Focus on your future, not your past. The enemy’s goal is to deceive us by directing our focus to our past mistakes and lawlessness. Instead we need to find out who we are IN CHRIST. One purpose of FATHER’S Word is to purge and cleanse us by HIS fiery Word. In Ephesian chapter 5, Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT:
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
We are His Bride and it is His Divine Intent to sanctify and cleanse us so let us not resist it but actively embrace it every day. The result is a glorious body without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. The enemy would try to convince us that our spots and wrinkles are with us forever but that is a lie we must not accept. Jesus was without spot or blemish then took on sin so that all of us who were with spot and blemish could become pure, innocent, and be made whole. Hold on to that reality!
To Deceive means “to believe something that is not true”, typically in order for the one who originates the deception to gain some personal advantage.
Ephesians chapter 5:
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
We all have a need to be accepted and feel worthy in some aspect of our life. There are those who would manipulate us by feeding that need with accolades in order to extract something from us. Typically it is money but sometimes it is power and control. Others will belittle and offend us in order to exalt themselves for their egos need to be fed. Some will use false pride or a disappointing look. We must not allow others to manipulate us and deceive us by their words and actions. FATHER will give us the grace to minister and/or correct if needed.
There are those who are out to offend us because our walk exposes their darkness and in response they will retaliate. In Luke chapter 17 Jesus spoke:
1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!”
We must not respond in like manner but be assured that FATHER will evoke judgment where judgment is due. This is why we must seek HIS Face and HIS Wisdom on a daily basis so that as offences arise, we are prepared and of good courage. Living in isolation is not the answer to avoiding offences. Jesus was confronted by His enemies on a frequent basis yet those people did not prevent Him from His calling. In fact, they played a critical role in His destiny.
Two questions each of us must ask ourselves:
“What do I believe?”
“What am I doing about it?”
We are to serve FATHER by serving people. This is what Jesus did in His ministry. This is what each of the disciples did in the Book of Acts. Let us not be deceived by the carnal man or those who would attempt to confirm what the carnal man wants to hear. Anything or any words which attempt to convince us that we cannot become Christ-like is “anti-Christ” in nature which at its core is deception. Jesus came to reveal FATHER to us and to reveal the real “us” to us. We should not be deceived into doing “nothing” on behalf of the Kingdom. Paul was intimately aware of the deception by the evil one as he wrote by THE SPIRIT in Ephesians chapter 6:
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit
Consider this directive word by word. Let us read it in a fresh and slow manner. We must shut down our logic and receive this passage anew. Rather than just acknowledging these words, let us fully receive them wholly and completely. As we do, the enemy will be unable to deceive us in any manner.