Enemies of the soul

“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion…….” 

Confusion is not doubt. Doubt about interpretations and the things of the flesh draw us to the all knowing God in prayerful petitions. Confusion is unbelief. 

The enemies of the soul rely on the outward appearance of things. Satan is the great counterfeiter in the churches, and he works in the flesh of unbelievers (tares) in the churches who have given themselves over to be possessed by him; 

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”    2 Corinthians 11:13-15 

Before the Bible was written God spoke directly with His believers through His prophets in “tongues”. After the Bible was written God told believers that there was no word to be added outside of what God communicated through His Word; 

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”    Revelation 22:18-19 

During the church age the practices of charismatic churches including speaking in tongues and the practice of being “slain in the spirit” was Satan’s counterfeit. It was the pursuit of signs; 

“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:”   Matthew 12:38-39 

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”   Hebrews 11:1 

The assurance of faith for a believer does not come through the verification by the flesh through the eyes. Nor does it come through the proof of “right doctrine” nor does it come through agreement between men. It comes through Gods personal intervention in a person’s private life and the spiritual knowledge that is designed and assigned to that person in God’s  personal relationship with that believer.  

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”        Matthew 6:6 

“…..Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man……” 

The cruelty of the flesh is only a picture of the spiritual cruelty of both these “ministers of righteousness” posing in the churches and all believers unbelieving relatives, friends, coworkers, peers etc.  

When men and women refuse their birthright, which is the soul’s eternal communion with God, gives them up to become empty vessels for Satan who guides them into his many faceted distortions and delusions  of reality; 

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”    2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 

It is important to understand that believers do not war against personalities. Personalities are of the flesh. It is the spirit of God that loves the soul. The spirit of the natural man, the unbeliever, hates the soul, even his own soul, because he is possessed by Satan. So my unbelieving brother, sister, friend coworker etc hates the souls of believers!!! God gives believers a picture of this hatred in the interactions between believers and unbelievers, but not to judge their unbelieve against them but simply to give that believer discernment of good and evil; 

The “milk” of the Word is the knowledge of the common morality communicated in God's Word and equally applied by both believing and unbelieving men and women. The “meat” of the Word is the knowledge of God revealed to believers to be able to discern spiritual evil. 

“For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”   Hebrews 5:13-14 

“For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge…..” 

Evidence of Gods glorious salvation is revealed in the hearts of the elect, invisible to the flesh, counterfeited by signs and wonders in the supernaturally produced world of appearance. The flesh cannot discern the difference between wheat and tares. Satan’s “ministers of righteousness” are just as beautiful to the flesh in their praising of God as the flesh of believers praising God. The confidence of the Holy Spirit resides in the private and personal relationship between each believer and God. 

“….Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.”   Psalm 71:1,4-11 

So my friends and family must make a pretense of loving me in their flesh, along with their delusion that their flesh is their true self!!!!! But their spirit, the spirit of Satan (unbelief) lies in wait for my soul.  

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”   Psalm 19:14