You are told how conjuring tricks were used to quell rebellious colonial natives. The history of magic is full of such stories, which turn out not to be true. Behind the smoke and mirrors, however, lies the real story of magic.

It is a history of people from humble roots, who made and lost fortunes, and who deceived kings and queens. In order to survive, they concealed many secrets, yet they revealed some and they stole others. They engaged in deception, exposure, and betrayal, in a quest to make the impossible happen. They managed to survive in a world in which a series of technological wonders appeared, which previous generations would have considered magical. Even today, when we now take the most sophisticated technology for granted, we can still be astonished by tricks that were performed hundreds of years ago.

The Secret History of Magic reveals how this was done. It is about why magic matters in a world that no longer seems to have a place for it, but which desperately needs a sense of wonder.

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“The Theory and Practice of Magic Deception”
By: Mr. Al Schneider

This book is about the most in depth, powerful information on deception that is available today. Then, it puts that information into practice with two world-class magic effects. The theory goes into detail on what makes magic, magic. Every aspect is addressed. It includes, how you appear, how your voice sounds, and information about subtle hand motions that affect what your audience thinks. It discusses what goes on in your mind that affects what happens in the minds of others. This is the theory of magic deception. The second part of the book is dedicated to the practice of magic deception. First, a time-tested method to cause a coin to disappear is presented. This is an extensive lesson with many pictures and many details of the very subtle motions involved. Then, an effect is presented that brings the theory of the first part of the book to life and utilizes the student’s new ability to cause a coin to disappear. The book ends off with an effect called Zen Matrix. This new routine enhances the half-century-old Matrix routine that has become so popular in magic. Zen Matrix utilizes the theory presented in the first part of the book to magnify the power of the Classic Matrix routine. This book is an excellent beginning for those new to magic. It starts from square zero and accelerates the newbie into master class. The coin vanish taught requires little dexterity. The trick using that move is very basic requiring moderate skill. Zen Matrix requires patience to master. That is expected with an effect as powerful as this. Its mastery may well be worth it for when performed for any group of magicians, the reward will be recognition of your capability as a master magician. Experienced magicians will recognize the theories of Al Schneider but will find that knowledge to be a starting point in this book. This book takes new information Al discovered about how the mind works that has not been incorporated into the material over the last fifteen years. In addition, the experienced magician will find Zen Matrix to be a valuable addition to the Classic Matrix concept. This is not a standard book on magic.

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“Practise to Deceive: Learning Curves of Military Deception Planners”
By: Barton Whaley

Written by the undisputed dean of U.S. denial and deception experts, Practise to Deceive is the most in-depth look at deception as a military strategy. Barton Whaley knew the history of denial and deception across time, disciplines, and culture. He was the foremost authority on the intricacies of denial and deception strategy and tactics. For Whaley, deception was a mind-game, requiring imagination, deep critical thought, a profound understanding of the enemy as well as one’s self (a variation of Sun Tzu), and patience and fortitude.

This book presents 88 vividly descriptive case studies to serve as a handbook for intelligence and military professionals. In Whaley’s analysis, variations in guilefulness between opposing individuals or groups can be crucial in deciding who achieves victory in combat.

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“The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security”
By: Kevin D. Mitnick and William L. Simon

The world’s most infamous hacker offers an insider’s view of the low-tech threats to high-tech security
Kevin Mitnick’s exploits as a cyber-desperado and fugitive form one of the most exhaustive FBI manhunts in history and have spawned dozens of articles, books, films, and documentaries. Since his release from federal prison, in 1998, Mitnick has turned his life around and established himself as one of the most sought-after computer security experts worldwide. Now, in The Art of Deception, the world’s most notorious hacker gives new meaning to the old adage, “It takes a thief to catch a thief.”
Focusing on the human factors involved with information security, Mitnick explains why all the firewalls and encryption protocols in the world will never be enough to stop a savvy grifter intent on rifling a corporate database or an irate employee determined to crash a system. With the help of many fascinating true stories of successful attacks on business and government, he illustrates just how susceptible even the most locked-down information systems are to a slick con artist impersonating an IRS agent. Narrating from the points of view of both the attacker and the victims, he explains why each attack was so successful and how it could have been prevented in an engaging and highly readable style reminiscent of a true-crime novel. And, perhaps most importantly, Mitnick offers advice for preventing these types of social engineering hacks through security protocols, training programs, and manuals that address the human element of security.

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“Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices”
By: Thomas Brooks

‘The strange opposition I met with from Satan, in the study of the following discourse, hath put an edge upon my spirit, knowing that Satan strives mightily to keep these things from seeing the light that tend eminently to shake and break his kingdom of darkness, and to lift up the kingdom and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the soul and lives of the children of men…’

This is one of the seven reasons for writing this book which the author Thomas Brooks gives in his preface.

Among the publishers’ reasons for this reprint is the fact, noted by George Smeaton, that the best Christian authors of former times treated the seductive influence and terrible power of Satan in a way ‘greatly more full and suggestive than in the literature of the present day.’ William Grimshaw, in the eighteenth century, was not the first nor the last to learn this lesson from Brooks’ ‘Precious Remedies’, and our modern age greatly needs the message which is thrust back into preeminence in these pages.

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“Satan’s Deception from the Beginning: That good people can reject the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus and find their own path to God”
By: Robert Medlin

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 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. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:41-47 NIV)

In the above scripture, Jesus was talking to people who claimed to believe in God, but they were totally deceived. They vehemently declared that God was their father. But these same people were rejecting Jesus. Jesus explained to them that if God were truly their father, they would love Jesus and believe in him. Jesus was speaking the words of God. If God were their father, they would believe the words of Jesus. Jesus came from the Father to reveal the Father to us. It should have been obvious to them that Jesus was not like other human beings. Jesus was God in human form. Jesus was sinless.

Jesus said that God was not their father. Jesus said that, in actuality, Satan, the father of lies, was their father.

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“God’s Devil: The Incredible Story of How Satan’s Rebellion Serves God’s Purposes”

“It is the best treatment of the person and work of the enemy I have ever read.” — R.C. Sproul, from the foreword to God’s Devil

Many Christians are oblivious to the Devil and his schemes, and this is precisely the problem. If you don’t know why you need to know about the Devil, then this book is especially for you.

In God’s Devil, pastor and scholar Erwin W. Lutzer takes us to the corners of Scripture to which we seldom go. With surprising insights and potent quotes at every turn, God’s Devil will:

Teach you how Satan fits into God’s great plans for the world
Give you confidence in God’s everlasting victory over Satan
Equip you to withstand Satan’s schemes against you
Martin Luther once said, “Even the Devil is God’s devil.” So while this is a book about Satan, it is even more about God’s sovereign power over him. Read it for comfort, read it for peace, and read it for strength.

[ Erwin W. Lutzer ]

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“Answers to Questions about Spiritual Warfare”

In this volume of Dr. David Jeremiah’s Ultimate Answers Library, you will find crucial questions about spiritual warfare, Satan, demons, prayer, and the believer’s armor.

[ David Jeremiah ]

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“Standing Strong: How to Resist the Enemy of Your Soul”
By: John MacArthur

Spiritual warfare is a divisive subject for today’s church. Some Christians focus solely on the immediate world around them, living as if there’s no spiritual opposition to God’s people and His kingdom. Others take an aggressive stance, where confronting the enemy becomes a constant pursuit in their lives.

John MacArthur believes the truth is found between these extremes. Standing Strong offers a balanced, biblically sound approach to spiritual warfare in the life of a believer. A trusted and renowned pastor and author, MacArthur examines key scriptures to debunk modern fallacies, define true spiritual warfare, and share what that looks like for believers today. Throughout, you’ll be encouraged and equipped to stand strong in the face of every spiritual challenge.

Standing Strong includes a guide for both personal and group study, which features discovery questions, suggestions for prayer, and activities, all designed to connect life-changing truths with everyday living.

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“How to Meet the Enemy”
By: John MacArthur

C.S. Lewis wrote: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight (The Screwtape Letters [New York: Macmillan, 1961], p. 3).

Lewis was right. Unfortunately, strands of both errors exist in today’s church. On the one hand, some Christians are materialists who fail to understand that the Christian life is a fierce spiritual battle. One reason for a materialistic attitude is indifference. When your world is an easy place to live in, it’s easy to forget that a spiritual war is going on. It’s easy to forget that millions of souls in the world are in the grasp of Satan. And it’s easy to forget that Satan always takes advantage of Christians who are lethargic, indolent, or spiritually stagnant. He loves it when Christians try to hole up in a sanctified environment instead of fighting the battle. Yet that is precisely the agenda of many churches today. People are trying desperately to enjoy fellowship while remaining indifferent to the battle. Another reason for being materialistic is worldliness.

Too many Christians crave earthly, temporal pleasures instead of the rigors of warfare. They seek a life of easeùa life of entertainment and activities, never realizing their role in the battle of the ages. A believer who invests his or her time and resources in mundane things won’t understand spiritual warfare. A Christian who had a deficient view of God’s grace said to me, “The wonderful thing about the Christian life is that basically you can do whatever you want.” Believers are not handed a free pass to do what they want. They are called to obey Christ, the Commander-in-Chief. In Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus raised this call: “If any one wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.” We can’t let spiritual warfare rage around us without joining the fight. It’s vital that we take spiritual inventory by asking, Am I making a difference in the fight? Too many will settle for indifference and worldliness. Satan has a heyday with such Christians. My prayer is that your devotion and commitment level will deepen when you understand how to meet the enemy.

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“Satan’s Secret: Exposing the Master of Deception and the Father of Lies”
By: D A Teunis

The author radically addresses conflicting denominational beliefs associated with established Christian doctrinal teachings including the immortality of the soul, hell-fire/eternal torment, miracles, God’s Kingdom, prayer, the Trinity and the salvation and eventual resurrection of the entire human race. Then, through extensively detailed scriptural research he provides a thought provoking and inspirational conclusion attributing these differences to the true source of universal deception,Satan, the father of lies and beguilement.Other topics that reveal Satan’s influence onChristian thought and moral character covers abortion, homosexuality, capital punishment, occultism and the heinous terrorist attacks perpetrated on a country known for its Christian values. These are covered at length, in detail and are explained in conjunction with the plan of God and its revelation through an intense study of His Word.

Being a devoted non-denominational Bible student with 30 years of experience and personal connections has its reward as these dilemmas are explained through the eyes of this movement?s most knowledgeable leaders. The author enlightens the reader to ‘lost’ unparalleled dimensions in thinking, slicing through traditional parameters and exposing the ‘truth’ which has been hidden from the majority of the followers of Christ for so many centuries.It’s time the world is reintroduced to the God of eternal love and not the God of wrath and punishment, says the author. Come, let us reason together!

https://www.amazon.com/Satans-Secret-Exposing-Master-Deception/dp/14107358

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“Satan and His Gospel”
By: Arthur W. Pink

Is the Devil a living reality, or is he nothing more than a figment of the imagination? Is the word “Satan” merely a synonym for wickedness, or does it stand for a concrete entity? In cultured circles it has become the custom to return a negative answer to these questions, and to flatly deny the existence of the Tempter. Among such people it is regarded as a mark of intellectual superiority to repudiate the personality of the Devil. By many, Satan is now looked upon as a product of priestcraft, a relic of superstition, the myth of a bygone age. With others, Satan is simply an abstraction, a mere negation, the opposite of good. “All the Devil there is is the devil within you,” is the last word of “modern thought.” The words which Goethe puts into the mouth of Mephistopholes—“I am the Spirit of Negation”—is accepted as a good workable definition of the Devil. He is regarded as a mere abstract principle of evil. As someone has quaintly put it, “They spell Devil without a ‘d’, as they spell God with two ‘o’s’. Good and evil is their scheme.”

But the more general conception of Satan is different from the above. The popular idea, the one that prevails among the masses, may be gathered from the pictorial representations of him which appear on the street posters, which are to be met with in our illustrated magazines, and which are displayed upon the stage— where he is pictured as a grotesque monster in human form, having horns, hoofs and forked tail. Such a conception is an insult to intelligent people, and in consequence, the Devil has come to be regarded either as a bogey with which to frighten naughty children, or as a fit subject for jest and joke.

CONTENTS
1. Introduction
1. The Personality of Satan
2. Satan’s Origin
3. Satan’s Fall
4. Satan’s Position Since his Fall
5. The Work of Satan
6. The Gospel of Satan
7. Other Books

Audio Book Excerpt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yABYZrkSn4c

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“Spiritual Warfare: Fighting to Win”
By: John MacArthur

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“Hell’s Best Kept Secret”
By: Ray Comfort

Evangelical success is at an all–time low. Why are so many unbelievers turning away from the message of the gospel? Doesn’t the Bible tell us how to bring sinners to true repentance? Using lively anecdotes from his own experiences, evangelist Ray Comfort presents the key that unlocks the door of men’s souls. If you’re experiencing evangelical frustration over lost souls, unrepentant sinners, and backslidden “believers,” then look no further. This radical approach could be the missing dimension needed to win our generation to Christ. Discover the secret to leading others to genuine repentance, and make each moment of your life count for the kingdom of God!

