Spiritual Warfare Series — Devotional #5
Deceptive Leaders with Slick Teaching
This week, we continue to answer the following question:
How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting, and derailing them from being involved in God's great mission?
As we survey Pauline literature, we will uncover fourteen tactical strategies the enemy uses to attack God’s people—along with specific biblical antidotes to counter them. (See the introduction to this series for an overview.)
Tactic 5: Deceptive Leaders with Slick Teaching
“Even Satan can quote Scripture out of context—why are we surprised when men do it?” — Gary Rohrmayer
Text:
2 Corinthians 11:14–15
"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."
The Problem
“Satan can counterfeit good things that attract believers (e.g., apparent good teaching, false apostles). Satan can appear like a messenger from God to deceive Christians.” — J. Robert Clinton
Satan’s most dangerous lies often come wrapped in half-truths. He uses smooth-talking, charismatic leaders who appear righteous on the surface but lead believers away from God’s truth.
The Antidote
“Get discernment on apparent good teaching and dynamic leaders. This may involve having to depend on people with revelatory gifts (discerning of spirits, word of knowledge, word of prophecy, word of wisdom, etc.).” — J. Robert Clinton
Pray for and cultivate discernment.
Encourage a Berean spirit—examining everything in light of Scripture (Acts 17:11).
Value and listen to those with discernment and revelatory gifts within the Body.
Test all teaching against the whole counsel of God’s Word.
Reflective Questions
When was the last time you prayed for the spiritual protection of your church?
Would you describe your church as having the spirit of the Bereans (Acts 17:11)?
How dependent are you on the revelatory gifts of Scripture?
Who in your circles demonstrates and exercises these gifts with integrity?
Prayer
Father of Light, protect my life from the deception of the enemy, and protect Your church from false teachers and hirelings. Produce in us a spiritual depth and a hunger for Your truth. May we have the noble character of the Bereans—receiving Your Word with eagerness and examining the Scriptures daily. Grant Your church the gift of discernment to see behind slick or even seemingly successful teaching. Let sound doctrine be promoted and embraced throughout Your church. Teach us to think correctly and practice truth appropriately—for Your glory and honor.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
