Do Not Be Deceived!

By G. Matthew Forbes

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Aug 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781698706467

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Copyright 2021 G. Matthew Forbes.

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Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Public Domain

Trafford rev. 08/13/2021

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Special thanks to

My darling wife, Mrs. Shirley Forbes. For her patience and encouragement during my times of prayer and dedication and studying the Word of God

My parents, George Matthew Sr. and Madeline Ermine Forbes, who brought me up in the fear of the Lord according to the Bible. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Prov. 22:6).

Bishop Dr. E. A. Brown. A mighty woman of God—the vessel God used to preach the gospel in its fullness, which brings conviction to my heart, leading me to repentance and baptism in the holy name of Jesus Christ. For the training I received under her ministry and for helping me understand the importance of fasting and prayer and studying God’s Word.

The late Bishop K. Lindsay and his dear wife, Evangelist D. Lindsay. A sure foundation and great support for me while serving in their ministry in Toronto, Canada.

It is a fact that the father represents the divine Lawgiver in his family. It is also true that the father has the responsibility to train his children and grow them up in the fear of the Lord. It is true that the duty of a father should not be transferred to the mother. It is a fact that the father is the breadwinner and should provide for his family. I am one of fourteen brothers and sisters whose father had these and many more qualifications and I am proud to say that our father is one whose leadership of his family pleases our Lord in Heaven.

I must confess that I am one of the fortunate sons who grew up with a God-fearing father, who has consistently set a Christian example before his family. We, my siblings and I, can count ourselves blessed above many people because of the man our father was.

My father, George Matthew Forbes Sr. (also called Papa, Elder Forbes, Mass George, and Uncle George) devoted his life to his family. He was a hardworking farmer by day and worked at the sugar factory by night. Not too many men worked as hard as he did. From 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., he worked at the factory. Then he would stop at the house just to get his farming tools and head straight to the field where he would work until late in the evening. I can still remember bringing him his breakfast before going to school. I owe a lot to this very special man of God, and I know I speak for my brothers and sisters who recognize his courage and all the attributes of a godly father.

Dad was born on the seventeenth of August 1921. At the age of twenty-five, he served in the armed forces. He loved the game of cricket and was an avid batsman. Summing up his life, I keep coming back to one thought: you will never meet a man who lived his values more faithfully. He was a teacher of all things. His method was simple. He thought by example. Whenever I was faced with an ethical dilemma, after reflection, study, or even rationalization, I would find myself coming back to one simple question: what would my father do? His character is the foundation of my conscience. Father’s teachings are endless, but I will attempt to share a few. He was very strong in body, in spirit, and in commitment. He never missed a single chance to make sure the Bible is taught in his household and that everyone learned to say a prayer. He taught his children honor, respect, and good manners. He never willfully let another man down. He tried his best to fulfill every obligation he undertook. His word was his bond, and everyone knew it. I never heard him utter a lie, or intentionally deceive anyone. He was a self-made and self-reliant individual. He never murmured regardless of the situation. He had the skill to use simple tools to fashion wood into delightful toys for his boys. I believe my father faced the world as a man who would be its master, but his humility showed he had the heart of a child. His real pride was in his children. I can still remember his strict yet living discipline. He relished the good things in life, most of all friends and family. While he never cultivated the intense relationship of a best buddy or hung out with the boys, the number who called him friend was legion. Elder Forbes never made an enemy. Not one! While he most surely came across a few people he couldn’t countenance, he solved the problem by simply avoiding them. He always insisted that a quarrel or a fight never solves any problem. He never once hit another man in anger.

He was loyal to his calling and served the Lord and his church with everything he had without wavering. His faithfulness to God and those important in his life could be seen in the way he steadfastly maintained ties even with his childhood friends. From the streets of the village where he grew up and the surrounding town and villages, Mass George could always be counted on to be there for spiritual and moral support. He was never stingy. Although we did not have much, the generosity he expressed with the little he had matched hi benevolence of spirit. Elder Forbes loved the Lord; teaching His Word was his passion. I have never seen him visibly upset. However angry he got, he managed to keep his emotions under control. He never allowed criticism to affect his good judgment and strong sense of self-worth. He always avoided actions that would cause embarrassment to others. He was never irrational, loud, proud, or boastful. Moderation was his byword in all things. He depended on the Holy Spirit for direction in matters he deemed hard to handle on his own. One of his all-time favorite hymns was Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me.

