Introduction

Good morning, beloved. In the words of the great Charles Spurgeon, "Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right." How fitting are these words as we gather today to delve into the depths of God's Word, seeking wisdom and understanding?

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, where the apostle Paul writes: "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds."

In this passage, Paul warns us about the deceptive designs of the devil, urging us to discern between divine and deceptive, and to defend against deception. It is a sobering reminder that not everything that glitters is gold, and not everything that appears righteous is of God.

Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, the enemy often disguises himself, seeking to lead us astray. But we are not ignorant of his schemes. We have been given the spirit of discernment and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

So, how do we discern between the divine and the deceptive? How do we defend against deception? These are the questions we will tackle today as we unpack this passage.

But before we do, let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we study Your Word today, we ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Open our hearts and minds to understand the depth of Your Word and apply it to our lives. Help us to discern between the divine and the deceptive, and to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Transition. Beloved, let us now turn our attention to the first main point: The Deceptive Designs of the Devil.

Deceptive Designs of the Devil

In the world we live in, deception is a common occurrence. It's in the news, in politics, in our workplaces, and sometimes, even in our homes. It's a tool that the devil uses to lead us astray, to sow seeds of doubt, and to create confusion. It's a strategy that he has been using since the beginning of time, right from the Garden of Eden, when he deceived Eve into eating the forbidden fruit.

The devil's deception is not always obvious. It's often subtle, disguised as something good, something desirable, something righteous. This is what makes it so dangerous. It's easy to recognize evil when it's clearly evil. But when it's disguised as good, it's much harder to discern. This is why we need to be vigilant, to be on guard, to be discerning.

The devil's deception is also about leading us away from God. It's about creating a wedge between us and our Creator, about making us doubt God's goodness, His love, His faithfulness. It's about making us question God's Word, His promises, His commands. It's about making us rely on our own understanding, our own wisdom, our own strength, instead of relying on God.

Next, we see that it includes creating division among us. It's about sowing seeds of discord, of strife, of conflict. It's about making us focus on our differences, our disagreements, our disputes, instead of focusing on what unites us, what binds us together, what makes us one in Christ.

The devil's deception is also a threat to the church, to the body of Christ. It's about leading us away from the truth, from the gospel, from the mission that God has given us. It's about making us ineffective, unproductive, fruitless. It's about making us lose our saltiness, our light, our influence in the world.

In the face of the devil's deceptive designs, we need to be vigilant. We need to be on guard. We need to be discerning. We need to be rooted in God's Word, grounded in His truth, filled with His Spirit. We need to be united, to stand together, to fight together, against the schemes of the enemy. We need to be faithful, to persevere, to endure, until the end.

In the face of the devil's deceptive designs, we also need to remember that we are not alone. We have God on our side. We have His Word to guide us, His Spirit to empower us, His grace to sustain us. We have His promises to encourage us, His love to comfort us, His peace to calm us. We have His strength to uphold us, His wisdom to enlighten us, His mercy to forgive us.

Discerning Divine from Deceptive

In the midst of the world's clamor, we find ourselves at a crossroads ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO