Please Read Ephesians 6:10-12

What if I told you a significant amount of attacks from the evil one will come through those who claim to be Christians? The apostle Paul faced attacks from false believers all the time, (2 Corinthians 11:26) so did Moses, so did Jesus, and many others. It's nothing new. It's a war plan of the enemy. He hopes the aggressive actions of false believers will make us dwell on things like, “Man, if you can't trust a Christians who can you trust?” But many of them are not really Christians. They're just wearing the name; a clever plan. If we harp on the sins of others too long we fall into a trap. And we can become just as unloving and hypocritical as those whose conduct we despise. Has the sins of others affected us to the point of not following God? This is a war plan of the enemy.

I meet many folks who say they are believers in Jesus. After conversing with them for a while I can see that their hearts are broken into many tiny pieces because of past hurts. Many of these hurts are from those who professed to be Christians. This can make the experience feel worse. I go through it sometimes myself. As a young man I remember being devoted to a particular religion that claimed to follow Christ. I (like so many others) had been duped into thinking I was serving God. Later I painfully found out I was tricked, and was following doctrines of men. How did I respond to this news? I became mad at the world. I hated everybody including myself. My wreckless lifestyle even contributed to the loss of my marriage. Hence I believe I can relate to the war plan of hurt and disappointment. And again these missiles seem to be most effective when fired by those who claim to worship God. How can we defend ourselves against these attacks of Satan? By deciding not to love people anymore? By doing what I did and becoming mad at the world? No. That's walking right into Satan's trap. Let's get some encouragement from God's word on how to fight back.

DEFENSE

Please Read Ephesians 6:16

The Bible says when we use our large shield of faith it is so powerful it can defend us against ALL the enemy's attacks. Wow! Then what does our faith say about people who hurt and offend us? Matthew 6:14-15 says if we forgive others who sin against us God will forgive us for our sins. On the other hand if we do not forgive others God won't forgive us. Don't you see? If we hold on to grudges the devil has already won, because he's got us to disobey God. Is the stupid, terrible, thing that somebody did to us, worth losing eternal life? Is holding a grudge really that important? No! When hurt by people let's pray earnestly to God, and beg Him for help to forgive. This is critical. That's our war strategy; living by our faith, not by our feelings. Our Commander and Chief Christ Jesus has ordered us to believe and obey the good news. And forgiving others (though a basic teaching) is a powerful weapon.

Please Read Matthew 3:1-12

Who would have thought that a guy who lives in the wilderness, who ate bugs (locusts), and dressed weird, would turn out to be one of the most important figures in history? Jesus called him the greatest man born of women. (Matthew 11:11) Wow! That’s saying something. Jesus was talking about none other than John The Baptist. John preached a message of repentance from sins, and pointed people to the coming Messiah. Many flocked to him confessing their sins and were baptized. John helped turn many hearts to the Lord. He prepared the way for Jesus who came on the scene right after him.

What’s interesting about John is he never claimed to be a prophet though he was one. But he did say he was not fit to carry the shoes of the Messiah. John had a low estimate of himself. He was a humble man; a true man of God.

I remember speaking to a believer who had to temporarily live with a friend because she was going through some tough times. She said, “I sometimes feel like; how can I help somebody else when I look at my situation.” Basically she was starting to believe her circumstances rendered her usesless when it came to helping people for the kingdom of God. I couldn’t let that go so I reminded her of how Jesus had NOWHERE to lay his head (Luke 9:58), and asked her, “In spite of His circumstances how many people did Jesus help?” She lit up and said, “Many.” I then asked her, “You remember the homeless lady, you know the one you talk to every morning? Do you know what she told me? She said the first day y’all met you noticed something was wrong with her and started encouraging her. But what you didn’t know was she had decided to kill herself that day. And if not for you talking to her about God she would have done it.” The sister looked at me in amazement. She was already helping people in a big way, but just didn’t know it. Satan was trying to drown her in self-pity, just like he had done to the woman who was about to commit suicide.

What if John The Baptist had gotten swallowed up by self-pity because of his living conditions? He could have dwelled on stuff like, “I live in this crazy wilderness. I don’t have a normal life. I feel so different from other people. I’m homeless. I don’t own anything. I’m just a loser.” If John had thought that way just think of how many lives he would not have touched for the better. John was used to save souls. He would not have been the powerful force he was had he been swallowed up in feeling sorry for himself. John’s life proves that personal circumstances don’t keep us from helping people for The Kingdom Of God. All we need is a good heart that loves people, and God.

The more you focus on the needs of others the less time you have to feel sorry for yourself. Instead we are filled with an awesome joy, because we know our lives have purpose for God’s kingdom, which is also our kingdom. (Ephesians 2:6-7) I must be straightforward here: some of us are not confused like our sister was about our contribution to the kingdom of God. Some of us are just plain selfish. We are too in touch with our image, our looks, our desires, our comforts, etcetera. This is not who we were called to be in Christ Jesus. God called us to be soldiers of Christ, living for the welfare of others ahead of ourselves. (Philippians 2:3-11) If we don’t wake up and repent from selfishness we will soon miss the bus. We must be willing to serve others regardless of our circumstances, just like John.

Please Read 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 2:13-14

God saw fit in His great wisdom not to allow mankind through it's wisdom to know Him. He also was pleased to let what people call foolishness (believing in Christ death for the sins of the world) be the only way to be saved. God is spirit. He can only be discerned by His spirit. (John 16:13 Luke 10:22) So many have tried to figure God out through human brain power. It is most frustrating. Everything about God goes against man's logic. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God's ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

I've heard many controversial questions raised about God. Some of them seemed to make a lot of sense (humanly). The Bible just doesn't add up to some, and it never will. They are examining Almighty God from a mere human standpoint. Can what is created sit in judgment on it's creator? No. But the arrogant do just that to their demise.

ASK SEEK KNOCK

Please Read Luke 11:13 Matthew 7:7-11

Only God's spirit can open our minds and hearts so that we may know Him. Jesus says the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who earnestly ask Him. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. For all who ask receive, those who seek find, and for those who knock the door is opened. (Hebrews 11:6)

Please Read Proverbs 2:1-6

WHO WERE THE PHARISEES?

The Pharisees were a group of religious leaders in Jesus’ day. You can read about them in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Bible book of Acts. They were razor sharp when it came to memorizing and quoting the scriptures. But they could not apply them. They made a big deal of little things that were not important to God. And cared nothing at all about the big things that are important to Him. They taught commands of men as if they were teachings of God; sidestepping God’s word in favor of their man-made traditions. This religious sect always sought to discredit Jesus and his followers. Why? Because the truth they spread exposed the Pharisee’s hypocrisy. They also envied the authority and clarity in which Jesus and his followers taught the word–something they could not do. The people noticed this as well. It enraged the Pharisees that others were listening to Jesus and his disciples, so they sought to kill them. Sounds familiar? Of courss it does.

HIRED HANDS

Please Read John 10:11-13

Jesus says he is the good shepherd that lays down his life for the sheep, as he well demonstrated when he willingly was crucified for the sins of the world. But the hired hands (false prophets) care nothing at all for the sheep. The sheep are not theirs, they’re only hired hands. So when the wolf comes and attacks the sheep they run and the sheep are scattered. False prophets are only in it for the money and power. They are more than happy to hand over the sheep to wolves when they attack.

MODERN DAY PHARISEES

There are religious leaders today who are Pharisees to the T. They fleece the flock; profit off the sheep, and run whenever danger comes. They are greedy cowards. They don’t stop to think: “Once all the sheep are gone (eaten by the wolves) what need will there be for us?” Won’t they be out of a job? Some of them really think the wolves won’t eat them too? So they make back room deals. (Isaiah 29:15) But they all learn the hard way that they were on the dinner menu too. Just as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day learned this when the Romans laid siege to Jerusalem in 70 A.D. destroying and enslaving the people and the priests alike. None was spared. What a price to pay for trusting in man instead of God.