He was responsible to the very end. He might have seemed to be a very serious person to those around, but Dad loved a good joke. He would make us laugh even in times of sadness. His humor was never mean-spirited or designed to hurt or humiliate. I never once heard him utter a demeaning slur, nor did he ever treat anyone of any station with anything other than kindness and respect. Papa loved and cared for his family; he spoke openly of his love and admiration for his wife and children, whom he loved with every bone in his body. His visible affection sometimes overcame his usual reserve. His unflagging support for my mother’s personal development and life created the perfect balance and childhood stability for my siblings and me that in the world today seems like a lost dream. Dad did his best to foster domestic tranquility. I remember him allowing his in-laws or anyone who visited to share the little we had. In times of trouble, my father was the person to go to; he was always attentive to his children and brethren alike because he knew that it was his job to be a rock for them to lean on. Dad had a quiet dignity, respecting others the way he respected himself. As he faced his final days, he occasionally lost his good humor, but he never had one moment of self-pity. Whenever I called or visited, I would ask him how he was doing, and he would mutter the same answer he gave every time: I am doing just fine. As Father faced imminent infirmity, he became more firm in his faith and resolute in his quest for the ultimate prize, which is eternal life with the Lord in heaven and the new world to come. I am confident he is gone to be with the Lord. I believe when his time for departure came, he was whispering to himself, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give me on that day. And not to me only, but unto them also who love His appearing. Joining me in presenting this tribute is his wife and my mother, Ermine. My brothers and sisters, his grandchildren, his great, and great-great-grandchildren. Sons in-law and daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, his brothers and sisters in the Lord, and many friends.

May your soul rest in peace, my father. You have done very well. As a matter of fact, you were excellent.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1     Is The Devil Real?

Chapter 2     Identifying and Overcoming The Enemy

Chapter 3     The Works of the Devil

Chapter 4     Character of Satan

Chapter 5     How to Walk in the Spirit

Chapter 6     Blind Leaders, Deceivers, Fakers, and Backsliders

Chapter 7     The Procrastinator and The Spiritually Slothful

Chapter 8     The Fallacy of Separation from The Church and The Brethren

Chapter 9     Be Careful of Your Desires

Chapter 10   The Many Tools of Satan

Chapter 11   Avoiding Deception

Chapter 12   The Deceiver’s Main Objective

Chapter 13   The Backslider

Chapter 14   The Warning Signs

Chapter 15   Recognizing the Holy Ghost’s Power

Chapter 16   The Reality of God versus Satan’s Lies

Chapter 17   Pride, Rebellion, Disobedience, Deception, Reasons for Downfall

Chapter 18   Tricks of the Devil

Chapter 19   The Many Weapons the Enemy Uses to Keep Men in His Control

Chapter 20   Gossiping Schemes and Lies of Satan

Chapter 21   The Devil’s Objective and End of His Followers

Chapter 22   Wisdom and Understanding: A Fortified Wall Against Satan’s Offense

Chapter 23   The Unseen Foe

Chapter 24   Overcoming the Enemy’s Weapons

Chapter 25   Overcoming Satan and His Demons

Chapter 26   The Fallacies of Predestination

Chapter 27   Religion as a Means of Deception by Satan

Chapter 28   Organized Lies and Religious Falsehood

Chapter 29   Practices to Shun and Avoid Completely

Chapter 30   Authority over Satan and Demons

Chapter 31   Understanding Satan’s Tactics and Schemes

Chapter 32   The Right Formula for True Power

Chapter 33   The Essentiality of a Sincere Prayer

Chapter 34   Resist the Devil, Serve God and Not Religion

Chapter 35   Mighty Weapons Guaranteed to Defeat Satan

Chapter 36   Trusting in the Lord and Avoiding Deception

INTRODUCTION

This book was motivated by the desire I have, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to bring to light hidden facts about Satan, the enemy of our soul, and his subtle activities in and around the churches today.

Many today lay blame on someone else for the many spiritual problems the churches face and are asking why the prolonged period of abnormally low spiritual rainfall, leading to such shortage of spiritual growth and the lack of souls being saved. I believe, as Christians and servants of Christ, we need to take a closer look at the source of the problem and set a more permanent and invasive method of exposing all the devil’s tricks, not only to avoid them but also to bring them down, starting at its foundations.

