2 Timothy 3:12-13 NIV “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, [13] while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

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Doesn’t this passage suggest persecution will get worse? As evildoers and impostors go from bad to worse, would not their hatred for the church do the same? But sometimes persecution isn’t easily detected.

DO YOU KNOW WHEN A SERPENT IS TALKING TO YOU?

Persecution in Greek means to follow or pursue. Eve should never have entertained the Devil. Not because a serpent was talking to her, but because it was saying something opposite of God. Notice how cleverly the serpent did this:

Genesis 3:1 LEB “Did God indeed say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The serpent didn’t come out and say, “I disagree with God!” That would have thrown Eve’s defenses up immediately. Instead, He asked Eve a question to draw her in. This was not a sincere question. The serpent knew exactly what God said about the trees in the garden. He played dumb like his servants play ignorant today. Folks devoted to the Devil ask believers questions often. It’s done to put doubts in our minds about what God says. Like their master, deceivers pretend not to know. Once you answer their false concerns they say something opposite of what God says. They always do this.

ONLY GOATS BUTT

Lying is their native tongue. (John 8:44-45) They never agree with what God says while saying they do agree with Him. It goes something like this: “Yeah, I see what you’re saying, BUT…” There’s always a, “BUT,” to what God says. They may repeat to you everything you said to them verbatim then comes that, “BUT…” Repeating everything back to you is a sales technique I taught for years. It’s done to make customers feel like you’re listening to them when in fact you’re not. No, you’re not listening in the way they think you are. When people feel you are paying attention to them they are more inclined to listen to what you have to say. A feeling of he/she cares causes them to become engaged. Then with their defenses down the salesman/witch/wizard can persuade the victim to buy anything. And believe anything. This is manipulation on another level. I’m glad God showed me I needed to get out of sales. 

Remember this, goats always butt. Sheep listen to and follow the good Shepherd’s voice. (John 10:27) Whether you quote scripture or show it to them in the Bible opposers won’t agree. They will tell you it’s what you’re saying not God. They don’t recognize the Bible as the word of God while some claim that they do. Double speech is the serpent’s vocabulary. Feelings are what they recognize not God’s word. “Well, I think,” or “I hear what you’re saying BUT I FEEL LIKE such and such,” or, “What that’s saying to me is…,” etcetera. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Once they see they’re not making headway with you they get belligerent. (Proverbs 9:7-9) If we entertain these folks and strive to convince them it can cause us to fall.

Don’t struggle with serpents. Once you discern that’s what you’re dealing with get out of that conversation. Let them think, feel, and believe whatever they want. (Revelation 22:11) May we obey God who says:

Romans 16:17 LEB “Now I exhort you, brothers, to look out for those who cause dissensions and temptations contrary to the teaching which you learned, and stay away from them.”

Galatians 1:8-9 KJV “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

People who try to twist our hearts and minds away from God are accursed. God says to leave them alone. Don’t debate them, do not entertain them. It’s not flesh you’re dealing with but serpents (evil spirits), who are talking right through them. (Ephesians 6:12)

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