DISCIPLESHIP SERIES 3: THE TRUE DISCIPLE

What makes one a disciple?

What are the pieces of evidence to show that a person is a disciple?

Do we just take people's word for it? If person A says they are disciples, then disciples they are, or are there things we will see in common with these sets of people that qualify them as disciples?

We will be exploring these questions tonight as we provide answers to them.

One thing I have found so far from scripture is that Jesus was an interesting man. I sometimes try to imagine Christ in our world today and what the media paparazzi will be like. This man had random people leaving their businesses, their lives essentially, to follow Him up and down.

Though the Return on Investment for that is priceless, but look deep and you find these guys didn't even really understand the ROI from the beginning.

Jesus was captivating. I think this is the word. A lot of people were always around Jesus. He had the crowd around Him every time.

If I see you with a person more than 10 times, I will automatically assume that you are their follower. But this logic is flawed when it comes to discipleship. You know why?

Even the Pharisees were always present with Jesus. They were always a part of the gathering. But were they disciples? No! Were they following Him in this sense? The answer is No.

For some people, they were captivated by the man Jesus and the way He spoke, though they never understood anything He said. For some, it was the miracles. For some, just curiosity. Nothing more than that. For some others, it could even have been joblessness. Lack of better things to do with their time. And there are people that would have joined the crowd because there was a crowd, “Everybody dey go, so make I join.” There were also people like the Pharisees who were following Him up and down largely because they hated His guts but somehow couldn't ignore Him completely. They had to be there to poke holes in all of His stories. Everyone was present with Jesus, but not everyone was following or were disciples.

While preaching in church on Sunday, the Holy Spirit pointed something out to me about the resurrection of Jesus. The angels had to remind the women who met the tomb empty that Jesus already told them He would rise. But if you go to Matthew 27 from verse 62, you will see that the chief priests and the Pharisees did not forget Jesus saying this.

They remembered clearly. So much so that they met Pilate to guard the tomb heavily. They knew the very words of Jesus but this did not make them disciples. Their reason for knowing was of course wrong.

30 “As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8: 30-32 (KJV)

I noticed something here. Jesus was speaking to them about the Father and Himself. And the bible says many believed Him.

Faith!

But then you move to the next verse and you find a shocking revelation;

Their faith/belief in what He had said doesn't translate into them being disciples. Their proof of discipleship was if they abide in His word. It wasn't in believing or accepting His word.

That's a start, a good one, but not the evidence we are looking for.

“If you continually obey my teachings and live in accordance with them”

The first evidence that anyone is a true disciple of Jesus is them abiding in the word. Do you continually obey God's teachings and live in accordance with them? Or you keep telling yourself that Grace covers all?

Your answer to this question helps you to know if you are a true disciple or not. There is also a reason this abiding and obeying is continual.

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” John 6:66 NKJV

See what happened before they left Jesus and dropped the discipleship cap? 

“As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” John 6:57 NKJV

The requirement was they will live by the word. People want to be free, people want to do what they like, they want to lead themselves. But you see disciples? We are led by the word. No buts.

Discipleship is not a once in a while decision of following in the footsteps of Christ, we must continually abide here. We must make that effort. Just as we discussed last week on cross-bearing. Every one of us must give something to follow. You like it or not, you will drop something.

I mentioned as we started that the disciples gave up their very lives to follow Jesus. Discipleship is seen in the sacrifice we make to continuously abide in Christ and in His word. The proof of Faith is continuing in Faith. To continue in Faith is to continue in the word (to continually live by its principles).

So,

1. A true disciple is one who abides in the word

2. A true disciple is one who imitates Jesus and does His will

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44 NKJV

We are marked by what we do and what we desire.

What do you desire?

These are questions I'd like us to pause and ask ourselves.

It is important that we end this series with a huge change and improvement to our lives as believers.

What do you desire?

Jesus told them they were not of the Father because they didn't love Him.

