Schemes of Satan-8
Why is it important to know the schemes of Satan? The first answer is so we are not among the many who are being deceived by Satan. As there are far more false teachers than true teachers, we all need to keep comparing their ‘truth’ to GOD’s truth. We cannot do that if we don’t try and become familiar with GOD’s Word. We all need to be more like the ‘Bereans’ who compared Paul’s teaching with GOD’s Word.
Acts 17:10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Truth seekers need to be eager to examine the Scriptures so they are not being deceived by false teachers.
John 9:8 Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, "Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?" 9:9 Others were saying, "This is he," still others were saying, "No, but he is like him." He kept saying, "I am the one."
The people had a difficult time truly believing that this blind beggar could now see. It was just too much to take in and believe. We would have had the same reaction if we would have been there.
9:10 So they were saying to him, "How then were your eyes opened?" 9:11 He answered, "The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went away and washed, and I received sight." 9:12 They said to him, "Where is He?" He *said, "I do not know."
Again, this challenges all the false claims of ‘faith’ healers. When they can’t heal someone, they blame the victim for lack of faith.
Costi Hinn worked alongside of his uncle Benny Hinn for may years until GOD opened his eyes.
Founder / President Costi Hinn serves as the Teaching Pastor at Shepherd’s House Bible Church in Chandler, AZ. He is currently completing his doctorate at The Master’s Seminary, and the author of several books including, Knowing the Spirit (Zondervan, 2023), More Than a Healer, God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel, and Defining Deception. He has also co-authored a children's book alongside his wife Christyne titled, In Jesus' Name I Pray: TJ the Squirrel Learns the True Heart of Prayer (Harvest House Kids, 2022). Costi and Christyne live in Gilbert, AZ with their five children.
9:13 They *brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 9:14 Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.
Two things to consider. First, why did they bring him to the Pharisees? Was this required by them to make sure they could exert control? Did they really want to know all that went on in their sheep pen? Secondly, it was the Sabbath. They had added and added to the Law of GOD until it was unrecognizeable and was totally founded on their oral law.
9:15 Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, "He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 9:16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them.
9:17 So they *said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" And he said, "He is a prophet."
So, they accused Jesus of being a sinner! Not all could go along with this, but they continued to try and discredit this man and blaspheme Jesus.
9:18 The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, 9:19 and questioned them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?" 9:20 His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 9:21 but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself."
So they called in his parent, but why? They couldn’t live with this miracle so they reverted to intimidation and potential punishment. This silences most witnesses. Just like the mob used to threaten witnesses with death.
9:22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 9:23 For this reason his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
The parents would not even stand with their son who had been miraculously healed! They feared the Pharisees more than they would praise GOD for this miracle! Of course, being turned out of the synagogue was certain banishment from all life as they knew. They would be shunned, friends would avoid them, business opportunities would be kept from them, and all fellowship would cease. This is a cost that most would not want to bear.
John 15:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
More next Saturday!