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The Enemy Within from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

There is a thought-provoking story in the book of Joshua, chapter 9. Moses had passed on. Joshua had become the new leader, and Israel was taking the Promised Land one city at a time with great success. The land was given to Israel because Canaan's inhabitants were exceedingly sinful and had been for hundreds of years.

The three principal goddesses of the Canaanites were Ashtaroth, Anath, and Asherah and they were primarily concerned with sex and war. Sex was their primary function. Leviticus 18:1–24 lists twelve incest variations that were common to Canaan along with adultery, child sacrifice, sexual perversion, and bestiality. Then it ends with a warning: "Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean." God unleashed a flood of Israelites out of Egypt and across the Jordan. Joshua's invasion of the promised land was actually an act of God's judgment.

Israel was making great progress taking the Promised Land. They had conquered Jericho and Ai and were now within twenty miles of a large city called Gibeon. The inhabitants there came up with a ruse to deceive Israel's leaders into making a treaty with them.

(Joshua 9:3–6 NASB)  When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they also acted craftily and set out as envoys, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins worn-out and torn and mended, and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled. They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”

The Israelites were instructed to not make compromises with the inhabitants of the land. They were to completely wipe them out, livestock and all. Evil spirits lived in the animals as well as the people. They prefer people but will settle for an animal host if they have to. They entered the pigs when Jesus cast them out of the demoniac in Mark 5:13.

(Joshua 9:14–16 NASB)  So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD. Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. It came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land.

The Gibeonites wore disguises and spoke with flattering words, "We have heard about your God's greatness! We are your servants!" They said all the right things. They played the part so well that the Israelite leaders looked over their provisions and clothing and then made an unbreakable covenant with them. They did not take the time to ask the Lord, so they were deceived by the Gibeonites. God underwrote their decision as well, for when King Saul later tried to wipe out the Gibeonites, a three-year drought came upon Israel's land (2 Samuel 21:1). The agreement they had made was binding.

Consider this: God intended to clear the land of iniquity. Yet because of His people's laxness, the enemy infiltrated the heart of His camp and made a compromise to remain there. The enemy used flattery and deception. They lied. God's people let their guard down and did not seek His advice. Now the enemy could destroy God's work from the inside and spread the Canaanite immorality, idolatry, and evil spirits through the camp. This became a thorn in their side.

The enemy wants to be in the middle of whatever God is doing, hiding right there in direct sight. You can't detect them by their words or by their clothes. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. Flattery and disguise are among the enemy's most successful weapons to bring about compromise. Only the Lord knows the heart, and we should involve Him in all of our decisions.   

(Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV)  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

We get into trouble anytime that we lean on our own understanding. We do not see the snares that the enemy has set before us, just as you cannot see a politician's heart. Today we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit more than ever before. We need to be led by the Holy Spirit daily. The Apostle Paul encouraged us to put on God's full armor so that we could stand against the devil's schemes:

(Ephesians 6:11–12 NASB)  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The enemy has infiltrated the kingdom of God and brought compromise since the beginning. In the garden of Eden, he quietly slipped in and cunningly arranged a compromise. Judas Iscariot was a chosen Apostle of Jesus, one of the twelve, yet satan entered him in Luke 22:3. Lucifer, the shining one, the angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) is always scheming against us, looking for a crack in our armor. Without the Holy Spirit's help, we don't stand a chance against his trickery, because compared to us, he is brilliant. After all, he is an anointed cherub.

We are often distracted by thinking the enemy is out there when he is right among us and influencing our decisions. You can often find him on the praise team. He infiltrates all areas of our lives, and only the Holy Spirit exposes him and his ploys. Also, God will not separate you from the friends you choose to keep. Pray about everything, and be sure to involve God in your decisions.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You remind me to seek Your counsel, trust in You, and not lean on my own understanding. Please give me a clear vision and help me recognize the works of the enemy. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!