John 8:44 English Standard Version (ESV) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Some do not believe in Satan. That is exactly what Satan wants us to believe. His greatest lie is that he has no influence over out behavior and everything we do is of our own free will. Influence is a subtle thing. Influence does not have to be overt. It is often covert. He is a liar and father of lies. His influence is at its peak in the power of the lie. Lies influence emotions.

This is why God the Father has sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to combat Satan’s lies with truth.

I understand these conversations are old hat to those of us who have been in the Lord for any length of time but remember these are conversations we should be having with people who are thinking about accepting Christ. Not everything is for us and we need to be mindful of what the initiate needs to hear.

We were all born into this world, water birth. Because of that we are spiritually dead and cannot hear with spiritual ears and see with spiritual eyes. Everything is stained with earthly colors. Self-interest is always pushed on us. Even love for another has a large selfish instinct. “I need you!”

Even those who are brought up in a loving Christian atmosphere here Satan’s lies being told all around them every day. Every heard the term “preacher’s kid”? Most experience those kids as the most rebellious and selfish kids growing up. It is not every case but enough to create the image we can identify.

We must all learn to hear the truth, the Spirit of Truth.

John 14:16-17 English Standard Version (ESV) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, ¹⁷ even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 16:13 English Standard Version (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Isaiah 41:10 English Standard Version (ESV) fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The natural instinct is to be afraid of having God take up residence in our bodies. Isaiah 41 points out that we have nothing to fear from God. He loves us so much that He sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper, counselor and the voice of truth. His indwelling is necessary for all of us to receive the help we so desperately need.

We were all born into Satan’s realm. He is the prince of the air.

Ephesians 2:1-3 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the bodyand the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.