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Above all guard the door of your mind with diligence!
Fred R. Coulter—February 1, 2020
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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Sabbath services!
NEWS: This week has been a traumatic week, indeed! To top it off, we're finding that many of the things in Matt. 24… We'll do sort of a potpourri today; kind of little mixed up and then we'll get into the main message.
To top it all off, with everything going on in the world, let's read Matt. 24:7. Everything I'm going to read here has happened in the last couple of weeks. Then I will read a news report as to what is taking place in East Africa.
We've heard Matt. 24 many times over and over again, but that just tells us that this means that the Bible is true!
Matthew 24:7: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and pestilences…"
Look at the Coronavirus out of China today. They've stopped all flights, canceled all schools and shutdown 31 major cities. This has got to be a whole lot more worse than anybody's wildest imagination! I'll read something else on pestilence in just a minute.
"…and earthquakes in different places. Now, all these things are the beginning of sorrows" (vs 7-8).
That's why it's so depressing today. Too may problems and difficulties! Then we'll talk a little bit about the situation with the so-called impeachment.
Here is something major that needs to be considered: I'll try and show some pictures. There's an unprecedented plague of locust in East Africa.
Locust Swarms Pose 'Unprecedented Threat to Food Security and Livelihoods' in East Africa {https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/28/climate-crisis-fueled-locust-swarms-pose-unprecedented-threat-food-security-and}
{Note that there are many websites showing various pictures}
Officials warn:
"The current swarms represent an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods in the Horn of Africa."
These are not just little grasshoppers. These are locust and they average about 3 inches in length. The only good thing is that if you catch enough of them without poison on them you can eat them. In the pictures you can see how big that they are.
We also have famine in Somalia, Ethiopia, Dubai, and there's another picture showing that the locust just cover everything like a blanket, nothing can escape! That's an amazing thing, indeed! How that's going to effect everything coupled with the Coronavirus that they have in China…
{Showing a picture of people holding handfuls of the locust.} They eat everything, leaving nothing!
Here's a whole report on video games, mental illness, Satan worship and gun-free zones after mass shootings. This is a really good report here.
Little known to a lot of people, one of the worst NARCO states in the whole world is the Netherlands. Strategically placed in Europe, right in the upper heartland of Europe, and their laws are so lacks that the NARCOS run the government. There's very little that they can do about it. Along that line, remember that all of this comes because:
- Who is the author of sin?
- Who is the author of perversion?
- Who is the author of the one who is intent on destroying as many people as he can?
None other than Satan the devil!
Italian exorcist says society risks collapse due to 'aggressive Satanism' by Elise Harris, Dec 22, 2019 {https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2019/12/italian-exorcist-says-society-risks-collapse-due-to-aggressive-satanism/}
ROME - One long-time Catholic exorcist has sounded an alarm over what he called an uptick in "aggressive Satanism,"…
Yes, a lot of people are openly worshipping Satan. There's a rise in witchcraft, the occult, in all of these things. For the children, all the hightech games are satanic and evil. Look at the movies that are coming out today: death and destruction! Nothing good is coming out of that!
Among other things, Dominican Father Francois Dermine said, exposure to the demonic at a young age encourages violence, ranging from bullying to more serious manifestations.
"There are many groups of satanism"…
"Satanism is getting much more aggressive and also diffused,"
An exorcist for the Archdiocese of Ancona-Osimo in Italy, Dermine says he's been dealing with the demonic a quarter of a century, since 1994.
Here's another one, anything to kill the unborn, anything to make money, anything to purvey evil.
Experimenters Pay Mexican Women to Get Pregnant and Abort by Wesley J. Smith, January 16, 2020 {https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/experimenters-pay-mexican-women-to-get-pregnant-and-abort/}
Mexico is one of the worst NARCO states in the world! It's fraught with evil and murder on such a scale that it's hard to try and bring it in hand. Who knows what might happen? The United States might even have to invade Mexico just to get the situation under control. That's what they do! Get these women, pay them, impregnate them and abort them!
CONFUSION IN THE CHURCH: LGBT CLERGY EXPANDS ACROSS THE NATION BY PNW STAFF DECEMBER 16, 2019
{http://dmgnews.com/index.php/2019/12/16/confusion-in-the-church-lgbt-clergy-expands-across-the-nation/}
I call them the alphabet perverts, because they're probably 26 genders anyway. So, you might as well use every letter in the alphabet.
