Titus 3:1-7 KJV “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, [2] To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. [3] For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. [4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Wow, how well said. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we were once slaves of this sinful worldly system; that we too lived wickedly, hence we should have understanding and compassion for those who are presently in that state. The Holy Spirit reminds us also to be in subjection to human principalities, powers, and magistrates. To be ready to do every good work and to speak evil of no man/woman. How often are we tempted to speak evil of earthly rulers who tell us to do things that are uncomfortable or make no sense? As long as we are not being told to break any of God’s laws we are to submit to the authorities put in place by God. (Romans 13:1-7)
Let us be careful to obey God and, ‘Speak evil of no man/woman.’ Our words are very powerful. When we use our mouths the way God tells us to our enemy the Devil has no place in our lives. But when we grumble and complain it’s different, we open the door to evil spirits. Let’s not give Satan the electricity (power) he needs to operate on or in us.
Revelation 12:12 NET “Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you! He is filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he only has A LITTLE TIME!”
What does the Devil hate besides God? A clock. He knows his time is running out. This must be maddening for someone who once lived in the presence of God in eternity. What would you do if you were sinister and knew your time was short? Evil people who know their day of reckoning is coming do as much damage as possible before that day comes. Hence, “Woe to the earth and the sea because THE DEVIL HAS COME DOWN TO YOU! He is filled with terrible anger, for HE KNOWS THAT HE ONLY HAS A LITTLE TIME!”
Satan’s anger is not normal. I don’t think we fully understand how furious he is. Not only did he and his angels lose an epic battle in heaven and lose their place there, the spiritual police will come any day now and arrest him for a thousand years:
If you told humans that you were kicked out of heaven by God and are awaiting a 1000 year prison sentence they might not be as inclined to follow you because you sound like a loser.
Revelation 12:7-9 NIV “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
What a defeat! But something else will happen to the dragon next:
Revelation 20:1-3 NIV “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.”
The serpent’s fate is sealed and he knows it. He was kicked out of God’s family, then kicked out of heaven and thrown to earth, and is now waiting to be locked up for 1000 years!😳 Notice the angel with the great chain seized the dragon and incarcerated him, “To keep him from deceiving the nations anymore.” Currently the Devil is on the loose and is misleading THE WHOLE WORLD. In his terrible anger he is set on destroying all humans, especially those who love God and follow His commandments:
Revelation 12:17 NIV “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.”
SATAN LIES ALL THE TIME
If you told humans that you were kicked out of heaven by God and are awaiting a 1000 year prison sentence they might not be as inclined to follow you because you sound like a loser. So, instead you tell them that you don’t even exist, that the devil is the evil inside of all of us not that sin is. You tell them that the hell they were taught from the Bible doesn’t exist. And if that doesn’t work you tell them hell is not a bad place of torment for God haters but is one big party we get to go to after we die. And this party lasts forever (party on dude 🤟🕺💃🏻✨). You make hell sound good. You don’t tell people that you and your angels were kicked out of heaven. Instead you tell them that you and your demons are an alien race that came from another world, and that you’ve come to help mankind save itself from itself and usher in a new age of world peace.👽 You tell them you’re here to help mankind reach it’s next stage of evolution (become a god), the same lie you told in the Garden Of Eden. (Genesis 3:4-5) You then mesmerize them by giving them technology that defies all human logic. Mere toys to you because you are from a more advanced world (heaven). But the humans will love you for this since they just can’t get enough of magic tricks, especially technological weapons that aid them in obtaining more power over others. Or you tell people that when they die they won’t go to heaven or hell, they will simply be reincarnated and come back as something else, like a tree, a caterpillar, or a penguin, etcetera.😳
Satan and his angels often disguise themselves as, “spirit guides,” who only have mankind’s interest at heart. The only interest they have is selling you whatever lie you want to hear. They know that their time is short and want you and me to be eternally doomed right along with them. It must really chaff the Devil’s hide to know some humans will spend eternity in heaven with God free from all misery, suffering, and pain; that they overcame him and his lies:
Revelation 12:11 KJV “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb [Jesus], and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Don’t be duped by the Devil. Seek Jesus Christ. Believe in Him and enjoy ETERNAL LIFE:😊
John 3:16 KJV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
If you want to know what happens to the Devil after he is set free from his 1000 year prison sentence read Revelation chapter 20. Is he reformed after this experience? Or will he go back to his usual tricks and ultimate doom?
