"Some people are like the seeds that fall along the path; as soon as they hear the message, Satan comes and takes it away". (Mark 4:15).
"Jesus turned around and said to Peter, “Get away from me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my way, because these thoughts of yours don't come from God, but from human nature.”(Matthew 16:23)
1. KNOW WHO SCAMMERS ARE
The scammers are at work, and doing very lucrative businesses everywhere and in everything. Almost everyone has been a victim or target of scams - and the stories are very many. Now - for those who believe - God is the only one who still speaks the truth! But why do many people continue to fall victims, despite all these experiences? This post examines the methods and activities of scammers, and takes the wisdom of the scriptures to provide you with a defense against their dubious schemes. "You will Know the Truth and the Truth will set you free" (John 8 :32). Follow me!
A scammer is someone who plans and perpetrates dishonest or false schemes, intended to entice, deceive, mislead and exploit or use their victims for their own selfish or personal gains. Scammers are active in many domains of human activity - business, science, technology, politics, education, religion, faith, and spirituality, administration, social relations, and civil society.
Scammers are, generally, very intelligent, creative, courageous and convincing in their plans and actions. The original scammer was Satan (Genesis 3:1-7, Matthew 4:1-11). He remains the chief scammer, and his followers and agents are many. Evidently, talent and creativity are in excess supply, because there are not enough official institutions for the gainful expression of talents and skills.
So unemployment, poverty, desperation and human frailty are, obviously, leading increasingly to the corruption of minds, talents and skills. This is why 419 (four one nine) - in its different forms - has become not only the means of living for many, but also, one of the biggest and most lucrative games of our time.
Their schemes are aided and facilitated by the use of modern communications tools - graphic designs, virtual reality (VR) and actual reality (AR), the internet, social media and mobile telephone.
4. HOW SCAMMERS OPERATE
They begin by examining the true or official plan; then they study the users of the plan very well, before devising their schemes to deceive, divert and dupe their targets - two of their greatest skills are boldness and eloquence of the tongue.
When God speaks; his voice is plain, unflattering, and sometimes very stern - that is the voice of the truth. But it is also the voice that very few people like to hear. When Satan speaks; his voice is cunning, flattering and, sometimes, very seductive - that is the voice of falsity. But it is also the voice that so many people like to hear.
That is how the serpent - Satan - in the Garden of Eden lured Adam and Eve to strip them of the glory of God. After God had told them (first voice) not to eat the forbidden fruit, Satan came and told them (second voice) that if they eat the forbidden fruit they would become like God. But, when they ate the forbidden fruit they, instead, lost the glory of God - which they had before - that is why they saw that they were naked. (Genesis 3:1-7)
This is the same method used by the scammers to operate today. When you engage in the right plan or procedure to achieve something; someone will gently pull you aside, and softly whisper in your ear - "I can do it better, I can do it faster, I can do it cheaper, I can give you more" - and so forth. And you follow him - ignorantly - only to discover at the end that everything he said and did was fake. Then you carry your hands over your head and weep, because you have lost everything - just for nothing. This is the question you ought to ask yourself at the beginning: "If their plan were true, why do they not make it known to everybody, so as to win more customers?
The is the same thing happening in the church. When the Magisterium interprets the Bible, the false prophets give you their own reading. When the Catholic church establishes the liturgy of worship, the false prophets formulate their own rituals. When the Pope sends out an encyclical, the false prophets misread and criticize. When the Catechism of the Catholic teaches you the Truth the false prophets brainwash you - and this is not all. Then out of ignorance and impatience, you give in to them, only to find out at the end - when you have toured all the churches, bowed to all the prophets and slept on all the altars - that your case has changed rather to worse.