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.” John 8:42 NKJV

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  John 14:15 NKJV

This brings me to the next piece of evidence of discipleship.

“This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.” John 15:12 AMPC

Our third evidence of discipleship is:

3. Loving, Just as Christ loves

This is the benchmark. We are not true disciples yet if we do not know how to love like Christ. Not based on what people do to us but loving exactly as Christ loves.

Nothing like love your neighbor as yourselves. No! Love your neighbor as Christ loves you!

Our lifestyle of love stands as a witness to our discipleship call. No one will say He is a follower of Jesus and refuses to love as Christ does.

How exactly then has Christ loved us? Find a previous teaching that answers this question HERE

The proofs that you are a true disciple are:

1. You abide in the word

2. You imitate Jesus and do His will

3. You love others just as Christ loves you

Based on these, sit and ask yourself today, Am I a true disciple of Jesus...?

To be continued…

HEALING SERIES 2: HEALING IS GOD'S WILL

He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Psalms 107:20 NKJV

Glory.

He sent His word

His word revealed (Jesus) and this word healed us

This healing in turn meant deliverance from destructions for us

Again, the word is Jesus, who is the divine revelation of God. If you do not know Jesus, you cannot know/understand healing.

Don't get it wrong, an unbeliever can receive healing if prayed for but that unbeliever can permit sickness in their bodies cos they don't know Christ. The sickness will come back basically.

Even believers that lack this knowledge suffer same fate, which is why the bible says my people perish because they lack knowledge. Most times we are languishing in sickness because we do not know. We are yet to come to full understanding of God's will concerning sickness and diseases

And here is my belief: People need the word more than they need healing

The word enables us to not even give room to sickness in the first place. It opens us to certain truths about who we really are.

Should we fall sick, we speak to it immediately. We do not condone it at all. I had a revelation over the night and I was gisting those in Ibadan with me this morning. So lately, I've been having this pain in my legs. I stand most times when I'm praying (ministering) or kneel, then I'm usually stressed too. So I assumed this was a result of the stress and all

Usually after ministering for long, my leg gives way most times and I just want to rest. In my mind, this is my body telling me to rest more and take care of it. (PS. I'm a firm believer in resting our bodies so this message is not against it)

Since I started feeling this pain in my leg, in my head "it is not that serious", so I just ask someone around to help me massage my body. 

I've been asking everyone in Ibadan to help me massage my leg but they've been airing me 😂😂😂

Samson offered to help Saturday night but I somehow forgot and didn't meet him. So in the revelation, I saw myself asking for a massage again.

"Please help me massage my leg and my shoulders" And the Holy spirit came beside me and clapped 😂

He made a statement: Continue to pet this sickness o. Continue to pat in on the back. This was around 3am in the midnight

I stood up and I was like. "It is just body pain na, it's not that I'm sick"

And the Holy spirit helped me to realise this, that so many times we allow sickness with:

It's just headache

It's just menstrual pain

It's just body pain

It's just...

Most times the devil doesn't start afflicting believers with "big" sickness. He knows the body of Christ will rally round and speak over you. He knows you can send it out with your authority

So he starts with the little sickness, the ones we term as it's just.. He is banking on us allowing those little ones that will now generate into bigger problems. Because they've stayed too long in our body

So as we speak on healing, I want us to open our hearts and ears. We are not just talking of Cancer or those sickness with big and scary names. God's healing is valid for everything and I need us to take what is ours in this period.

It is God's will that you are healed

Even of that seemingly little headache that is getting consistent

Of that body pain

Of that menstrual period

Just name it

Emotional healing 

Physical healing 

Whatever it is, maybe it has name or not, big in your eyes or small. It is God's will that you are healed of it

Scripture says that the wholeness the Messiah brings has no limit.

I love it soooo much

No limit

No restrictions

It is complete wholeness

Your key to experiencing this is first believing it!

You know when you pray for a sick person for healing and in the middle you are putting "If it is your will God"

That's your unbelief jumping out, sometimes induced by ignorance.

