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This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets
are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak
visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Matthew 23:1-29
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Not everyone who speaks the name of God walks in the light of God.
Not everyone who quotes scripture has the spirit of Christ dwelling in them.
Evil has mastered the art of mimicry. It knows how to act holy. It knows how to cry tears on cue. It knows how to cloak itself in Christian language and spiritual performance. But the word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing through the soul and spirit, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. If you stay close to God, you will begin to see people not as they present themselves, but as they truly are. God gives the discerning heart to those who walk in holiness. An evil person is not merely someone who sins. We all fall short. We all make mistakes. But there is a difference between someone who sins and repents and someone who sins and manipulates. Someone who sins and hardens their heart. Evil is not found in weakness. It is found in rebellion.
It is found in that cold, calculating heart that uses others as tools for its own agenda. It is in the person who sews division, who spreads confusion, who whispers lies behind smiles. And if you're not spiritually alert, you'll think they're your friend.
But what did Jesus say? Beware of wolves and sheep's clothing. That wasn't suggestion. It was
a warning. A person may appear pious, may volunteer, may serve, may quote the Psalms, but look deeper.
What is the fruit of their life? Does peace follow them or destruction? Do people leave their presence built up or torn down? Are they constantly involved in strife, in gossip, in secret conversations behind closed doors? These are signs.
The truly righteous don't just speak of God, they reflect God.
Their lives produce light. Their presence brings healing, not corrosion. Pay attention.
Satan masquerades as an angel of light. And so do his messengers.
The evil person is an expert at emotional deception. They know how to mirror your hopes, your fears, your language. They will tell you what you want to hear, and they will say it with such conviction you'll doubt your own discernment. But their actions never align with truth. They promise loyalty but betray with ease. They speak of love but know only control. They apologize but never change. Their words are
carefully crafted weapons and their apologies are merely tools to reset your boundaries so they can cross them again. Evil does not want peace. It wants dominance. It does not seek reconciliation. It seeks submission.
Do not confuse charisma with character.
Do not mistake eloquence for integrity.
The devil is eloquent. The devil is persuasive. The devil quoted scripture when tempting Christ in the wilderness.
And there are people in this world who use scripture as a sword not to fight the devil, but to enslave others under their manipulation. Watch the consistency between a person's words and their walk. The righteous may stumble,but they get up in humility. the evil fall and blame you for it. An evil person resents the truth. It offends them. It agitates their spirit. They will turn on you not when you sin, but when you shine light on their sin. They will praise you when you are silent and passive, but as soon as you speak with courage, they'll call you arrogant,divisive, self-righteous. That's what they call Christ. They hated him, not because he healed the sick, but because he exposed their corruption. If you want to see who's truly evil, observe how they respond to truth that costs them comfort. Evil will always target the kind-hearted. Why? Because kindness is vulnerable. Kindness gives the benefit of the doubt. Kindness assumes the best. And so, the evil gravitate toward those who are easy to exploit. But let this be clear. Kindness is not the same as
blindness. To walk in Christ is to walk in both love and discernment. Jesus loved the world, but he did not entrust himself to everyone. He knew what was in their hearts. And so must you. Love people, but guard your spirit. Be gracious, but be wise. Be humble, but do not hand your peace to the devil in the name of compassion.
Evil persons often position themselves as victims. They will twist every story to make themselves appear persecuted. When confronted, they will cry, deflect, blame others, or bring up past wounds to avoid accountability. Their strategy is emotional entrapment. They keep others dancing around their dysfunction.
But the righteous person accepts correction.
The righteous person when rebuked grows stronger.
The evil person when rebuked seeks revenge. Look closely at their relationships.
Evil people rarely have long-term healthy connections. They leave a trail of broken friendships, divided families, and fractured churches. And yet, they always blame the other person. They are never wrong. They are always misunderstood.
This is the hallmark of evil. The inability to see self, the inability to repent, the refusal to bow the knee. A
person is not evil because they make you uncomfortable. They are not evil because they disagree with you. They are evil when they purposely, habitually, and remorselessly do harm while pretending to be holy. They are evil when they manipulate the truth for gain. They are evil when they delight in the downfall of others. They are evil when they weaponize grace, exploit mercy, and use forgiveness as a license to abuse again. But here's the most terrifying truth. Evil people often don't appear evil to
others until it's too late. Why? Because they are good at hiding. Because people love appearances more than essence.
But God does not.
Man looks at the outward appearance. God looks at the heart. If you want to see the truth, you must ask
for God's eyes. You must pray, "Lord, give me wisdom beyond my feelings. Giveme sight beyond my emotions. Let me see as you see." One of the surest ways to spot evil is by what it hates. Evil
despises the humble. Evil mocks the pure. Evil attacks the faithful. Evil flees from prayer. Evil crumbles under the weight of worship. It cannot stand the presence of God. So if you want to expose evil, bring it into the light. Start worshiping. Start fasting. Start
praying boldly in the name of Jesus. Watch who suddenly gets irritated. Watch who pulls away. Watch who accuses you of being too spiritual. That's not your problem. That's their manifestation.
Evil isolates its victims. It wants you to doubt yourself. It wants you to feel alone, unsure, weak. That's how it gains power. But the spirit of God unites. It brings you into truth, into clarity, into strength. And where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. You are not called to be confused. You are not called to walk on eggshells. If someone constantly makes you question your reality, question your worth, question
your sanity, that is not of God. The evil person resents your growth. They hate to see you rise. They rejoice when you fail, even if they pretend to care.
Watch how people respond to your victories. That will tell you everything. Those with pure hearts
celebrate others. Those with evil hearts compete. They compare. They sabotage. They pretend to support while secretly working against you. Don't ignore the signs. Don't explain them away.
Spiritual discernment is not judgment. It's protection.
Never forget that evil is territorial. It wants to claim space in your life, your thoughts, your emotions, your relationships. But you were not created to be a playground for darkness. You were created to carry the
light. And when the light enters, darkness must flee.
So do not fear evil.
Confront it.
Name it.
Bind it in the name of Jesus.
Do not allow false compassion to paralyze you into silence. God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. The battle you face is not merely with people. It is with spirits, with principalities, with the rulers of the darkness of this world. So when you see evil in a person, understand they are not just acting out of emotion. They are often operating under influence. You don't fight that with logic. You fight that with prayer. You fight that with the word. You fight that with holy living. And when you walk in righteousness, no weapon formed against you shall prosper.
But understand this, evil does not go away because you ignore it. It doesn't stop because you're nice to it. Evil must be confronted. Sometimes that means walking away. Sometimes that means
drawing firm boundaries. Sometimes that means removing people from your life not because you don't love them, but because you love God more and you refuse to let darkness dwell where light has been
called to reign. Do not be deceived by smooth words. Test the spirits. Look for the fruit. Ask the Holy Spirit to expose every hidden agenda. God is faithful. He will open your eyes. And when he does,
do not look away. Truth demands a response. If God shows you evil, it is not so you can pity it. It is so you can be free from it. You are not called to fix what God has marked.
-BISHOP ROBERT BARRON
-woffwatch
