Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Distraction, Deception, Diversion, Destruction
A key to winning in most competitions is to get the opposition to do what you want them to do. This could not be more true than in spiritual warfare. Many believers today try to better understand and defend themselves against this by staying active in their churches. Seems like a good thing, right? In many ways that is true. It is stated often in scripture that it is good for believers to be together.
Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Now let’s return to my original premise. A key to winning is to get the opposition to do what you want them to do. This is what the serpent did in the garden to Eve. He distracted her with a foolish question, he deceived her with a lie about not dying and about being like God, he diverted her attention with the attractiveness of fruit that must surely result in good taste, and then destroyed her and Adam’s perfect life when they ate, pushing death into the world. Clearly our enemy is good at this. There is another scripture that indicates part of his plan at the end of time (where I believe we are presently). It speaks of this same pattern of distraction, deception, diversion, and destruction.
Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Here Daniel is speaking about the beast at the end of time. It says he wears out the saints. How? By changing the times and laws. The word “times” here actually means “sacred festivals” as it is translated in the New Living Translation. So the beast at the end of time changes essentially the holidays – the Feasts of the Lord.
Today is Shavuot which is the feast fifty days after the Feast of Unleavened Bread during the Passover season. It is also the day in the upper room that God sent the Holy Spirit recorded in Acts 2. However, we see many believers celebrating Pentecost fifty days after Easter, neither of which are on the same dates as the Feasts of the Lord. This raises some interesting questions. If the beast at the end of time changes the sacred festivals, and they are now changed, how did that happen? If the sacred festivals were important in that they tell God’s story of redemption and salvation for man, giving God the glory, then what story is being told by these new holidays and who is getting the glory, really? If the method of winning is to get your opposition to do what you want them to do, and the beast at the end of time is our opposition, and the four stages I mentioned are correct (distraction, deception, diversion, and destruction), which stage are we now in?
All very interesting questions, worthy of investigation, don’t you agree?
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the Most High. Thank You for all You do for us, and for Your eternal markers in the creation of Your handiwork and our salvation. Please forgive us when we get off track and follow a path other than the one You have set with Your feasts, Your signs in the heavens, and Your Holy Spirit. We thank You for this day many Years ago when You sent us Your Holy Spirit, and we celebrate that day today. Please send us today Your healing, deliverance, and overwhelming provision.