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“The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners”

The ACFE is the world’s largest anti-fraud organization and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education. Together with nearly 90,000 members, the ACFE is reducing business fraud worldwide and inspiring public confidence in the integrity and objectivity within the profession.

https://www.acfe.com/

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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

SPECIAL ‘GENERAL’ RESOURCE

“ApologetiX Songbook”
(An interactive PDF)

It features the lyrics to every song on every CD and every “download” from 1993-2020

Special features:
– indexed by title, original song, original artist, subject, and Bible verse
– each song’s page has icons showing what albums it appears on
– each song’s page has a commentary from lyricist J. Jackson
– each album’s page includes liner notes and track listing
– print any pages you like or use for slides in church
– photos from ApologetiX’s debut concert in 1992
– discography of out-of-print cassettes
– downloadable in PDF format

New features in this edition:
– all song commentaries from J. Jackson updated and expanded
– also indexed by year when original song spoofed was a hit
– J.’s original handwritten rough lyrics to 40 ApX classics
– scads of photos from ApX 25th-anniversary concerts
– list of 40 ApX parodies most likely to be redone
– over 200 new parodies and journal entries
– list of the first ApX concerts in each state
– six new full-length feature articles
– DVD discography and synopses
– never-before-seen rare photos
– lyrics for over 700 parodies
– over 1000 pages!

Interactive features:
– click on any page number in indexes or TOC to go to that page
– click on any album icon to go to its liner notes and track listings
– click on any song title on an album page to go to that song

Note: This e-book is a download-only and doesn’t include sheet music.

The songbook is available for a donation of $50 or more. After we receive your donation, we’ll send you a follow-up email with the link.

Get the Songbook for a donation:
http://www.apologetix.com/store/store.php#songbook

Songbook Demo Video: https://rumble.com/vfazhl-apologetix-songbook-2020-demo.html

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“THE SEARCH FOR MEANING” WEBSITE

This site presents discussions on the 12 most commonly asked questions about the Christian faith.

The 12 discussions are accessed by the “tabs” at the bottom of the page. The tabs are numbered 1-12. Roll your mouse over them and you will see the question displayed at the right. Click on the number to select that question.

Within each question (i.e. tabs 1-12), there are subtopics (or dialogues) to select that appear as smaller tabs underneath the numbered tabs. Roll your mouse over them and the title of these topics is also displayed to the right. Click on the open rectangle to select that dialogue.

For each question (1-12), a link to related resources and an optional flowchart is provided. To access this material, click on the respective words, “Related Resources” or “Options Flowchart.”

To play a more detailed discussion of the subject, between two people, select the desired dialogue and click on “Play Audio Dialogue.”

In the upper right-hand corner of the page, there is an icon that looks like binoculars looking at a question mark. Click on this icon to return to the homepage.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Related Resources” page, there is an icon that looks like some books. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the resources for all of the questions. There also are additional “appendices” for most of the questions.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Flowchart” page, there is an icon that looks like an Org chart. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the flowcharts.

http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q1_d1_1of10.html

[ Content by: Bill Kraftson and Lamar Smith; Website by Mark Besh ]

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“FRUITS OF THE BEATITUDES” WEB SITE
(The ATTITUDES of Jesus that produce the CHARACTER of Jesus)

CLICK ON THE LINK to view:
http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/

FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/FruitsOfTheBeatitudes/

[ Mark Besh ]

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[ P.S.: If you would like to investigate further discernment in the Bible, visit the following link:
http://www.4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q10_d3_1of10.html ].

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ARTICLES

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“Deception – Official Trailer”

Superstar magician Cameron Black is bringing his skill for illusion to the FBI. Using every trick in the book and inventing new ones, he will help the government catch the world’s most elusive criminals while staging the biggest illusions of his career. Starring Jack Cutmore-Scott, Deception is coming soon to ABC.

Find Deception on Social:
Like Deception on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeceptionABC/
Follow Deception on Twitter: https://twitter.com/deceptionabc
Follow Deception on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deceptionabc/

When his career is ruined by scandal, superstar magician Cameron Black has only one place to turn to practice his art of deception, influence and illusion — the FBI. Using every trick in the book and inventing new ones, he will help the government catch the world’s most elusive criminals while staging the biggest illusions of his career. The series is from writer/executive producer Chris Fedak (“Chuck”) and executive producers Greg Berlanti, Martin Gero and Sarah Schechter. Illusionist David Kwong (“Now You See Me”) will co-produce.

“Deception” stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Cameron Black/Jonathan Black, Ilfenesh Hadera as Kay Daniels, Lenora Crichlow as Dina Clark, Amaury Nolasco as Mike Alvarez, Justin Chon as Jordan Kwon, Laila Robins as Special Agent Deakins and Vinnie Jones as Gunter Gustafsen.

The series is from Berlanti Productions and Quinn’s House in association with Warner Bros. Television. “Deception” is directed by David Nutter, who is also executive producer.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjCu-Q-BZtI

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“Magic is Deception – Deception”

Cameron Black teaches us a little bit about Deception.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEUUMJUa7gE

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“Cameron’s Bag of Tricks – Deception”

Take a quick look into Cameron Black’s amazing bag of tricks.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TvszqNFzTg

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“How the TV show ‘Deception’ depicts real magic tricks on screen”

The ABC series starring Jack Cutmore-Scott and Ilfanesh Hadera is about an illusionist who helps the FBI solve crimes.

[ David Wright – Nightline, ABC News ]

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNQFMsAgBVE

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“A Magician’s Take on ABC’s ‘Deception’ Pilot”

Law enforcement and magicians have a long history. There’s the CIA Manual of Trickery & Deception which earned magician John Mulholland $3,000 for writing during the Cold War. And then there’s Harry Houdini, who some say used his magician persona as a cover to spy on the Germans and Russians for Scotland Yard.

Now, ABC is bringing this partnership to primetime with Deception, which debuts this Sunday, March 11 at 10|9c after the American Idol premiere.

Thanks to my friend, fellow magician, and show producer, David Kwong, I got to visit the Burbank writers’ room for Deception, back in December with my wife, Amy. The writers were warm, welcoming, and thrilled to see me share a little close-up magic in real life!

When we traveled to the opposite coast, we got to visit the cast of Deception as they filmed an episode on their set in Brooklyn, thanks to another great friend and fellow magician, Francis Menotti, who serves as an on-set magic consultant for the show.

When I met Jack Cutmore-Scott, who stars as Cameron Black, the magician who brings his talents to the FBI, I was impressed with his study into magic technique and sleight-of-hand. When he told me that Francis had shared with him some of my techniques and videos, he confessed he was a big fan. I’ll admit it—I was a bit starstruck!

I had a chance to screen the pilot, and Deception is a fascinating look into the magician’s mind and how we create deception. The plot line draws you in, and there’s constant action. The magic—represented in a perfect balance between accuracy and fantasy—adds a great and fascinating twist.

The show also includes fun byplay of characters and their opinions of magic. One FBI agent hates magic and another one absolutely loves it and doesn’t want it spoiled, just like a real audience.

Congrats to David, Francis, Jack and everyone involved in the show—I can’t wait to see the rest of the season!

[ Kostya Kimlat ]

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“The Emotion That Leads to Deception”

Wharton research shows that spillover anger — not sadness or another emotion — leads to deception. More: http://knlg.net/2j1fUt9

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCPjJi1Rmik

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The Phantom Vanish Magic Trick: Investigating the Disappearance of a Non-existent Object in a Dynamic Scene

Drawing inspiration from sleight-of-hand magic tricks, we developed an experimental paradigm to investigate whether magicians’ misdirection techniques could be used to induce the misperception of “phantom” objects. While previous experiments investigating sleight-of-hand magic tricks have focused on creating false assumptions about the movement of an object in a scene, our experiment investigated creating false assumptions about the presence of an object in a scene. Participants watched a sequence of silent videos depicting a magician performing with a single object. Following each video, participants were asked to write a description of the events in the video. In the final video, participants watched the Phantom Vanish Magic Trick, a novel magic trick developed for this experiment, in which the magician pantomimed the actions of presenting an object and then making it magically disappear. No object was presented during the final video. The silent videos precluded the use of false verbal suggestions, and participants were not asked leading questions about the objects. Nevertheless, 32% of participants reported having visual impressions of non-existent objects. These findings support an inferential model of perception, wherein top-down expectations can be manipulated by the magician to generate vivid illusory experiences, even in the absence of corresponding bottom-up information. [more…]

[ Matthew L. Tompkins, Andy T. Woods, and Anne M. Aimola Davies ]

Article: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00950/full

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The Penn & Teller Fool Everyone Magic Kit – Over 200 Ways To Trick Your Friends”

– The First Officially Licensed Penn & Teller Magic Kit On The Market
– This Set Will Teach You More Than 200 Easy-To-Master Tricks – That Will Get You Started Fooling Your Family, Friends, And Strangers
– The Included DVD Will Assist You Whether You Want To Baffle With Illusions, Pretend To Read Minds, Do The Classics Of Magic, Or Just Have A Good Trick Up Your Sleeve
– A Complete Course In Magic And Illusion
– The Ultimate Magic Set For Anyone Interested In Magic

Product: https://www.amazon.com/Penn-Teller-Fool-Everyone-Magic/dp/B014UKL8CO

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“Lie To Me” (TV Series”)

Dr. Paul Ekman is a well-known psychologist and co-discoverer of micro expressions. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine in 2009. He has worked with many government agencies, domestic and abroad. Dr. Ekman has compiled over 40 years of his research to create comprehensive training tools to read the hidden emotions of those around you.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTgoi8fmSx4

First Episode, Opening Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWyhsqh_e9s

Season 1: https://www.youtube.com/show/SCuUy7vFUei9PFajXgOmwTIg?season=1

[ https://lietome.com/ ]

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MICRO EXPRESSIONS in 4K – LIE TO ME Style Analysis – Micro Expressions Training like in Lie To Me

This video is an extract from our online Micro Expressions training.
Learn how to detect facial expressions like in Lie To Me on our Micro Expressions Practitioner courses:
http://www.MicroExpressionsTrainingVi…

Micro Expressions Training Videos is the world’s most advanced training program with videos to learn to detect lies, using Micro Expressions. Facial expressions are very short muscle movements, and these facial cues are one of the most reliable signs of what somebody really feels. Micro Expressions are very useful for reading Body Language, detecting lies, negotiations and building more authentic relationships.

[ Patrick Wezowski ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGhOuA3rr1k

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“Former CIA Operative Explains How Spies Use Disguises”

Former Chief of Disguise for the CIA, Jonna Mendez, explains how disguises are used in the CIA, and what aspects to the deception make for an effective disguise.

[ Jonna Mendez ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JASUsVY5YJ8

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“Former FBI Agent Explains How to Read Body Language”

Former FBI agent and body language expert Joe Navarro breaks down the various ways we communicate non-verbally. What does it mean when we fold our arms? Why do we interlace our fingers? Can a poker player actually hide their body language?

[ Joe Navarro ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jwUXV4QaTw

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“Former FBI Agent Explains How to Detect Lying & Deception”

There are a number of myths about detecting deception. Fidgeting, looking away, touching your mouth, all of these things are commonly thought to be practices that indicate deception. Jim Clemente, former Supervisory Special Agent for the FBI, explains why that isn’t always the case and how people like him can decipher what these indicators really mean.

Clemente is a retired FBI criminal profiler, and co-host of “Real Crime Profile,” a true crime podcast distributed by Wondery.

[ Jim Clemente ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpJcBozuF6A

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“DeepTomCruise Tiktok Breakdown”

Visual effects deepfake breakdown of the viral DeepTomCruise Tiktok video’s.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq-kmFCrF5Q

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“12 deepfake examples that terrified and amused the internet”

These deepfake examples display the power of the tech.

There are deepfake examples out there that are mind-bogglingly convincing. Those videos show how deep learning technology could totally transform pipelines for filmmakers and 3D artists, whilst seriously cutting down on editing time. You’ll even find deepfakes on YouTube that better the CGI footage found in the original film (like the re-remastered Princess Leia featured on this list). But there is increasing worry over how the tech could be abused to create realistic doctored videos, made for a negative purpose.

Many movies now feature deepfakes (for example, in some of our favourite 3D movies), as they’re becoming a more common part of the mainstream process. In this post, we look at 10 of the most famous deepfakes. But first, here’s a little more info on what deepfakes actually are, and how they’re made.

[ Joseph Foley ]

Article with Videos: https://www.creativebloq.com/features/deepfake-examples

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“Deepfakes Are Going To Wreak Havoc On Society. We Are Not Prepared.”

Last month during ESPN’s hit documentary series The Last Dance, State Farm debuted a TV commercial that has become one of the most widely discussed ads in recent memory. It appeared to show footage from 1998 of an ESPN analyst making shockingly accurate predictions about the year 2020.

As it turned out, the clip was not genuine: it was generated using cutting-edge AI. The commercial surprised, amused and delighted viewers.

What viewers should have felt, though, was deep concern.

The State Farm ad was a benign example of an important and dangerous new phenomenon in AI: deepfakes. Deepfake technology enables anyone with a computer and an Internet connection to create realistic-looking photos and videos of people saying and doing things that they did not actually say or do. [more…]

[ Rob Toews ]

Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2020/05/25/deepfakes-are-going-to-wreak-havoc-on-society-we-are-not-prepared/?sh=4efb8ba17494

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“It’s Getting Harder to Spot a Deep Fake Video”

Fake videos and audio keep getting better, faster and easier to make, increasing the mind-blowing technology’s potential for harm if put in the wrong hands. Bloomberg QuickTake explains how good deep fakes have gotten in the last few months, and what’s being done to counter them.

