How Should we Handle Conspiracies, Part 1

When you read the Bible, you cannot get away from the reality that there are conspiracies and forces behind the scenes that are at work.  These forces like to remain hidden, and in fact, they need darkness to thrive in order to carry out their mission in the light.

Here is what the Bible says about the hidden forces at work in our world:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:11-12).

I think it is wise to look into certain things that can be classified as conspiracies for the following reasons: 

First, to wrestle with the real enemy. 

We like to put a label or face on people or groups so we can arrange them in our neat little category so as to inflict punishment and justice on such.  The Ferguson riots, school shootings, and various levels of injustices that we are faced with, although they all involved people, there is a sinister enemy behind it all and it’s the devil and his hordes of demons. If we just see only people with skin and our vision does not go deeper, we are not recognizing the cause and can easily be caught in Satan’s deception.  If you want to tap into an effectual cure, you have to zero in on the real cause.  This means that there are some things in life that are seen as conspiracies that should be investigated and understood.

Second, the Bible says that we should not allow Satan to take advantage of us by being “ignorant of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11). 

If we do not have some idea of how the enemy of our soul works, what his goals and objectives are, who he uses, and how we can play into his hands and get ourselves trapped, we would not know a bad situation if it was starring us in the face.

The word “schemes” means Satan’s thoughts and purposes.  Satan has a plan, a goal, and a purpose. He goes all out to try to hide it so those who are opposed to it (Christians) will not pray against it.

Third, our greater weapons of offense are the Word of God and prayer.

The two greatest weapons that God gives to us is the living Word of God and the transforming power of prayer.  These tools are spiritual in nature. Satan and his hordes of demons are very much afraid of these weapons. In the right hands and hearts – the Holy Spirit believer can push back on the gates of hell (Matt. 16:18) and enter the enemy's camp and take back what does not belong to him.

Most of us have relatives who have been captured by Satan’s devices and control. They are deceived, determined, divided, darkened, defeated, in denial, despairing, disobedient, distracted, and in great need of spiritual deliverance.  With such a tight grip on our loved ones and others, how can these people be set free?  Only by the saving grace of God using the Word and Prayer – the very tools God used to set us free.

Check your life. The two areas you will be tempted by the enemy to spend less time in and consequently become lukewarm and mediocre is in your knowledge and application of the Word and time spent in prayer.  Don’t get distracted from pouring your life and soul into the study of the Bible and time on your knees in prayer.  Someone caught and imprisoned in Satan’s gates are depending on you to steward your freedom to live and serve God in a manner that will break open the shackles of the bondage of sin and set the prisoners free.  

At one time during the life of the early church, there arose a problem.  Certain widows in the church were being overlooked in the daily serving of food (Acts 6:1).  This problem was brought to the attention of the apostles.  The apostles wisely brought this to the attention of the congregation (v. 2) and asked them, “Choose from among you helpers that can take care of this issue. On the other hand, we (the apostles) will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word” (vv. 3-4). 

The early church leaders wisely knew not to allow distractions take away their time in God’s Word and prayer. If so, it would weaken them and allow the enemy to gain an advantage. Satan tried to use a legitimate need to distract the apostles. They were discerning and not ignorant of the devil’s schemes. 

Knowledge of Satan’s methods and tactics can prove to be helpful to the man or woman of God who seeks to advance the kingdom of God.

End of Part 1