FOLLOW GOD NOT MAN

The scripture is true that says if the blind leads the blind both will fall into a pit. When Jesus said this he was talking about the Pharisees. He called them blind guides and told his disciples to leave them. (Matthew 15:12-14) He is saying the same today. Throughout the scriptures we are told to separate ourselves from false teachers. (2 John 1:10-11 2 Timothy 3:5) These hired hands only care about money and power. They care nothing at all for the sheep. Their judgment has long been hanging over them. (2 Peter 2:3) It will soon be executed. Don’t get caught in their judgment. Have the courage to break away from false shepherds. Serve God in spirit and in truth. For these are the kind of worshippers God seeks. (John 4:23-24)

Please Read John 9:1-12

Jesus' disciples asked him was this man born blind because of his sins or his parents sins. Something this tragic couldn't happen to a good person they thought. He must be a sinner. But they didn't stop to think; how could this man being born blind be the result of his sins? Did he sin while he was in his mothers womb? Of course not Romans 9:11-13 shows. So why really was this man born blind? Jesus told his disciples he was born this way so that people would see the works of God in him, and this would bring glory to God. It had nothing to do with his or his parents sins. Did you hear what Jesus said? This man's suffering (for years) had a great purpose attached to it: to show others the glory of God? The man didn't know this. Neither did anyone else. How much do you think we don't know about our own sufferings?

Why is it so hard to believe that bad things happen even to decent people? Romans 8:28 says that in all things (good and bad) God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. He always makes their bad turn out good. Like the blind man who seemed to be in a no win situation many others have brought glory to God amid personal tragedies. This is how God chooses to work. Jesus once told the apostle Paul who begged him repeatedly to remove a thorn in his flesh, “My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness.” Jesus did not grant Paul's request and immediately remove his affliction, but let it remain so that his power would be seen through Paul. And this brought much glory to God. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

God's ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts far above our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) If it were up to us we wouldn't experience any discomforts. But that's not how God chooses to work. Through our personal trials and tribulations God brings glory to Himself, just like he did with Paul, the blind man, and so many others. And the greatest example of this is Jesus Christ. Who knows how many will be saved for eternal life because Christ was willing to suffer for us? (Revelation 7:9) The next time we have it rough instead of saying, “Woe is me,” let's ask ourselves: “What good work is God doing through my sufferings?” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Yes, God does that.

Please Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

God says to follow the way of love, and desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. God clearly tells us how to regard gifts from the Holy Spirit. (Romans chapter 12 1 Corinthians chapter 12) Some put special emphasis on speaking in tongues, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, and the like. But 1 Corinthians chapter 14 shows there's a better way.

THE GIFT OF PROPHECY

1 Corinthians 14:3 says the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, comfort, and encouragement. No wonder God places this gift so high. Imagine having the ability from God to strengthen, comfort, and encourage fellow believers and others around you. Now imagine an army of believers with that spiritual gift. Do you see how much good they can do? This is the gift God tells us to especially desire; not speaking in tongues, not healing, nor miraculous powers.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES

I've heard people say unless you can speak in tongues you're not a true believer in Christ. The Bible doesn't say that. That's a false teaching. But God's word does say in 1 Corinthians 14:5 that the one who has the gift of prophecy is greater than the one who speaks in tongues unless there is someone to interpret the tongue. The whole church and nonbelievers can be edified through prophesying. They can understand these words. But if people speak in tongues and there is no one to interpret what is said, what good is that? People will think they are out of their minds since they don't understand what is being said, unless someone can interpret. How much better to be able to speak 5 intelligible encouraging words, than a whole bunch of gibberish that no one understands.

Please Read 1 Corinthians 14:27-28

God's instructions for speaking in tongues in a church meeting is two or three speakers should speak at the most, and one at a time. And if there is no one to interpret what is being said the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. But's that's not what we see going on in many churches today. Sometimes there's way more than two or three speaking in tongues, and all at the same time. And there is no one to interpret. What's even more sad is these folks claim to be speaking under the influence of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit). I ask you: would the Holy Spirit write these specific instructions in God's word for speaking in tongues, then get inside of people in the church and make them go directly against what he says? Of course not! That would make the Holy Spirit a liar. And the one thing we know is impossible for God to do is to lie. (Hebrews 6:18) When it comes to the gift of tongues many folks have been misled. We would do well to repent and follow God's instructions found in his word regarding spiritual gifts.

