46 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Adding to the Word

The simplicity that is in Christ: Believing God really is simple, yet we make it very complicated. Salvation is simple. Healing and Deliverance is simple. Yet there is a major strategy of the enemy to dilute the power of the gospel by having us add to it, which is how Eve was deceived.

The big question is, why do we add? We add to the Word, to the Gospel because we just do not think it will be accepted unless it somehow seems brilliant or attractive.

That is precisely why we must become like children to enter the kingdom. The Bible says we must become as little children or we will not enter the kingdom of God (See Matthew 18:3). Little children are simple. They simply believe what adults whom they trust to tell them. They don’t try to figure everything out; they simply believe.

The Lord commanded the man and woman not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because they would die. When the serpent asked about this command, Eve replied that they could not eat from the tree "or touch it" (Genesis 3:3).

However, the Lord had not said anything about refraining from touching the tree. Adding to God's commandments is just as destructive as taking away from them. If satan can get us to either add or subtract from the Word, he then knows our fall is imminent, just like it was for Eve.

Apostle Paul was aware that though the believers were already saved, their minds were not yet renewed. Therefore, the mind remains the most critical battlefield—the mind receives more attacks from the forces of darkness than any other part of the man.

"As the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness." satan did not attack Eve's body first, he attacked her mind first. In the same manner, evil spirits today want to attack our mind first. This is how the enemy deceived Eve and this is how even today the enemy deceives God’s people with the purpose of corrupting us from the simplicity that is in Christ

False Ministers

And no wonder! For satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Now there was a day when the sons (the angels) of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and satan (the adversary and accuser) also came among them. And the Lord said to satan, From where did you come? Then satan answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it. (Job 1:6-7)

Almost exactly the same incident is recorded again in Job 2:1-2

Again there was a day when the sons of God [the angels] came to present themselves before the Lord, and satan (the adversary and the accuser) came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to satan, From where do you come? And satan (the adversary and the accuser) answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it.

When God's angels came to present themselves and report to the Lord, satan was there among them. However, the other angels could not identify satan in their midst. We can understand this because in 2 Corinthians 11:14, Apostle Paul reveals that satan often transforms himself as "an angel of light."

It was for a good reason that the Lord instructed us to judge men by their fruit. A parrot can be taught to say and do the right things. satan and his ministers often come as "an angel of light," proclaiming scriptures; and their work will often conform to the letter.

But remember only Jesus can bring forth the fruit that is Life. "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (II Corinthians 3:6). Only changed lives are proof of God ordained minister or ministry.

Never Pray to Angels

We are never to pray to angels or to call on angels for guidance or deliverance. We are to pray only to the Lord Himself. Praying to an angel may open you up to spiritual deception, especially if you are a new Christian or are not walking close to God.

You won’t be able to spiritually discern the true nature of an encounter with an angel. When you talk to a being that appears or claims to be an angel, you may be talking to a deceiving spirit masquerading as an angel of light. (See 2 Corinthians 11:14.)

Chapter 11