2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Paul, an Apostle of Christ, tells us that in HIS day there were false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
FALSE apostles, DECEITFUL workers, men who pretended to be the apostles of Christ.
The church was new, he was writing this approximately 24 year after Christ died, that is how young the church was at that time. Paul was inspired of the Holy Spirit to write about the false apostles, the deceitful workers, why? Because it is the reality of our existence. Satan was alive and well and tempting Christ while Christ was alive. He didn't stop.
Christ's adversary, Satan, has never hit the pause button, but has kept on doing what he does- deceive, mislead, lie. He does all he can do to keep each and every single person from God. We are foolish if we believe otherwise.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen, the Bible tells us so. Faith is hoping in Christ our Redeemer even if we don't see Him. We don't have faith in the unseen Satan because we have no hope in him. It takes faith to believe in Christ Jesus, to believe in God. And as soon as we believe in God we have no choice whatsoever but to believe in his adversary's existence. It's impossible to believe in God without believing in Satan.
I recall off and on a conversation I had with someone once, I've written about this in the past too, but here I go again. I had a particularly trying day and I happened to say that I hate how Satan messes with me. The person looked at me and shook their head and proceeded to tell me that people use Satan as an excuse for their own bad behavior, they want to have someone else to blame for their actions. My having a bad day didn't mean Satan was causing it. I had to take responsibility for my own part in the day and yes, things go wrong it doesn't mean there is an evil entity causing things to go wrong.
Well, I listened to that person and if memory serves I told them that I believe Satan is the cause of all the evil in the world. I believe Satan will do all he can to cause us misery. I believe when I have particularly trying days, that Satan wants my mind off Christ and the hope I have in my Savior. I don't blame Satan for my sins, I have only myself to blame for my bad actions. Satan isn't an excuse for me to say- the Devil made me do it, and I'm not responsible. Satan is the root cause of all evil and he wants all of us to join him in that evil. When I sin and join him in the evil, I need to seek forgiveness and repent recognizing that I did wrong.
Recognizing there is a force behind the evil doesn't excuse me at all. God is greater than Satan. For every temptation there is a way out of that temptation.
1Co_10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Satan's temptations are awful, miserable to deal with! I'm not creating my temptations. Not that I can't. I can put myself into situations where I know I will be tempted and that is very, very wrong. But as a rule if I'm doing my best not to sin. I'm trying to rely upon Christ for my salvation, for my life now and in the future. When temptations start appearing all over the place, it's not me creating them. There are so many temptations that when you think you've got one beaten, ten more pop up. Yesterday my patience may have been severely tried and I succumbed to unjustified anger, today I may have been very tempted to engage in gossip that served no purpose whatsoever. There are so many sins, and so many thing we don't even realize are sins because society says they're okay. I am an imperfect being who will struggle against sinning. I have an invisible adversary that will constantly harass me.
No, I probably didn't go into this much detail with the person I had the conversation with, but I tried to explain how I viewed things. I ended up telling the person I hoped they didn't think I was blaming my guilt on Satan, I have to answer for my own sins. I'd be the first to admit how imperfect and sinful I am, but I believe the cause of all sin in the world is Satan. Just because I think he's the cause doesn't mean I can escape the consequences of my actions. In the end, only Christ can save me, I can't save myself, I have to believe He will save me.
Did the person understand what I was saying? I don't know. I continued to say things like- Satan was really trying to get to me today, and the person never again said anything about it after our conversation.
My Bible, God's Holy Word, tells me to put on armor to battle the invisible foes. God knows the evil is real, God knows Satan is real. God knows Satan uses people against people if he can. Jesus fought the wiles of Satan's temptations, so why wouldn't I have to? I wouldn't need armor if I weren't expected to fight.
I'll say it again…we can't believe in God and not believe in the reality of Satan.
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Men were transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. They were playacting at being Christ's apostles and deceiving people, 24 years or thereabouts after Christ's died. Men haven't stopped transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, play acting at being Christ's apostles and deceiving people…1,970 years later. We shouldn't be surprised either about these deceivers dressed in religious careers. We shouldn't marvel at all, why? Because Satan HIMSELF does the same thing, making himself appear as an angel of light! Those who choose to follow the ways of Satan, even if they refuse to call themselves Satan's followers, but delude themselves they are somehow righteous; they will get their just reward in the end. Their deception will be unmasked.
There are many ministers of Satan pretending to be ministers of righteousness. We live in a sinful world and we will continue to live in a sinful world until Christ returns.
And yes, yesterday Satan was working overtime around me and I teetered and tottered almost falling into the trap he was laying, but I prayed when I realized what was happening, I prayed hard and praise GOD the situation resolved. This is truth (often daily truth, often several times a day truth) I'm in a war and I need my armor and weapons-- praying always!
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 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.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
