Pastor (Capt. ) A. M. Samuel

In this scripture, Apostle Paul is exhorting the believers to put on the whole Armour, to be able to withstand the wiles of Satan, and to overcome him. Satan has been busy devising his evil designs, to somehow trap the saints. Right from the days of Adam, he has been busy at that. To get an idea as to how he comes up with his wiles we have an excellent illustration in the Old Testament. Where we see how the Gibeonites, deceived the children of Israel to make a "league" with them. (Joshua 9)

The Gibeonites

The children of Israel were now camping in Gilgal, after their victories against Jericho and Ai, and preparing for the further assaults on the other kingdoms, that stood in their way of possessing the land. Suddenly this strange deputation arrives. From their appearance it seemed that they were travelers come from a long distance. Their garments were worn, their sandals clouted, their provisions dry and moldy, and the skin in which their wine had been were rent and "bound up" as in the East, wine bottles of goat's skin are temporarily repaired on a long journey.

According to their own account, they lived far beyond the boundaries of Palestine, where their fellow townsmen had heard what the Lord had done in Egypt, and again to Sihon and Og. They wisely omitted from the catalogue the miraculous passage of Jordan and the fall of Jericho, because if they gave those details, then the story they were projecting would not hold water. Just look how wily they were. In the same way Satan also comes before us, with well-crafted wiles, so that we may not have the slightest doubts.

They said, that they had been attracted by the name of Jehovah, Israel's God; who had done so many wonders. They had been sent to make "a league" a compromise or to come to an understanding with the Israelites.

At first instance few among the children of Israel did not believe what they said, because of the essential enmity of heathenism against the Kingdom of God, and secondly that these Gibeonites proposal was not to make submission to, but a league with Israel; by which not merely life, but their land and liberty, would be secured to them.

Israel had been specially warned against any "league, " with the inhabitants of Canaan. (Ex. 22: 32; 34: 12; Num. 33: 55; Deut. 7: 2) But the Elders of Israel were not careful. They were self-confident. And Joshua made a league, and the elders swore unto them. The Gibeonites went back happy. Their ploy had succeeded. They did not have to worry, even if their wiles were found out because they had made the "league." Verse 14 says clearly, "and the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord. " What a costly mistake. They had made "league" with those, whom, they had been commanded to destroy completely.

The mistake soon became apparent, but now no point in regretting, the damage had been done. The one who was working behind these Gibeonites was Lucifer - Satan himself. Israel was a nation that maintained its separation at all cost, from the gentiles. They were a people who dwelt alone, not reckoned among the nations. (Num. 23: 9) The kings of Canaan had tried all possible means to halt the progress of Israel, but they had miserably failed. So finally Satan brought one of the prophets to curse them, but he too ended up blessing the people, whom he was supposed to curse. (Num. 23: 23, 24)

As long as the children of Israel were maintaining their separation, God's glory was there in their midst. God is a God of principles, He is Holy, He will dwell where separation is maintained. If God was so tough with the children of Israel, then how much more will He be with the Church. The doctrine of Separation is an important doctrine for the Body of Christ. As long as the Church maintains its separation, God's glory will be there.

Satan knows very well that, once the children of Israel break their separation, and start mingling with the nations, then Jehovah God will leave them. That is the reason he brought the Gibeonites. Satan succeeded with the children of Israel, and in the church also, he has sent many Gibeonites with victuals, wearing worn out shoes and carrying moldy bread, saying that they also believe in the same Jesus, and they too worship sing and dance. Later on only we will be able to understand their real nature. These are Gibeonites, who come praising us, and they are the ones who have to be destroyed, but in many churches, they have made league with them, and have taken some of their victuals, without taking counsel from God. They are the agents of Lucifer, come inside to destroy the doctrine of Separation, so that the glory of God may depart, and the church may become a life less organization as we see today around us.

