EXPOSING THE SPIRIT OF DECEPTION

 Deception is one of the many tactics the enemy uses and this spirit has many different faces.  When we think of deception, various other words come to mind such as; deceit, lies, trickery, false, fraud, misrepresentation among others.  Therefore, deception has to do with carefully and cunningly misleading someone by means of bending or twisting the truth in order to get what you want from a person or to have an advantage over them.  Does this sound familiar?

The enemy is the master of deception.  Let us not forget that he is the "father of lies" (John 8:44)

As I remained in prayer the Spirit of the Lord began to speak to me about the spirit of deception.  This was what the Lord spoke into my spirit:

• The spirit of deception is an ugly spirit.  
• This spirit operates in conjunction with stealing/ theft. 
•  It also operates with disguise .
• It operates under false pretense and jealously. 
• The spirit of deception functions with a mask; you never truly know what is there until it has been released.
• It is trickery at its highest power.
• The spirit of deception never wears its' own name.
• This spirit knows how to resize and regroup very well. 
• It can be likened to a coin that has two different sides but it is the same coin.
• The spirit of deception always shows up like the real deal, but it takes the eyes of the Spirit and discernment to pick him up.
• This spirit first starts with the mind before it attacks your Spirit.

The Lord does not like deception!  Many of us as believers, allow the enemy to use us to become deceptive to others without knowing that right there and then, we become his tool. Let us ensure that this spirit of deception that is at work, we pray against such spirit so that we don't fall victim.

Psalm 101:7 the Lord reminds us that, "No one who practices deceit will dwell in My house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in My presence".

Proverbs 19:9 tells us, "A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish".

Let us be keen and remain vigilant so we are able to identify the enemy before he attacks.  God bless you! Shalom

DON'T ENTERTAIN THE DEVIL!

 Very often we hear of the old adage that says, "If yuh play with puppy, him will lick yuh mouth".  The same is true of the enemy (The Devil).  The devil is no friend of ours! The quicker we understand such nugget of truth, it is better for us!

The word of God declares in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [[a]in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour."

It behooves us to ensure that we become alert to the tactics and evil schemes of the enemy.  This means that as children of God we ought to ensure that we remain constantly in prayer and the Word of God.

The enemy's number one aim and intention is to ensure that he gets us sidetracked and derailed from off the road to eternal life.  This enemy of ours is very intentional, crafty, cunning and subtle.  Therefore, we must ensure that we are  well grounded in order to counteract his evil schemes.

It is also written in St. John 10:10a, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy".

This is what the enemy sets out to achieve. What are YOU doing about it?  Are you going to sit and wallow in self pity? Are you going to allow the enemy to keep throwing his punches at you and you sit around and do nothing about it? Where has the warrior in YOU gone? Sleeping giant, it is time to WAKE up and get yourself up!  Be reminded that we are in a fixed fight and our only ultimate is to WIN!  It is time to start telling yourself that you will win! You must win and you shall win!  Stop believing the lies of the enemy.  It is time for you to believe your GOD.

I want to tell us that, the enemy never shows up one way all the time.  He has many different strategies and tactics.  The enemy may:

1. Cast the spirit of doubt on you, allowing you to doubt God.

2. Tell lies on you or even betray you.

3. He may set a spirit of frustration and confusion upon you to get you out of the way of the Lord.

4. He may turn the minds and heart of others against you.

5. He may use others to case a spell or witchcraft upon you.

6. He may rest the spirit of negativity upon you that your thoughts and intentions are just negative.

7. He may cause your eyes to be blinded to the truth so that even when truth comes you cannot see it.

8. He may turn your heart and mind away from those who the Lord has strategically placed to help you in a particular season because he does not want you to be delivered.

9. He will cause you to always see the bad in others because he wants you to remain a captive and powerless.

10. He may use demonic entities to plant seeds and cast a spell or curse upon you so that you cannot move forward.

That is still not the end! Such does not necessarily have to be your plight if you brush yourself off and run to God, clothe yourself in prayer and eat up the word of God.  Too often we leave our altars empty without burning the sacrifice of God upon it and so many of us we are left empty and unclothed to the enemy because our altars have been empty too long.  We have become too dependent on the prayers of others when our altar has been empty.

Now is NOT the time to play with the enemy.  It is not a time to be playing bat and ball with the enemy.  It is time for you to resist the devil and let him flee.  It is not a time to entertain the enemy's sweet talks, the temptations that he tend to come with.   RESIST HIM AND LET HIM FLEE!

If you entertain him, he will take a foothold!

It is time to clean up your spiritual altar!  It is time to advance to battle!