How the Devil Deceives the Children of God – 2

HOW THE DEVIL DECEIVES THE CHILDREN OF GOD – 2

By Apostle Felix

7  And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 

8  And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 

Luke 21: 7, 8

Christianity is knowledge based. However, it is the knowledge of Christ that Christianity has been founded on. It is unfortunate that believers have challenges when it comes to distinguishing between the knowledge of Christ and the knowledge of the devils. Apostle Paul cautioned the church about  the wind of doctrines, by which many are been carried away. Such doctrines may have some elements of truth but the entire doctrine may not be the truth. The doctrine may even be producing results but that does not mean it is the doctrine of Christ. It is such doctrines that are experience based. Just because one experienced it, does not mean it is the truth. Is the exeprience Bible based? If it is not supported by scripture, under the light of the finished work of Christ, it is not the gospel. We have around many experience based doctrines in the church today.

13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

Ephesians 4: 13 – 15

Let us examine the subject of deliverance. What is the genesis of the deliverance ministry, and why is it so much an African thing? Jesus Christ was once accused of using the prince of Beelzebub to cast out demons. Why did the scribes accuse Jesus of using Beelzebub?

24  But when the Pharisees overheard what the people were saying about the miracle, they said, “He casts out demons by the power of Satan, the prince of demons!” 

Matthew 12: 24

Jesus went about preaching and teaching the word of God and the power of God was present to heal the sick and cast out devils, Luke 5: 17. He did not go about demon hunting. His ministry was teaching and preaching the gospel. The demons were agitated because of the light of the gospel. Even though He cast out demons from people, the individuals were not delivered because Jesus had not yet died. That was not deliverance. That was demon casting. Deliverance is a change of location from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God through Christ Jesus. So, then one can cast out demons from a person and the person is still in the kingdom of darkness, not yet delivered. The emphasis then should not be on demon casting but on transitioning people from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God through the gospel of Christ.

By the way, the practice of demon casting was not a monopoly of the kingdom of God. They were exorcists who were practicing exorcism in the time of Jesus.

27  So if Satan empowers me to cast out demons, who empowers your exorcists to cast them out? Go ask them, for what they do proves you’re wrong in your accusations.

Matthew 12: 27

The difference between the exorcists and Jesus was modus operandi. Jesus was not seeking an audience with the devils. No! He taught and preached the gospel and then the devils were agitated, and He cast them out. He stopped His disciples from rejoicing because the devils obeyed them. It is not the main thing. The ultimate purpose of Christ was to deliver men from the kingdom of satan and translate them into the kingdom of God.

20  However, your real source of joy isn’t merely that these spirits submit to your authority, but that your names are written in the journals of heaven and that you belong to God’s kingdom. This is the true source of your authority.” 

Luke 10: 20

The translation into the kingdom of God is real deliverance. Anyone, who is a citizen of the kingdom of God, cannot be a citizen of the kingdom of darkness. There is no duo citizenship in the kingdom of God. The moment one becomes a child of God, forfeits the kingdom of darkness citizenship. There is no way the devil can claim ownership of any anyone who is a child of God. Jesus is not weak. When the children of Israel crossed the Red sea, the Egyptians never crossed to continue pursuing and harassing them. Whom the Son has set free is free indeed!

36  So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free! 

John 8: 36

This scripture is more powerful than anyone’s experience. It doesn’t matter what your experience has been. The Son has the power to set you free completely. As a child of God, you have been set free forever!