Actually all times.

If you are saying "if it is your will God", then you really don't know God's will and you are not sure your prayer might be effective

It is always God's will to heal

So no need to say "If it is your will. God has said it is His will already so why are you still saying if if every time?

It is God's will!

When you use that if statement, what you are doing is destroying your words of healing. It's like somebody planting and at the same time uprooting immediately. You are rendering your words of healing useless basically.

When we say that it is God's will that all men be saved. It is God's will that our sins are washed away. Do we pray for people and say "If it is God's will to wash away your sins/save you"?

Fola: So this means it doesn’t apply to sickness only but other things 🤔🤔

Answer: No. Reason is God (through Christ Jesus) already established healing as His will. In fact, one of the things Jesus accomplished on the cross for us is healing. The only reason Jesus had to be beaten like a thief was for our healing.

So if we believe every other thing achieved in Calvary, we should not doubt healing.

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was  wounded for our transgressions, He  was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:4‭-‬5 NKJV

He bore our griefs and sorrows. So probably you are in need of emotional or physical healing, the first thing Christ did was carry the weight of it. Everything (past, present, future). So if I'm carrying a heavy bucket of water and someone comes to carry it for me, what does it mean?

I'm relieved from that pain. Maybe temporarily until they decide they are tired.

Now, Jesus permanently lifted this load off us.

Emotional sickness

Mental sickness

Physical sickness

All have been lifted off you. You can't afford to be carrying a load someone else has not just carried but destroyed

He was wounded and bruised for us. It wasn't just coincidental that Jesus went through that. No. There was a purpose to it.

Sickness is a result of sin (the nature), everyone that has this nature is subject to sickness. It is why man has to be born again (change His thinking through the word)

In the suffering of Jesus is embedded provision for your healing

For mine. For the world

And this provision extends to all type of healing. If you don't believe God heals emotional or mental sickness, you are not positioned to receive it

Healing is your legal right as a believer.

In Matthew 15, Jesus told that woman who asked for healing, that healing belonged to the children. It is their legal right

Healing is bread to the children

Probably you are wondering, "Remi, if healing is God's will, why then are people sick?"

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9 NKJV

God's will is that nobody perishes but will people perish? Yes!

Here's how I feel about these things, God's will is brought to life by agreeing men. So if God's will is that nobody perishes, men have to align to this will of I am not perishing. If God's will is that nobody should be sick, I have to be in agreement to it also.

And here is the thing with healing as it is for salvation: The price has already been paid!

You know when something is bought for in your name and you just have to pick it up with a reference code? Exactly! This is the perfect picture. Your healing has been paid for. You are not just trying to negotiate it. It is already completely done

Take your reference code (the word) and get your healing: who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed. I Peter 2:24 NKJV

Past tense

Done, done and dusted

Jesus is not receiving extra stripes or beating o. He did it once and for all

So this is true of healing: It is God's will that you are healed!

God has already healed you!

You have to believe the first statement to believe the second and they are both true. 

And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Matthew 8:2 NKJV

The leper came to Jesus needing healing. Now look at it this way, the leper came off as being okay with just worshipping Christ even if it doesn't lead to healing. So he asks Christ, "Lord, if you are willing, heal me"

So if Jesus is not willing, that's fine too. I will continue to worship

Most times, Jesus replied people with parables first. But you see this leper man got a straightforward answer

I am willing

It was straight to the point, no room for extra interpretation. And this answer is same for you and I today, It is God's will that we are healed

Straight forward.

Don't overthink or analyse

There are no buts or maybe

This statement is true for you and the world at large. Another proof of Healing being God's will is Heaven's design.

What is the eternal plan?

What is the plan before man fell?

What was the plan before man fell?

In heaven, there is no sickness.

