The enemy will preoccupy himself with fantasies that focus on unlimited success, power and intelligence. He has a form of godliness which identifies with a haughtiness. The vulnerable will be deceived, and look to him as being strong because he seems to carry himself with confidence. This confidence he portrays is deceiving because it is not a confidence in God (which is true humility) but a self-confidence conjured up in arrogance and false humility. Those who do not know who they are in Christ will put men like this upon pedestals and follow them. In so doing, this plays right into the hand of the enemy, for it is this kind of people that the enemy encircles himself with. The ignorance of babes, those who are not clothed in Jesus (the armor of God), the insecure, and co-dependents he will use to his advantage for they are his enablers and his followers. Keeping the vulnerable under his control is a twisted mind game he plays as he continually misrepresents facts, even subtly twisting God's Word, or frequently shifting positions as the opportunities arise. Those who do not study God's Word and ask the Holy Spirit for understanding will continually be deceived by the enemy. Not looking to Jesus but man is their bondage, thus they begin to wonder and go astray. Living under the stronghold of obligation and in constant service to please man and not God is their bondage! They operate in the spirit of fear, because they know not the perfect love of Christ for them who casts out all fear! All of this to which the enemy uses to his advantage with his twisted teachings, which ultimately serves him and his purposes. To deny flesh/self and walk in the Spirit is not the mindset of the enemy, but catering to the flesh and making one feel good in the flesh (which ultimately keeps the vulnerable in a weak state) is his goal. For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak! It's a twisted lie and a controlling strategy that the enemy plays. He is a master at manipulating others!
How does the enemy deal with those who know who they are in Christ? If he does not disregard them as an individual as well as their viewpoints, he will make it a point to belittle them and or jest about them and their viewpoints, or he will disregard them as if they never existed, for his relation with them was only based upon their support of his authority and grandiosity. Beyond that they are nameless, faceless and worthless. Submitting to God and resisting the devil will cause the enemy to flee from you. If the enemy is challenged by one who is strong in the Lord and his control seems threatened, insanity (in the person that the enemy is using) will be unveiled, he will respond like a crazy person who thinks his survival is at stake, thus evil is seen in all its glory! The enemy can be so twisted and manipulating that he can express himself as potentially violent or show forth socially unacceptable impulses in a modified socially acceptable manner which deceives the weak in faith but displays to those who are strong in the Lord a wolf in sheep clothing. Cult leaders bare these characteristics (Narcissism at it's finest). If you know who you are in Christ you will not be deceived and snared by the enemy. Those who know who they are in Christ are not silenced by such a one either. The enemy is the one who will be silenced! Those who know who they are in Christ have no fear of man and what man can do to them. They care not of being bullied or made fun of, for they need not recognition from man. They do not need to be acknowledged by man or rewarded by man. They know that their reward will be much greater when they finally meet their Jesus! Those who know who they are in Christ, care not for the accolades of this world. The ironic thing about this is, even though they care not about recognition from man, God has a way of giving those who know who they are in Christ a platform so they will be recognized, but all for His glory! Jesus was exalted and suffered for the salvation of mankind and for the glory of His Father. Thusly, those who know who they are in Christ may also be exalted and/or may have to suffer for the cause of Christ for the glory of God! Their confidence in God will be a true humility! Count it all joy when persecuted for the cause of Christ. Love your enemies and pray for those who despitefully use you. If you are secure in your relationship with Jesus, you will have a peace that passes all understanding and a joy that makes you strong in the Lord, no matter what you face! Your mission is to glorify your Father in who He created you to be. It is who you are!
As we continue in Pt. 5 "Know who you are in Christ Jesus" we will talk about "Jesus in us our hope of glory"
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