Reflection on Genesis 12:1-9
Faith impacts our decisions and our actions. If we truly
believe God is totally good and all-powerful, if we truly believe he always
acts for his children’s benefit, we will do whatever he asks of us. It is when
we doubt these truths that obedience becomes difficult. Abram (later and better
known as Abraham) was a man who believed God (see Genesis 15:6; James 2:23), so
he obeyed when God said, “Go from your country” (Genesis 12:1).
If we are struggling with obedience in an area of our lives,
perhaps there is something in Scripture we do not truly believe. We can ask God
to help us uncover any unbelief, choose to embrace his goodness and
wholeheartedly do what he says.
SATAN'S VOICE
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to
see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into
the world.
Paul warned us against the deception which comes through
demonic influence (1 Timothy 4:1). John also cautioned us to test the spirits
and to distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error (1 John 4:1-6).
Satan's demonic forces are at work attempting to pollute your mind with lies in
order to keep you from walking in the truth. Hannah Whitehall Smith wrote:
There are the voices of evil and deceiving spirits, who lie
in wait to entrap every traveler entering these higher regions of spiritual
life. . . . These spiritual enemies, whoever or whatever they may be, must
necessarily communicate with us by means of our spiritual faculties, and their
voices, as the voice of God, are an inward impression made upon our spirit.
Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit may tell us by impressions what the will of
God is concerning us, so also will these spiritual enemies tell us by
impression what is their will concerning us, though not, of course, giving it
their name" (Quoted from Martin Wells Knapp, Impressions , Wheaton, IL:
Tyndale House Publishing, Inc., 1984, pp. 14-15).
Due to the deceptive nature of his impressions, Satan's voice
may not always be detected objectively. You need to pray in order to
disassociate yourself from deceiving spirits.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I commit myself unreservedly to Your
will. If I have been deceived in any way, I pray that You will open my eyes to
the deception. I command in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that all
deceiving spirits depart from me, and I renounce and reject all counterfeit
gifts (or any other spiritual phenomena). Lord, if it is from You, bless it and
cause it to grow that Your body may be blessed and edified through it.
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