12/08/2021
SATAN'S MODUS OPERANDI
Nothing in the description of satan in scriptures is suggestive that he's an ugly-looking terrifying creature in appearance, such as it's often portrayed to us today.
The picture of a monstrous caricatured black creature bearing horns like some goat being used to depict the devil has been sold to us by folk tales (mythology), home videos and the cinemas. The closest to this picture in the Bible is what you can glean from the Book of Revelation where beasts (wild animals) like a dragon with horns were used to describe demonic appearance and it was a trance.
It may interest you to know that even the idea of what a dragon looks like has varied from culture to culture and from one civilization to another. These are the reasons why you think Satan is a repulsive creature to behold. They are the reason you think his activities and appearances will scream "ugly" at first sight and it will be obvious to all and sundry.
Friends, Satan is not ugly and much of his appearances and activities will not raise a red flag. If anything, he's attractive. His activities are attractive and appealing. He operates "codedly". It takes a spiritual sensitivity to spot his ugliness. If you are looking out for the devil in real life, look for him in splendor and attractive packages. One scripture described him as the anointed cherub that covers.....
Friends, suppose a worship centre that labels itself as a "church of satan" newly opens in your neighborhood and the worshippers dress in a weird way, I'm sure that neighborhood will not sleep again. They'd suddenly be triggered by such "temerity of the devil". The Christians in that neighborhood would pray combatively every night. They will shout Holy Ghost fire in frenzies in the direction of the building, hoping it would actually catch some physical fire 🔥 as a judgment from God. Your would hear some preachers say things like...." not in my territory..
To all intents and purposes, friends, such an enterprise that flagrantly names itself "church of satan" is largely a distraction as far as satanic operation is concerned. It's a camouflage of satan to suggest to people that he's only restricted to such a place. While you are thinking his activities are headquartered in a dirty shrine, he's busy wrecking major havoc in very unlikely places, including where you would call " a saintly" gathering.
Please stop associating black colour with the devil. He is not dressed in black. When he operates, he doesn't want to be noticed. It takes spiritual vigilance and discernment to spot him and his neferous activities. His major modus operandi is deception, not confrontation. He operates in stealth. Jesus didn't warn his disciples about wolves in the appearance of wolves. He warned them about wolves in the appearance of sheep. In other words, wolves in sheep's clothing.
No sheep will spot a wolf and still hang around it. It's going to flee. But when a wolf appears in sheep's clothing, the sheep becomes comfortable and, hence, the wolf 🐺 is capable of doing untold damage to the sheep 🐑. In similar fashion, many Christians have, unknowingly, played into the hands of false prophets and satanic agents who masquerade as prophets of God. Some of their so-called shepherds are wolves by genetic makeup but they don't know it.
Friends, beware! The devil wears ecclesiastical collars today. He wears designer suits and clutches Bibles around. He carries microphone and says "praise the Lord" and shouts hallelujah! He drops "rhemas" and "revelations". He prophesies ostensibly in the name of the Lord. He occupies both the pulpits and the pews today. He leads people in many places you call church today, matter-of-factly.
Paul wrote:
"....For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
II Corinthians 11:13-15 NKJV
King Ahab did not know that his prophets had been seduced. He was not aware that a lying spirit had taken over the mouths of the prophets who prophesied to him. If he had known, he would not have listened to them to go to war which was eventually his last. He died.
May I be frank with you, friends? That your favourite prophet might be the greatest instrument the devil is using to derail you from the truth of the Kingdom. He knew you won't be deceived by a marabout. He knew you won't even give a self-proclaimed witch doctor a chance. While you feel uncomfortable around such characters, they are actually not a serious threat to you. Believe me! You only fear them because you don't know who you are in Christ Jesus. Your main threat is the one you have become comfortable with. The same person God has used to reach out to you in the past can be used by the devil another time. He's the one the devil is likely to use against you. When the devil wanted to derail the mission of Christ, he spoke through Peter to Him but Jesus was able to identify him immediately.
"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Matthew 16:21-23 NKJV
A "man of God" from Judah was at Bethel to prophesy against an altar where an ungodly Isaeli king sacrificed. When all was said and done, he made to leave as instructed by God and would not yield to any entreaties by the king, who promised him gifts if only he could wait to eat. The man of God refused to disobey God, until a prophet showed up. "I am also a prophet like you and an angel of the Lord has spoken to me.." (1kings 13:18), he told him. At this point, the man of God let down his guards. The old prophet succeeded in persuading him. He succeeded in derailing him. He met his punishment. He met his death as a result of this. Satan could not use an openly ungodly king to derail this man but another prophet that he was comfortable with.
Child of God, be on your guard. Don't be paranoid but be sober. Be vigilant. If God has ever used anyone for you before, then he's a prime target of satan. Satan will seek to use him to derail you. Eternal vigilance and mutual accountability should be our watch word.
Have a beautiful weekend.
It's a new day!
(First posted this day in 2020)
NINYO
