THE WILES OF THE ENEMY: VEILING

08/29/2023

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:12).

The portion from today's theme scripture that we would focus on is the portion that reveals to us how the enemy operates. The Bible lets us know that the enemy uses wiles. What are wiles? Wiles can be defined as strategies, schema, or templates. In essence, he has specific lines of action that are supposed to produce for him an advantage against a Christian if that Christian is ignorant, consenting, fearful, or foolish.

One of these wiles is what we would call "veiling." 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 tells us, "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them."

For a long time, many have construed this portion of scripture to mean that the devil veils the Gospel from people who are not born again so that they can go to hell. This is true. However, this scripture casts a wider net. There are professing, Spirit-filled Christians who also have their eyes veiled by the enemy.

Read 2 Corinthians 4:3 carefully. It says, "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing..." Many failures that some Christians experience are a result of veiling. There are things you ought to know to unlock another level of glory. However, because of the veiling technologies of the enemy, many have been rendered ineffective to transit from one level to the other.

The antidote to this veiling is an immersion into the ministries of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Acts 6:4 says, "...but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The import of giving ourselves brings to mind Isaac's willingness to be sacrificed by his father, Abraham. You devote yourself like a sacrifice to the Holy Spirit in prayer and then to the study of His words in the scriptures.

It is this devotion to the Spirit and the Word that Paul surmises in Ephesians 1:17-18 (Amplified Version) "...[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit] so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God's people)"

Saint of God, your blindspot is the enemy's advantage and you hold the executive responsibility of dealing with the veiling of the enemy.

God bless you!

Faith-Filled Confession

I refuse to be ignorant about the enemy's strategy to veil things of the Gospel from me. Therefore, I yield myself to the Holy Spirit and His word, trusting in His ability to unveil and enlighten my heart with the things of the Gospel that I ought to know experientially. I walk in the light, and on my path, there is no darkness. Hallelujah!

Prayer Point

Pray that new doors of opportunity for ministry be opened to us, and utterance be granted us to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ unhindered, without fear or reproach, but in power and effectiveness.

Pray for brethren who are facing severe persecutions, that they be strengthened to stand firm in all the will of God, and pray for the deliverance of those imprisoned for their faith in Christ Jesus.

ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Psalm 139-141; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13