There was a time in India when, the Church militant was marching on. The power of the Holy Spirit was manifest. In many places, when the saints were worshiping, the people living in the surroundings saw the house on fire, they came running with buckets of water, to only realize that this fire could not be put out with water. But slowly the doctrine of separation got mixed up with the gentiles and we have mixed up with the people, losing our precious separation, thereby lost the glory and the power of God.

When the Church maintains her separation from the world, God's glory will be there, and no power on earth will be able to stand before it. The Government of India will bow before the Church, not because of memorandums, but seeing the glory of God. The mighty Roman Empire trembled in front of the first century church. This eklesia is a group of normal, humble simple people called out by God for a definite purpose.

In 2 Cor. 6: 14-18, God clearly outlines the conditions for his dwelling within the Church. Therefore He says, "... Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."

The children of Israel gradually forsook their separation, married into the gentiles, gave birth to a mixed race, which did not know their own language. But through Ezra, and Nehemiah revival came back to Israel. Just jumping and dancing is not true revival. Revival does not come through songs or emotions, but through the Word, such a revival starts as a stream, turns into a raging river and starts flooding, which no one can stop. All other revivals are emotional display, which will last for a day or two. Real revival comes without any emotional pumping or pushing, harping on the emotions of the people as we usually see these days.

The Book of Ezra and Nehemiah show the way real revival comes. The children of Israel paid a very heavy price for this revival. They sent away their heathen wives and children, they did not allow their emotions to come in the way. That is how they prepared the ground for a true revival. No fasting will bring revival, till we are ready to sort out our life. We have to find out the wiles; Satan had trapped us in many things. We must be over comers in all these things.

The New Testament Gibeonites

Here we see brother Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who sold their possessions, and brought the money and kept it at the feet of the apostles. What did they get in return, both ended up in the graveyard! Satan was on the look out for some people through whom he may enter inside the first century church, and to pollute it. Satan knows very well, that if the glory of God is there in the Church, then he can do nothing about it. He will have to flee. After a tiring search, he got Ananias and his wife. Both of them had prepared the ground for Satan to come and sow his seeds so that the Holy Church may be polluted.

Look at the words of Peter, "Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost." They had sold their property, not out of love or for charity, but to get glory and appreciation. Peter, did not look at the money kept at his feet, but gazing right down inside the their heart, recognised the ploy of the enemy. He recognized the "leaven" that was about to enter the church. And he stopped it right then and there.

The first century saints were always watchful to keep the house of God holy. They were always on the look out for any "leaven" that would pollute the body of Christ. They were not after money. It used to be kept at their feet. Peter and the other apostles did not mince words they were watchful shepherds of the flock of God.

But look at the situation today. What a marked change. What are the ministers doing? Let anyone bring any amount of dirt or leaven he is tolerated or even forgiven, because he is bringing in some money with him. For us money is important and not the glory of God. This is high time to repent, before the judgment of God starts in the house of God.

The Church is rising again, regaining all its lost glory. These days many Ananias are going to die, who dared to bring leaven inside. Dear friend! Check your life. Has any worldly thing entered the church through you? If so fall down and repent. God is no respecter of persons. The Church is not your garbage dump or your playground, to play games, and to enjoy, or the marketplace for you to sell your wares. Church is the precious possession of Christ. He has bought it with his own blood.

Are their any servants of God, who will dare to stand up and rebuke Ananias' and Sapphira. "O Ananias we do not want your money. we need the glory of God to be there in the Church. We have to deliver India from the 33 million gods and goddesses. And Gurus and self-styled holy men"

For the Glory of God to come, sin has to go out. As long as Nehemiah is there, Sanballat and Tobiah cannot enter Jerusalem and keep their belongings inside the holy place of the Temple. In the first century there were men of God like Paul, Peter and the other apostles, who dared Satan, and understood his wiles. Who is there today? We do not have much time before us. My fellow servants of God throw out the dirt. Let the glory come in. Let us not be afraid seeing the price we have to pay. If we do not do it, then who will? Why has God kept us? Let us not allow Ananias and his company enters the church with his money.

May God bless you. Amen.