The Ambush of the Cross — Post 3
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5
“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” — Galatians 6:3
Not Every Defeat Comes from the Devil
Sometimes, we lose not because we were overpowered — but because we were overconfident.
We didn’t get ambushed.
We ambushed ourselves.
- We walked in the flesh while thinking we were walking in the Spirit.
- We ignored the cross while wearing spiritual language.
- We trusted our discernment instead of denying ourselves.
And when the trap closed… it was one we had built with our own hands.
Spiritual Presumption Is the Devil’s Playground
The most dangerous believer is not the one who is weak — but the one who thinks he is strong while secretly bypassing the cross.
“The heart is deceitful above all things…” — Jeremiah 17:9
Self-deception is Satan’s favorite doorway.
If he can’t tempt you with sin, he’ll tempt you with a version of spirituality that still avoids the cross.
- Religious activity without surrender
- Zeal without brokenness
- Boldness without death to self
- Words without waiting on the Lord
This kind of self-powered spirituality becomes predictable to the enemy — and easily exploited.
Israel at Ai: An Example of Fleshly Confidence
In Joshua 7, Israel had just experienced a mighty victory at Jericho. But when it came time to face Ai, they didn’t inquire of the Lord.
They said:
“Let not all the people go up… for they are but few.” — Joshua 7:3
They didn’t wait for strategy.
They didn’t ask for guidance.
They leaned on the momentum of their last victory — and fell flat.
Thirty-six men died. Israel was humiliated. And God revealed the truth:
There was sin in the camp, and they had walked in presumption.
The Cross We Avoid Will Eventually Expose Us
The cross always demands:
- Humility
- Death to self
- Dependency on God
- Waiting for the Spirit’s leading
But when we avoid that place — when we resist the dying — we end up trusting in:
- Past experiences
- Spiritual giftedness
- Christian language
- Emotional impulses
It may look spiritual. It may feel like boldness.
But if the flesh is in the driver’s seat, it will lead to regret.
The cross avoided becomes the trap we walk into.
The Pattern of Self-Ambush in Scripture
🔹 King Saul — Sacrificed when he should have waited
Claimed to be obeying God. Blamed the people.
But God saw through the cover. Saul had bypassed the cross of waiting, and it cost him everything.
🔹 Peter — Tried to stop Jesus from going to the cross
Thought he was being loyal. Got rebuked as speaking for Satan (Matt. 16:23).
Later, relied on his own courage — and denied Christ three times.
🔹 Ananias and Sapphira — Faked surrender
Wanted the glory of radical faith without the reality of it.
They ambushed themselves through deception in the presence of God.
The Spirit Leads Through the Cross
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” — Galatians 5:25
To walk in the Spirit is to walk in:
- Surrender
- Sensitivity
- Dependence
- Obedience
Faith doesn’t ambush itself.
Flesh does.
That’s why the cross isn’t optional — it’s protective.
It kills what Satan can use before Satan gets the chance to use it.
Overcomer’s Checkpoint
- Am I walking by revelation or assumption?
- Do I seek the Lord for direction — or just move on spiritual autopilot?
- Have I justified fleshly decisions by calling them faith?
- Is the cross still the center of my daily walk — or a relic of my conversion?
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” — Proverbs 28:26