But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:12-14)
Are you familiar with the phrase "wolf in sheep's clothing”? It’s an excellent description of what the enemy does. Satan doesn't come at us with pitchforks and horns, scaring us into submission. He is subtle and sneaky. The devil comes as an angel of light, pretending to be something good. He'll whisper lies disguised as truth that stroke our ego. He’ll tell you, “It’s okay to sin a little; God understands.”
Don’t listen to the enemy’s lies. Eve got in trouble because she entertained the serpent in discussion, and he deceived her. I’ve never talked to a serpent; the devil often speaks through people today, and they can sound very convincing. How can you keep yourself from being deceived by the devil?
Here are three simple ways to guard against being deceived:
1) Memorize Scripture. This takes more effort than simply reading the Bible or hearing it during a church service. Memorize the Scripture so that it’s down in your heart where the enemy can’t take it away.
2) Test the Spirits. Not everything that sounds spiritual is from God. If the person speaking isn’t operating in the fruit of the Spirit, or if they are saying things that don’t line up with God’s Word, don’t listen to them.
3) Be Connected. You need a community of believers to talk to, to ask questions of, and get wisdom and direction from when deception comes.
Practical Application
Don’t allow yourself to fall for the enemy’s deception. Which of the three points above do you need to work on the most? Pray about it and follow through, doing what it takes to improve your ability to recognize and resist deception.