In eternity, there will be no sickness

"Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven"

What Jesus came down to do was also reveal the father's will. God's will is that men be saved

Healing is a full package in our salvation

If heaven has no mental sickness, emotionally sick people, people with cancer, then it is God's will that men live this way on earth too. It is God's will that you enjoy good, perfect health

Believe this and begin to live it

WILES OF THE DEVIL

Wiles simply means tricks, strategies, tactics, deceit etc

Wiles are basically tricks or manipulative strategies aimed at deceiving

Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks.” Ephesians‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 KJV

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭NLT

Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 AMP

First, it says to wear the armor of God (in full). And it gives a why: Wear it so you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks. Against all of the strategies of the devil. To be able to successfully stand up against the strategies of the devil

Now, here’s what I’ve found amongst Christians, we believe since we are saved we are automatically excluded from the devil’s list. This is untrue

Yes, we’ve been brought to a higher standing. We are seated with Christ

The devil has been defeated. But we must understand that the devil still has little time in the world and he will fight to make sure as many people go down with him.

The devil will fight believers. He will wage war against believers. And if believers do not understand his wiles (first that it exists), they will not successfully stand against it.

In fact, they have no chance against him. Imagine fighting an already defeated man and losing

But there are believers losing daily to the enemy, who has already been defeated on their behalf. Why? Ignorance

What we will be doing tonight is laying out the strategies of the devil (and if time permits us, the full armor of God)

You have to be aware. The person fighting is already on the floor defeated. It’s like allowing someone without hands and legs to beat you up in a fist fight

The scripture we just read, the enemy is not bringing gun to this fight. He is not bringing cutlass or bombs. Only deception, tricks, lies, manipulations 

You know people that cannot fight by their strategy. The devil understands the gullibility of men so he uses this well against them.

“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

It is consistent with his character to lie! He is the father of lies! If they say the devil is expert at anything, it is lies (add failure to this)

And the great dragon was thrown down, the age-old serpent who is called the devil and Satan, he who continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “ N ow the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night. And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. Revelation 12:9‭-‬11 AMP

I need us to take note of these key words. The devil doesn’t leave you alone after the first time. He keeps coming back 

John 10:10 says the thief comes not but to steal , kill and destroy.

This particular thief doesn’t have a gun or physical equipment that destroy.

He has cunny strategies.

A lot of us are focused on village people kind of attacks. Like this is what we think of when we think of the devil but he masters at something else actually: Lies. Deceit!

What are some of the strategies the devil uses?

1. Did God really say?

This one is the oldest trick in the book. From Adam down to Remi, I’m certain the devil has used this one against every believer

Genesis  2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from a particular tree. They had received an instruction from God

The snake was the most clever of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. The snake spoke to the woman and said, “Woman, did God really tell you that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” Genesis 3:1 ERV

What did the devil do? He approached them and tried to cast a doubt on God’s word

While Eve could see the serpent directly then, we most likely can’t see him directly. So all that we can see is the tactics, the funny strategies. But know that the enemy is tricky so he doesn’t keep them in plain sight for you except you know him and his ways well

One thing the enemy does a lot is to cast doubt on what God has told you. I’ve been here before.

God tells you I’m doing xyz at this time. You heard Him clearly when He said this and you believed wholeheartedly. Then something starts happening and before you know it , you are wondering if God really said so. You are telling yourself maybe you heard wrongly or its the interpretation

I’ve experienced this a lot of times.

Only one person is responsible for this, the devil! The minute you start wondering “Did God really say?” Know that the devil is fighting and you are not standing against him well

He will twist what God said to you

He will try to make you “unbelieve” what you received

He cannot undo what God does

But the devil can make you change position with his tricks

He puts you in a place where you are not ready to receive what God has said with his lies

Anything that makes you re-examine what God has said to you is not from God and you need to clock immediately that it is battle time. Be alert!