3. WHY PEOPLE FALL VICTIMS
Why do people easily succumb to the schemes of the scammers? The reason is that many people long to get spiritual and material things, easily, quickly, and for nothing - that is, without labor. But the scripture says: "You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed.” (Genesis 3:19):
Therefore, greed, envy, fear, avarice, lust, powerhunger, unbelief, laziness, poverty, impatience, and ignorance, are the key reasons why people fall victims to the scammers. They are driven into the nets of the false prophets, occultists, and spiritualists in search for easy wealth, power, success, and relationships. They enter into satanic covenants - using occultic rituals, charms, magic wallets, and demonic invocations to realize their goals. The consequences are grievous - they include: material and human loses, death and eternal death.
So it is the frailty and moral deficiency of people that helps the scammers to conceive and realise their plans so easily and successfully. In other words, they capitalize on your sinful desires, where they invest their plans and prosper. A scammer will hardly take you when you are a strict Christian or an upright person. Your righteousness and faithfulness to God defends you against all the schemes of impersonation and duplicity. But your moral corruption - the tendency to act dishonestly in return for money or for personal gain - blinds you not to see the simple truths or understand the wisdom of God.
For instance, the market price of a good is $100, and you accept it when someone tells you that they would sell the good to you for $20: where do you think they are going to get it from - If not that they would steal from someone else, or give you a fake good, or take your money and disappear? So the fake seller is able to scam you because you, too, want to scam the true seller. So, in reality you are not a scam victim, but an unsuccessful scammer.
Another example - a false prophet tells you that God will bless you, but without telling you that you must obey God and do his will. If you believe: where do you think that your man of God is going to get blessing for you - If not from Satan, or that he wants to steal your own blessings or dupe you, in the name of tithing and seedsowing? So the false prophet is able to scam you because you, too, want to scam God.
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THE VICTIM OF SCAMMERS |
4. LISTEN TO THE SCRIPTURES
"Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. Then the Devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, order these stones to turn into bread.” But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.’” (Matthew 4:1-4)
"Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, the Holy City, set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, “If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for the scripture says, ‘God will give orders to his angels about you; they will hold you up with their hands, so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.’” Jesus answered, “But the scripture also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:5 -7)
"Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness. “All this I will give you,” the Devil said, “if you kneel down and worship me.” Then Jesus answered, “Go away, Satan! The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’” Then the Devil left Jesus; and angels came and helped him. (Matthew 4:8-11)
"Then, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ - do not believe it. For false Messiahs and false prophets will appear; they will perform great miracles and wonders in order to deceive even God's chosen people, if possible. Listen! I have told you this ahead of time. “Or, if people should tell you, ‘Look, he is out in the desert!’—don't go there; or if they say, ‘Look, he is hiding here!’ - don't believe it." (Matthew 24:23-26)
"So Jesus said to those who believed in him, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
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5. OVERCOME THE SCAMMERS
Know the Truth
As the scripture says, your first weapon against scammers is your knowledge of the Truth, and the second weapon is your obedience to the Truth (John 8:31-32). Therefore, seek the truth in all things - and when you know the truth, obey it. For your knowledge is your power, and its application gives you victory. Christ is the Truth and the source of all truth (John 14:6). As a Catholic, you have to study the scriptures every day and night, obey the teachings of the Magisterium, and follow the tradition (liturgy) of the Church. Then, to knowledge and obedience, add a third weapon - temperance. Strive to be humble and reasonable; and do discipline yourself in all things.
Apply the Truth
The same applies to your worldly affairs. So, before you engage in, or start, any business, activity or relationship, first seek the truth. That is, find out to know the right procedure, the right people, the laws, the risks, the rights and obligations; and everything involved - do not just look at the gains, and conclude. And after having done your findings, be humble to admit that, as a human being, your knowledge is lacking and your wisdom is limited. Therefore, still turn to God and pray, in order to know his will and follow it. Jesus Christ did just that when he was in agony in the garden of Gethsemane: “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering from me! Yet not what I want, but what you want.” (Matthew 26:39)
Learn from Christ
We learn from Jesus - when Satan came to scam him, in order to dethrone him, from the King of the universe - how to rebuke the second voice (from Satan), to resist his temptations and to reject his offers. The devil came to tempt Jesus at two most crucial moments of his earthly ministry - that was, toward the beginning (Matthew 4:1-11) and toward the ending (Matthew 16:21-23). And these moments are very significant - see how they apply.