[ Bloomberg Quicktake ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLoI9hAX9dw

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“Top 10 Deepfake Videos”

Deepfakes are permeating the Internet these days, and these are the best of the best. For this list, we’re taking a look at the most seamless and strangest videos made possible through the human image synthesis technique known as Deepfake. WatchMojo counts down the Top 10 Deepfake Videos.

[ WatchMojo ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QvIX3cY4lc

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“Textbook of Political-Military Counterdeception: Basic Principles & Methods”

[ Barton Whaley ]

PDF: https://www.iwp.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20131119_TextbookofPolitical_MilitaryCounterdeception.pdf

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“Balderdash”™

Time to grab the “bull” by the horns and hope other players don’t call your bluff! Balderdash™ game features interesting, unbelievably true content and categories about people, words, initials, and movies. Once a category is chosen and the question is read, each player writes down what they think the definition or answer to the question is. Everyone then votes on which card they believe to contain the true answer. The real fun begins when the phony definitions are read along with the legitimate ones! Points are earned by fooling other players into believing your bluff as well as choosing the real answer. You will laugh out loud as you hear the hilarious and creative definitions! This party favorite includes clue cards, board, movers, die, and instructions. Colors and decorations may vary.

Time to grab the “bull” by the horns and hope other players don’t call your bluff!
Balderdash™ game features compelling, unbelievably true content and categories include people, words, initials, and movies
Make up phony definitions to read alongside the real answers
How well can you fake it? Score points when you do and when you can call other players’ bluffs
Hilarious party favorite game includes clue cards, game board, movers, die, and instructions

Balderdash Board Game – the Game Of Twisting Truths

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“WHAT IS THE MOST REPEATED SIGN OF THE END ACCORDING TO JESUS? ONE WORD–DECEPTION”

[ John Barnett ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtp7YvNsWPQ

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“Confronting Satan’s Deception”

It is the nature of Satan to be deceptive. Scripture says he has been a liar from the beginning. His first appearance in Scripture comes under the guise of a serpent. The credentials of this malevolent creature are announced in his introduction: “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made” (Gen. 3:1).

These words fall as a sudden intrusion into an otherwise glorious account of God’s majestic work of creation. With the words “Now the serpent,” the whole atmosphere of the biblical record changes dramatically. A sudden and ominous sense of foreboding enters the narrative. An uninspired author of Genesis 3 may have introduced the record of the fall by saying, “It was a dark and stormy day.” But such hackneyed prose would have failed to yield the foreboding dread contained in the words “Now the serpent was more cunning.”

Cunning. Craftiness. Subtlety. Guile. These are the descriptive qualifiers that paint the biblical portrait of Satan.

Coram Deo
Cunning. Crafty. Subtle. Full of guile. How has Satan used these attributes against you in the realm of personal temptation?

[ Ligonier Ministries ]

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“Deception – Discerning the Devil’s Most Dangerous Device

How do we know what isn’t so?
The biblical picture of Satan is quite different from the popular one. In the Bible, he is not the comical cartoon creature with horns, tail, and pitchfork, ludicrously dressed in long red underwear. Rather, Satan is an adversary, who is clever, crafty, deceptive and dangerous (1 Pet. 5:8). Satan knows our weakness and exploits them to great advantage against us. The Bible does not speak so much about the power of Satan as of his extreme subtlety, trickery and deceptiveness. He uses clever wiles, deceptive devices, wily stratagems and deceitful designs.

He is spoken of as a roaring lion (1 Pet. 5:8). Paul wrote about the evil powers of darkness against which we struggle (Eph. 6:12). And it is in the darkness that we are easily attacked and deceived. Therefore, Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:11, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Ignorance is not bliss, especially when it comes to knowing our enemy! One of the cardinal rules of military warfare is to know your enemy. The better we know what we are up against, the more likely we are to recognize how and when the enemy attacks and the more likely we will be able to resist the fiery darts of the evil one in the strength of the Lord.

In the old hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Martin Luther alerts us to be on guard: “For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.” When Christians learn to rest in the finished work of Christ, we will discover that Satan is a defeated foe! (Rev. 12:11; Col. 2:12). “His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, one little word shall fell him.” According to Hebrews 2:14, one of the reasons why Jesus came was to destroy the devil. John says that, “The one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one does not touch him” (1 Jn. 5:18). [more…]

[ John Ankerberg ]

Article: https://jashow.org/articles/deception-discerning-the-devils-most-dangerous-device/

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“How to Avoid Deception in the End Times”

Dr. Barclay, who is the founding minister of Living Word Church in Midland, Michigan, taught from 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 which speaks of the importance of maintaining a firm stance and avoiding deception in the end times. Dr. Barclay explained how believers can cut through the fog of these unclear times by following a man of God instead of following the prophets of the land.

[ Mark T. Barclay ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY_a8id3WlI

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“Facing a Satanic Attack”

When was the last time you felt vulnerable to a temptation? Our world is overflowing with enticements, and as Christians, we must constantly sidestep our personal danger zones. Sometimes the pull of sin is so strong that our excuses to yield accumulate more quickly than godly reasons to resist. In this message, Dr. Stanley outlines the reality of spiritual warfare and the believer’s resources for successfully resisting temptation and guarding against deception.

[ Charles Stanley ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkLdgGHseG0

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“How Satan operates”

Are you interested to learn how Satan operates? Dr. Stanley looks at the story of Satan tempting Adam and Eve in the garden to show the ways that Satan gets us off track.

[ Charles Stanley ]

Sermon Snippet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PjkU5yKjkU

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“The Intercession of Christ”

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (v. 32).

– Luke 22:31–34

One of the most famous backsliders in the history of the church is Simon Peter. This man, who had followed Jesus faithfully in the midst of hunger, storm, and public unrest, denied Him when He made that final journey to the cross. He publicly and boldly denied that he ever had known Jesus of Nazareth. Could such a man, who had turned His back on his Savior, his Lord, his friend, ever again be confident that he would one day enter into that inheritance promised by God?

We can, of course, easily answer the question because we have a record of Jesus forgiving Peter of his sin and restoring him. But what if we did not have that scene recorded at the end of John’s gospel? What if we had no way of knowing for sure that Peter had been forgiven, only that he had continued in the ministry after Jesus had ascended into heaven? Could we, then, know for certain that Peter was restored? It might surprise you that we could.

In Luke 22:31–34, we have a record of Jesus’ prediction concerning Peter’s denial. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” A time would come when Satan would sift Peter, and he would fall under the weight of temptation and deny his Lord. But what did Jesus say about that time? He comforted Peter by assuring him that he would not lose his faith. And the reason his faith wouldn’t fail was that Jesus had prayed for him.

Peter would not fall away from the faith because Jesus had interceded for him. What an amazing thing! And it is even more amazing to consider that He prays for each and every Christian alive today. If you are a Christian, Jesus is praying for you. He is praying that your faith will not fail, no matter how far you fall.

Though Jesus’ work of sacrificial atonement was finished on the cross, His work of redemption did not stop there. He was raised for our justification and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God to intercede for us. We can be confident of our salvation because of Jesus’ promise, “I will pray for you.” We have a living hope and a living Savior, one who is praying every day at the throne of God that our faith will not fail.

Coram Deo
This promise of Christ’s intercession does not belong just to Peter, but to all whom He died for. All those who have found forgiveness in Him have the assurance of His intercession. Read John 17:20–26. What does Jesus pray about you (if you believe in Him)? Need you ever fear losing your salvation? Memorize Hebrews 7:25.

[ Ligonier Ministries ]

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“How is Satan god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)?”

How is Satan god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)? Is Satan in control of what happens on earth?

[ Got Questions ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-EpVWh28SA

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“The Great Deception”
“You will surely not die” (Gen. 3:4).

Satan’s words to Eve about eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil directly contradicted what God had told her. Yet he convinced her there would be no repercussions to her disobedience. Satan still uses the same lie to deceive us today—that God’s Word can’t be trusted and that sin has no consequences. Learn to resist his deception and obey God.

[ Charles Stanley ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VELCciKNBa4

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“God’s Design vs. Satan’s Deception”

The mind is the field of battle for all of humanity and every single one of us is an unwitting partaker in that war. The mind is the prize sought by the combatants, and the pivot on which the battle turns. The battle is a spiritual one because the mental and the spiritual spheres are inextricably linked together, and what happens in either sphere has a dramatic impact on the other. It is our free will, a.k.a. the mind, that decides way the influence runs.

The key to unlocking that free will is in hand of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who gave His blood that men might be free. Without Christ, we are slaves to sin because somewhere in every heart there lurks a desperate evil that manages to leak out past even the most stringent of moral codes. Jesus died so this lurking evil would be defeated in our hearts and so we would live lives of victory over the sin that ensnares us.

Jesus didn’t die on the cross just to provide a way to get to heaven someday. The life we have in Christ doesn’t begin when we step foot on those heavenly shores, it starts the moment He becomes Lord of our lives. In his writings, Paul commands us to work out our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).

We are not called to a life of spiritual ease, we are called to battle.

Anyone who has tried to live a “good life” knows the futility of this because no matter how hard we try, being good without fail isn’t possible (Rom 3:23). Just like the apostle Paul, we struggle to do what we know is right, even as we willingly do what we know is wrong, and it seems like our hands are bound to do evil in spite of our best intention (Rom 7:19).

Defective? Or Deceived?

A lie is an attempt to deceive someone. It’s a statement of untruth issued in order to gain a measure of control over a person. If that person accepts the lie, believing it to be true, they are now deceived and is now in some measure under the liar’s control. Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44), and lies are his primary means of exercising control. He would have us believe that since we fail to live a perfect life, there is something fundamentally wrong with us.

But he’s wrong. We’re not defective, we’ve been deceived.

One of the worst lies he has foisted on our culture is the idea that a person can’t help how they feel, that they are somehow a slave to their emotions. He tells us that the heart is the seat of our emotions and that the heart is helpless to control them.

However, when you understand that in the ancient Hebrew culture the heart was regarded as the seat of the WILL, everything the Bible says about the heart takes on a different meaning, especially when we realize that the same Hebrew word that’s translated as “heart” is also often rendered as “mind”. We can be in control of our own emotions when we accept God’s Design instead of Satan’s Deception.

God’s Design

God the Father wrote all the immutable laws that govern His creation’s behavior. He is The Lawgiver (Isa 33:22, James 4:12). Therefore, He is the ultimate authority on everything. Whatever He says is right is right. Whatever contradicts His design is wrong. He is entirely good (Psalm 143:10, Mark 10:18) and we can trust in His goodness. His love springs out of His goodness because love is the expression of what is good (James 1:17).

God the Holy Spirit acts at the behest of God the Father (John 16:13, 1 Cor 2:10-12, John 3:34, Acts 2:17 and Gal 3:5). One could say that in a sense, God the Holy Spirit submits to God the Father and is the next level down in the hierarchy of authority.

God’s design is that a Christian’s spirit be in submission to the Holy Spirit’s authority. Our life in Christ is a spiritual one, therefore the highest authority within ourselves must be the spirit. It’s the conduit that His life flows through into every other aspect of our lives. Christ’s crucifixion removes our sin and makes this communion with the Holy Spirit possible (John 1:12, 2 Cor. 5:17). It is via this connection that we are led in how to serve Him. It is the way that He abides in us and we in Him (John 15:1-8, Rom 1:9, Rom 8:4, Eze 36:27, Gal 3:3).

Now we arrive at the battlefield I mentioned at the beginning of this essay: the mind.

The mind can choose to either submit to the spirit that is communicating what the Holy Spirit desires (Rom 1:9, 8:14, Eze 36:27, Gal 3:3), or it can chose to submit to the flesh and its desires (Rom 7:23). If the spirit is submitted to the Holy Spirit and the mind is submitted to the spirit, then through the Spirit, we are given the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). Having the mind of Christ is how we control our emotions instead of letting them control us (2 Tim 1:7).

The blood of Jesus is the key that unlocks the mind to be free to choose (Rom 8:1-4). Once the mind has chosen to be submitted to the spirit (Rom 7:25, Gal 5:16-26), which is in turn submitted to the Holy Spirit, then the rest of the hierarchy falls in line beneath that authority. The mind commands the body (1 Cor 9:27), making it the servant which acts on the world (Gen 1:28, Eph 2:10), subjugating it to the will of the spirit-led mind.

Satan, the Accuser, has no authority over anything in our lives at all! He is defeated and cast down!

Satan’s Deception

But Satan is permitted to spread his lies for now, and he is doing his best to deceive mankind into accepting his hierarchy, which completely turns God’s design on its head.

According to Satan, he is the ultimate authority with the world under his sway (1 John 5:19).

Then the world acts upon the body, demanding that it submit and adapt to the world, telling us, “this is just the way it is, deal with it.”

The body, having accepted this lie, then demands that the mind be its slave, ruled by it and giving in to its every demand.

Then the mind, thus influenced turns the soul to carnality and together they work to suppress the spirit.

The spirit rebels against God the Holy Spirit and rejects God the Father and His authority. A person so deceived is influenced by his Creator only a little or not at all.

Making The Choice

How we live shows which hierarchy we submit to. The “default setting” is to live under Satan’s deception. In order to live in God’s design, we must consciously and actively choose to submit to Him, and this prayer is an example of how that might look.

In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Friend, my spirit submits to You, Holy Spirit and God of the universe. My mind now submits to my spirit because Jesus has set me free to choose to live this way. Now my mind commands my body to rule over my world. Satan has no authority over me, but I have authority over him because of the blood of Jesus. You tell me that the Spirit of Truth will guide me into all Truth (John 16:13), so I believe that I have all the truth I need for today. Amen.

