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MASQUERADE
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
MANY PICTURE OUR ENEMY IN A RED SUIT, HORNS, POINTED TAIL, AND A PITCH FORK!
NOT SO IS SNEAKY AND SUBTLE.
Masquerade: a party where people wear mask and costumes.
A way of appearing or behaving that is not true or not real.
A mere disguise, A SHOW.
WE HAVE AN ENEMY THAT HATES GOD... and he hates you and the church.
HIS NAMES REVEAL HIS NATURE.
OUR ENEMY NEVER APPEARS AS THE ENEMY... BUT POUR BIG BUDDY.
SATAN WAS AN ANGEL THAT TEMPTS HUMANS TO SIN.
He is THE ADVERSARY OF GOD... He is the adversary of good...
BEELZEBUB LUCIFER OLD NICK DEVIL SERPANT DECEIVER
TEMPTER TRICKSTER FIEND, ARCHFIEND THIEF HATER
THE GREAT PRETENDER ENTERTAINER...
He hates faithfulness to the church.
Our enemy is the most powerful spirit of evil. He is the ruler of hell.
OUR ENEMY WORKS BY DOSTORTION, 1/2 TRUTHS, MISUNDERSTANDING, VILLIAN,
MIND GAMES, EMOTIONAL GAMES, SLANDER, LIES, WICKED, MALICIOUS, ADDICT
2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14 (NIV) And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14 (MSG) And no wonder! Satan does it all the time, dressing up as a beautiful angel of light.
OUR ENEMY HAS A THREE FOLD COMMISSION... PURPOSE.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
STEAL: to take what does not belong to you.
KILL: to cause death, bring to an end, to deprive life,
DESTROY: cause to no longer exist, to defeat, to ruin,
LYING IS OUR ENEMIES NATIVE LANGUAGE --- LIES ARE HIS RESOURCE MATERIAL.
ALL LIES, DISTORTIONS, 1/2 TRUTHS, DECEPTION COMES FROM OUR ENEMY...
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
OUR ENEMY LIED TO ADAM AND EVE WITH 1/2 TRUTHS AND WHOLE DISTORTIONS.
He distorted God's words, God's goodness, and God's intentions.
MOST LIES ARE WHISPERED NOT SCREAMED...
In a court room we swear or affirm to: TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
OUR ENEMY LIES ABOUT THE PAY DAY, THE WAGES OF SIN... IT'S FREE...???
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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OUR ENEMY HAS SOME VERY VALUABLE TOOLS... ONE OF HIS BEST TOOLS IS TO SELL PEOPLE THAT HE IS NOT REALLY REAL...
Whole societies and education system teach: OUR ENEMY IS THE FIGMENT OF SOME TWISTED RELIGIOUS MINDS.
200 years ago the enemy in battle wore bright red or blue uniforms --- NOW HE WEARS CAMOFAGE.
Un-marked police cars? Underground? Out of sight?
SIN STARTS IN THE MIND AS SEED, A THOUGHT... LUST... BARNEY FIFE: NIP IT IN THE BUD.
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
OUR ENEMY IS DILIGENT, HE WORKS OVERTIME...
Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
OUR ENEMY IS SO GOOD AT HIDING AND MASQUERADES THAT FEW RECOGNIZE WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING... SUBTIL
SUBTIL: ELUSIVE, cunning, crafty, ... he gets what he wants in a clever, deceptive way.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Satan laughs his head off when God or other people GET BLAMED FOR WHAT HE DID...
he does not care if others are applauded for his work.
OUR ENEMY HAS A GREAT TOOL CALLED PRIDE.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
I am so proud to be humble. He distorts and perverts pride... AMBITION.
OUR ENEMY'S ROLE IS ADVERSARIAL ... THOSE THAT PLAY HIS GAMES ALWAYS LOSS.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Enemy, two opposite sides, oppose, resist...
Our enemy would rather start an argument, strife and fussing more than smoking a joint?
WITH ONE CONSENT --- GIVE THE OFFERING OF EXCUSES...
Luke 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
IF OUR ENEMY CAN NOT GET YOU TO ABUSE GOD'S WORDS, HIS PLAN WILL BE TO GET YOU TO NEGLECT GOD...
NEGLECT THE BODY?
Colossians 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
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THAT IS ENOUGH ABOUT OUR TERRIBLE ENEMY...
NOW LET US REASON HOW TO DEFEAT HIM.
1. QUIT CONFUSING WHO THE ENEMY REALLY IS...
Your preacher is not the enemy! Your spouse is not the enemy! Your family and work place is not your enemy?
2. SUBMIT YOURSELF TO GOD.
3. RESIST THE DEVIL...
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
4. DRAW NIGH TO GOD... THE SPIRIT IS WILLING ... THE FLESH IS WEAK
James 4: 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
5. KNOW YOU ARE IN A WAR... PREPARE FOR THE BATTLE AND GET ON THE BATTLE FIELD. GRAB THE SWORD AND RUN AT THE GIANT BEFORE US...
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
6. KNOW THE WORD...
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
7. WITNESS, TESTIFY WHOSE SIDE YOU ARE ON... MAKE IT CLEAR
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
CONCLUSION: KNOW THE ENEMY! GO THROUGH BASIC TRAINING... KNOW THE WORD OF GOD. AVOID THE WRONG CROWD. Do self evaluation: Judge not be not judged... and HOLD SELF ACCOUNTABLE... In the strong name of Jesus. Never settle for less than God's best.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
