God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy 9

"Peter was familiar with the work of the enemy.  It was the same year that Jesus had ascended into heaven.  Christians were gathering together and joining forces by distributing amongst themselves equally, so that the rich could still have plenty, but the poor would have plenty too. 

Everyone brought to the disciples what they had and they distributed it amongst the brethren.  But there was a certain man and his wife that wanted the best of both worlds.  They wanted the benefits of being a Christian, but they chose rather to believe satan.

The story goes like this, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

V2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

V3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own?  And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?  Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?  Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

V5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.”  Acts 5:1-5
 

In 2 Corinthians 11:3 Paul is talking to the Church at Corinth.  Paul has lifted them up.  He has talked firmly and appropriately to the people of God.  He says in 2 Corinthianas11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 

Now in Jesus’s own words in John 8:42-47

“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent Me.

V43 Why do ye not understand My speech?  Even because ye cannot hear My Word.

V44 Ye are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.  he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

V45 And because I tell you the truth, you believe Me not.

V46 Which of you convinceth Me of sin?  And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?

47 He that is of God heareth God’s Words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

In Ephesians 4:27, “Neither give place to the devil.” 

And again in Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

V11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

V12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

This is a direct statement to the Spirit filled believer.  Whether you want it or not, you are in battle with the enemy.  And to know the parameters of the enemy is a great advantage."

Excerpt from God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2013