My vision for this book was first realized when I observed the ungodly actions of so-called Christians, self-acclaimed prophets, self-appointed apostles, and pastors, which cause the spiritual demise of our churches today. I wish to point out the importance and necessity of having a firm grounding in the Word of God. To measure our depth and steadfastness in the faith.

The confrontation of the devil and his evil forces, the stand against sin in the pulpit and among church members is of utmost importance. The theory of Satan’s extinction must be counted as a fallacy and be ignored. Christians need to increase the coverage of areas to be evangelized and do the work of God without fear. An easy and sure way of defeating Satan is to know that he is only able to do what the Lord allows him to do. Satan had to ask permission from God before he could test Job and destroy his possessions. But he had no permission to touch his soul, so he could not. We do not have to be deceived. We can overcome the devil and whatever trouble he piles on us. God was able to say of Job, He still holds fast his integrity. Evidently, Satan made previous attempts to destroy Job, but he was unsuccessful. By rejecting God’s assessment or judgment of Job, Satan was actually saying that God judged wrongly, so he presumptuously challenged the Almighty to a duel.

Stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" (Job 2:4–5).

What impertinence! What Satan was doing was actually testing God’s ability to judge correctly.

If he tries to do that to his Creator, imagine what he will try to put us through in our Christian walk. The good news is we do not have to backslide or succumb to the pressures of his temptations and deceptions, or any other problems brought on by the devil. After all that Satan did, Job remained firm in his faith. He declared, For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me (Job 19:25–27).

The devil’s main tactic is pulling a veil of darkness over the eyes of the Christians so they will not discern or understand who he really is. This veil comes in many forms: First he makes you busy attending to the things of the flesh and not the things of God. He knows that once you realize who he is and understand the way he works, you can overcome him. He also knows that if you are not aware of who he is or don’t understand him, if you are not able to recognize his snares and his activities, you will not be prepared to fight and defeat him. Ignorance of who the devil really is happens to be one of the downfalls of many who are saved and genuinely love God. If you are not spiritually alert, you can fall victim to the devil’s temptations and backslide even while attending church faithfully.

I grew up in the church, under the strict discipline and directions of my parents. I unwillingly attended church, learned to pray and read the Bible. Then at age seventeen, I heard the gospel preached in its fullness for the first time by Dr. Bishop E. A. Brown a mighty woman of God. My parents and I accepted the invitation and I was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I was later filled with the Holy Ghost. The memory of my baptism remains vivid in my mind. The song for my vow was powerful; it caused me to weep. The words over the years continued to be a constant reminder.

I have made my choice forever to walk with Christ the Lord.

Instead, I let my guard down and wandered away from the God I love and promised to serve. Minding the things of the flesh made me an easy target for Satan. My life was overtaken by pride, the lust of the flesh, the desire, and the relentless drive to achieve a good education. I became blinded by Satan; his presence in my life just would not leave me. The problem was, I did not recognize him for who he really was, so I followed his lead down a road filled with regrets and disappointment.

I abandoned my faith and my vows and began to seek the things that satisfy temporarily, things that brought much pain and sorrow in the end.

Most of this book is from personal experience. I know what it is like to be a churchgoing backslider, to be active in the ministry and not be committed to the work of Jesus, to delight in sinful pleasures and pursue everything my heart desires.

When you are deceived, you become vulnerable and weak. You easily succumb to Satan’s enticement, and all the works of the flesh starts manifesting in you as oil swims on water.

I became so trapped by the devil; I could do nothing right no matter how I tried. I remember the times when I refused to pray and read the Bible. I became indignant, thinking everyone and everything was against me. I sought satisfaction from everywhere, except from Jesus.

There was always an emptiness and the sense that something was missing, but I was blind and felt helpless to reach out for the things that are right, so I continued spiraling downward.

After a few years, my backslidden state started to become more and more pronounced, and the changes in my life took a turn for the worse. I developed a deep sense of loneliness that made me more vulnerable to the enemy’s devious and cunning stratagems, which he employed in manipulating and persuading me to do what he wanted. The devil really did a work on my mind. Not only did my desire for the Lord changed, but I became curious about the pleasures of the world and what it had to offer. At this point, the attractions of the world, being enhanced by Satan’s tricks, started crowding out the messages I once embraced from my heart.

Jesus said, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24).

When we are serving the Lord in spirit and truth, we accept the fact that we cannot serve two masters; but when we are blinded and deceived by Satan, we invoke our freedom of choice given to us by the Lord. We can choose to serve Jesus and have the best that He has to offer, but the enemy blinds the eyes of the mind as he seeks to destroy us, endeavoring to lead us astray with his manifold temptations.