This month the Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrated it's newly formed Westview Lutheran Church in Boulder, Colorado. At the head of that new church is the nations first transgender Latina pastor Nicole Garcia.
Transgender! And they're in the other churches as well!
That's quite a thing! There's more evil everywhere, in greater degrees at lower ages stretching across the whole society.
There are some people trying to fight back. There are some trying to stop it, but look at how hard it is to do, and how aggressive that those who are evil are to destroy everything in their paths.
What we're going to do, is take a look at the author of all of these evils. That is Satan the devil! He uses people and rewards them, and he entices them!
You need to think about how easy seduction comes. Take a look at all the false and semi-false doctrines that are within the Churches of God, and they are obviously against the Word of God. Here's one that has come back again: After you are baptized you are born again! What is the test for someone who is 'born again'?
Let's see what Jesus said and how He said it. What it really means and the ramifications of it, and how it's such a false doctrine! It sounds good. You want to be a new person? Yes! Well, you're 'born again.' Really??
Let's see what Jesus told Nicodemus. This is quite a thing. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night:
John 3:2: "He came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher Who has come from God…'"
Think about that! Later Nicodemus became converted, but all the rest of the Pharisees didn't!
"…because no one is able to do the miracles that You are doing unless God is with him" (v 2).
Notice how Jesus answered him. He didn't say, 'Oh, I'm so glad that you're very observant and astute and can see that I really am a teacher from God.'
Verse 3: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly I say to you, unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.'
Test #1: if you're born again at baptism, you need to be able to see the Kingdom of God. But what did Paul write? Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, which means that you cannot see it!
Verse 4: "Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man who is old be born? Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly I say to you, unless anyone has been born of water…'" (vs 4-5).
They look at that and say that that has got to be baptism. NO! that is your first physical birth. What is the first thing that happens in the course of the delivery? The water sac containing the infant in its mother's womb breaks! It is born of water! That's your first physical birth.
"…and of Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh…" (vs 5-6).
Are we all human beings here? Yes, we are! You can take the pin test, the pinch test, whatever you want to do, you are flesh!
"…and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit" (v 6).
If baptism is a born again experience, are those people spirit beings? To be born of spirit does not mean to receive; that is begettal, you've been begotten by the Spirit of God!
Verse 7: "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'It is necessary for you to be born again.' The wind blows where it wills…" (vs 7-8). Can you see wind? You can see the effects of it!
"…and you hear its sound, but you do not know the place from which it comes and the place to which it goes; so also is everyone who has been born of the Spirit" (v 8).
- Do you know anybody who is like that? No!
- How do false doctrines like that get into the Church?
By the way, it's very convenient that they changed the doctrine to that, because their headquarters is in Charlotte, North Carolina; right in the middle of Protestantism! That's what the Protestants say. 'If we become a little like them, maybe we'll get more people attending the Church.'
Well, you could get tens of thousands, but if they're not converted what do you have? I'll let you answer that! Satan always comes along as the tempter, and he's the one who comes along and invents doctrines like 'born again.' Men, because they want to have something different and unique, will embrace something that is not true by using logic to deduce that it's possible.
That's why in Matt 4 it's very straight forward what Jesus went through. Let's look at it again and add a little bit more to it so we understand what's going on.
Matthew 4:3: "And when the tempter came to Him, he said, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.'" A benefit!
Jesus had been fasting 40 days and 40 nights, or maybe this is shortly after the beginning of it. It doesn't tell us exactly.
Could Jesus do that? Yes, He could! Remember when the Pharisees came and they said, 'You tell Your disciples to quite saying Hosanna to God in the highest, the Son of David!' They said to command the disciples to stop that. Jesus said, 'If I did, the stones would cry out!' So, could Jesus make stones into bread? Yes! And Satan probably told Him to:
Think about how good it will taste; think of the smell of it! Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? I'm mean it will give You a little strength! Don't You need a little strength! I can see that you're thin, gaunt, weak as can be. You need a little something to strengthen You. Make these stones into bread!
Always remember that if you obey Satan, you go Satan's way, he is your god! This is why Jesus said, and remember this because this is the most fundamental thing in the whole Bible and your relationship with God.
Verse 4: "But He answered and said, 'It is written…'" [that's why God has the written word.
- IF you want to know what God has said
- IF you want to know what God tells you
- IF you want to know the voice of God so you can obey it
Here it is right here, preserved, translated, ready for any who wants to! But there's one little key: unless you obey what you read and see it will do you no good! It has been given so that you may obey to live by every word of God!
Jesus said, "'…"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."'" (v 4).