THE HIGHEST GIFTS

If we do everything motivated by love, and are eager to upbuild one another, we have the greatest gifts of all. Love is the greatest commandment found in God's word. (Galatians 5:14 James 2:8 Matthew 22:36-40) And to be a source of strength, encouragement, and comfort to the church, as well as nonbelievers, is the highest spiritual gift of them all.

Please Read Romans 3:10

God says that no one is righteous. Those of us who know God agree with Him. We're learning through experience just how flawed we really are. To make matters worse on top of our shortcomings we have the Devil who whispers things in our ears like, 'You're not a Christian. You don't love God. If you did you wouldn't have done this or that.' That voice is sometimes hard to get rid of. I hope our continued study of the scriptures make it easier to destroy and silence those evil suggestions.

Please Read Romans 7:14-25

Romans 7:14-25 is a very powerful passage. It perfectly explains our struggle with sin. We want to do what is right, but we can't. The harder it seems we try the more it seems we fail. This leaves us feeling quite wretched at times like Paul. Yet there is a way out, thank God! And that way out is Jesus Christ our Lord. He is our deliverance from sin and death. He is our righteousness from God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He paid the price for our sins to be forgiven. We are eternally grateful to him for saving us.

There is no need to beat oneself up because of our imperfect state. In spite of being wretched we enjoy peace with God through our faith in Christ. (John 3:16) Recognizing how far we fall short of God's glory is a good thing. It's not that we try to sin, on the contrary we strive not to sin, but it happens anyway. The fact that we are deeply disturbed by our faults proves we do love God. Yet we see another law (the law of sin) waging war with the law of our minds (God's law). The fact that this struggle is even going on within us means we are in Christ Jesus. If you weren't in Christ there would be no struggle at all. Sin would completely control and dominate you. And you wouldn't even care. So when you feel down about your sins remember what Jesus did and now does for us as our high priest. (Hebrews 4:14-16) Confess your sins to God, repent, and thank Him for His son Jesus' sacrifice which says, “YOU ARE FORGIVEN; YOU'RE NOT GUILTY,” to all who trust in him. What an awesome gift from God!

Please Read Ecclesiastes 7:26 Proverbs 22:14

Be afraid, be very afraid of falling into the seductress’ trap. She is more bitter than death. Only the man who pleases God will escape her. Willful sinners on the other hand are doomed. She has assisted many to the grave, and to hell. Only a fool will not take such a threat seriously.

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit the Bible says. Her speech is smooth as butter. So slippery-smooth that the gullible fall for her trap without even knowing it. Flattery is one of her main tools. (Proverbs 29:5) The man who is under God’s wrath is easy prey. He doesn’t stand a chance. But how blessed is the man who pleases God. The Lord protects him from her. He receives help where he is weak in his flesh. God rescues him from her bonds. Those who please God are truly blessed because they are the only ones who will escape her.

Please Read Proverbs 5:3-11

God warns to stay far away from her, and not to go near the door of her house. To disregard this is to play with fire. And we will get burned. (Proverbs 6:27-32) Not listening to God means losing our dignity, our money, and other assets to her. All of our hard work will be spent on her and her house. And she cares nothing for you at all. Her heart is hard as stone. Living promiscuously leaves you empty. In the twilight years of your life you will groan God says. You will feel like a used up rag that’s been shredded into many pieces. That’s not the way to spend your final days on earth.

Please Read Proverbs 23:27-28

Today cheating on one’s mate is glorified. Men and women both brag about having another’s partner. But the bad joke is really on them. Satan and his demons have tricked adulterers into believing they are winning at being wicked. And all the while they are destroying their souls. (Proverbs 6:32) What a price to pay. God says at Hebrews 13:4 marriage should be honored by all, and that He will judge adulterers and all the sexually immoral. Those who choose to live this way know the consequences. (Romans 1:32) No one will be able to tell God, “I didn’t know.”

THERE IS HOPE

Please Read Proverbs 28:13 1 John 1:9 James 5:16

Thank God sexual immorality is not the unforgivable sin. All have sinned (one way or another) and fall short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23) If we are willing to confess and renounce our sins we will find mercy from God. We should also confess our sins to one another, and pray for each other so that we may be healed. We shouldn’t let embarrassment stop us from confessing our sins to each other. Remember, all of us have and still do sin one way or another. The important thing is that we follow God’s instructions to be healed. He is the only one that can free us from the bondage of the wayward woman/man or any sin. Also remember, only those who please God can escape the seductress’ trap. So please God by confessing and repenting from sexual sin.