[ Freedom Church ]

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“The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-13)”

There are so many wonderful, wonderful instructions given to us in the letters of the New Testament that comprise the teaching that relates to our Christian living and Christian ministry that it’s good to go back and be refreshed in these things.

Turn in your Bible, if you will, to chapter 6 in Ephesians. A very familiar portion of Scripture is the main focus of this chapter. It actually begins in verse 10 and it runs all the way down through verse 20. It is about the Christian’s war or, if you will, the armor of the believer.

This is really the end of the epistle and needs to be seen a little bit in its context. This particular epistle follows a pattern that many of the epistles of the New Testament follow, particularly those written by Paul, in that the opening chapters – namely, in this case chapters 1, 2, and 3 – identify our position in Christ. They are doctrinal. They define for us what it means to be a Christian.

For example, back in chapter 1, it means that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessing or every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. And then Paul unpacks all of that, starting in verse 4, in one long sentence running down to verse 14, “We have been chosen before the foundation of the world to be made holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us, so that we have been adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for the purpose that we might be to the praise of His glory.” We have redemption, verse 7, through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace and that grace He lavished on us.[more…]

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf4ru2044yI

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“The Armor of God”

[ Billy Crone ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFGiEpjs_gw&t=2143s

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“The Armor of God”

Dr. Tony Evans, Senior Pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas, TX, discussed our responsibility in putting on the armor of God and the authority that results.

[ Tony Evans ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulswQICDAk0

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“The Need for Spiritual Armor”

The Need for Spiritual Armor.

[ Tony Evans ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pjdfBZVrM0

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“Put on the Full Armor of God”

Ephesians 6:10-18

[ Scott Corfield ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWgmQfVPPtU

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“The Destruction of Satanism”

[ Billy Crone ]

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-lyNTBklmQ
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmscRhOdqF8
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxVBGtUq8IE

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“God’s Protection from Satan”

[ Billy Crone ]

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em233KpqpaM

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“Satan’s Tricks and Traps”

Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the garden, and he is still hard at work trying to trap us in sin today. The good news is that God has made a way for us to find victory over Satan, sin and death itself.

[ Tony Evans ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIqzGP5CudY

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“Satan’s Strategy to Defeat Us”

Why do we experience spiritual defeats—even after salvation?

Because it is so easy to overlook our spiritual enemy, who battles with us on a daily basis. Some mock the idea of a literal devil, but Scripture affirms that Satan is real, and his goals are to draw us away from God, thwart His purposes, and cause division. In this message, Dr. Stanley discusses Satan’s battleground, his many efforts to mislead and deceive, and the ways in which God’s Word is our greatest protection against the enemy’s lies.

[ Charles Stanley ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMlXW1ITjmI

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“Reclaiming What the Devil has Stolen”

We have all had things stolen from us—whether health, money, time, energy, or peace. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came that you and I could live in freedom. As we learn to live out the role of kingdom stewards, God can still restore what has been lost.

[ Tony Evans ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWUZ_REtELU

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“Satan’s Counterfeit”

Jesus shares an important parable to his disciples and audience. He shares about the “false wheat.” They seeds look exactly like a fruit but they are in fact weeds. The enemy does the same thing. He plants weeds among the fruit.

[ Warren Wiersbe ]

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7enzgudKs0
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWG4qB3PRJ4
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TuKra0Yooo
Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApVyW7OUdck

*****************************
“Satan Considering the Saints!”

Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

[ Charles Spurgeon Sermon ]

Sermon Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnyp_60aTCE

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“Sermon on The Full Armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18 by

Pastor Colin Smith preached this sermon on the full armor of God from Ephesians 6 at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church, in Arlington Heights, IL.

[ Colin Smith ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKwVcl4YATU

*****************************
“The World, the Flesh, and the Devil”

“You once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh” (Eph. 2:2–3a).

– Ephesians 2:2-3
Dwelling on past sins in order to wallow in guilt or to revel in nostalgia is never a good idea, but Paul intends neither of these things when reminding readers of their condition before knowing Jesus (Eph. 2:1). Instead, the apostle wants to draw a contrast between life apart from Christ and life in Christ so as to magnify the power and grace of God in salvation. Laying the foundation for this contrast, the apostle continues describing life outside of Jesus in Ephesians 2:2–3, painting the bleakest of pictures for unredeemed sinners.

We were dead apart from Christ indeed (v. 1), but it was a state of spiritual death that did not render us incapable of action. We were all too capable of transgressing that which is holy, “following the course of this world … the prince of the power of the air … the passions of our flesh” (vv. 2–3). Here Paul reveals the three great powers that enslaved us completely before we knew Jesus and which we must continually rebel against in the course of our growth in holiness — the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

“The course of this world” (v. 2) refers to the ways of culture and society that oppose the Lord. There are ungodly trends in the world — materialism, naturalism, desire for instant gratification, and more — that once ruled all of our passions but are now defeated in Christ (John 16:33; 1 John 5:5). No longer our ruler, the world still appeals to our remaining sin, so we must maintain our guard lest we fall back into bondage.

In ancient times, the term air often referred to the spiritual realm of angels and demons; thus, “the prince of the power of the air” is Satan (Eph. 2:2). This leader of all that opposes God stirs up trouble all over the world, and he even endeavors to infiltrate and disturb the church (4:26–27). The Devil is fierce but easily put to flight when we resist him by the Spirit, as Jesus has triumphed over him (James 4:7; Col. 2:15).

Finally, “the passions of our flesh” and “desires of the body” (Eph. 2:3) refer not to our physical bodies, as if our corporeal form is in itself wicked. After all, God created all things good, including our bodies (Gen. 1:31). The apostle is speaking of our fallen nature, which Christ has subdued. It is a resilient foe, however, that remains until our glorification. We must therefore seek daily to mortify it and deny the sins that seem the most appealing to us (Rom. 6:12–14).

Coram Deo
Paul makes a subtle shift in Ephesians 2:1–3 from “you” (the Gentile Ephesians) to “we” (Jews like Paul and the Gentiles), indicating the universality of sin. John Chrysostom writes, “All are included. It is not possible to say that anyone is exempted” from the presence of sin and the enemies of the world, the flesh, and the Devil (ACCN T 8, p. 122). But in Christ we have the power and desire to resist these foes, so let us do so today by the power of the Spirit.

[ Ligonier Ministries ]

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“You Can Still Be Deceived Even if all the Words are True”

What is the true nature of deception? Where does it come from and how can we live in truth? Can we be deceived even if the words being spoken are true if the emphasis is wrong or significant truth is left out?

[ Alisa Childers ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmp7VCvn8Lw

*****************************
“Satan’s deception knows no bounds”

An illusionist can cause us to think we are seeing something that is actually fraudulent.

Q: My co-worker belongs to the Church of Satan. On the outside she looks like a normal person, but when I talk with her it is like she is looking into my soul. It is eerie. She denies that Satan is a deceiver and liar. How can she be so mistaken? — S.D.

A: Deception is everything opposite the truth. People will stand in roaring ovations for the illusionists, escape artists, and magicians. Much of it, in the form of entertainment, tricks the mind, causing us to think we are seeing something real when truthfully it is fraudulent. Prisons and jails are filled with con artists — and sad to say, so are many churches. We must have discerning spirits — to determine right from wrong — and God will give us the power to know truth if we submit wholly to Him.

Some deceivers around us are more obviously in league with Satan than others. Scriptures tell us that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. Even when Satan appears to be on the side of good, he is only using it as a mask to deceive us. His real intentions are always evil. “Therefore it is no great thing if (Satan’s) ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:15).

Never underestimate Satan’s power, and never underestimate his ability to deceive us and make us think he isn’t to be feared. In fact, he even deceives some people into thinking he doesn’t exist. He is not as powerful as God — but he still is a powerful spiritual force who works against God in every way he can. This is why the Bible commands us to put on the full armor of God so that we can withstand his power (Ephesians 6:13).

The most important truth about the devil, however, is that in the end he is a defeated foe!

[ Billy Graham ]

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“The Strategy of Satan”

Satan has a strategy to stop you from completing your journey. The good news is God has a strategy to keep you on track.

[ Tony Evans ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q42znK2UuM

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“DOES GOD DECEIVE? THE “DELUDING INFLUENCE” OF SECOND THESSALONIANS 2:11”

Scripture uses several Greek and Hebrew words to denote deception, particularly in relation to the future period of Tribulation. Second Thess 2:11 is of special interest in discussions of deception during that future time, because God is the agent who sends the “deluding influence” (energeian plan􏰀s) among unbelievers. Two OT passages which present God as in some way deceiving are analogous to God’s future activity of this kind, 1Kgs 22:22 and Ezek 14:9. Romans 1:18-32 is partially parallel to that future action. Just as divine judgment of the rebellious was at the heart of God’s deceptive activity in the two OT examples, so it will be during the future Tribulation. His judgment on a rebellious world will take many forms with deception being only one of them. In all cases of His use of deception, He exposes falsehood by presenting His truth. His particular opponent in the future will be “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thess 2:3) who will offer “the lie” (2 Thess 2:11) in place of the truth. This agent of evil will have a very wide following because of his use of deceptive methods. God will then add to the deception of this man’s followers by sending them the “deluding influence” that will move them beyond the possibility of receiving the truth.

[ Gregory H. Harris ]

PDF: https://www.tms.edu/m/tmsj16d.pdf

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“Voddie Baucham: The World, the Flesh, and the Devil”

To become a Christian is to be enlisted in a war, one that is fought on three main fronts. In this session, Rev. Voddie Baucham will remind us how the world, the flesh, and the devil work against the kingdom of God. He will explain why battle, struggle, and hardship should not surprise us as Christians.

[ Voddie Baucham ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yaj7tBY2UGI

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“Amir Tsarfati: Middle East Update: The Last Days Deception”

Join Amir for a live Middle East Update where he will be discussing the last day’s deception spoke of in 1 Timothy 4:1.

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOoBpFtnPvU

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“Spiritualism: End Time Deceptions For Christians”

[ Carlos Sotomayor ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4TMeO74wqw

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“What Did Jesus Say About Calamities?”

[ Stewart Briscoe ]

Part 1 of 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4fUTb5NfEQ
Part 2 of 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWN0S6ZZYsI

*****************************
“What’s Wrong with America?”

What’s Wrong with America? Romans 1:18–32 (1993)

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YU56Xh0mIg

*****************************
“Too Late for Grace: When a Nation Rejects God”

I have absorbed a lot of encouragement from a couple of messages that I preached last week when I was down in Dallas, Texas, and then down at the Ligonier Conference in Orlando, Florida. The messages, of course—some people livestreamed them or some people saw them on YouTube or whatever and suggested that I needed to give that same biblical insight to the folks of Grace Church. And so in thinking about that, and also realizing that we would have to skip Ephesians next week because it’s Resurrection Sunday, it just turned out to make sense that we would follow the pattern of Passion Week both this Sunday and next. Then we’ll pick up Ephesians in a couple of weeks. So I would invite you to open your Bible to Mark 12, Mark 12; and I want to read this text to you to have it in your mind, and then we’re going to consider it in some measure of depth.

This is, by the way, Wednesday of Passion Week. This is Wednesday of Passion Week. The Lord knows He’s going to be crucified. He told His disciples that on a number of occasions. And back in chapter 10, verses 32 to 34, He explicitly told them the details of what was going to happen. He said, “We’re going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priest, the scribes. They will condemn Him to death, will hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him and spit on Him and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.” So they’re headed for Jerusalem, and Jesus makes it crystal clear that He will be arrested, He will be condemned, He will be crucified, and He will rise again.

They actually arrive in Jerusalem not on a Sunday, but on Monday, and when they arrive in Jerusalem, it doesn’t appear initially that the people are going to crucify Him. Rather, in chapter 11, verse 7, when “they brought the colt to Jesus” on which He rode in Jerusalem, “put their coats on it; He sat on it. And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!’” So on Monday it looked like they were hailing Him as their king.

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqJjF5aemj0

*****************************
“Pastor John MacArthur: ‘America Is in a Moral Free-Fall’”

Pastor John MacArthur from Grace Community Church appeared again Thursday November 19, 2020, on Fox’s The Ingraham Angle hosted by Laura Ingraham. In September, the pastor told Laura, “If they want to tuck me in a jail, I’m open to a jail ministry. I’ve done a lot of other ministries. I haven’t had the opportunity to do that one…so bring it on!” Since then Pastor MacArthur kept Grace Community Church’s doors open for indoor worship gatherings and has not been fined nor put in prison despite a few trips to the nearby courthouse.

On Thursday, Laura asked MacArthur, “How do strip clubs deserve more constitutional protection than churches at this point?” referring to a California judge’s ruling that ordered California to refrain from enforcing COVID-19 restrictions on strip clubs because it “violated the businesses’ constitutional rights.” This led to Grace Community Church’s attorney Charles LiMarandi commenting, “You can’t pray to almighty God, but you can watch nude dancing,” which was made at their court hearing on November 13, 2020. [more…]

[ Jesse T. Jackson ]

Article: https://churchleaders.com/news/385866-pastor-john-macarthur-america-is-in-a-moral-free-fall.html

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“Satanic Influences in the American Christian Church in a Post-Modern Consumer Society”

This study seeks to propose evidences as to how and why the contemporary Christian church is satanically influenced, resulting in pain and suffering from devastating personal dysfunctions, interpersonal conflicts and divisions. This situation presents a great dilemma facing many, if not most, Christians in that they simply do not understand and are unaware of profound life altering significances of the spiritual battle being waged for souls and the satanic deceptions that draw people away from God. Satan, his fallen angels, and demons influence Christians and others through his primary tools of deceit and deception, delivered to the culture through media, radio, newspaper, television,
blogs, Internet and social media, diabolically present the thesis of post-modernity, which centers on a self-fulfillment philosophy that adjudicates all morals, virtues, wisdom, and instruction by each person’s individual standards developed in one’s own mind. Satan’s deceptions fashion the post-modern consumer culture with God given free will and choice to discern what is right, what is wrong and what is best for each individual, based on one’s own understanding and desires. One of Satan’s deceptions is that his evil is presented as a thorn in God’s side and a menace to humankind as a result of personal sin.