Satan wants you to accept what God has not said about you. He cannot change what God has said so he tries to make you believe something else because he knows faith is a key ingredient to receiving

2. Worry and Anxiety

This looks like a normal thing but I found recently that it is a strong tool of the devil. The minute you notice you are getting too worried or anxious about something, know that the devil is at work. Worry and anxiety are huge signs of unbelief.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

Say this to the devil every time he tries to make you worry about those things. Worry and anxiety puts you in a wilderness position. You get stuck.

You geT stuck first in your mind (belief) then it happens in the physical. The Israelites stayed 40years in the wilderness cos they were stuck first in unbelief. They kept worrying about the seemingly unright things around them.

Stop worrying about the things that do not seem to be right. That is what the enemy wants you to see. 

These people had manna falling from heaven daily and somehow they didn’t see it. It’s very possible that things will be happening for you, like heavy moves of God and you won’t see it.

You will be seeing other things to worry about. This also is the devil

One thing that cancels anxiety and worry is thanksgiving. Find something to be thankful for, stay on it and your eyes will be opened to what God is doing and why you should never worry

3. Taking lightly the devil and his tactics

This one is a huge problem and it’s so rampant amongst believers. A lot of people have confused resist the devil with dismiss the devil. The enemy is not just theological myth

Passive neglect of the devil is a tool the enemy himself uses. He wants you to believe he doesn’t exist to you. What happens when you don’t show up to a battle? You lose!

You have an enemy, be alert.

Of course, some Christians overemphasize/amplify the power of the devil, but this should not lead to passive neglect of the devil

These teachings are becoming common. There is a balance. The devil exists. Though defeated, he is still here for a while and his major targets are believers. He is waging a war against us, which is not physical. We must stand against him, from the place of victory (because this is where we fight from)

We do not pretend that the enemy is not fighting against us

The devil stood against Jesus

He stood against God Himself

Do you think he didn’t know Jesus is God?

Do you think he didn’t know Christ was not his match?

Yet he stood

Don’t pretend as if he is not standing against you. Position appropriately. Recognize the devil for what he is exactly and treat accordingly

4. Love for unsound doctrine

If you hate truth, there is a problem. 

“When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you to preach God's message. Do it willingly, even if it isn't the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient. The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear. They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories. But you must stay calm and be willing to suffer. You must work hard, telling the good news and to do your job well.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:1-5‬ ‭CEV‬‬

The time is coming when people will have itchy ears. They will go to places where they are told what they wish to hear.

“Don’t be unequally yoked”. Pastor is judgmental so let’s change church to where they understand and allow her to grow spiritually/come to Christ.

“Don’t kiss before marriage”. Holier than thou attitude. So we move to where they allow kissing but just a lirru bit of it

The Bible expressly says something but it is feeling like an attack. So the people talking are “sin conscious”. They don’t understand Grace

If everything the Bible clearly states is becoming like an attack and you are now used to going to people that give a soft landing of that word or requote to make it acceptable, there might be an issue o. That’s where the devil starts from.

Sound doctrine sometimes can come off as harsh (mostly cos of the state of the heart)

Imagine the man Christ told to leave his family, “Let the dead bury the dead”. For a willing heart, it’s to jump up in joy and start following o. For someone that doesn’t want to hear the truth:

“Why will Jesus say that? Doesn’t he have family or feelings? Does he not know we are humans?”

Always looking for soft landing or sugar coated truths is a tactic the enemy uses. Know this and stand appropriately

5. Trivializing sin and exaggerating the pleasures of sin

One of the tactic of the enemy is to make sin look normal.

“oh! It’s just a flaw”

“Everyone has weak point”

“Nobody is without sin”

He makes you feel comfortable in sin.

“It’s just kissing/lies/sex. God is not counting sin. He forgives”

It’s not “Just”

Before you know it, that sin becomes to pleasurable . You begin to enjoy and look forward to it then you move to normalizing it as one of your flaws or who you are.

This is a tactic of the devil. Be aware

Never act on immediate pleasures. Stop to think immediately you are tempted, this helps.

