Believing the Lie

One of the most sinister and subtle creatures in all of the universe is Satan, also known as the Devil. Satan is our arch-enemy, and as we go into this next season, we have to gain an understanding of how to fight and how to defeat the Enemy. Part of the key to defeating the Evil One is to stop believing the "lie."

The Devil is very tricky and deceitful. Jesus describes him as the father of lies (John 8). One of the greatest lies that he has told humanity that many people continue to believe, including members of the church, is the case of our Identity. People continue to define their identity based upon who they think they are. Whether that's their looks, or their talents, or their intelligence or their things, people think that what makes them "them" is connected to who they personally are. This is a mistake and lie from the Devil.

When God originally created man (male and female), He made it clear that He was constructing humanity out of His Image and His Likeness. The substance of man is found in the Identity of God. However, how many people do you know, including Christians, that build their identity and self-hood around the Image of God? Not the will of God, the Image of God. The reason I clarify the difference is because the biggest mistake of the church is that we focus more on trying to do what God tells us to do (in terms of His Commandments) rather than Being who He's called us to Be. Action grows out of being, not the other way around.

The lie that Satan has effectively deceived the bulk of humanity with is that you can be successful, and even serve God faithfully, while holding on to your personal identity. This is a lie. It's the very lie with which the Serpent deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). And it's the lie that the Devil "attempted" to deceive Jesus with. But Praise God he wasn't successful! That's why, when you study the account of Jesus' Satanic temptation in the Wilderness (Matthew 4), Satan would consistently start off by saying, "if you are the Son of God". He was challenging His Identity! And when you study Matthew 16, Jesus says to Peter, "get thee behind Me Satan" AFTER Jesus has asked the question "who do men say THAT I AM".

Saints, the Bible says that we are dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3). No matter how spiritual you are, no matter how anointed you may be, no matter how faithful in ministry you've been, never forget to make sure to keep your identity and personhood rooted in the Person of Jesus Christ. Let us stop believing the lie.

Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask You to touch our hearts and humble our spirits that we may understand that our identity is rooted in You. Deliver us Father from self. Even if it's a self that is not overtly sinful. Father, our plea today is that there be none of us and all of You. Mature us Father, that we will no longer be guilty of believing the lie. In Jesus' Name, Amen.