If we fail to remain prayerful and dedicate our lives to the Word and Will of the Lord, we will make choices that lead to many years of heartache, pain, and sorrow, and the path that leads to destruction. Hanging around people who are comfortable in sin is an action promoted by Satan. Before long, you are so caught up in the world that you start feeling as though you really belong, and is accepted, and is part of a group of people who you think are your friends when in fact they are not but a part of the devil’s scheme. No one has to fall prey to the enemy’s lies or be blinded by his façade, false beauty, and false hope.

"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder (Prov. 23:31–32).

Behaviors that seem harmless and of little or no consequence start out as having fun but soon snowball into a spiritual disaster of catastrophic measures. When one is deceived, as I was, life becomes overcharged with disappointments, failures, and uncertainty, not knowing when and to what degree tragedy would strike. For years, my life was filled with nothing but confusion and adversity, and I was in constant danger. Deception starts with sins that appear innocent and harmless—just what Satan wants. That is why we are warned to be careful about nothing.

Be careful of nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6–7) Neither give place to the devil (Eph. 4:27).

If the devil is given the smallest of loopholes, before you realize it, your wall of defense is breached, and everything starts spiraling downward and eventually gets totally out of control.

The devil is very subtle: He tricks men into believing that it is OK to have a little fun in our lives and not to burden ourselves with petty matters, making us comfortable in what some might consider little sins; but before we realize it, they turn into big, uncontrollable problems that the enemy uses to his advantage. These same small sins make the believer weak in the Spirit and makes it far more difficult to resist the temptations.

The devil has a way to impair the judgment of the deceived, giving him a false sense of security, making him wanton and rebellious. After a while, they think—and even believe—that nothing bad can happen to them. I learned the hard way that sin is a reproach to any people.

Because of sin, man becomes selfish and cruel and lacks any consideration for others; he is concerned chiefly with his own personal profit or pleasure and will not take into consideration the welfare and lives of others.

When you follow Satan’s lead, there is no telling what can happen or what evil might befall you. Without Jesus in your life, the battles you are fighting are futile and are incapable of producing any useful result. Many times, we hurt others and cause them much suffering.

There is always a certain dread and fear because of the uncertainty and lack of communication with God. Backsliders sometimes think they can deal with their problems on their own. There are other times when they try to suppress them and try very hard to forget about them; but unless there is genuine repentance and a complete turnaround, Satan will always have the upper hand. He will obscure every single ray of light so you will continue walking in darkness.

The devil and his host rejoice when a Christian fails and will do everything to keep them bound and trapped in their sins.

Because of Satan’s deception and my yielding to his temptations, I can still remember how careless my life became as I stumbled along, totally oblivious to the danger that surrounded me and how close to death I really was. I sometimes look back and wonder how I could have escaped so many deadly situations. I could have died, and my soul would have been lost, but God, in his mercy, delivered me. It is only by the grace of God that I am still alive.

When you are a backslider, when you are deceived and blinded by the devil, when you turn from the truth and start living according to the flesh, there are severe consequences no matter how educated you are and how much money you earn.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36–37).

Satan is always setting traps, which causes much difficulty, embarrassment, and inconvenience. The devil will even trick us into making impulsive and foolish decisions out of confusion and desperation, which, most of the time, brings us shame and regret. At times there is a nameless dread and fear and an overwhelming case of paranoia and fear of the unknown.

Those who are in Christ should stay the course because the sinful, backslidden lifestyle is scary and very depressing. Waking up with depression becomes a common thing; it gradually takes a toll on you psychologically. This sometimes lasts for days; other times it would last for weeks, or even months. Rebellion and disobedience lead to disaster.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it (Isa. 1:19–20).

My backslidden ways brought all the hardship I feared upon me. There was a point in my life when all seemed hopeless and the light I once saw became total darkness. I felt the anger of the Lord because I yielded to Satan’s voice. My heart became filled with selfish pride, and I was always looking to others and somewhere else for comfort and peace instead of trusting in him who really loves me and cares for me. I failed miserably, to stay on the path Jesus wanted me to follow; the only path that leads to righteousness, hope, peace, joy, and, in the end, eternal life. Thank God for the effective fervent prayers of my parents that went up for me. I finally came to myself and remembered the vow I made to the Lord on March 12, 1972.