Remember, Jesus was God manifested in the flesh; He was the Lord God of the Old Testament. When He told Nicodemus that you have to be born again, it means literally that. That's from flesh to spirit!
- Jesus was the firstborn of Mary (Matt. 1:18)—first birth
- Jesus is the Firstborn from among the dead (Rev. 1)—second birth!
Verse 5: "Then the devil took Him to the Holy city and set Him upon the edge of the temple, and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down; for it is written, "He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and they shall bear You up in their hands, lest You strike Your foot against a stone"'" (vs 5-6). Wouldn't that be something?
Just do it! You can do it IF You're the Son of God! IF You're the Son of God, prove it!
Verse 7: "Jesus said to him, 'Again, it is written, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."'"
Think about that in relationship to false doctrines, misinterpreted doctrines, wrong ideas. Just think about that when you look out into the world. How many people are looking for security, and Satan comes along with his blanket of security.
Verse 8: "After that, the devil took Him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory"—Luke 4 relates in a moment of time!
Verse 9: "And said to Him, 'All these things…'"
This answers the question as to why does evil succeed? Because Satan has the power to make it happen for those who worship him! And there are whole lot more people worshipping Satan the devil than people would even imagine.
"'…will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me'" (v 9).
The key to power and control in the world, in most cases, is right here! Notice Jesus' answer:
Verse 10: "Then Jesus said to him, 'Be gone, Satan!…. [that's what it needs to be in our lives when things like this come up] …For it is written… [He's talking to Himself as a human being] …"You… [as a human being] …shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve"'"—because of the first commandment! 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
Satan the devil is called 'the god of this world.' We already know that, and we'll see that again. Let's see the whole purpose:
- of the Gospel
- of calling us
- of having us converted
- of having us being prepared to rule in the Kingdom of God
Look at all of these problems out in the world, and the only solution is the coming Kingdom of God and the resurrection of the saints who will rule under Jesus Christ.
Paul is explaining about His calling and how he was knocked down to the ground. We'll cover that a little bit more when we get back into Galatians. That was a tremendous thing that God did.
Acts 26:13: "When I saw on the road at midday, O king, a light from heaven, surpassing the brightness of the sun, shine around me andthose who were traveling with me. Then all of us fell to the ground; and I heard a voice speak to me, saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?….'" (vs 13-14).
If you are having persecution against you, that's persecuting Christ. We have to endure it! We have to go through it, and it's going to get worse in the future.
"'…It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.' And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. Now arise, and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as a minister and a witness both of what you have seen and what I shall reveal to you. I am personally selecting you…'" (vs 14-17).
This turned Judaism on its head! We'll see in Galatians that God did this to ensure that Judaism would not take hold in the Church. Who better than Paul!
Verse 17: "I am personally selecting you from among the people and the Gentiles, to whom I now send you…" Here's the reason:
- why we are called
- what God is doing
- the whole very purpose of the Gospel
- everything about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
- everything about the Kingdom of God and what that's going to do in the coming years ahead of us
Verse 18: "To open their eyes… [to have the scales of the veil removed] …that they may turn from darkness to Light…"
Jesus said that if you don't come to Him—Who is the Light—and you're going to the darkness, how great is that darkness, indeed!
"…and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified through faith in Me" (v 18).
It's not just a matter of having your sins forgiven. That's the start! But fake Christianity never gets out starting blocks. That's the whole goal! Satan is there always to:
- try and divert
- try an undermine
- try and subvert
Let's look at some of the titles of Satan the devil, before we get into anymore of this. We will see some things on how Satan worms his way in to set himself up as God. Let's look at the true ministry of the Apostle Paul who was sent to take the authority of Satan to the authority of God.
2-Corinthians 4:1: "Therefore, having this ministry, according as we have received mercy, we are not fainthearted. For we have personally renounced the hidden things of dishonest gain…" (vs 1-2)—and dishonest twisting of the Scriptures!
2-Corinthians 2:17: "For we are not like the many, who for their own profit are corrupting the Word of God…" That's what you do when you have false doctrine!
Listen! IF everyone in the Church is dedicated to the Truth, and nothing but the Truth, and all the elders are dedicated to that and do not preach anything other than the Truth—
- stand by the Truth
- defend the Truth
- preach the Truth
—THEN we won't be taken captive by Satan the devil!
But when there's a perversion of twisting the Scripture, and when there are gross misinterpretations of it, remember the principle concerning the Feast of Unleavened Bread: a little leaven leavens the whole lump! It doesn't start with a violent overthrowing of something; it starts incrementally!