The thesis presented in this study, intends to clearly show how Satan, his fallen angels, and demons, coupled with their delivery of evil on humankind and the environment, does indeed ultimately bring glory to God and salvation to humanity. Expected outcomes encourage priests, pastors, professors, and teachers to become
aware of deceptions masking satanic influences causing divisions in relationships and in churches. Mitigation measures discussed in Chapter Six, if exercised, will seek to stabilize and improve relationships among believers and the church family.

[ Jerry F. Ressa ]

PDF: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1270&context=dmin

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“Hell’s Best Kept Secret”

This message is from our old “Excellence in Evangelism” VHS series, which is no longer available. It has been replaced with our higher-quality “Basic Training Course”–which is based on our TV program “The Way of the Master.” Each BTC video is co-hosted by bestselling author Ray Comfort and actor Kirk Cameron

[ Ray Comfort ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T2tKj7zdqQ

Transcript: https://www.livingwaters.com/hells-best-kept-secret/

*****************************
“Ray Comfort: ‘Hell’s Best Kept Secret'”

Why are so many unbelievers turning away from the message of the Gospel? Doesn’t the Bible tell us how to bring sinners to true repentance? If so, where have we missed it? The answer may surprise you.

Discover when, why, and how the enemy buried an important key needed to unlock the unbeliever’s heart. Now Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron boldly break away from modern tradition and call for a return to biblical evangelism.

If you’re experiencing evangelical frustration over lost souls, unrepentant sinners, and backslidden “believers,” then look no further. This radical approach could be the missing dimension needed to win our generation to Christ.

“After a thousand revivals and area crusades, I have used a lot of soul-winning materials. ‘Hell’s Best Kept Secret’ is the greatest single tool I have ever found.” –Larry Taylor, Evangelist

“Hell’s Best Kept Secret” is also available in DVD, CD, and book format. We have a FREE downloadable MP3 (in multiple languages) of the full sermon of the same name from Ray Comfort that this video was based on, as well as free study sheets at http://www.hellsbestkeptsecret.com

This video is from our “Basic Training Course”–which is based on our TV program “The Way of the Master.” Each BTC video is co-hosted by bestselling author Ray Comfort and actor Kirk Cameron. It’s available at: http://tinyurl.com/oayxma6

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucnf4rm75Fk

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“America’s Greatest Sin…it’s not what you think.”

[ Ray Comfort ]

Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE-P7KGZi_o&t=389s

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“Millions of ‘Christians’ in Hell”

Clips compilation about the Sinner’s Prayer and false conversions: Voddie Baucham, Paul Washer, Billy Graham, Rick Warren, Steven Furtick.

[ Voddie Baucham ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDjtkvaWaZw

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“DISNEY Devils! Satanic Tricks & DECEPTION!”

[ Hensley ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5WMpbR-thw

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“Paradise Lost”

Summary: Lines 27–722: Satan and Hell

[ John Milton ]

Article: https://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/paradiselost/section2/

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“ONE MOVE LEFT!”

Chess is by far my favourite board game of all.

It isa two-player strategy board game played on a checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. Each player begins the game with 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. Each of the six piece types moves differently, but the King is the most important piece of all.

The main object of the game is to trap the opponent’s king so that its escape is not possible, because when he is trapped his whole army loses. If a player’s king is threatened with capture, it is said to be in check, and the player must remove the threat of capture on the next move. If this cannot be done, the king is said to be in checkmate, and the side that is checkmated loses.. Although the king is the most important piece, it is usually the weakest piece in the game until a later phase, the endgame.

An intriguing painting was once displayed at the Louvre art museum in France called “Checkmate”, painted by Friedrich Moritz August Retzsch. It is now said to be in private hands after being sold at Christie’s in 1999. This painting depicts 2 chess players, one is Satan whom appears arrogantly confident, and the other player is a man who looks forlorn. If Satan wins, he gets the man’s soul.

According to legend, a chess champion visited the museum once and after studying the painting, noticed that the arrangement of the chess pieces were incorrect. According to him, the devil who thought he was winning, was in fact not winning. The man, who thought he was losing, was winning, because according to the pieces left on the chessboard, his king had one more move left, which would make him the winner of the game!

Friedrich Moritz August Retzsch-Checkmate

Isaiah assured the people of Judah that God always provides a way of escape. Although they would be deported to Babylon because of their sinfulness, Isaiah prophesied that a future day of release would come when they would have to leave hurriedly. But they wouldn’t have to worry. Just as God had provided water for the Israelites in the desert, He would also provide for them on their long trek homeward.

Many of us have experienced situations that appeared hopeless. We saw no way out, but we prayed and God opened a way. He made that “impossible” move. We can trust Him. He can never be checkmated. God is the only King who can never be defeated.

A little boy with two fishes and a few loafs of bread, sees that thousands of people needs food. It looks like checkmate, but it is a lie, our King has another move left! They collected twelve baskets of leftovers afterwards! (John 6:1-14) God is the only King who can never be defeated.

Daniel gets thrown into a lion’s den full of hungry lions. It looks like checkmate, but it is a lie, our King has another move left! (Daniel 6) God is the only King who can never be defeated.

The woman about to be killed by angry men with stones. It looks like checkmate, but it is a lie, our King has another move left! He tells her to go and not sin anymore. (John 8:1-11) God is the only King who can never be defeated.

The criminal next to Jesus on the cross thought it was the end, yet he still repented. It looks like checkmate, but it is a lie, because the King has a move left and says: Today you will be in Paradise with me. (Luke 23:39-43) God is the only King who can never be defeated.

On Good Friday the people were screaming: Crucify Him! They mocked and hit the Lord Jesus, spit and tortured Him and nailed Him to the cross. They said He could save others, but not Himself. It is over. Checkmate. Satan smiles as everybody leaves thinking God is dead. But the Lord Jesus still has a move left! Come Sunday and Jesus rose from the dead! Our King had another move left! God is the only King who can never be defeated.

So often in life, we consider everything in the world to be a mess, with countries at war, people being killed, violence surrounding us, people losing their jobs, marriages getting destroyed, moral values are non-existent. We can easily become disillusioned and feel lost. We look for direction but end up on the wrong path. It looks like checkmate, but it is a lie, do not fear, the game is not over.

Our Creator God still has one move left! Our lives and future are in His hands. You have been bought with His blood – a very expensive price, and received amazing grace. He will be coming back one day….He still has one move left!

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,”but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:24-25)

Our Creator God is the only King who can never be defeated.

[ Tony Anthony ]

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“A Closer Look at ‘Checkmate’”

If you know anything about the game of chess, you know it all comes down to when the King on either side can move no more. Once the king is trapped, the winning side declares “checkmate” and the game is over.

There is a painting that once hung in the Louvre museum in Paris, painted by Friedrich Moritz August Retzsch. Today, the painting is popularly known as “Checkmate.” It is now in private hands, having been sold in a Christie’s auction in 1999.

The painting depicts two chess players. One is Satan, who appears arrogantly confident. The other player is a man who looks forlorn. If Satan wins, he wins the man’s soul. You can view more of the creepy details below. [more…]

[ Charles Morris ]

Article: https://haventoday.org/blog/closer-look-checkmate/

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“Flip Wilson on The Ed Sullivan Show”

“The Devil Made Me Do It”

Video: https://youtu.be/zGKAaPM72UY?t=60

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“Millions of Christians Live Under This DECEPTION: Are You One Of Them?”

The Lord Jesus Christ is saying today is the day to wake up. This message is for you. Specifically, for you. God is asking you this question today: Have you been born again?

[ A & Ω Productions ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBvXtSc6olw

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

SONGS

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

“The Devil Went Down to Georgia”

The devil went down to Georgia, he was lookin’ for a soul to steal
He was in a bind ’cause he was way behind
And he was willin’ to make a deal

When he came across this young man sawin’ on a fiddle and playin’ it hot
And the devil jumped up on a hickory stump
And said, “boy, let me tell you what”

“I guess you didn’t know it but I’m a fiddle player too
And if you’d care to take a dare, I’ll make a bet with you
Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
But give the devil his due
I’ll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul
‘Cause I think I’m better than you”

The boy said, “my name’s Johnny and it might be a sin
But I’ll take your bet, you’re gonna regret
‘Cause I’m the best there’s ever been”

Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard
‘Cause Hell’s broke loose in Georgia, and the devil deals the cards
And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul

The devil opened up his case and he said, “I’ll start this show”
And fire flew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow
And he pulled the bow across the strings
And it made a evil hiss
Then a band of demons joined in
And it sounded something like this

When the devil finished, Johnny said, “well, you’re pretty good, ol’ son
But sit down in that chair right there
And let me show you how it’s done”

“Fire on the Mountain” run boys, run
The devil’s in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No, child, no

The devil bowed his head because he knew that he’d been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnny’s feet
Johnny said, “Devil, just come on back if you ever wanna try again
I done told you once you son of a bitch, I’m the best that’s ever been”

He played “Fire on the Mountain” run boys, run
The devil’s in the House of the Rising Sun
The chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough
Granny, will your dog bite? No child, no

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh7BZf7D5Bw

—————

“Calamity Jane “Devil Went Down to Georgia Feat. Camille Rae”

Calamity Jane’s debut single, “Devil Went Down to Georgia Feat. Camille Rae” is a modern homage to the original song by Charlie Daniels. Lucy Cantley’s remarkable playing is bolstered here by Camille Rae’s impassioned vocal, injecting new spirit into the country-pop track.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTyANDijnyU

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“Devil Is A Liar”

[Intro]
Liar, liar, liar, liar
Liar, liar, liar, liar
Liar, liar, liar, liar
Liar, liar, liar, liar

[Verse 1]
I get caught up in tryin’ to be somethin’ I’m not
To please everyone else
I look deep in the mirror to find everything that isn’t right
With myself

[Pre-Chorus]
God only knows I’ve tried to fight it, fight it
It’s just a wolf that’s always cryin’, cryin’

[Chorus]
The devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be playin’ with the fire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price

[Verse 2]
Looks like you got somewhere to be
People you need to see, gotta keep up
They say image is everything, makin’ it hard to think
That you’re enough

[Pre-Chorus]
God only knows you’ve tried to fight it, fight it
It’s just a wolf who’s always lyin’, lyin’

[Chorus]
The devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be playin’ with the fire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price

Yeah, devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be walkin’ on the wire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price
Don’t believe the lie
Oh, yeah

[Bridge]
Don’t be dancin’ with the devil, don’t believe a single word
Oh-oh-oh
‘Cause when we get to Heaven, we gon’ sing and watch him burn (Oh, no)
Dancin’ with the devil, don’t believe a single word
Oh-oh-oh
‘Cause when we get to Heaven, we gon’ sing and watch him burn

[Interlude]
The devil is a liar
The devil is a liar

[Chorus]
The devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be playin’ with the fire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price

Yeah, devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything that you desire
Everything you want but you’d be walkin’ on the wire
So don’t believe the lie, it comes at a price
Don’t believe the lie

[ Colton Dixon ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbkBXg2QwEI

*****************************
“The Devil Is A Liar”

I wear my heart on my sleeve
Don’t wanna be fake
But I heard I should be ashamed
From the mouth of a snake
Deep down I’d rather feel
Show you something real
But there is power in my weakness

They can try to keep me silent
But I’ma shout it from the mountain
No I’m not backing down

The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar
My God has set me free
Opened my eyes now I can see
The Devil is a liar
And he’s not fooling me

I know he won’t give up easy nah
He can try but he won’t deceive me
I can see, I can see right through him
He wants me to hide, he’s the father of lies
But I got an army on my side
And we’re not backing down

The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar
My God has set me free
Opened my eyes now I can see
The Devil is a liar
And he’s not fooling me

Though I walk
Through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil, fear no evil
He comes to kill, steal and destroy
But I ain’t quitting I’m not backing down
Not giving up, he can’t hold me back
Cause I run with the King and the truth is

The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar
Yes my God has set me free
Opened my eyes now I can see
The Devil is a liar

The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar
The Devil is a liar, liar
The Devil is a liar, liar, liar
And he’s not fooling me

[ We Are Messengers ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5mLxFsXe_c

*****************************
“God’s Armor”

[Intro Instrumental]

Woo!

[Verse 1]
Have you wondered how you can take a stand with the devil?
You feed all his tricks and strategies and lies
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You will need the Breastplate of Righteousness
With the Shoes of Good News
And the Strong Belt of Truth
Yeah, brother
For we are enlocked in battle against this young blood
But against evil rulers of the icy world
Oh!

