Discernment (3)
By Pastor Raphael Adegoke
13For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.” (Heb 5:13-14).
It is another bright and beautiful day. May we be rightly positioned to enjoy all the benefits that accompany the day! Amen. Last week, on this series, we considered “Subtilty and Transformation”, but today, we shall be focusing on “Lies”.
It has been previously established that the gates of hell militate against the Church, yet the Church is assured of victory, not because of her efforts, but the works of Christ. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18). Having been assured of victory, yet there is a need for the Church to understand the methods of Christ and as well Satan’s methods. This will make the Church, which is Christ’s agent and tool, to be well positioned to defeating the devil and his works.
Ministers are never left in the dark as touching the nature, acts, ways, methods and the devices of the devil, except they choose to be ignorant. “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Cor. 2:11). One of such of the devil’s devices which he has been using from time immemorial is lie. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
We should never forget, as discussed last week that the devil does whatever he does subtly. This also applies when it comes to the introduction of his lies.
Foremost, he does not introduce his lies from without, but from within. This is evident in the Bible when he had to creep into the Garden of Eden to deceive man. He broke every defense mechanism to enter the Garden. It only takes utmost care and always being on guard to be able to shield him off. This shows there is often little or nothing we can do to deny Satan access into the Church due to his subtle approach. In fact, if he could gain access to tempt Jesus after forty days and nights of fasting (Matthew 4:1-11) and still gains access into the presence of God to accuse the brethren (Revelation 12:9-11), then outrightly denying him entrance into the Church will definitely be herculean.
Satan’s lies often come in form of so called “Knowledge or Revelation.” They often promise to take man from known to the unknown. All these played out in the Garden of Eden. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3). These often promise greater attainment and security of eternity.
It is so obvious today that Satan has alarmingly gained access into the Church, and there is little or nothing we can do anymore to deny him. Notwithstanding, there is still much that can be done to render his activities ineffective, and part of that much that we can do is discern his lies and expose them.
Whenever the voice of lies gets louder than the voice of truths, people tend to accept lies as truths and truths as lies. It is so unfortunate that this is becoming so evident in our generation. There has been large infiltration of lies that are termed “Revelation”. These often promise a better Christian living and understanding, but in practicality take people further away from true spirituality, yet there are just a few apologists that speak or write in defense of the truths once delivered to us such as the “Old Time Religion” which can be likened to the initial instructions God gave Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” (Jude 1:3). In fact, if there is anything we need in the Church today, it is spiritual declaration of a state of emergency.
Pastor Raphael Adegoke is a Pastor in Christ Apostolic Church (Nigeria & Overseas) and a Lecturer in Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary.
