08.20.07

But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 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. - 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.

…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ. - Ephesians 4:14-15.

A woman in Israel has been arrested for pretending to be an officer in the army for the last five years. She went to the war last summer in Lebanon and the 24-year-old managed to make it onto bases around Israel in uniform with a replica assault rifle. During the fighting last year, she was able to attach herself to an artillery battery near the border working with the soldiers there. According to media reports, the woman’s reason for her masquerade was that it “made me feel good.”

Satan is a great masquerader who can transform “himself into an angel of light.” Not only can Satan do this but also his demons can do the same and his human servants masquerade as “apostles of Christ.” There are people out there who are very good at pretending as we see with the woman in Israel who for five years was able to keep up her masquerade. Of course, if they have demonic help those servants of Satan may be able to do even better in keeping up their masquerade.

There are “deceitful workers” who will deceive you if they can. Those “deceitful workers” are actively plotting how to deceive you and they will try to trick you into believing their lies.

The apostle Paul says that we should no longer be children instead we are to grow up in Christ. Sadly, there is another game of deception being played in the church. There are those who play at being Christians. They pretend to be serious believers, pretend to be students of the Word of God, and pretend to be prayer warriors. While actually they are only children“being tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men.” They masquerade as mature believers while being only baby Christians who will easily fall for the tricks and deceits of the enemy. Their masquerade causes problems for the entire church.

The solution to both kinds of masquerades is for believers to leave behind their babyhood in Christ and grow up in Christ. If you think that you can become a mature Christian by never attending church - you are just masquerading as a sincere believer. If you think that you can become a mature Christian by never praying - you are just masquerading as a sincere believer. If you think that you can become a mature Christian and never read, study, or memorize God’s Word - you are just masquerading as a sincere believer. Your masquerade will lead other baby Christians to think that you are right and that they too can coast along into Christian maturity. Your masquerade becomes a tool of the enemy to stifle the growth of other believers.

Watch out for the tricks and deceits of the enemy so that you are not, “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” Instead, give it all that you have, work with your whole heart to “grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ.”