Several of my grandkids are big pranksters. I believe my youngest granddaughter (2years 4 months old) is going to be the biggest of all. At her very young age she loves to prank and belly laughs once she fools someone(s). For example, several months back, she positioned herself in a dark recess just around a doorway where others could not see her in our underground parking garage. It was a spooky environment. Waiting patiently, she finally heard my wife and her youngest sister come down the stairs. Observing her, she was positioned deftly to deliver the max scare! At the perfect time following her lead we gave a vehemently petrifying shout. My wife and other granddaughter screamed bloody murder! Then, they realized that they had been pranked skillfully by of all people, a 2 year old! We all had a belly LOL! As if the one laugh wasn’t enough, she had us laughing for the next five minutes on the way to her home. She loves a prank!
I tell you without a doubt who the master prankster is, the devil. He loves to skillfully tempt and expertly deceive, and he and his sinister minions get a charge out of it when their contrived moves are successful. If you do not recognize that this kind of activity is going on in the spiritual world, you will not have success spiritually or an abundant walk with Jesus. Won’t happen! He and his devious crowd have from the beginning of mankind used three tactics over and over again to absolute perfection sucking us into the world and its things: “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” (1John 2:15-16).
John 8:44 nails it, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” You cannot make it any clearer than this. The devil is a liar! That’s the way it is. He is the father of all lies and his native language is “lie-ese.” I am trying to be funny here but the results of the devil’s work are not fun (broken families, suicide, adultery, thievery, murder, hurt, bitterness, hate, envy, gossip…).
John 10:10a declares the “10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” My wife and I have worked with broken marriages for twenty years. We have heard over and over again from them that their marriage was “stolen, killed or destroyed” by an outside source or their own sin from deception or temptation. Uh…who is orchestrating this destruction? You got it…the devil.
Spiritual warfare is a huge discussion to be had. For today, I will leave you with a couple of lovely, TRUTHFUL and powerful verses found in John 8:31-32, 31 Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” If you continue to read, meditate, absorb and memorize this scripture so that it impacts your everyday experience, you will be “set free.” Why can the Word of God do this for you? Romans 1:16 states clearly, “the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” His Word gives you the truth backed up with the power to deliver “everyone who believes.” It reveals the truth so that you will recognize the next time you are pranked. Then, it is up to you in the power of His word to choose not to fall for it.
Barnabas Man 