ROOTED RENEGADE

The enemy’s kingdom is the opposite of God’s.  It has been flipped to be a misrepresentation of what God has so that we are deceived into seeing what we believe to be true and accurate depictions at times of what we think we hear and believe to be God.  In fact, the deception is like a trick.  It is a misrepresentation of the One True God because the enemy could not get what he wanted in Heaven, which was to be God, to be above God, and to have all things related to God.  So, what does he do, he misrepresents here on Earth to us, God’s people.  What better way to trick God’s people than to act like, look like, and pretend to represent God?  Think about it.  Do you struggle at times to discern God’s voice?  Do you struggle at times to get peace about something when you are praying?  Do you at times question your pastor because you think he is preaching the Word of God but it sure does sound like the world is coming out more in his message than the Lord?  Do you get so caught up in sin that you feel more condemned than convicted?

I could go on and on, but I think, well I hope you are getting the point.

The enemy’s job is to steal, kill, and destroy God’s people.  Master plan and it starts with misrepresentation.  Deception.  Lies.  Plots.  Evil.  Yet, do we not fall for the tricks and the cycles?  Let’s face it.  If you have had any run in with the devil, his minions, his commanders, etc., then you know first hand how cunning they can be.  Let’s not pretend “The Devil Wears Prada” all the time, or that he lurks around every corner.  Let’s really get down to the nitty gritty and talk some real deal stuff.  He affects our lives by misrepresenting who God is in and through us.  He affects our thoughts by misrepresenting the Holy Scriptures and twisting them around so they sound good, there “seems” to be loopholes in them, and then we get dazed and confused and go off fully monty on a plot that was devised to steal from us, kill us, and destroy us so that we don’t birth the plans and purposes of God.  

We were made for more than we realize we were.  We were not made to be deceived, yet many of us get trapped in the deception of misrepresentation.  God wants us to know who we are in HIm.  Who we are in His son Jesus Christ.  Who we are with the Holy Spirit living inside of us.  Who we are as sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Not continuing to walk in deception and the schemes of the enemy.  

I will admit, for most of my life, I was deceived greatly.  I knew who Jesus was as the man who died on the cross for my sins.  But I didn’t KNOW WHO JESUS WAS in His humanity or divinity.  I didn’t know the Holy Spirit and I thought God was a judge who was sitting behind a bench condemning me for everything I had ever done in my life wrong.  I couldn’t see that I was a beloved child of the Most High.  Yes, does God hate sin and until we are saved do we live under the wrath that will follow if we don’t turn away, yes.  But, we are also loved.  We are deeply loved and there is not definition that we are ourselves could come up with that can contain God’s love for us.  The Word of God says for “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” in Romans 8:38.  I don’t know about you, but I can’t put too many good words to that kind of love.  We don’t even love each other that much, most times, if we are being really honest with one another.  Often times, we feel this misrepresentation, see the misrepresentation, hear the misrepresentation and then walk in the misrepresentation of who other people say God is, and it is damaging to our lives.  I know I did.  For years I believed what others told me ranging from good to bad and it set in my mind, body, and soul.  My spirit was weak and it took a long time for me to experience God’s love for me.  It also took a long time for me to experience the love of others that was authentic and genuine, including loving myself.

You see, the enemy, he comes for you.  He knows that if you are a mess, then it will be easy to come after your family, job, finances, etc.  You, your mind, body, soul are what is to love God with all of your heart.  So what better way to create chaos than to misrepresent God, the one who created you to ALL your members?  That is why it is so important to understand that while the enemy works to come after you, you can work to go after him.  Stop him in his tracks by loving you, loving God, and loving others.  Understand that you are God’s workmanship, created in the image and likeness of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26-27, Ephesians 2:10).  Know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, known before you were ever placed in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139).  You are dearly beloved children (Ephesians 5:1).  Then combat the enemy with putting on the whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-19) so that you can stand against evil in the strength of the Lord.

Don’t let the enemy keep misrepresenting in your life.  Dive deep into the Word of God.  Grab a friend and study together.  Listen online to Holy Spirit filled pastors after praying and being led by the Holy Spirit.  Allow the Lord to do a mighty work in your life so that you can grow and mature in your faith.

We don’t live in a world that is accepting of faith.  Yet, we really never have…they didn’t accept Jesus, yet He loved and accepted us as joint-heirs with Him that He was willing and did suffer on the cross so that we could be free.

Won’t you start today with a personal relationship with Him?  He is standing at the door and knocking and will be there when you open it.

Faythe