[Chorus 1]
Put on the whole, now
Put on the whole armor of God
Come on now
Come on, yeah
Put on the whole armor of God

[Verse 2]
Have you wondered how… you can take a stand with the devil?
Yeah
And you feed all his tricks and strategies and lies
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You got to use the Shield of Faith
And the Helmet of Salvation
And the Sword of the Spirit – which is the word of God!
Oh!

[Chorus 2]
Put on the whole, now
Put on the whole armor of God
You’ve got to put it on
Come on now
Come on
Put on the whole armor of God

[Bridge]
Satan doesn’t have a chance with our lives
Satan doesn’t have a chance, no!
God trying to protect us from inside (from inside, yeah!)

[Sax Solo]

[Verse 3]
Hey!
We are enlocked in battle against this young blood
But against evil rulers of the icy world
Woah!

[Chorus 3]
Put on the whole, now (Put on the whole armor of God)
You’ve got to put it on, come on and
Put on the whole armor of God
Every day, every night!
Put on the whole armor of God
Even in the morning, now
Put on the whole armor of God!

[Verse 4]
Come on!
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)
Yeah!

[Verse 5]
Put it on and keep it on (Come on)
God’s Armor
You’ve got to put it on, yeah, brother!
Put it on and keep it on
(God’s Armor)
The Book of Ephesians says:
“…we wrestle not against flesh and blood”
(Stand against the wiles of the devil)
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)
You’ve got to keep it on! Yeah, oh!
Put it on and keep it on! (God’s Armor)

Rulers of darkness are watching (Stand against the wiles of the devil)
Oh yes, they are!

[Outro]
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)
You’ve got to keep it on! Yeah brother
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)

Even in the morning (Stand against the wiles of the devil)
Late in the midnight
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)
Even in the noon, hey! Yeah, brother!
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)

The Helmet of Salvation! (Stand against the wiles of the devil)
The Breastplate of Righteousness!
Put it on and keep it on (God’s Armor)
The Shield of Faith!
Come on!

[ Brothers In Christ ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ya3M0r8tkA

*****************************
“The Battle Belongs To The Lord”

In heavenly armour we’ll enter the land
The battle belongs to the Lord
No weapon that’s fashioned against us shall stand
The battle belongs to the Lord

We sing glory, honor
Power and strength to the Lord
We sing glory, honor
Power and strength to the Lord

When the power of darkness comes in like a flood
The battle belongs to the Lord
He’s raised up a standard, the power of His blood
The battle belongs to the Lord

We sing glory, honor
Power and strength to the lord
We sing glory, honor
Power and strength to the lord
To the Lord

When your enemy presses in hard do not fear
The battle belongs to the Lord
Take courage my friend, your redemption is near
The battle belongs to the Lord

And we sing glory, honor
Power and strength to the lord
We sing glory, honor
Power and strength to the lord

[ Maranatha! Music ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir-XbtrgcRk

*****************************
“The Armor of God”

[ Souls West Collective ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZIDq_dvPFs

*****************************
“A Mighty Fortress”

A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!

[ Martin Luther ]

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XUYZoguhEQ

____________________________________________________________

APOLOGETIX SONGS

____________________________________________________________

“Cunning Is the Devil”
(Parody of:”Runnin’ with the Devil” by Van Halen)

I lived my life like there’s no good morals
Didn’t follow God — I laughed at Sheol
He’s not extinct — no stegosaurus
Yes, God is livin’ and old Satan’s real

Oooh yeah — hey-uh-uhh
Cunning is the Devil
Uh huh yeah-eah
Woo hoo woo
Cunning is the Devil
He’ll tell you all to doubt it

I found the sinful life ain’t so simple
Ain’t no snowplows — on that road
It got so rough — too rough to “four-wheel”
It’s like my body — Satan controlled

Ah yeah-eh-eh!
Cunning is the Devil
God said it, baby — you know He ain’t lyin’ to you
He’s only gonna tell you what’s right — uhhh yeah
Cunning is the Devil
Guess I’m scammed — Yeah!

You know I — I found the sinful life weren’t so simple, no
And I slumped down from that load
I got so low — so low I could kneel
I talked to God and — gave Him control

Uhhh yeah
Come and leave the Devil
Oh, God — Oh, God, I’m coming! Ahhhhh, yeah
Come and leave the Devil
Uh! Uh! I don’t want more time

Heyyyyy yeah!
Come and leave the Devil
Uh yuh Uh yuhhhh yeah!
Come and leave the Devil
Wwoo! Wwwoo!
Come and leave the Devil
Uh huh, yeah! Uh huh, yeah! Uh-uh huh, yeah!
Come and leave the Devil
Ooo!

[ ApologetiX – “Only a Glorified Cover Band” album ]

*****************************
“Devil Fell”
(Parody of “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol)

That’s right, there is a danger when answering your door
The Bible says that angels can come from another source
He sends them all beaming with false light and false love
Where did they get this brightness? He fell from above

Because
It’s the midnight hour, so find the Lord, Lord, Lord
When the devil fell, he cried war, war, war!
Whoa! It’s the midnight hour, babe – draw your sword
It’s in Revel. 12 — more, more, more, war, war, war!

He don’t look unsavory, he don’t dress in red
But when you try his roadway it leads to death
John 10:10’s creed – I want you to read, babe
God’ll set you free
You need to hear my plea
CHORUS

You’ll think he looks like a gift from Heaven
But check it in Second Corinthians 11
Well, he shines false light to project a glare
Check First John verse 4:1 and don’t get unprepared
Hey! Oh!

Christ watched him fall in Luke 10
As lighting strikes – it’s true
He’ll try to sear your brain, men
A trillion trials for you
He’ll steal your soul from you, friend
He wants you to burn with him
Why risk it all to have fun, then?
Listen, listen, listen, you have to hear my plea
CHORUS

Beware the devil’s angels
They want more
1:8, 9 in Galatians
They want more
More, more, more, more, war!

[ ApologetiX – “Singles Group” album ]

*****************************
“The Devil Went Down to Jordan”
(Parody of: “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels)

The devil went down to the Jordan — He was lookin’ for a show to steal
He was in a bind ‘cause Jesus came to find the people willing to make it real
And he came across the Son of Man — saw Him in the desert and prayin’ to God
And the devil jumped upon the chance to tempt Him
Said “Boy, let me tell ya, it’s hot!”
“I guess You wouldn’t show it, but I can tell You’re cravin’ food
“And, kid, I’m scared this desert air might get the best of You.
“Now You ain’t been eatin’ Your vittles, boy, but now Your dinner is due
“So if You’re really God’s Son, You’ll turn these stones
To bread and I’ll butter it for You.”
The Lord said, “I am hungry, but that would be a sin
“Cause it ain’t by bread man’s gonna be fed
“But by the Word God’s given him.”

John the Baptist washed the Lord and there’s where it all starts
Cause Jesus left the Jordan and the devil hit Him hard
And if He wins, you get to walk on Heaven’s streets of gold
But if He sins, the devil gets your soul

The devil took Him up in space and said, “Why don’t You throw
“Yourself off of this temple top as I watch You from below?
“Cause I’m sure You know that God will send all His angels to assist
“And men would believe that You’re Him if they saw You did something like this.”

When the devil finished, Jesus said, “Well, you’re temptin’ God, old son.
And it’s written down in that book right there that thing should never be done.”

Shout from the mountain what God’s done
The devil ain’t a match for the rising Son
But You can never tempt God, did you not know
Man, he doesn’t live by bread alone

The devil finally said, “Jesus, if You’ll just worship me
Then I’ll give You gold that glitters, every crown, and all You see.”
Jesus said, “Devil, just turn on back — ‘cause I’m never gonna buy your scam.
I love God too much, I’m gonna resist — I’d suggest you’d better scram!”
And we say

Shout from the mountain what God’s done
The devil ain’t a match for the rising Son
But You can never tempt God, did you not know
Man, he doesn’t live by bread alone

[ ApologetiX – “Grace Period” album ]

*****************************
“Drop of Lucifer”
(Parody of: “Drops of Jupiter” by Train)

Now that he’s back in the atmosphere the drop of Lucifer is severe Yeah, yeah-eh-eh, yeah, yeah He acts like somehow his worldwide reign reminds him of his diamond days Yeah, yeah-eh-eh, eh, eh Till the return of the Way and the Truth, he’s livin’ like a king and he talks like it too

Tell me, are you sad you crossed the Son? Did you fake it so the millions may believe Your light’s not faded and that Heaven is overrated? Tell me, did you fall like a shooting star? One day you’ll be burning in fire
I’m glad you missed me while you were booking your hotel down there

Now Christ came back with our soul salvation
Saving the day to your consternation
Yeah-eh-eh-eh-eh, mmm I checked out Romans, found He loves my soul
Reminds me that He’s assumed control
Yeah, yeah-eh-eh, eh, eh — yeah Now that He’s back and the coast is clear I’m afraid that we might think of you as a plain old angel You’re scarier than that — though I’m not afraid to die still the devil’s pretty bad

But tell me, did your sin sweep you off your seat? Did you finally face the fact you’ll stand alone in latter days? Get paid back for your filthy ways Tell me, did Jesus blow your mind? Did you ever think He wanted to die?
I read your history while I was lookin’ at 14:12 in Isaiah

I do imagine you love tryin’ to deep-fry Christians You get them always slippin’ up for you — even when they know you’re wrong
But you’re no match for that verse 10:8,9 Romans — find out from Revelation
You’ll get yours later, but you’re never havin’ me

So tell me, did your sin sweep you off your seat? Did you finally face the facts you’ll stand alone in latter days? Get paid back for your filthy ways Tell me, are you sad you crossed the Son? Did you make it through the gilded page to see your final fate in Chapter 20 in Revelation? Tell me, did you fall like a shooting star? One day now the serpent gets squashed in Romans 16 verse 20 — lookee for yourself

Na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na na na And did you finally get the chance to check Ezekiel 28? Na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na na na And did you fall like a shooting star, fall like a shooting star?
Na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na na na And now you’re only booking your hotel down there

[ ApologetiX – “Grace Period” album ]

*****************************
“God of Peace”
(Parody of: “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by The Eagles)

I like the way that God can eas’ly save
A man from sin so foul
And I want to speak to you ‘bout the devil tonight
If your willing hearts all allow
‘Cause my God of peace will eas’ly beat him
And I know He won’t let me down
‘Cause He already sent him underground

And I found out a long time ago
What the devil can do to your soul
Ah, but he can’t tempt you any more
Than God tells him he’s allowed to go
‘Cause my God of peace will eas’ly beat him
And I know you know that deep down
‘Cause He already sent him underground

I guess those demons might still call you
‘Cause they love to tempt the flesh
But His voice keeps whispering if you’ll only hear:
Call Me; I never leave you in distress

‘Cause my God of peace will eas’ly beat them
And I know they won’t just rebound
‘Cause He already sent them
Christ already sent them
Yes, Christ already sent them
Underground

[ ApologetiX – “Music Is As Music Does” album ]

*****************************
“Hell Is Warmer”
(Parody of “L.A. Woman” performed by The Doors)

Well, I slithered into town about an hour ago
Things are cookin’ now, say, which way’s the window?
Man, I fooled the world and they thought it was fun to go
They got a lovely little lake here it’s the prettiest sight
I’ll get the other lost angels
Gimme a light, gimme a light, gimme a light, gimme a light
Whoa! Come!

Hell is warmer — Hell is warmer
Hell is warmer than I ever knew
Hell is warmer than I ever knew
Hell is warmer than you ever knew
Never freezes over
Mister, you’re doomed – missy, you’re through, yeah!
Listenin’ to your boo hoo hoo’s gets me warm, too!
Ohhhhh, yeaaahh!

The scenery here is burnin’ — Hell is filled with fire
If I say I ever love the view — you know that I’m a liar
I went down so easily – guess I’m finally home
God sent guards — they dropped me hard — never saw it comin’
Though I’d known all along — though I don’t go alone
Folks get punished for their badness
If they could move they’d bag this address

And the smoke goes risin’,
Yes the smoke goes risin’
And the smoke goes risin’
Yes, the smoke goes risin’
Such a bleak horizon
As the smoke goes risin’
Yes, the smoke goes risin’
Smoke goes risin’
Watch the smoke goes risin’
Yes, the smoke goes risin’

Such a bleak horizon
Risin’, risin’
Gone risin’, risin’
Gone risin’, risin’
You watch it risin’ risin’

Yeah, but I ain’t risin’
I gotta wooo yeah! Man!
Oh! Mmmm … yeaaah

Well the devil won’t be down there for a while or so
There’s a way around that big lake of brimstone
You’re still in the world and I thought you would want to know
Or you can laugh at Revelation 20:10 if you like
And swim with all the lost angelllllllls
When they ignite, when they ignite
When they ignite, when they ignite
Whoa! Come on!

Hell is warmer — Hell is warmer
Hell is warmer – a surefire bummer
Hotter than any oven
Yes, uh, Hell is warmer
Hell – is
Warm — er
Hell is warmer, c’mon

Revelation 20:10
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,
where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented
day and night for ever and ever.

[ ApologetiX – “Doves in Snakes’ Clothing” album ]

*****************************
“Resist Him”
(Parody of “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac)

The enemy likes to dwell in the night
And work on you undercover
Takes a disguise but his words are lies and
Through them evil hovers

All your life you’ve never seen
Someone waitin’ in the wings
But when Satan comes he’s too clever
So you never will

Resist while you can with your heart
Against the prince of darkness
He rules the sky but the Lord’s our light and
Wins the fight regardless

All your life you’ve fled the scene
C’mon, take it like a man
What did James preach on in 4:7?
When the devil grins
Will you let him win?

