========================================================================
  SATAN AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.
  by Watchman Nee
========================================================================

Summary: Satan often disguises himself as an angel of light, and we must
use discernment and testing to detect his presence and avoid deception.

Topics: "Discernment", "Spiritual Warfare"
Scripture References: Matthew 7:20, Luke 22:31, John 8:44, Romans 16:17-18, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Ephesians 6:11, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8, 1 John 4:1

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/watchman-nee/satan-as-an-angel-of-light/
========================================================================