And whatever the pain or peril, Jesus, I’ll go through with thee.

I realized I could not make it by myself, so I gave it all to Jesus. I took myself out of the way and crucified the flesh. Gradually I started studying the Bible again and set aside time for fasting and prayer no matter how busy I was.

You may be deceived by Satan, you may slip, and even fall, but you do not have to stay down. Arise! And go back to your Father and confess your sins to him. Repent, and turn away from them. By doing this, you can and will overcome the devil. When a person has been deceived by Satan, I can assure you that they are helpless in finding their way back to the old path if they are not willing to surrender their all to Jesus.

Arise! Shake yourself from the dust, give it all to Jesus, and

Do Not Be Deceived.

CHAPTER 1

Is The Devil Real?

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This is a question that plagues the mind of many today. (some Christians).

In the preface to his book, The Devil’s Alphabet, Kurt Koch writes,

The devil is a many-sided and versatile demagogue. To the psychologist he says, I will give you a new level of knowledge and understanding. To the occultist he says, I will give you the keys to the last secrets of creation. He confronts the religionist and the moralist with a mask of integrity and promises them the very help of heaven. And finally, to the rationalist and the liberalist he says I am not there. I do not even exist. The devil is a skilled strategist. He is the master of every tactic of the battlefield. He befogs the front. He hides behind the camouflage of empty religious talk. He operates through the use of the latest scientific method. He successfully launches his arguments on the social and humane plane. And his sole aim is to deceive and entice, and to ensnare his victims.

The reason many are trapped and drawn into his lair is the denial of his existence. Too long has he been passed off as a figment of the imagination, a mythological figure, and just a symbol of evil.

The devil had a high position in heaven. He was Lucifer, son of the morning, perfect in all his ways, and the most beautiful and wise of all God’s creation. His evil career began when he sets his eye on the Throne of God and unrighteousness was found in him (see Ezek. 28).

"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. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit" (Isa. 14:12–15).

Rebellion was the downfall of this once-glorious angelic being. It was the reason for his transformation from sun of the morning with every precious stone for his covering to an evil enemy of God and of good. When one is rebellious, he ignores the will of God and tries to fulfill his own. Instead of humbling himself and allowing the will of the Creator, the Almighty God to be carried out, he decides that he should have his way. Five times Lucifer said in his heart, I will:

1. I will ascend into heaven.

2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

3. I will sit upon the mount of the congregation.

4. I will ascend above the heights of the cloud.

5. I will be like the Most High.

Satan’s only desire is to draw man away from God. It is clear that man was created by God, in his own image and likeness; man was given dominion over the work of his hands.

And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth’ (Gen. 1:26).

Man was the crowning of God’s creation. He was placed in a perfect environment and was in harmony with God and nature. Satan was envious of the relationship man had with God, so he deceived him into believing there was a chance for him to be as God himself.

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree, which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, ‘Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.’ And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil, (Gen. 3:1–5).

Satan is up to his same old tricks today. He knows that God loves mankind, so he is doing all he can to keep man from the relationship he had with God when he was created.

Satan is always trying to pull us away from the fellowship and communication he once shared with the Almighty, so he blinds man spiritually to keep us from the only way back to God, which is through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Cor. 4:3–4).

Satan is called the god of this world, who prevents the unbelieving from accepting Jesus Christ and will do anything to keep men from knowing God. The devil comes in many forms and ways to keep men blinded and in their sin. He is a slanderer and accuser whose only aim is to do harm by making false accusations and lies to achieve his end. The good thing is you can resist him and overcome him by the word of your testimony and the blood of the Lamb.

Satan was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44).

Satan is an adversary who reigns over a kingdom of darkness organized in opposition to God. The devil is a living creature. He is not corporeal. Although he is a spirit being, it does not make him any less real. He is invisible and powerful, which makes him successful in the pursuit of his cause to snare and trap the unbeliever. The less you know about Satan, the better he likes it. When you are ignorant of his tactics, it confers an advantage on him, but he prefers that you do not even believe in his existence.

He is the tempter who seeks to lead men into sin because he is a sinner. He accuses and denounces men, pointing out their faults before God. He is a liar who makes false promises to those who will listen to him and follow him.

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, ‘All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine’ (Luke 4:5–7).