Resist him
Resist him
Resist him
Resist him

He brings lives to hell with delight
And he’s settin’ you up to suffer
He was alive when the earth arrived and
Fooled old Eve, your mother

All your life you’ve never seen
The One takin’ on your sins
God the Savior promised you Heaven
Will you let Him in?
Kill the devil’s sin

Resist him
Resist him
Resist him

Satan’s lies
Take you by surprise
Satan’s lies
Take you by surprise
Satan’s lies
Take you by surprise

Jesus Christ
Crushes Satan’s lies
Jesus Christ
Crushes Satan’s lies

[ ApologetiX – “Music Is As Music Does” album ]

*****************************
“Role Never Changes”
(Parody of “Roll with the Changes” performed by REO Speedwagon)

As soon as Cain and Abel — well, we find men killing
‘Cause Satan hates that we are all God thinks of
The Bible’s on the table – while blood is spilling
Waiting here for you to take and pick up

So if you’re tired of old Satan’s story
Ohhhh, turn from rages
All we have is just one enemy
Whose role never changes – yeah-eh yeah-eh
Woo!

Christ knew what had to happen – fought the terrible serpent
God went through man’s darkest hour
He heard that some were laughin’ – felt the nails that hurt him
Our guilt was poured on Him as the sweet turned sour

So He expired but He came in glory
Ohhhh – returned from the grave, yes
Now He is our priest forever
His role never changes – ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhnh yeah-eh
Woo!

Sooooooo-oh-oh-oh if you’re tired of unstable moorings
Oh, Hebrews, 13:8 says
Christ is the same forever
His role never changes
Baby – role never changes
Oh, you know, you know, you know He’s got to

(Keep us holy) Oh yeah (Keep us holy — oooo oooo ooo)
Ohhhhhh His role never changes
Keep us holy
(Keep us holy) Oh yeah-eh-eh (Keep us holy — oooo oooo ooo)
Ohhhhhh that role never changes
Oh, ba-a-aby
(Keep us holy) Oh ba-a-aby (Keep us holy — oooo oooo ooo)
Oh, He’s got to ’cause His role never changes
Got to, got to, got to, got to keep us holy
(Keep us holy) got to keep us (Keep us holy — oooo oooo ahhhhhhhh)
Oh, He sought you and He bought you but you’ve got turn to God

Keep us holy, keep us holy — ooo ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Keep us holy, keep us holy — ooo ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Keep us holy, keep us holy — ooo ooh-ooh-ooh ooh-ooh-ooh
Keep us holy, keep us holy — ooooooh ooooooh ahhhhhhhhh

[ ApologetiX – “Zebraic” album ]

*****************************
“Singled You Out”
(Parody of: “Figured You Out” by Nickelback)

I like to prance around your street — and I’m like a lion that wants more meat
And I like the wayward selfish sheep, who are not looking out for me
They’re like my favorite thing to eat
And I love to play to their egos — and I love to keep them off their toes
And I love to make them think they know too much to fall under control
Of another power not their own

And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out
(The devil is a roaring lion)
And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out
(1 Peter says in chapter 5)

I like the fickle ones the best — they like it when their lives stay blest
They like to think they’re not possessed till I put them to the test
I like when pride stays unconfessed
And I know the way to stack the deck — and I love a good life I can wreck
(A good life I can wreck)
And I might attack with wealth or sex — while I put doubts in their heads
I love a scandal’s chain effect

And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out
(The devil is a roaring lion)
And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out
(The devil is a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour)
He’s got to go if you resist)

I’m like a panther on your street — and I like a church where no one meets
And I’m on my way to steal some sheep — front doors open up for me
They’re like my slaves if they’re deceived
And I hate the place I have to go — but I’ll take some people with me, though
(Some people with me, though)
And I hate the faithful that say no to every bald lie that I’ve told
I hate the power that they hold

Ooh … and now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out
(The devil is a roaring lion)
And now I’m going to devour the ones in my power ‘cause I singled you out
(The devil is a roaring lion — in chapter 4 of James, you’ll find)
(He’s got to go if you resist)

[ ApologetiX – “Wordplay” album ]

*****************************
“Wish You Could Hear”
Parody of “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd)

Oh, don’t you see for yourself?
You’re headed for Hell
Mute, blind and lame
Can you smell or even feel?
Can your soul read braille?
You smile through a veil
Don’t you think I can tell?

Did you get what I said?
Your hearing is gone
Can’t actually see
Caught up in a cruel scheme
All covered with chains
Will you escape?
In second Corinthians four*
I believe Paul will explain

How I wish – how I wish you could hear
But so few lost souls in the devil’s control
Clear up their ears
He’s blinded all of them – they don’t know
They’re headin’ south – and they can’t steer
Wish you could hear

[ ApologetiX – “Soundproof” album ]

*****************************
“Eve Looks Back”
Parody of “Landslide” performed by Fleetwood Mac)

I took one look, took it down
Bite an apple and it turns to brown
And I saw my deception and there’s no cover here
And at last pride brought me down

Oh, we weren’t meant to die but it’s rough
Can the child within me now rise above?
Can I say things to change him so he’ll thrive?
Can I handle when I see him fuss and cry-y-y-y–y-y-y-y-y?
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Well, I’ve been pregnant lately
And I’m thrilled my child’s about due
But time takes its toll there
We’ve had children get older
And I’m missin’ Abel, too
LEAD

Well, I’ve been pregnant lately
And I’m thrilled my child’s about due
But time takes its toll there
We’ve had children get older
And I’m missin’ both them, too
Oh, I’m missin’ both them two

Ah ah — may my son make You proud
I-I’ll try to help with man’s turnaround
And if we’ll still find redemption
Then there’s hope comin’ here
With the man-child You’ll bring me now
And if we’ll still find redemption
Then there’s hope comin’ here
With the man-child You’ll bring me now
Oh oh-oh — the man-child You’ll bring me now

[ ApologetiX – “Sandwich Platter” album ]

*****************************
“A Lie”
(Parody of “Alive” by Pearl Jam)

Son, they said, Have we got a little theory for you
What you thought was your daddy was really a gorilla Science teachers show you all the bones, but they don’t fit Your real daddy was Darwin
“Sorry, we still can’t prove it, but it has to be taught”

Well, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Whoa-oh

Why does your school enforce it like its true?
It’s just a theory, you know?
Why can’t they show me any missing links in the chain?
They dug, they dug — no evidence — just quantum leaps

Can’t you see — evolution’s a lie?
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Yeah-eh

Whoa oh — Yeah yeah! — Woo!

Is something wrong with that? Of course, there is
You’re not an accident — or do you prefer to be?
You’re God’s creation — and it’s so, it’s so
So obvious, so obvious

Evolution’s a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Hey-ey-ey-ey, evolution’s still a lie
Oooh — evolution’s still a lie
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh yeah!

Get back to God — dust to dust
Your facts are wrong — trust in us

Oh, oh, oh, oh — oh, oh, oh, oh — oh, oh, oh, oh — oh, oh, oh, oh

[ ApologetiX – “Ticked” album ]

*****************************
“Glad it’s Over”
(Parody of “Glad All Over” performed by The Dave Clark Five)

You stayed and You loved me (stayed and loved me)
Called all the time (called all the time)
But Satan deceived me (he deceived me)
I always declined (always declined)

I’m feelin’ — glad it’s over
Yes, I’m-a — glad it’s over
Lately I’m – glad it’s over
So glad You’re kind

While Satan had me (Satan had me)
You never withdrew (never withdrew)
You have those sorrows (You have those sorrows)
Cause the lost to seek you (lost to seek you)

And I’m feelin’ — glad it’s over
Yes, I’m-a — glad it’s over
Lately I’m – glad it’s over
So glad You’re kind

Though the world — it tried to get me to wait (get me to wait)
God, You knew – deep down inside — I’d go straight – I-I’d go straight

All that is past now (all that is past)
Knew we’d end up fine (end up fine)
Jesus’ love now (Jesus’ love)
Has won this war of mine (war of mine)

And I’m feelin’ — glad it’s over
Yes, I’m-a — glad it’s over
Lately I’m – glad it’s over
So glad You’re kind

Other gods they tried to make me their slave (make me their slave)
But You know – it’s by Your Son I was saved – I-I was saved

All that is past now (all that is past)
Till the end of time (end of time)
Jesus’ love now (Jesus’ love)
Is always warm and kind (warm and kind)

And I’m feelin’ — glad it’s over
Yes, I’m-a — glad it’s over
Lately I’m – glad it’s over
So glad You’re kind
I’m so glad You’re kind now
Lord, I’m so glad You’re kind
I’m-a so glad You’re kind now
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!

[ ApologetiX – “Alien Invasion” album ]

*****************************
“It’s Not Eden”
(Parody of “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” by Five for Fighting)

I can’t stand to lie; I got that from Eve
I just had a bite; You gave her, Lord, to me
I warned her at first; I more than explained
That’s more than some pretty fruit beside a snake
And it’s not easy to be deceived

I wish that I could hide, find a pile of leaves
Finally we’re wise, now my home I’ll never see
There may be a curse upon me like Eve
But even she will have a righteous seed
I may be just dirt, but once she conceives
Even we may have our rights redeemed
But it’s not easy to be with Eve

Told us get away, away from here, but it’s all alright
We can all be grounded tonight
I’m not angry or anything

I can’t stand to fight; I’m not mad at Eve
Men weren’t meant for pride; it clouds the things they need
I’m only a man, but still You said she’d
Be pregnant with kids tonight and that’s one way we
Know there’s a plan, so Lord we’ll yet seek
Looking for special things inside of Eve, in spite of me
In spite of me, inside of Eve, in spite of me

I’m only a man in Genesis three
I’m only a man lookin’ for a seed
I’m the only man and there’s only just Eve
And it’s not Eden
It’s not easy to leave here

[ ApologetiX – “Adam Up” album ]

*****************************
“No More Mr. Wise Guy”
(Parody of “No More Mr. Nice Guy” performed by Alice Cooper)

I used to be such a deep, deep thinker
Till they got a hold of me
I have endured too many old ladies
I’ve had some wives, you see

I’ve got no sense ’cause I heed the pagans
My fancy queens tricked me
And I’m gettin’ real smart now, but I’m feelin’ weak

No more Mr. Wise Guy
No more Mr. Peace
No more Mr. Wise Guy, they say
He’s flipped, he’s deceived

I got no free time to read the Proverbs
I can’t believe – it’s me
And I’m in a real spot now with God – He’s gettin’ peeved

No more Mr. Wise Guy
No more Mr. Peace
No more Mr. Wise Guy, they say
He’s thick, he’s deceived

My God picked me on Election Day – I cast God aside
My Song of Solomon was so successful – I had scads of brides
I went berserk with my ego – and every Bible shows
First Kings 11, Ecclesiastes
They’ll put you in the know – they say

No more Mr. Wise Guy
No more Mr. Peace
No more Mr. Wise Guy, they say
More things than just these

No more Mr. Wise Guy
No more Mr. Peace
No more Mr. Wise Guy, I say
Don’t pick foreign queens
Quee-hee-hee-heens
Quee-hee-hee-hee-heens!

[ ApologetiX – “Nichey” album ]

*****************************
“Can’t Buy Free Love”
(Parody of “Can’t Buy Me Love” by The Beatles)

Can’t buy free love — love
Can’t buy free love

A guy named Simon he met Peter
In the eighth chapter of Acts
He could do magic things ‘cause he was
Into Satan through witchcraft
And Simon had a bunch of money
But he couldn’t buy free love

“I’ll give you all I’ve got,” he said
“If you show me what to do
To make the power of God descend
Upon the ones I wish it to.”
Peter said, “Dude, flush your money
Money can’t buy free love.”

Can’t buy free love — and the Bible tells me so
Can’t buy free love — no-dough sozo

Satan will keep folks buyin’ things
That mildly satisfy
Till there at the point where finally
They’ve bought a great big lie
And lies can cost you more than money
And money can’t buy free love
Owwwwwwww!

Can’t buy free love — and the Bible tells me so
Can’t buy free love — no-dough sozo

Satan will keep you tryin’ things
That God says not to try
Till you’re at the point where finally
You wanna just plain die
I can’t bear to watch you, buddy
Come and get Christ’s free love

Get Christ’s free love — love
Get Christ’s free love — oh!

[ ApologetiX – “I Know You Are But What Am I?” album ]

*****************************
“Choose Your Daddy”
(Parody of “Who’s Your Daddy” by Toby Keith)

Well, here He comes knockin’ on your side door, baby
Yeah, the Son of God’s on your side
I guess He called ya but ya’ll weren’t home for the hundredth time
Yeah, you look in Christ’s Book right after Luke in John 8:1–59
It ain’t so hard to find
The place He said you’re either in the faith or sons of Belial
You read on — it’s really tough to debate it
Don’t you get it?
Yeah, I think He’s waiting in the sky for you
You know, our Father — up in Heaven

Choose your daddy, choose your savior
Choose somebody who’s your friend
And choose the one God who you’ll come runnin’ to
When all the world’s lies start crumblin’
Your god’s your money, but God the Son, He
Says come to me; get saved from sin
Choose your daddy — who’s your faith in?
Is it God or is it mammon?