Please Read 1 Samuel 8:1-22

In spite of being told how terrible things would go because Israel chose a human king to rule over them instead of God, they still asked for it. They wanted a man to lead them in battles of war like the nations around them. Being set apart as God’s special possession; His holy and sanctified people, meant nothing to them. God appointed them to be the cream of the crop. They chose to be the crud at the bottom of the barrel. God made them the most precious jewel among the nations. They thought it best to be a common pebble. So he handed them over to what they desired and gave them their human king. The cost for this was devastating.

Imagine a nation without an army; a nation that does not need an army because God is it’s army. That was Israel. Imagine a nation without a king. Because it does not need a king. God is it’s king. That was Israel. Yet they rejected God and desired that mere flesh rule over them. Now their children would be slaughtered in wars. They would lose what they owned and worked hard for. Their human king would demand the fruits of their labors, including their sons and daughters for his pleasures and as payment to his officials. All of Israel would become slaves of the king. The freedoms and rights they once enjoyed would now be gone. All this and then some because they wanted to be just like the rest of the folks around them. They did not value being God’s chosen people; His special possession. They hated God’s plans for them. (Jeremiah 29:11) Too often they trusted in the strength of men. (Jeremiah 17:5) This brought a curse on them. Like the surrounding nations they wanted to imitate they worshipped false Gods, practiced witchcraft, and even burned their children alive in the fire to a false god. (Jeremiah 19:4-5 Ezekiel 20:31-32) They became extremely wicked. How terribly sad. And despite all this God did not utterly destroy them. What a merciful, awesome, loving God!

Are we like the Israelites? Do we claim God as our Father but want to be like the world? (1 John 2:15-17) Do we truly value what it means to be set apart as God’s chosen holy people?

Please Read John 15:15-17 Epesians 1:4-5 1 Peter 2:9-10

 

Please Read James 1:5

How encouraging to know that when we don’t know what to do we can ask God for wisdom and he will give it to us liberally. We get perplexed at times but we’re not left in despair. (2 Corinthians 4:8) God tells us how to receive from Him what we ask for in prayer.

Please Read James 1:6-8

God says when we ask for wisdom (or anything) we must ask in faith, not doubting at all. We must not be double-minded. People like that are unstable in all they do, and God is not particularly fond of them. Double-minded folks won’t receive anything from the Lord. They are two faced (wishy-washy). One minute their for the Lord, the next minute for Satan’s world. Revelation 3:16 says that lukewarm, halfhearted people are vomited from the Lord’s mouth. Imagine that. We definitely don’t want God to feel that way about us. So let’s resolve in our hearts and minds to be 100% for the Lord. Not halfhearted. Then we can freely come before Him unashamed, asking Him for anything.

Please Read 1 John 5:14-15

God says we can have full confidence that whatever we ask for in harmony with his will, he hears us. And we know that just as hears us we have whatever we ask of Him. What great assurance that is; to know that our Father will do whatever we ask Him. But I think sometimes we forget the part where he said, “according to HIS WILL.” Sometimes our desires do not line up with God’s will. This doesn’t mean that our desires are evil. They may not be what God wants for us at the present time. Will we patiently trust God; knowing that he knows what’s best for His children? And sometimes our prayers are so selfish that God will not answer them with a, “Yes.” (Read James 4:3)

Let’s review keys to receiving whatever we ask of God in prayer:

•We must ask in faith, not wavering at all.

•We must ask Him for things that are in agreement with His will.

Psalms 37:4 says if we delight ourselves in the Lord he will give us the desires of our heart. What confident hope for those who enjoy serving God! These people all come to know God’s will or his heart. Jesus reveals the Father to them. (Luke 10:22) As their relationship with God grows their desires change and grow too from, “what I want,” to, “what God wants.” They find themselves praying more often for things that are in harmony with the will of God, and less for selfish pleasures. They have come to know their Father. (Romans 12:2) And they have acquired the mind of Christ, which is selflessness. (1 Corinthians 2:16 Philippians 2:5-11)