In order to accomplish his task, Satan uses lies as the foundation for his deception. He is not just a liar—he is the father of lies. Before Jesus came, Satan had the power of death; but Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh and destroyed sin in the flesh. When the Holy Ghost enters into man and man starts living in the spirit, crucifying the flesh, and putting off the old man with his deeds, Satan’s accusations are ineffective because as the Bible says, we are made free from sin.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Heb. 2:14–18).

Satan is Beelzebub, lord of the dunghill, lord of the flies, master of corruption and evil. The devil is a wicked spirit. He is described as Belial, the spirit of evil personified, the devil. He is the supreme evildoer and god of this world, leading mankind to oppose and rebel against God.

One of the devil’s main plans is to convince the world that he does not exist, so he motivates false teachers to do his bidding.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (2 Pet. 2:1).

Unless there is change in man, the things Satan uses to entice him will appear as good, and the gospel as foolishness.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14).

Satan will use every method to keep people from coming to Jesus Christ, so he works on killing the conscience so the sinner will not feel any guilt for the wrong he does. Satan attempts to convince the evil person that he is not good enough for God and he is too far gone for God to accept him or answer his prayers, but the Bible teaches differently.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matt. 11:28–29). Regardless of your condition, all you have to do is repent and believe, and Jesus will set you free from your sins. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isa. 53:5–6).

Forgiveness is available for all who will believe and come to Jesus sincerely, no matter what they have done. To show how devious Satan is, in his deceptions; he tricked the unsaved into believing he is too bad for God to accept him and at the same time, make the churchgoer who professes Christianity think he is so good that he does not need to pray to and seek God, such is the self-righteous who pray to himself instead of God.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess (Luke 18:11–12).

Because of Satan’s deceptions, this person is willing to go before the Almighty God based on his own merits, feeling that God must accept him based on all the good works he has done in his life. But all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, so except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived by Satan—he knows his doom is sure. Mankind does not need to share in the everlasting punishment he and his host of demons will receive from God. The eternal fire was prepared for the devil and his angels, a punishment they cannot escape; but mankind has a choice through Jesus Christ, who shed his blood as an atonement for our sins. At the Judgment, we can be with the ones on the right; Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ (Matt. 25:34). We do not have to be one of those on the left: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41).

Do not be deceived. The devil’s final home is the lake of fire, where his inglorious career of inflicting misery on mankind will come to an end.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Rev. 20:10).

The devil is defeated, his house was plundered and spoiled. He no longer has the keys of death; his power was taken away.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Col. 2:15).

Christians must be aware of fact that the devil does exist, but he tries to hide this from the world. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2 Cor. 11:14–15).

Do not be deceived; the devil is not showing himself as a symbolic figure of evil but parading as an angel of light. Satan’s motives remain the same since the time of his rebellion. He wants to be like the Most High God. He wants to be adored. He wants allegiance. He wants the service of mankind who rightly should be serving God. Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man (Eccles. 12:13). Satan wants to show how good he is by blinding man’s eye to the goodness and mercies of God. Because of his deception, those who do worship the devil are unaware of what they are doing, thinking they are wise they become fools. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good (Ps. 14:1).

The devil’s agenda is to prepare the world for his own world rule through the Antichrist.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess. 2:7–12)

The devil works behind the scenes, influencing men to develop an increasing irreverence and lawlessness toward God. It is amazing how men who never prayed or believe in God can blame him for their problems. The reason is that Satan conceals his true identity from his followers, blinding their eyes with riches and worldly power, tempting them the way he tempted Jesus.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me (Matt. 4:8–9).

Because these men yield to Satan’s temptations, you will find that they are prospering in this life; but they are ignorant of his devices and deception, which comes in a variety of forms, one of which is to bring false comfort and false hope to those who live in sin. He gives them a feeling of contentment living without Jesus, keeping them from repenting and turning to God, keeping them satisfied enough in their current situation so he can keep them under his control. It is a dangerous position to be in when the devil deceives you, making you believe you have everything you need, and that your soul is all right. Jesus told a parable describing the end of such a person.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possessed.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:15–21)

This may sound very hard to some, but in many cases, it is easier for a habitual thief and an alcoholic to come to Christ than a rich, successful businessman.

Many times, the alcoholic or a habitual thief is written off as lost and without hope of rehabilitation, but this person, when they realize how lost they are, will seek help and is in a better position to turn from their bad habits. The successful businessman is more likely to remain in sin; he is always looking for more ways to increase his riches and lay up more treasures for himself.

