Satan as an Angel of Light.
Satan often disguises himself as an angel of light, and we must use discernment and testing to detect his presence and avoid deception.
Watchman Nee emphasizes that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light to deceive believers, making it crucial to have discernment beyond mere sight and sound. He warns that while Satan may appear as light, true protection comes from understanding the fruits of one's actions and the fundamental truths that distinguish God from the deceiver. Nee illustrates how Satan torments even the most faithful, as seen in Paul's experience, and highlights the importance of prayer and reliance on God for strength in times of trial. The sermon calls for vigilance against the various tactics of Satan, including his role as a sifter of faith.
Text
Then you will find in 2 Cor. xi, 14, that the prince of the air also goes about as an ANGEL OF LIGHT. As a lion he seeks to DEVOUR, as an angel of light he seeks to deceive. Satan is a deceiver. If he can appear clothed in light--the very nature of God--then your "vision" can be no protection to you. When Satan makes a roar behind the voices of men your ears are no protection to you, and when he comes as an angel of light, vision is not enough to detect him. You say "it was ALL LIGHT" so it must be "of God;" yet the prince of darkness can appear as "light" i.e., as God. You must therefore have more ways of detecting and testing him than by vision, i.e., eyesight (even spiritual eyesight) and hearing.
The safest detecting test is "fruit" (Matt. vii, 20), and KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC PRINCIPLES WHICH ETERNALLY DIVIDE BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN. Between Him who is truth itself, and Satan, the "father of lies."
In 2 Cor. xii, 7, we see how the adversary goes about as A TORMENTOR of the most godly and saintly servants of God. He "buffeted" Paul--and he did it with God's permission--"A MESSENGER OF SATAN TO BUFFET ME." Paul's resource was prayer, "I besought the Lord," he said, and then came strength to "glory in his weakness." In Luke xxii, 31, we see also he goes about as a sifter of the children of God. He attacks them in all these varied ways, "as a roaring lion," an "angel of light," a buffeter and a sifter.
Sermon Outline
- Satan's Disguises
- The Dangers of Deception
- The Safest Detecting Test
- Fruit
- Knowledge of Basic Principles
Key Quotes
“As a lion he seeks to DEVOUR, as an angel of light he seeks to deceive.” — Watchman Nee
“You must therefore have more ways of detecting and testing him than by vision, i.e., eyesight (even spiritual eyesight) and hearing.” — Watchman Nee
“Between Him who is truth itself, and Satan, the 'father of lies'.” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- We must be aware of Satan's disguises and use discernment to detect his presence.
- We should look for the fruit of an action or the alignment with basic principles that divide God and Satan.
- In times of spiritual attack, we should pray and find strength in our weakness.