Every time I’m tempted to do something wrongly, I notice I’m in a hurry to. I don’t want to think about it at that moment. I start thinking and regretting when the deed is done.

The reason the enemy wants that process rushed is because he knows if you think, you won’t go ahead. You are stronger than you actually think. So always pause before you do. It frustrates the devil

6. Emotions

“I’m a very emotional person”

Erhm... good o but please be careful that this is not your drive. You cannot be led by the spirit and your emotions at the same time. It’s pick 1

The enemy targets our emotions as an opening. He crawls in immediately. 

Feel your emotions 

Feel completely, but please don’t be led by how you feel

“I get angry easily”. It is an opening for the devil

7. Logic

I know those of us that are not very emotional people are already feeling exempted from the tactics of the devil. The person you are dealing with is cunning. Most people that are not 100% in touch with their emotions are usually logical.

Logic is very good o. But logic is also very dangerous.

The devil likes it when you think you can think well. You have plenty common sense.

He wants you to feel this way about yourself and assert it.

If you go to churches and people are making trouble, look well and you will find that it is us “logical people”. The devil wants you to think you think better than other believers or people around you. You have more common sense than everybody.

It’s a lie.

While God gave us this “common sense”, God wants us to be led by the spirit instead.

8. Refusing the diagnosis of God

“Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis: “Here is a message from the one who has the seven spirits and the seven stars. “I know what you do. People say that you are alive, but really you are dead. Wake up! Make yourselves stronger before what little strength you have left is completely gone. I find that what you do is not good enough for my God. So don’t forget what you have received and heard. Obey it. Change your hearts and lives! You must wake up, or I will come to you and surprise you like a thief. You will not know when I will come.  “But you have a few people in your group there in Sardis who have kept themselves clean. They will walk with me. They will wear white clothes, because they are worthy. Everyone who wins the victory will be dressed in white clothes like them. I will not remove their names from the book of life. I will say that they belong to me before my Father and before his angels. Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:1‭-‬6 ERV

We will focus on verse 1

You have a name that you are alive but you are dead

We say that Jesus is the great physician. We come to Him for healing but one thing most of us miss is that this physician also diagnoses. Because He knows you well, He knows exactly who you are on the inside.

The devil likes us to live a lie. The devil wants the church in Sardis to believe the “alive reputation” when they were actually dead

A lot of Christians refuse the diagnosis of Christ (it comes as conviction most times)

When the Spirit brings something that you do to your notice or send people to tell you, be ready to accept.

Don’t be in a hurry to defend your self to God. He sees you completely. Take the diagnosis, accept it and use the prescribed medications

Even earthly doctors give diagnosis and prescribe medications

How much more God? When God tells you what is wrong with you, a solution follows. Don’t let pride hold you back. The enemy is counting on this. Even the church in Sardis had a way out

9. Twisting scripture

The enemy wants us to twist scripture to suit us. When the devil wanted to tempt Jesus, he brought scripture and twisted it subtly just a little. When the enemy wants to twist God’s word, he is not as obvious as we expect. Be alert in the spirit

10. Disobedience

This is a tactic of the enemy.

On the other end of obedience is a huge price we always have to pay. When God says do xyz, He is not talking for talking sake, there is something He is trying to shield you from. There is always something sacrificed on the altar of disobedience, something costly. The devil wants us to lose that something so he is looking forward to us disobeying. He entices us with by the fruit of disobedience

Be alert!

There are so many other tactics in the devil’s play book, we will probably never finish if we sit on his lying ass.

But I want us to know one thing, the devil is a liar. The Bible says he is the father of lies.

There is only one thing that cancels lie and it is Truth. Jesus Christ is Truth

Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 ERV

Let the teaching of Christ dwell in you richly

The enemy is banking on lying and twisting the truth. There is only one counter, the truth Christ says

Let it dwell inside of you Richly

Confess daily if you have to. Make it your truth

May God help us all to stand against the wiles of the devil

Amen