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again, I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Matt. 19:21–24)

Satan is notorious for his counterfeiting. Throughout history, he has attempted to counterfeit what God does and says. One of the devil’s main areas of counterfeiting is religion. By using people who go to church and are religious, thinking that all is good between them and God, Satan is able to use his subtle deception and lead many of them astray, having them believing in religion without accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The religious man who is deceived by Satan relies on his own knowledge and trusts in his own works, not acknowledging the truth that apart from Christ, we cannot know God; neither can we have the right relationship with him.

You are deceived and walking in Satan’s ways when you deny Jesus and reject the power of God.

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes (Rom. 3:12–18).

With the help of Satan, fallen man has developed a wide variety of religious beliefs and set ways and standards on how to achieve God’s grace and favor without repentance and submission to him. Trusting in your own religiosity rather than in the Lord Jesus Christ is a sure sign you are deceived and following Satan’s lead.

Christians must be aware that Satan is a defeated foe with limitations. He can only go as far as he is allowed. We must also be aware that he is a great deceiver who tries to fool people into thinking he is greater than he actually is. Satan is an illusionist who performs tricks to deceive the unsuspecting. He will even perform some convincing miracles that some misconceive him as or liken him unto God. These misconceptions could not be farther from the truth. There can be no comparison between the Holy God and Satan. God is infinite; Satan is finite. God is omnipresent; Satan is not. God is all-knowing; Satan is not. God is all-powerful; Satan is not. God can do anything; Satan cannot. God knows all our thoughts and intensions; Satan does not.

The devil wants you to believe that he has these abilities, but remember, he does not. Too many give Satan credit he does not deserve; in doing so, they fall victim to his snares. Christians need to realize that Satan is not all-powerful. Whatever power he had was taken away by Jesus’s death on the cross.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth’ (Matt. 28:18).

It is Satan’s intention to keep us from believing that when Jesus died on the cross for us, the power of sin was broken, and we do not have to fear Satan’s power because he cannot dwell in us or make us do the things we do not want to. As long as we are living by the Word of God and have Christ dwelling in our hearts, the tempter snare is broken, for in the name of Jesus, demons must flee. The victory has been won, and Satan is defeated. It is said that if you do not know who the enemy is, if we are unaware of his strategies and strength, we cannot defeat him. Christians who are dressed in the whole armor of God and living right have the ability to stand firm and defeat Satan. When you are aware of his schemes and of his existence, when you know what his motives and methods are, when you know his limitations and follow the principles given to us by the Word of God, you can intelligently combat and overcome Satan and his attacks.

CHAPTER 2

Identifying and Overcoming The Enemy

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Satan, also known as the devil, is an entity that seduces anyone he can into sin and falsehood. He is a fallen angel who used to possess great piety and beauty but was lifted in pride and rebelled against God. For a time, the devil holds temporary power over the fallen world and a host of fallen angels and demons. Some religions regard Satan as a metaphor for an evil inclination, but he is not just an evil principle or an error of the mortal mind. Contrary to popular opinion and assumptions, Satan is not an entity with hooves and horns or a tail. He is not a disease germ or an abstract power or a hideous beast in the form of a person holding a pitchfork and presiding over the lake of fire and the realm of the dead. He has transformed himself into an angel of light and dwells among men, deceiving the nations.

The positive step the Christian can take in identifying and overcoming the devil’s temptations and avoid his deceptions is to identify Satan and his schemes. We must also know who we are in Christ and the power we have through the Holy Ghost. To defeat Satan and be overcomers, we must stay alive in Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Before we can discern the spirits and know which is right and is of God we must stay in tune with the Word of God. Because of Satan’s counterfeiting abilities, one has to be born of the Spirit of God and have received new spiritual life from above to be able to recognize and ascertain what is real and true. If we are living in the flesh, we cannot see spiritually because that which is born of the flesh cannot discern spiritual things.

Before we can identify the works of the devil, we must live free of sin and his deceptions, old things must passed away and all things become new in Christ. A deceived person may be bright and intellectual, possess an unblemished moral character, and show the most amiable qualities of disposition; but without the Holy Spirit in our heart and life, we will still be defeated. Nothing but the newness of life and complete repentance by turning from our evil ways and having a clean heart could bring us into fellowship with Jesus and make us overcomers.