Hebrews 2:13-18 NET “Again he says, “I will be confident in him,” and again, “Here I am, with the children God has given me.” Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants. Therefore HE HAD TO BE MADE LIKE HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN EVERY RESPECT, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.”
By sending His only-begotten son JESUS into the world God shared in our pain. A part of God lived, ate, slept, walked, and breathed right among us. Through Jesus He became one of us!😂 No one can say God doesn’t know what it’s like to be human. No one can say He doesn’t understand our pain. He suffered like the worse of us; nailed hand and foot to a cross! And He suffered other things as well, all for us! What kind of love is that? What kind of person would go through all this for people who could never pay Him back, or don’t even care? This is no ordinary love. This is divine. This my friends is the love of Almighty God.😊 A god mighty enough to suffer humiliation on our behalf. He indeed accomplished everything He sent His son Jesus to do. We now live through Him, through the death of Jesus on the cross. The curse of death has been forever destroyed along with the devil who knows he has a short time left. (Revelation 12:12) Praise God for His mighty miracle! Praise God for Jesus Christ!😂
Isaiah 53:5 NET “He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.”
There are people who say once God saves you you can never leave God, and it’s impossible for God to leave you. They say things like, “God is so loving, so kind, He would never abandon any of His children.” Actually, that statement by itself is true. But sometimes it is used out of context. Yes, God is truly so loving and merciful that it’s hard for us to fathom just how good He really is.😊 What do we sometimes do to human beings we think are very nice and kind? We take their kindness for weakness or for granted. This happens to God too.
Jude 1:5-6 NET “Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that JESUS, HAVING SAVED THE PEOPLE out of the land of Egypt, LATER DESTROYED THOSE WHO DID NOT BELIEVE. You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.”
The verse above says that people who were once saved by God were later destroyed by God because of their repeated lack of faith. And angels too left God and are reserved for judgment. In the case of humans who leave God, some say they were never saved to begin with. But is that what God says:
Ezekiel 33:13 NET “Suppose I tell the righteous that he will certainly live, but he becomes confident in his righteousness and commits iniquity. None of his righteous deeds will be remembered.”
Hebrews 10:26-29 NET “For if we DELIBERATELY keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us, but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God’s enemies. Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT THAT MADE HIM HOLY, and insults the Spirit of grace?”
The above passage says, “THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT THAT MADE HIM HOLY!”😳 The type of person described here was, “MADE HOLY,” by Jesus’ blood. Does that sound like someone who was never saved to begin with to you?🤔 And finally Jesus said in Revelation:
Revelation 2:4-5 NIV “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
The lampstand in the Book of Revelation represents the churches. (Revelation 1:20) Jesus said if they did not repent and get back the love they had for Him at first He would remove their lampstand (remove them) from the churches. Does that sound to you like someone who cannot lose their salvation? Our Lord is so loving, merciful, and kind, yes He is, so much so that sometimes we take His kindness for granted just as we do with other people. The Lord desires no one to be destroyed which is why He is always pleading with us to REPENT:
Ezekiel 33:11-16 NET “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds! Why should you die, O house of Israel?’ “And you, son of man, say to your people, ‘THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS WILL NOT DELIVER HIM IF HE REBELS. As for the wicked, his wickedness will not make him stumble if he turns from it. The righteous will not be able to live by his righteousness if he sins.’ Suppose I tell the righteous that he will certainly live, but he becomes confident in his righteousness and commits iniquity. None of his righteous deeds will be remembered; because of the iniquity he has committed he will die. Suppose I say to the wicked, ‘You must certainly die,’ but he turns from his sin and does what is just and right. He returns what was taken in pledge, pays back what he has stolen, and follows the statutes that give life, committing no iniquity. He will certainly live – he will not die. None of the sins he has committed will be counted against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.”
