Are you prepared to receive a word meant to protect you from the enemy's schemes? If so, stay tuned. Think about it—how can someone have Jesus as their master, teacher, and friend—travel with Him, witness His glory, and see the might of His calling? How could someone who experienced miracles firsthand, who walked alongside God in the flesh, betray Him? Judas was chosen from among millions for the privilege of journeying with the Messiah. He was a first-hand witness to His love and power. He saw His tenderness, warmth, and the depths of His heart beyond ministry. How do you sit at such a high table, share life with Jesus, and then turn against Him? If a man who walked so closely with Jesus fell to deception, it reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of such schemes. Let us be vigilant, for even the best can fall prey to the enemy’s plans. The enemy operates at levels of deception so deep that people can turn against the very source sent to set them free. The enemy is an expert at distraction—if he can distract you, he can deceive you to fight the hand that has come to deliver you. >> Conversations lead to Covenants: Every demonic covenant begins with what seems like a harmless conversation. Judas ate at the Lord's table, basking in His grace and glory, receiving from His endless Spirit. He was one of the twelve who cast out demons, and he made room for Satan to enter him. How could he fellowship with those who sought to kill the One who gave him life? It wasn’t him—it was the spirit within. He was sitting at the high table of Jesus, yet the fruit he was producing did not reflect the bread he was eating. Because the Lord’s table wasn’t the only table he ate at. There was a mixture in his life. Don’t get comfortable eating from two tables. If you’re at a table, understand that power structures exist. Ask yourself: Who is imparting the spirit? Are you the influencer, or the one being influenced? There is an impartation happening at all times; the lesser receives from the greater. At times, demons want you to underestimate them, to believe they are not a threat to you. Don't be deceived by Satan's endeavor to empower you. Samson didn’t know that Delilah was on a mission to destroy him. She didn’t come with a sword; she came with a song. He saw beauty, but he didn’t see the danger. Don’t find yourself in a place where you feel too comfortable and lower your guard. The primary target was never Judas or Peter—it was always Jesus. Satan simply used them as instruments. For Satan to tempt, sift, and pull you away, he cannot attack your identity in Christ. He must target who you were before Jesus saved you. That’s why he came after Simon, not Peter. Satan cannot touch Peter—the part, born of an encounter with Christ. But the Simon inside? That’s the part Satan is drawn to, asking to sift. Judas got permission, but Peter got prayer. Judas had already made a covenant and transacted with another. Simon Peter, though sometimes impulsive and even foolish, was fiercely loyal—all he knew was Jesus. To such a one, Jesus says, "I have prayed for you." (Luke 22:32) The prayer of Jesus can change and shift what the enemy has planned for you. Judas traded Jesus for the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32), disqualifying himself from Jesus’ prayer. On the other hand, Jesus' intercession for Peter restored him. Peter carried great light, and some attacks on your life come because of what you’re called to do. Great light entered him when he received this new revelation. Revelation births identity and identity reveals your assignment. Even though Jesus had prayed for Peter, why did he still fall into temptation? It was not about Peter surviving the temptation but the aftermath. Though he wept bitterly, he was not lost. There’s a grace that covers and protects you, even when you fall. Prayer secures the destiny of those facing trials and temptations. May the Lord's blessing and hand cover you, making you deception-proof.