You may possess the most exalted, attractive, intellectual, and natural disposition and be honored above all in the sight of men; but without the Holy Spirit, it amounts to very little or nothing. If we are to overcome Satan and be a part of the family of God, we must rise to an entirely different level, above the things of the flesh. Live above the world, resisting temptations, with your feet planted on the highest plain, rooted and grounded by the Holy Ghost. What Christians must realize is that Satan is wise in all the things pertaining to the flesh. He has an intellect superior to man and is more intelligent than mere mortals. Christians are advised not to take on the devil by themselves, because without the help of the Holy Spirit, you will lose the battle and eventually the war. Before the believer can overcome Satan, the Word of God must abide in him, and he must be abiding in the Lord Jesus. Satan is very sly; he has and shows a cunning and deceitful nature and tries to deceive people, especially the Christians, at all cost. He aims to catch you off guard by quoting the scripture when he is performing his tricks and temptations. Notice that Satan cited the scriptures to Jesus when he tempted him (read Matt. 4:1–10).

Paul tells us that in addition to taking up the shield of faith, with which we will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the wicked, we should also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, because the Word of God, is the Christian’s only offensive weapon against the Satan (Eph. 6:13–17). That is why Satan tries to prevent the Word from taking root. Jesus said that when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. So it is clear that Christians can only resist the devil by knowing and memorizing scriptures and living according to them. Studying and living by the Word of God is the only way we can avoid being deceived by Satan’s lies. (Read Gen. 3:13; John 8:44, Acts 5:3; 2 Cor. 2:10–11, 4:4, 11:14; James 3:14–15; 2 Thess. 2:9–10; and Rev. 12:9.)

Christians must follow the Bible at all times. Following all instructions gives us the ability to resist the devil. First, every Christian must realize that Satan is an evil spirit who possesses wisdom and strength beyond or above the range of man’s normal physical, human experience.

There is a spirit world that is much higher than the intellectual and the physical world. A world where man in all his pride and glory cannot be a victor. But the most humble and uncultured Christian, who can only pray in their simplicity, from the depths of a heart that is regenerated, with reverence and gratitude to the Creator can defeat the ruler of darkness in this world.

The model prayer taught by Jesus, Our Father who are in heaven Hallowed be Your Name. Although it appears simple and is taken for granted, is above the loftiest prayer that can be prayed by the geniuses of the world. Because this is the prayer God wants to hear, not one sprinkled with pride and selfishness and glorification of the flesh.

For Christians to be strong in the Lord, they must live and walk in the Spirit, please God, and live above the material creation. Every person who has put on Christ by baptism and is living a sinless life is now a new creation and is translated into a higher place in the universe, in the arms of Jesus where sin cannot molest them, and they are now a part of the family of God and taking part in His Divine Nature.

We can be overcomers and be without condemnation when we live holy and stay connected with Jesus our Lord and Savior and walk constantly in the Spirit, because that which is born of the flesh and live according to the flesh cannot please God.

Pleasing God takes a spiritual birth and a life free from sin and the works of the flesh, that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.

To live free from sin and deception, old things must pass away, and all things become new in Christ. Nothing but the newness of life and complete repentance, turning from our evil ways, and having a clean heart can bring us into fellowship with Jesus.

We are confident that greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. There is none greater than our God who created all things, who speaks and makes something out of nothing.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun (Ps. 19:1–4).

Although we love and worship the Creator, who will always be there for us, let us remember Jesus’s warning to watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt 26:41). James reminds us to submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

These warnings serve to remind us how powerful and evil Satan is. One thought that strikes me really hard is that the Bible does not deny or dispute the power of Satan. The good thing is that we are given the power to subdue and overcome him. As mentioned numerous times in this book, it is impossible to defeat an enemy you know nothing about. Let us, then, consider this very cunning, subtle, and very devious enemy so that we may understand the true character of the adversary with whom we have to contend. The Bible describes Satan as the head of a great army of evil foes.

If you examine the Epistles to the Ephesians: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:12).

And also to the Colossians: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (Col. 2:8).

You will find that there are seven grades of fallen angels, as there are seven grades of unfallen angels. We read of principalities, powers, dominions, authorities, rulers, thrones, and wicked spirits. But above them all, there is a rank of archangels. We can look at Satan as the highest over all the ranks of fallen angels. Just as a rouge general who is recognized as a rebel in the army and cut loose from the government and carries all the rebellious high-ranking officers with him, everyone who took part in the rebellion when it took place among the members of the army down to the least private, so did the deceived angels of God carry over into their revolt the ranks they had before the