Does it get any plainer than the explanation God gave Ezekiel in the passage above? Meditate on these few passages we’ve read. They reveal God’s true personality. They reveal His heart. The Bible is filled with many passages like these. In them, we see God’s tender love, mercy, and righteous judgment. May we learn to love God with our whole heart, whole mind, whole soul, and whole strength, and learn to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus said by following these two commands we fulfill God’s whole law.😊(Matthew 22:36-40Mark 12:29-31)
Luke 18:9-14 NET “Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I AM NOT LIKE OTHER PEOPLE: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’ I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.””
The first thing the Pharisee said was, “I AM NOT LIKE OTHER PEOPLE.”😳It’s easy to do what the Pharisee did without even knowing it. I’m guilty of it myself; thinking that I’m better because I don’t act like, “those people.” The Lord recently showed me this about myself. The other day I was talking with someone about how some men don’t care for their children. I talked bad about those men then spoke well about myself how I’ve had a good relationship with my son over the years. I was proud of that (too proud). Then when I sat down to finish writing this article the Holy Spirit convicted me: a little voice said, “You just did it. You just committed the sin you’re writing about.” I felt terrible and had to repent. Man this is scary. It’s so easy to become Ricky-righteous because of some good things we do. I had to admit to myself and to God that I’ve been feeling like a superior Dad because of my relationship with my son for some years.😳 I only did what I was supposed to do. (Luke 17:10) It was no great feat or accomplishment. And I wasn’t perfect at that. When we think that we’re better because we don’t act like other people our thinking is not pleasing to God. We are looking at things humanly. And we will miss why Christ died and shed His blood for all if we do not repent.
Romans 3:23 NET “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Again, it’s easy to think because we don’t do x y and z like other folks we’re better. God says differently. To God sin is sin, and unfortunately we all have sin. There is no big sins or little sins. It’s all sin! Did you notice right after the Pharisee said, “I am not like other people,” he started mentioning the sins of other people like I did when talking about my son? The Pharisee said I’m not like other people; “extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.” I spoke well of my relationship with my son then said I’m not like other dead beat dads. It’s the same thing the Pharisee did. Some may think I’m being too hard on myself but I’m not. God showed me whenever I do this it’s self-righteousness and I need to stop! There’s a fine line between exposing evil in others and praising yourself.
If you turn on the news you will see bad actors. There’s a lot of chaos going on in the world now. We may not engage in criminal behavior like others and that’s good. Yet we must strive no to look down on them and elevate ourselves. Jesus says, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” God wants us to recognize the real problem we all have; it’s SIN. Sin makes people think and act crazy. Not one of us is immune. If we were Jesus would not have had to come and die for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD. Thank God for Jesus’ atoning sacrifice!😃
1 John 2:2 NET “And he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the WHOLE WORLD.”
GOOD NEWS
Everybody has a sin problem, EVERYBODY! The Pharisee thought he was so different like we do sometimes. He talked bad about others then spoke well of himself. If you have noticed any of these traits in yourself as I have noticed in myself please do not ignore it. We have to deal with this. We must call it what it is: Self-righteousness. If we repent and confess our own sins, then go to God in prayer asking for forgiveness, God says, “You are forgiven,” as if it never happened.😊 WOW! That’s right, God is that loving, compassionate, and willing to forgive our sins. So shouldn’t we be more lenient with others.🤔
Is it surprising to see self-righteous in ourselves or others? Not really, it’s human nature. But it is God’s will that we put on the new nature of Christ, that we be conformed to God’s image. (Ephesians 4:22-24Colossians 3:5-10) And nothing about Jesus’ personality is self-righteous. If we already had Jesus’ personality there would be no need to conform to it.🤔 So no it’s not strange to see ourselves fall short in this or any other matter. Our goal should be though not to get comfortable with our sins; not to downplay them, but to deal with them the way God says and that is to repent.
It’s good to know we have a merciful Father who will forgive us. May we not develop a hard, stubborn heart that refuses to repent when God shows us unpleasant things about ourselves. And may we not beat ourselves to death over it either. Remember, Jesus died to make atonement for our sin! May it be our goal to keep learning how to be like our Master Jesus who is so humble, loving, kind, understanding, pleasant, all that and a bag of chips! You know what I mean.😃
Like The Bereans 