You either — belong to God above or to Satan
Which is it? Well, don’t you get it?
If you wait, then Satan decides for you
You know you gotta — become repentant

Choose your daddy, choose your savior
Choose somebody, yeah, who’s your friend
And choose the one God that you’ll come runnin’ to
Yeah, when the world’s lies start crumblin’
He’s God Almighty; just say, “Alrighty
Let’s make it real — the way You planned”
Choose your daddy — who’s your faith in?
Is it God or is it man?
Choose your daddy — Luke 16 says
It’s in God or it’s in mammon.

[ ApologetiX – “Adam Up” album ]

*****************************
“Sin Can Be Resistible”
Parody of “Simply Irrestible” by Robert Palmer)

We cannot be invincible — but God provides the principle
For Baptist or Episcopal — that any sin’s resistible
Sin’s pervasive — can’t ignore it — it’s a powerful force
But He’ll provide a way out when there’s no other door
And you can stay put or leave — but now I’ve found that
Sin can be resistible — sin can be resistible

Our lusts can be so powerful — hoo— that sin seems unavoidable
But James says if we resist the devil — he’ll run away so miserable
It’s a natural law that no temptation befalls ya
‘Cept the kind that is common to the rest of us all
It used to look good to me, but now I find that
Sin can be resistible — sin can be resistible — sin can be resistible
(Please hold tight — there’s no tellin’ when he’ll run away)
Sin can be resistable
(Jesus Christ tells the devil where to go)

Sin’s unavoidable but that don’t mean we’ll fall
Read First Corinthians verse 10:13 because
God made a promise, baby, Satan ain’t allowed
To tempt us more than we can bear I’ve found that
Sin can be resistible
(Please hold tight — there’s no tellin’ when he’ll run away)
Sin can be resistable
(Jesus Christ tells the devil where to go – oh whoa oh)

Our weapons aren’t shootable — huh — but truth is irrefutable
Ooh woo ooh ooh ooh woo-ooh-ooh — our struggle isn’t physical
So fight him with the biblical — yeah, yeah
Jesus faced him in the desert — he’s a powerful tempter
Even Christ could have fallen — but you know He knew better
Well, He used the Good Book you see — that’s how we find out
Sin can be resistible
(Please hold tight — there’s no tellin’ when he’ll run away)
Sin can be resistible
(Jesus Christ tells the devil where to go)
Sin can be resistible
(Please hold tight — there’s no tellin’ when he’ll run away)
Sin can be resistible
(Jesus Christ tells the devil where to go) Huh
Sin can be resistible

[ ApologetiX – “Spoofernatural” album ]

*****************************
“Counting Blessings”
(Parody of “Counting Blue Cars” by Dishwalla)

It must have been miraculous
Paul was jailed — but how come his smile wasn’t snuffed out? He talked with the churches
In his letters, he would preach, we have
Many blessings — so fill your thoughts with good
He said:

Focus all your thoughts on God
It tells me in Philippians 4

I must admit it’s tough to do
All our days there’s stuff that’s bringin’ us down
Think about only good thoughts
Skip the bad — and you’ll see, we have
Many blessings — so fill your thoughts with good
He said:

Focus all your thoughts on God
It’ll make your life much easier
And thank Him that you got this far — ooh
Focus all your thoughts on God
‘Cause the devil’s a deceiver
He’ll tell you life is very hard — it’s not very hard now

When getting low, lift up the praise
All our moods — they are choices we must make
Our souls are saved
We are family — God’s own people — and have
Many blessings — so fill your thoughts with good

Do do do do do do do

[ ApologetiX – “Ticked” album ]

*****************************
“Read Ephesians”
(Parody of “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith)

Read Ephesians, Read Ephesians

Talk about things I know God prepares
Spiritual things that your body wears
Call ‘em by name, but I gotta make clear
You can’t stand baby if you leave ‘em in here

One piece of the armor is a plate of righteousness
It’s a get-up that goes up on top of your chest
And your Gospel shoes, these are real good tires
And the belt of truth to get your pants up higher

Read Ephesians, Read Ephesians

You put on the salvation helmet to start
But the devil overtook you with his little cruel darts
Your shield of faith keeps them from goin’ inside
They can’t touch you if you have it on tight — yes indeed

Stand then firm ‘cause when Satan attacks
I think you better pray, did ya think about that
The Word of God’s somethin’ that’s a sword on your hand
And He wants you to know it and to read and understand — yes indeed

[ ApologetiX – “The Boys Aren’t Backin’ Down” album ]

*****************************
“One Thing Leads to the Father”
(Parody of “One Thing Leads to Another” by The Fixx)

The deception’s worldwide
to what are you trying to pray?
You’ve got a bland faith — your guru says
Communicate with any god you please
You see I mentioned this to
make a case for black or white
But when one little cross leaves you shocked, it’s unique
You won’t discover though you seek

I know the — Truth and the Way
Read John 14:6, baby, one thing leads to the Father
You tell me that I’m wrong
I’ve been a Christian too long, my friend
One way leads to the Father yeah, yeah, yeah

[ ApologetiX – “Wise Up and Rock” album ]

*****************************
“Isn’t Wasn’t Ain’t”
(Parody of “Livin’ Lovin’ Maid (She’s Just a Woman)” by Led Zeppelin)

There’s some people who will tell you we can all be gods
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
They go around sayin’ “New Age” a lot
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

I know Satan always tells a lie
No matter how good it sounds
Take a look in your Bible
You can bet it isn’t written down

Purgatory, purgatory, wherever that is
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
Man, there ain’t no place for payin’ off your sins
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

I know Satan always tells a lie
No matter how good it sounds
Take a look in your Bible
You can bet it isn’t written down

Good and bad karma don’t make sense to me
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
If you can’t remember who you used to be
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

Somebody says that there are lots of ways
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
But you’ll find out different on your dyin’ day
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

I know Satan always tells a lie
No matter how good it sounds
Take a look in your Bible
You can bet it isn’t written down

Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
It isn’t, it isn’t, it wasn’t, it wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

[ ApologetiX – “Isn’t Wasn’t Ain’t” Album ]

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

DEEP THOUGHTS

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

“Just because something isn’t a lie does not mean that it isn’t deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction.”
[ Criss Jami ]

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
[ Sun Tzu ]

“I do think deception… There’s something kind of odd about tricking people for a living, but ultimately, it’s a remarkably honest profession, when you think about it. If you violate that code, and you say you’re not using camera tricks, and then you do, I actually think that’s a kind of serious moral issue.”
[ Ricky Jay ]

“The essence of football was blocking, tackling, and execution based on timing, rhythm and deception.”
[ Knute Rockne ]

“Facts are threatening to those invested in fraud.”
[ DaShanne Stokes ]

“The essence of lying is in deception, not in words.”
[ John Ruskin ]

“Knowledge of God’s Word is a bulwark against deception, temptation, accusation, even persecution.”
[ Edwin Louis Cole ]

“When you start to realise how much of what you’ve constructed of yourself is based on deception and lies, that is a horrifying realisation.”
[ Jordan Peterson ]

“Humans are startlingly bad at detecting fraud. Even when we’re on the lookout for signs of deception, studies show, our accuracy is hardly better than chance.”
[ Maria Konnikova ]

“It’s the great deception in modern culture: Bad things call for noble names to cloak their evil outcomes.”
[ Greg Gutfeld ]

“In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only as a final resort when the alternative options of deception, threat and bribery have all been exhausted.”
[ Michael Musto ]

“We can’t have, like, willy-nilly proliferation of fake news. That’s crazy. You can’t have more types of fake news than real news. That’s allowing public deception to go unchecked. That’s crazy.”
[ Elon Musk ]

“All deception in the course of life is indeed nothing else but a lie reduced to practice, and falsehood passing from words into things.”
[ Robert Southey ]

“People always overdo the matter when they attempt deception.”
[ Charles Dudley Warner ]

“A lie that is half-truth is the darkest of all lies.”
[ Alfred Tennyson ]

“It is only prudent never to place complete confidence in that by which we have even once been deceived.”
[ René Descartes ]

“Any false religion ultimately is a deception of Satan, to try and keep people from the only way to Heaven, which is through faith in Jesus Christ.”
[ Robert Jeffress ]

“Lucifer is a master at gradual deception.”
[ Joseph B. Wirthlin ]

“The devil’s finest trick is to persuade you that he does not exist”
[ Charles Baudelaire ]

“I have found by long experience that the severest threatenings of the law of God have a prominent place in leading men to Christ. They must see themselves lost before they will cry for mercy; they’ll not escape danger until they see it.”
[ A. B. Earle ]

“You see, if you try to save a man from drowning when he doesn’t believe he’s drowning, he won’t be too happy with you. You see him swimming out in the lake and think, “I think he’s drowning; yes, I believe he is.” You dive in, pull him to the shore, without telling him anything. He’s not going to be very happy with you. He won’t want to get saved until he sees that he’s in danger. “They’ll not escape danger until they see it.”
[ A. B. Earle ]

“There are basically only two kinds of religion in the world: those based on human achievement and those based on divine accomplishment. One says you can earn your way to heaven; the other says you must trust in Jesus Christ alone.”
[ John MacArthur ]

“When Satan cannot get a great sin in he will let a little one in, like the thief who goes and finds shutters all coated with iron and bolted inside. At last he sees a little window in a chamber. He cannot get in, so he puts a little boy in, that he may go round and open the back door. So the devil has always his little sins to carry about with him to go and open back doors for him, and we let one in and say, ‘O, it is only a little one.’ Yes, but how that little one becomes the ruin of the entire man!”
[ Charles Spurgeon ]

“If the devil never roars, the Church will never sing! God is not doing much if the devil is not awake and busy. Depend upon it: a working Christ makes a raging devil! When you hear ill reports, cruel speeches, threats, taunts and the like, believe that the Lord is among His people and is working gloriously.”
[ Charles Spurgeon ]

“I do not think the devil cares how many churches you build, if only you have lukewarm preachers and people in them.”
[ Charles Spurgeon ]

“The Devil has seldom done a cleverer thing that hinting to the Church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them. Providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt that is sets men afire.”
[ Charles Spurgeon ]

“Satan is alive at work in deception, false miracles, bad theology, lying visions, lying dreams, lying revelations, and deceptive teachers who are in it for the money, power, and influence.”
[ John MacArthur ]

“Sleepy Christian, let me shout in thine ears: thou are sleeping while souls are being lost, sleeping while men are being damned, sleeping while hell is being peopled, sleeping while Christ is being dishonored, sleeping while the devil is grinning at thy sleepy face, sleeping while demons are dancing round thy slumbering carcass, and telling it in hell that a Christian is asleep. You will never catch the devil asleep; let not the devil catch you asleep. Watch, and be sober, that ye may be always up to do your duty.”
[ Charles Spurgeon ]

“The devil is not afraid of a dust-covered Bible.”
[ Charles Spurgeon ]

“Satan likes to use the Christian vocabulary but he doesn’t use the Christian dictionary.”
[ Warren Wiersbe ]

—————————

RELATED SCRIPTURE VERSES:

Revelation 12:9
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Ephesians 2:1-3
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Genesis 3:1-6
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden”?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.”” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

Romans 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

Ephesians 6:11-12
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Jude 1:6
And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;

Isaiah 14:12
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!

Jeremiah 17:9
” The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?

Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Romans 1:18-22
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,

2 Corinthians 11:3-4
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted’you may well put up with it!

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Revelation 13:11-17
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Ezekiel 28:17
“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
I cast you to the ground,
I laid you before kings,
That they might gaze at you.

2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

Revelation 20:1-3
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

Genesis 2:17
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Matthew 24:3-4
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

Romans 1:25
who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 2:11
lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Colossians 2:8
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

James 3:11-16
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

James 4:4
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

1 John 2:15-16
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

1 John 4:1-6
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

1 John 5:18-19
We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Proverbs 1:10-15
My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
If they say, ‘Come with us,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
We shall fill our houses with spoil;
Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”
My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;

Isaiah 8:20
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Matthew 16:21-23
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Romans 16:20
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 John 3:8
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:10
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Jude 1:3
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Revelation 12:4
His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

Revelation 12:12
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Revelation 16:13-14
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

Revelation 21:8
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’

Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

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“A quick summary of the Christian “Gospel”:
JESUS’ PROPITIATION made our SINS FORGIVEN and IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS to us so that we have GOD’S ACCEPTANCE into His Heaven and receive ETERNAL LIFE.”
[ Mark Besh ]

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Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ’pool’ to receive from, and more to share with! Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing—I would like to give credit where credit is due!

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FOCUS VERSES

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“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”
[ Genesis 3:6 ]

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
[ Jeremiah 17:9 ]

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
[ 1 Corinthians 10:13 ]

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
[ 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ]

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
[ 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 ]

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”
[ 2 Corinthians 4:4 ]

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
[ 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ]

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
[ 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ]

“He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.”
[ Colossians 1:13 ]

“They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
[ 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 ]

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
[ 1 Timothy 4:1 ]

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil.”
[ Hebrews 2:14 ]

“But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
[ James 1:14-15 ]

“If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” Jesus said that when one “Resists the Devil, he will flee from you.”
[ James 4:7 ]

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”
[ 2 Peter 2:1-2 ]

“The one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one does not touch him” [ 1 John 5:18 ]

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we[a] have worked for, but may win a full reward.”
[ 2 John 7-8 ]

“The great dragon, the serpent of old who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.”
[ Revelation 12:9 ].

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
[ Revelation 12:11 ]

“And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth.”
[ Revelation 13:13-14 ]

Mark

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If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@comcast.net

Disclaimer: All the above jokes & inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright are used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.

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