"Look Out That No One Takes You Captive?!

Satan wants to turn us against Jehovah.  To achieve his goal, he tries to influence our thinking, in effect, to bring our mind into captivity and make it obedient to him.  He tries to persuade  or to deceive us into following him by appealing to our desires.-Read COLOSSIANS 2:4, 8 .

 Are we really in serious danger of being misled by Satan?  Yes, we are!  Remember, Paul did not write the warning recorded at Colossians 2:8 to unbelievers.  He wrote it to Christians  who had been anointed with holy spirit.  (Colossians 1:2, 5) Those Christians were in danger back then, and we are in even greater danger today. (1 Corinthians 10:12)  Why?  Satan has been confined  to the vicinity of the earth and he is focused on misleading God's loyal servants.  (Revelation 12:9, 12, 17)  In addition, we are living  during at time when wicked men and impostors are advancing from "bad to worse." - 2 TIMOTHY 3:1, 13.

In this article, we will discuss how Satan uses "empty deception" to try to influence our thinking.  We will identify three of his "crafty acts," or "schemes."  (Ephesians 6:11) Then, in the following article, we will consider how to counteract any negative effects his tactics may have had on our thinking. First, though, let us consider what we can learn from the way Satan misled the Israelites, after they entered the Promised Land.

Next time:  "Look Out That No One Takes You Captive"! - TEMPTED TO COMMIT IDOLATRY

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