Diversionary attacks and tactics
A distraction is something which diverts the attention from an original focus or interest, in other words it draws someone's attention away from something. So, anything that keeps you away from what should be a priority may be a distraction. For example, many phone calls, many crises, TV watching, shopping, etc. may be distractions. Distractions are also used in wars as a maneuver that draws the attention of an opponent away from a planned point of action, especially as part of military strategy, or an attack calculated to draw enemy defense away from the point of the principal attack. Distractions in war are called diversionary tactics or attacks. Some examples are: octopi, when threatened they spray ink to distract a possible attacker; Fake targets; the use of the Trojan horse; Pickpockets and other thieves. Distraction - diversionary attacks or tactics - is one of the Devil's best tools against us.
When Paul uses the armor metaphor for our spiritual life, it was not an accident (Ephesians 6: 10 - 18). We are in the midst of Spiritual war (2 Corinthians 10: 3), waging for our minds and soul. Furthermore, the fight is not only for us, we are the battlefield, and also the soldiers. While God has strict rules of engagement, and stands by them, our enemy does not. The Devil uses anything at his disposition to destroy us, whether fair or not. (Thank God for His restraints on the Devil!) His goal is to keep us from distracted from Jesus, because, it is in Jesus that we find victory. It does not matter if we go to church every day of the week. If we are not connected to the Vine, we the branches are dead (John 15: 1-7).
How does the Devil keep us distracted? One way is to keep us busy. If we do not have time for prayer and study, we are spiritually dead. Another way is comparisons. To compare we have to look at each other, as long as we look at each other, we lose our sight of Jesus. Other way is lifestyle issues: such as music, dress, food, etc. Yet another way is debating over theological issues that do not contribute anything to our preparation for eternal life is also prevalent. Of, course than we also have heresies.
This interpretation of the little horn as Antiochus Epiphanes, is perhaps one of the biggest heresies ever to distract us from Jesus. For reasons explained in our lesson, Antiochus cannot fit the little horn of the prophecy. This heresy invalidates Jesus as the Messiah, and without Jesus we have no salvation. We have wasted our time preaching cunningly devised fables (2 Peter 1:16). A Gospel that believes that the little horn is Antiochus does not have the power to save from Sin and unto eternal life. We can see that this heresy is nothing more than a diversionary tactic from Devil.
As we who profess to be Christians argue over these issues, we not only send a message of disunity to those around us, but also give a false testimony of God. We send a message that God is a God of debate, disunity, unrestrained anger, and unforgiving. So, this diversionary attack not only affects us but also those who surround us.
What is the answer? Avoid them? Or should we perhaps establish an ecumenical movement? These solutions are also other diversionary tactics from our enemy. So, how can we protect ourselves from these diversionary attacks from Satan? The answer is that we cannot, if we are not connected to Jesus, the Vine (John 15: 1-7). Jesus was, is and always will be the answer. We indeed need the armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10 - 18) to fight this war, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds," (2 Corinthians 10:4). These weapons - the armor of God - the Holy Spirit provides for us when we let Him indwell us, and we yield to Him. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). Only as we yield to the indwelling Spirit of God can we be protected from the diversionary tactics of the Devil.
Raúl Díaz
A distraction is something which diverts the attention from an original focus or interest, in other words it draws someone's attention away from something. So, anything that keeps you away from what should be a priority may be a distraction. For example, many phone calls, many crises, TV watching, shopping, etc. may be distractions. Distractions are also used in wars as a maneuver that draws the attention of an opponent away from a planned point of action, especially as part of military strategy, or an attack calculated to draw enemy defense away from the point of the principal attack. Distractions in war are called diversionary tactics or attacks. Some examples are: octopi, when threatened they spray ink to distract a possible attacker; Fake targets; the use of the Trojan horse; Pickpockets and other thieves. Distraction - diversionary attacks or tactics - is one of the Devil's best tools against us.
When Paul uses the armor metaphor for our spiritual life, it was not an accident (Ephesians 6: 10 - 18). We are in the midst of Spiritual war (2 Corinthians 10: 3), waging for our minds and soul. Furthermore, the fight is not only for us, we are the battlefield, and also the soldiers. While God has strict rules of engagement, and stands by them, our enemy does not. The Devil uses anything at his disposition to destroy us, whether fair or not. (Thank God for His restraints on the Devil!) His goal is to keep us from distracted from Jesus, because, it is in Jesus that we find victory. It does not matter if we go to church every day of the week. If we are not connected to the Vine, we the branches are dead (John 15: 1-7).
How does the Devil keep us distracted? One way is to keep us busy. If we do not have time for prayer and study, we are spiritually dead. Another way is comparisons. To compare we have to look at each other, as long as we look at each other, we lose our sight of Jesus. Other way is lifestyle issues: such as music, dress, food, etc. Yet another way is debating over theological issues that do not contribute anything to our preparation for eternal life is also prevalent. Of, course than we also have heresies.
This interpretation of the little horn as Antiochus Epiphanes, is perhaps one of the biggest heresies ever to distract us from Jesus. For reasons explained in our lesson, Antiochus cannot fit the little horn of the prophecy. This heresy invalidates Jesus as the Messiah, and without Jesus we have no salvation. We have wasted our time preaching cunningly devised fables (2 Peter 1:16). A Gospel that believes that the little horn is Antiochus does not have the power to save from Sin and unto eternal life. We can see that this heresy is nothing more than a diversionary tactic from Devil.
As we who profess to be Christians argue over these issues, we not only send a message of disunity to those around us, but also give a false testimony of God. We send a message that God is a God of debate, disunity, unrestrained anger, and unforgiving. So, this diversionary attack not only affects us but also those who surround us.
What is the answer? Avoid them? Or should we perhaps establish an ecumenical movement? These solutions are also other diversionary tactics from our enemy. So, how can we protect ourselves from these diversionary attacks from Satan? The answer is that we cannot, if we are not connected to Jesus, the Vine (John 15: 1-7). Jesus was, is and always will be the answer. We indeed need the armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10 - 18) to fight this war, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds," (2 Corinthians 10:4). These weapons - the armor of God - the Holy Spirit provides for us when we let Him indwell us, and we yield to Him. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). Only as we yield to the indwelling Spirit of God can we be protected from the diversionary tactics of the Devil.
Raúl Díaz
