When a crime is committed, the burning question on every tongue is: “Who did it?”
A horrendous crime has been perpetrated against all humanity. A criminal like no other is on the loose. A conman whose main weapon of choice is deception. A snatcher of good seed and a sower of seeds of destruction. A consummate thief who steals away the abundant life that you and I were meant to live. A serial terrorist, terrorizing mankind from time immemorial.
Since the beginning of time, this terrorist concocted a massive scheme of spiritual terrorism – a devious plan to carry out murder on a grand scale. But even though we may not always recognize this master of deception, he is well known to those in authority. When, disguised as an angel of light, he managed to wangle his way into the Throne Room to lay accusation against God’s faithful servant Job, God did not fall prey to his ruse and exposed him on the spot.
“One day the divine beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Adversary also came among them. The Lord said to the Adversary, “Where did you come from?” – Job 1:6-7 (CEB)
Jesus also knows the culprit well. He had to deal with this tempter during those 40-days He spent in the wilderness (read Matthew 4:1-11). And Jesus, like God, was not fooled by his shenanigans. Jesus is very clear about who’s trying to choke the spiritual life out of believers and fingers the prime suspect in Matthew 13:38-39.
If for some odd reason, after reading that, you’re still not sure, Apostle Paul left us more than a blatant clue as to the identity of this perpetrator in Ephesians 6:12 (Phillips),
“For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil.”
And, Apostle Peter cautions us to be on the alert and remain vigilant because this serial terrorist is continuously prowling around looking for prey. It’s all part of the devil’s devious plot against God’s people.
“Be self-controlled and vigilant always, for your enemy the devil is always about, prowling like a lion roaring for its prey.” – 1 Peter 5:8 (Phillips)
For ages the devil has been engaged in spiritual terrorism. For thousands of years he has been honing his craft. Jesus Himself testifies,
“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 falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.” – John 8:44 (AMPC)
A thief, a killer, a destroyer, a liar, the devil has been all these and more, from his first appearance in the Garden until now, his game plan of trickery and deceit has not changed, his methods to lure and entice have not changed; he continues to present his fabricated stories as real and we fall for them more often than we ought. Jesus, Apostles Paul and Peter, and James have all told us how to handle the devil…
Jesus, subjected to the devil’s temptations, did not yield but quoted the Word of God instead: “It is written…” and “It has been said…” (see Luke 4:1-13).
Apostle Paul said that we must “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV).
Apostle Peter tells us to resist the devil and stand firm in the faith (see 1 Peter 5:9).
And James says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (James 4:7-8 NIV).
Amen†
Spiritual Terrorism Shelley Johnson 30-Nov-2016
