Deception

The Great Deception

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Satan has something for you, something that he offers to you each and every day of your life.  The prince of the power of the air knows that he cannot take from the believer anything pertaining to redemption, reconciliation, and our standing in the Living Christ, for Jesus Himself has procured that forevermore; it is a fact that Jesus Himself IS the Keeper of our eternal position.  However, the enemy’s desire in the life of a believer is not to take, so much, as it is to give, to offer something in addition, that if only the believer would stretch out his hand and take it, would produce real and lasting satisfaction; this in itself is what I like to call the great deception.  For if we don’t discover that everything we need is in the Lord Jesus Himself, we, as believers, are doomed to a long life of wanting and longing, of frustration and discontent; for everyday we live like this, we will cheat the Lord Jesus of the glory He so adequately deserves in our lives.

We can trace this great deception all the way back to the Garden of Eden.  God gave man everything that he would ever need pertaining to this life.  God gave him a garden to live in, food to nourish him, companionship to fulfill him, and most of all, He gave Himself to satisfy him.  God the Father was, in type, proclaiming to man the fulfillment that was to be His in the Lord Jesus.  2 Peter 1:3 says, “…seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him (the Lord Jesus)…”  However, it was in this state, in this fulfillment of life, that the serpent came along.  Satan knew that he could not take from Adam and Eve that which was bestowed upon them by God Himself, but what he could do was to offer something in addition to what man already possessed.  Genesis 3:4-5 states, “But the serpent said to the woman, you shall not surely die.  For God knows that in the day you eat of the tree your eyes will be opened, and you will be like (or as) God, knowing the difference between good and evil.”  In essence, satan wanted for man to look discontented at his present circumstance and to want something a little extra for true contentment; this was offered through the means of knowledge.  “…and you will be like (or as) God, knowing the difference between good and evil.”  In other words, “If you only knew what you do not know, then you will be all that you want to be,” or, “If you only had what you do not have, then you will be happy.”  Satan was trying to insert, into man’s experience, the thought of satisfaction apart from God.  From this, we peak inside into one of the enemy’s main strategies, for we are not ignorant of his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11).  If he can get you to want for something more than what you already have in the Lord Jesus Himself, he will steal, kill, and destroy the enjoyment of our Life in Christ. (John 10:10)

This cord of deception has been thread throughout our entire history.  Mark Fairley says it well, “Satan has no new tricks because the old tricks always work.”  The serpent will always offer to you something in addition to your total satisfaction of the Lord Jesus Himself; satan will always sow the seed of, “If I just had (fill in your blank), then I would be truly happy.”  But I want you to also know, that this “offering” spans far beyond the passing pleasures of sin.  Have you ever found yourself saying any of the following statements, “If I just had more time…,” or, “If I just had more money…,” or, “If I just had more patience…,” or, “If I just had more love…,” or, “If I just could be out of debt…,” or, “If I was just like that other person…,” or, “If I could just get more sleep…”?  I’m sure you could add a list of your own.  Even in our godly, most noble endeavors to be more like Christ, if we find ourselves wanting, then we have fallen into the share and trap of the evil one.  Why?  Because WE NOW POSSESS everything that God EVER wanted to give to us…in His Son!  Colossians 1:19 says, “For it pleased the Father that all the divine fullness should dwell in Him permanently,” and again in Colossians 2:9-10, “For in Him the whole fullness of Deity continues to dwell AND you are COMPLETE in Him.”  We have “it” because we have “Him.”  Satisfaction is not found in wanting, it is found in resting.  In Hebrews 12 we are commanded to look away from ALL that will distract to Jesus, the Author and Finisher or our faith.; He is the sum total of all our needs.

If we are truly to walk by the Holy Spirit of God, if we are to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, if we are to escape the corruption and decay of this evil world system, then we, as believers and followers of the Living Christ, are to begin to practice, in this life, CONTENTMENT with THANKSGIVING.  Wherever you are at this present moment, thank Him and find yourself walking in newness of His life in you.  See, you can’t be wanting and be thanking at the same time, it is one or the other.  Satan will never cause you to thank God, but only to cause you to ask for more than what you have.  When you find yourself wanting, thank Him and refuse the devil’s lie.  “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…and be thankful,” Colossians 3:15 and, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks through Him to God the Father,” Colossians 3:17 and, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” 1 Thess. 5:18 and, “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and declare all Thy wonders,” Psalm 26:7 and, “…having been firmly rooted and being built up in Him and established in your faith…overflowing with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7   The enjoyment of this life begins when we find our satisfaction in the Lord Jesus alone.  We don’t need more time, more money, more charm; we need to see more of the illumination of the Living Christ inside of us.  Paul said to the Galatians, “For at the right time, it pleased the Father to REVEAL His Son IN ME.”  God knows your needs, for if He did not spare His own Son, will He not freely give us all things?”  But it is in the apparent “need” that we discover our true need: more of the Lord Jesus.

One final word. We, as new creations in the Living Christ, are NOT of this world.  Jesus said to Pilot in John 18:36, “My kingdom is NOT of this world…”  We are all together “other” than this world.  We are, in fact, the richest men and women ever to walk the known earth.  Yet, these riches are not defined by the god of this world (money, influence, power, and apparent security), but rather, the God of the Universe, whose Kingdom if not of this world.  “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,” Ephesians 3:8 and, “My God shall supply ALL your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:19 and, “Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God.]” James 1:9 [Amplified].  Let me leave you with a few of the riches that are ours right now in the Lord Jesus Christ and as we walk in them, His Will be done on earth, as it is already being done in Heaven:

  1. I have His peace. Ephesians 2:14 & Colossians 3:15
  2. I have His patience. 1 Corinthians 13:4
  3. I have His Joy. Nehemiah 8:10
  4. I have His contentment. Philippians 4:12-13
  5. I have His complete trust, for I am not fearful. 2 Timothy 1:7
  6. I have His enjoyment. John 10:10 & Hebrews 12:2
  7. I have His strength. 2 Chronicles 16:9
  8. I have His confidence. Hebrews 7:25
  9. I have His love. 1 John 4:18

I pray that the Holy Spirit reveal to our hearts how rich we truly are.

Johnny

 

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