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Discerning The Devil's Playbook (Part 1): The Four Plays From Nazi Germany Currently At Play In America

September 29, 2024

Watchman Nee
“The devil abhors light and truth because these remove the ground of his working.”

Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said , ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

If we don’t know what God has said indeed, we will fall for the lie of “has God indeed said?”

1 Timothy 3:14-15

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

As the pillar and ground of the truth, we stand to defend and define truth.

Genesis 11:1, 4

Now the whole earth had one language and one speech… And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves…”

“By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell - and hell heaven. The greater the lie, the more readily it will be believed.”

2 Corinthians 4:1-4

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 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.

As the enemy seeks to contradict the truth, the church must never cease to constitute the truth.

As the enemy deceives through controlling the news, the church cannot be deceived when controlled by the Good News.

Additional Scriptures Referenced: John 8:44;

Proverbs 29:18

Discussion Questions

  1. In Genesis 3:1, the serpent questions God’s command, asking, “Has God indeed said…?” What does this reveal about the devil’s tactics to challenge divine authority, and how do we see similar challenges today?
  2. Proverbs 29:18 warns that without revelation, society falls into disorder. How does the absence of biblical truth contribute to the moral and cultural chaos we see in the world, and how can we restore order through God’s Word?
  3. What are some examples in today’s society where biblical principles have been disregarded, leading to confusion, as described in Isaiah 5:20? How can we apply wisdom from Scripture to address these challenges?
  4. The Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 serves as a historical example of propaganda used to defy God. How do modern media and propaganda create a false sense of unity based on lies, and how can Christians effectively discern and counter these influences?
  5. Timothy 3:15 describes the church as the “pillar and ground of the truth.” How can the church actively engage in defending and promoting biblical truth, especially when cultural pressures push against Christian values?
  6. Follow-Up Questions:Why is contradicting the truth a critical first move for the enemy? How did Hitler ensure the church wouldn’t oppose his agenda, and what can we learn from this for today?
  7. How does Genesis 11:1-4 highlight the use of propaganda to challenge God’s authority, and what tools do Christians have to critically engage with modern media? (Ephesians 6:10-18, Ephesians 5:11)