As Satan tempted Jesus Christ after his baptism, so do the false prophets and teachers of this present time deceive many Catholics after their baptism into the Church - which is the body of Christ. The ones who rebuke the second voice hold on to the Catholic Catechism and remain in the Church, whereas the ones who sucuumb to the second voice lose their faith - and so leave the Church or become lukewarm; flirting with the new age "churches".
Moments of Temptations
Then, just as Satan came to tempt Jesus (through Peter) toward the end of his ministry, so does he tempt members of the Church when they are coming toward the end of a spiritual program - prayer, fasting, virgil, penance, retreat, devotion, works of mercy, and so forth. So the ones who fall victims lose the graces and blessings of God, which was awaiting them.
Similarly, the material scammers target you, when you have started, or are about to start, a new project, business, career, relationship, and so forth - in order to deceive you, dupe you, and ruin your life. The scammers also target you when you are almost done, in your struggle to achieve a good thing or to destroy a bad thing. So no matter your level of progress in life, always be constant in prayer and communion with Christ (Ephesians 6:10-18) and do not give Satan the opportunity to tempt you - that is to say, avoid every occasion that may lead you to sin.
Jesus Rebuked Satan
So the scriptures say: "From that time on Jesus began to say plainly to his disciples, “I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. I will be put to death, but three days later I will be raised to life.” Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “God forbid it, Lord!” he said. “That must never happen to you!” "Jesus turned around and said to Peter, “Get away from me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my way, because these thoughts of yours don't come from God, but from human nature.” (Matthew 16:21-23)
Rebuke the Scammers
These scriptures are true - whoever tells you: that Christianity is without the Cross, that faith is without trial, that you can harvest crops without sowing the seeds, succeed without working, and win the race without running - is an obstacle in your way. Stand on your Faith, be bold, and rebuke them with authority - the authority of the Word and of the Church. Take note, that the authority of the Catholic Church is based on the Word of God. But they, often, misinterpret the Word of God, in order to mislead you. The truth is: God revealed himself in his Word, so that we may know him, love him, fellowship with him, and come to live with him in heaven, forever and ever. Thus, any interpretation of the scriptures which does not align to this basic truth is false.
Tell Them the Truth
When they tell you: "Do not confess your sins to the priests" - tell them that they are great liars - for Christ ordained the Apostles to forgive sins, and the priests are their successors (John 20:21-23).
When they tell you: "Come and see the miracles I will do for you" - tell them that the false prophets also perform miracles (Matthew 24:24-25) - and that the only miracle which is the proof for God is the miracle of Jonah (Matthew 12:38-40); and that this miracle is the Holy Eucharist (Luke 22:19).
When they tell you: "Come to my church and you will become rich overnight" - tell them that your desire is to attain the kingdom of God and its righteous deeds (Matthew 16:33), because God is able to give you exceedingly more than you need (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Resist the Antichrist
These are the violent men - antichrists - of the present time who want to seize the kingdom of God from you (Matthew 11 :12) - but let them know that you are the elect of God in the holy Catholic Church (Matthew 16:18-19).
Jesus did not value the kingdoms of the world, proposed to him by Satan, above the kingdom of Heaven, so you too should not value the counterfeit offers of Satan - presented by the false prophets and the scammers - above the true things, here on earth and in heaven above. May the LORD bless you as you read and share, AMEN.
Author: Aying Godman, is a Catechist, Evangelist & Blogger, of the Roman Church. Email : ayinggodman@gmail.com
Copyright (c) Aying Godman - Catholic Front Media (2021-2022) All rights reserved.
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