Reject the enemy’s lies

The Bible is full of the most wonderful promises for believers. The answers to all of life’s problems can be found in those promises. But we have to first know what the Bible says about us, and then actually take God at His Word, believe that He means what He says!

Lets look at one such promise as an example.

John 14:12 (WEBBE): ¹²Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.

Notice the red letters – this is Jesus speaking. He starts the sentence with “most certainly” – quite the opposite of maybe. He is really sure about what He is going to say next! And then He says that “he who believes” will do even greater works than Jesus Himself! Are you a believer? Then Jesus is speaking about YOU! And Jesus says “he will do”, again not maybe, this is a certainty. This is a pretty huge promise! Jesus lived a life of miracles, and we get to do even more than that!

This promise is right there in the Bible. And yet we find it very hard to believe because the devil has added on all kinds of little lies over the years. Lets see what Jesus says about the devil:

John 8:43-44 (WEBBE): ⁴³Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. ⁴⁴You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.

The best way to overcome the devil’s strategy of telling us (often very subtle) lies is to know the truth – know what the Bible says, and measure everything against that standard. Jesus didn’t add small print to His promise, stating something like “Valid for the next 100 years. While stocks last.” So if we are told that it was meant only for the early church, we can measure that statement against the Bible and clearly say that is NOT the truth.

We have to realise that we are in a war between good and evil. And the devil would very much like us to believe the lies that would make us ineffective in that war. But God has everything we need to be effective – we just need to walk in that!

Ephesians 6:10-20 (WEBBE): ¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, ¹⁶above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints: ¹⁹on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Condemnation and guilt are some of the devil’s weapons to distract us. (Read this article to see the difference between condemnation and conviction.) If the devil can get us stuck in the past, then we will miss much of what God has for us right now!

Romans 8:1 (WEBBE): ¹There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

If there are things that you still feel guilty about from your past, lay them down at the feet of Jesus today. Really hand it over to Him, and ask God to fill that space with Peace and Love and His Presence instead. And if the devil ever dares to bring those things up again, tell him that he has no right to torture you with what God no longer remembers!

Hebrews 8:12 (WEBBE): ¹²For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.
I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.