Muhammad Ali had the Rope-A-Dope.
Pete Townsend had the Windmill.
Kobe Bryant has the Fade Away Jumper.
Michael Jackson had the Moonwalk.
Many people are known for their signature moves. In the intense moments of their profession, they default to a perfected attack (of which they are world renowned).
Believe it or not, Satan has a signature move of his own. Over the years he has developed a move that it is incomparably fatal to the life of an individual!
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Genesis 3:1
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11
Whether or not you realize this, Satan has mastered a devastating move – The Distortion (as featured in Genesis 3 and Matthew 4).
Throughout Scripture, it is clear that the Enemy has perfected the art of deception. Essentially, to fool the mind of both believers and the lost, he uses the Word of God in contexts and applications that are completely fraudulent – yet sound correct to the ears of his victim.
Adam & Eve serve as a perfect example of such an attack. Satan appears in Eden for one purpose: to deceive mankind. In order to so, he plants a seed of doubt in the mind of Eve prior to pouncing with a twisted view of God’s Word. He essentially uses fabrications and distortions to trick one into committing sin.
Unfortunately, Adam & Eve fell for it.
Jesus, however, knew how to counter such an attack. During a season of temptation in the wilderness, Christ defended himself against the Enemy with a proper knowledge of the Scriptures. His understanding of God and life (that were rooted in a relationship with the Father and his Word) provided a means of victory.
Is this the case in your life?
Many of us are in desperate need of a Christ-like wisdom surrounding the Word of God. Often, we fall at the hands of Enemy – believing the whole time we are walking in accordance with Scripture.
As believers, we need a proper technique of biblical interpretation; without precise, intentional hermeneutic, we are susceptible to The Deception – a technique in which Satan is well-versed, and we are grossly ignorant.
Stand up against the enemy, by diving deep into Scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your thinking. Do not be ignorant by taking the Word of the Lord outside of its proper context or twisting it words in accordance with the Enemy’s desires; be lead by the Spirit of the Lord, consider all Scripture with prayer, seek the wisdom of Church leaders and elder believers - do whatever it takes to become a diligent, responsible student of Scripture.
Be wise and seek proper understanding of the Living Word, that you may not be deceived by an enemy that is smarter than you think!
Photo Credit: Keith Allison / Foter / CC BY-SA
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11
Whether or not you realize this, Satan has mastered a devastating move – The Distortion (as featured in Genesis 3 and Matthew 4).
Throughout Scripture, it is clear that the Enemy has perfected the art of deception. Essentially, to fool the mind of both believers and the lost, he uses the Word of God in contexts and applications that are completely fraudulent – yet sound correct to the ears of his victim.
Adam & Eve serve as a perfect example of such an attack. Satan appears in Eden for one purpose: to deceive mankind. In order to so, he plants a seed of doubt in the mind of Eve prior to pouncing with a twisted view of God’s Word. He essentially uses fabrications and distortions to trick one into committing sin.
Unfortunately, Adam & Eve fell for it.
Jesus, however, knew how to counter such an attack. During a season of temptation in the wilderness, Christ defended himself against the Enemy with a proper knowledge of the Scriptures. His understanding of God and life (that were rooted in a relationship with the Father and his Word) provided a means of victory.
Is this the case in your life?
Many of us are in desperate need of a Christ-like wisdom surrounding the Word of God. Often, we fall at the hands of Enemy – believing the whole time we are walking in accordance with Scripture.
As believers, we need a proper technique of biblical interpretation; without precise, intentional hermeneutic, we are susceptible to The Deception – a technique in which Satan is well-versed, and we are grossly ignorant.
Stand up against the enemy, by diving deep into Scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your thinking. Do not be ignorant by taking the Word of the Lord outside of its proper context or twisting it words in accordance with the Enemy’s desires; be lead by the Spirit of the Lord, consider all Scripture with prayer, seek the wisdom of Church leaders and elder believers - do whatever it takes to become a diligent, responsible student of Scripture.
Be wise and seek proper understanding of the Living Word, that you may not be deceived by an enemy that is smarter than you think!
Photo Credit: Keith Allison / Foter / CC BY-SA
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