Devotional #15               

He Appears as an Angel of Light

There are times when I realized that God was speaking to me which at first I falsely attributed to the voice of Satan. We must be careful not to dismiss God’s voice just because it doesn’t line up with our own plans, views or prejudices. Furthermore, the Bible is our ultimate authority on God’s voice, will and ways. Likewise, the Devil disguises his voice and appearance to look as if he is from the Lord or often pretends to be even God himself. 2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “…Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” 

While I was president of my college’s Christian club, I had a problem that I needed to deal with quickly. An older woman, in her sixties, started attending the club. Several of the members and I noticed that she was often argumentative, and sought to debate with those leading the meetings and even called to question the validity of the scriptures. We found that many of her new age views seemed to lean toward a pseudo Christianity, actually a Christ-less Christianity, which is not Christianity at all. The Gospel, is the good news of Jesus Christ, not Jesus plus something else. It is Jesus ONLY! 

That’s the beauty and simplicity of salvation. We were broken in our sins and separated from our Creator. He found the only antidote: His own Son was sacrificed in our place. If we receive His grace, we are healed and are born again into His family. We could never say anything else or work enough, in our own strength, to be made right or worthy enough to relate with a holy God. Paul stressed to the Corinthians, “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!”  This woman was confusing the young believers in the club and needed to be addressed!

As I began to pray about how to take care of this problem, it became clear to me that she was effectively causing many of the members to question their faith by seeking them out one at a time. God brought Galatians 5:7-10 to my attention, “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.  I have confidence in you, in the Lord that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.”

Having received direction from God not to fall to her trickery or over sympathize with her, I confronted her with all that I had seen and heard about her. She started by trying to play on my sympathies (just as the Lord had forewarned me) in saying that she was an old woman and that as Christians we had to respect her. Once we had finished talking, with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, she admitted to what she had done, understood that I would go to the campus authorities (if she continued this type of debating in order to undermine our faith), and suggested she join another club that was more in line with her views. She left and we never heard from her again.

   

See It for Yourself: 2 Corinthians 11:14, 11:3-4, Galatians 5:7-10, Luke 16:8, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Isaiah 59:19

Prayer Focus:

Dear Lord,

You said, “When the enemy comes in like a flood (Your Spirit) will lift up a standard against him.” Let me be Your standard bearer, who keeps the enemy’s leaven out of Your loaf!

In Jesus’ name I pray, 

Amen.

Working It Out: 

Hear the voice of Christ who said, “…the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” A visiting preacher misspoke on a major doctrine, by the service’s end the pastor made a point of correcting him publically. I’m glad that he did so, considering that if it were left unaddressed, it would have brought confusion to those in attendance. Just a little leaven (yeast) will affect a whole loaf! Remember: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”