Christian Living

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Dear Eve,
The Serpent was an appearance of evil.

I love defining the method of operation of the devil as 'euphemistic'.
Euphemism to me has a lot to do with deceit and lies.

The Bible in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says 
" Flee all appearances of evil "
Sometimes abstain.
That is a very clear command and advice. The problem is we don't know the appearance of evil but we know evil.
The devil went to Eve as a serpent . just imagine how it was. Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Adam had called the creature Serpent. At that time it wasn't seen as the devil as we see snakes today. It was just a creature of God.. And it walked to Eve to have a conversation with her;perhaps like other animals would have. If Eve had known the Serpent was evil she wouldn't have listened. It came as an appearance of evil. And that is same with us today. A lot of people have entered 'potholes' because they failed to recognise an appearance of evil. They've forgotten the devil is smart. He uses strategies plans and executes. He is a good hunter; patient enough to wait for the best hour to catch the prey.
A big euphemistic approach of the devil is "appearance". He knows that a lot of Christians would conquer if he comes directly so he takes a different form.
It is just like Snow White and the poisoned apple.
On the outside, to Snow white it was just an apple. But what it really was was poison. If her stepmother had brought a bottle labelled 'poison', she wouldn't have taken it.
Same is what the devil does.
The devil looks for something that interests you, something that seems harmless and uses that to hook you.
That is why we should remember Proverbs 21:14,
" There is a way that seemeth right unto man but the end thereof is death"

It is like a bait used to hook a fish.
An appearance of evil seems right seems real and seems true. It is beautiful attractive and luring. Just like the devil himself. But many of us forget that the devil is beautiful. We imagine him as black. Most movies portray that. Worst part are the horns and tails and devilish laughter they use. That is why a lot of people fall when a beautiful figure eight lady dressed in a fitting gown and lovely make-up walks up to them (It also takes the male form)
Satan is not an abstract being

The devil knows you. He knows what you like ,dislike,interest, strength and weakness. Don't mistakenly think he has forgotten you because all seems right and nothing comes to press you in the night. Don't think you are not significant to him. As far as you were created, you are significant. Once you are born or conceived you are significant to God and hence significant to the devil.

If you think you've conquered the spiritual, go check the physical.
That job offer,trip,man,lady,appointment,outing,vacation,friend,colleague fiance,fiancee in fact anything could be an appearance of evil. Not only living things.
(I'm not saying you should start doubting everything about you)
One sure way to know an appearance of evil is with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the best detector and detective.
The bad thing is that most of us have done funny things to the Holy Spirit. We conform him to fit our wants (that is a post for a week to come).
You don't fight an appearance of evil. You don't rebuke it. You don't stay and speak in tongues. You Flee
There is a difference between flying and running. For an appearance of evil you engage the extra and disengage the legs.
Flee/ Abstain mean quit the job, cut all connections, call off the wedding and go somewhere,cancel that appointment, "shut up" ( when words are involved).
Flee /Abstain mean LIGHTS OUT. Don't stay for the aftermath

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