2-Corinthians 4:2: "Not walking in cunning craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the Truth… [the Truth, the Truth, the Truth always] …we are commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God. But if our Gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing; in whom the god of this age…" (vs 2-4)—or world!
'god' is 'theos,' and the reason he is called that is because all the religions in the world worship Satan the devil in one form or another.
"…has blinded the minds of those who do not believe…" (v 4).
How many like to do away with the Law? Look at the Protestants, there are a lot of ministers who preach a lot of the Word of God and then all the holidays come along and they jump ship into Satan's ship!
"…lest the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we do not preach our own selves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake" (vs 4-5). So, he's called 'the god of this world'!
Satan is called the king of the abyss(Rev. 1), and the abyss has got to be the prison. It says that there are the angels who have sinned and they're in prison (1-Pet. 3).
Revelation 9:11: "And they have over them a king, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but the name he has in Greek is Apollyon." The demons come streaming out!
We need to always stay on top of everything with the Word of God, and always check everything by the Word of God and rightly divide the Word of God.
Because of what Jesus was going to go through, He was faithful, and selected right here with 'a voice out of heaven.' That was the 10th day of the 1st month, and this was God the Father selecting Him to be the Passover Lamb.
John 12:30: "Jesus answered and said, 'This voice did not come because of Me, but because of you. Now is the judgment of this world. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out'" (vs 30-31)—but not yet removed!
Jesus told His disciples as they were walking to the Garden of Gethsemane, or getting ready to go there.
John 14:30: "I will not speak with you much longer because the ruler of this world is coming; but he does not have a single thing in Me."
The reason that we're going through all these titles is to see that all of these are avenues and approaches, means and methods by which Satan the devil and come and deceive. Look what he's doing to the world, and we will see later what he tries to do to the Churches of God. Incredible, indeed!
(go to the next track)
We'll look at some more of the titles of Satan the devil, and this helps us to identify who he is, what he does, how he works and how we can be on guard against that. We can stay close to God and do the things that we need to do.
Eph. 2 is a great description of everything in the world. They may not be the children of the devil, but if they're all against the laws of God, in a sense they are. That doesn't mean that they're Satan-possessed, but it means that they're just living in the world.
Ephesian 2:1: "Now, you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked in times past according to the course of this world…" (vs 1-2).
- Who is the ruler of the world?
- What did Satan promise Jesus if He would worship him? All the things in the world!
"…according to the prince of the power of the air…" (v 2).
That means that thing from Satan come out of the air, as it were. Remember what happened to Judas Iscariot just before he betrayed Jesus? Satan put it into his heart to betray Jesus! Satan works that way!
"…the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience" (v 2). So, if you're going against God, who are you working for?
Verse 3: "Among whom also we all once had our conduct in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world." There's another title of Satan the devil!
How does Satan behave? 1-Pet. 5, and it also tells us how were are to fight against him!
1-Peter 5:8: "Be sober!…. [don't be out drinking with the drunk of the world] …Be vigilant!…. [diligent] ….For your adversary… [that's what Satan means] … the devil is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour."
He may come up and purr a little bit before he puts his last teeth into you, but he's still a lion "…seeking anyone he may devour."
Verse 9: "Whom resist, steadfast in the faith…"
Let's see how Satan works, and he's doing this all the time. There are always new people whom he's after, because he wants to get all and destroy all. He wants to reek as much havoc as he can, thwart the plan of God and he's always after those who are in the Church of God, one way or the other.
- this is why we have the Sabbath every week, and we keep it
- this is why we study every day
- this is why we pray every day
What do we pray in the daily prayer? Rescue us from the evil one!
2-Tim. 2:25—Paul is talking to Timothy on how to handle things in the Church and those who are having problems and difficulties.
2-Timothy 2:25: "In meekness correcting those who set themselves in opposition; if perhaps God may grant them repentance unto acknowledging of the Truth."
If something goes wrong, God wants repentance! He's gracious with forgiveness! He will forgive. We have to yield to God all the time, because this is an intense spiritual battle.
Just an example of it in politics. Look at what's been going on with this impeachment thing. Every time they try and catch the President in a lie, it turns out that they were lying. Every time they accuse Trump of doing something, that's exactly what they've been doing. But they've been doing it for so long that people really don't understand it. However, some few are becoming wide to what's been going on.
Verse 26: "And that they may wake up…" Think about that concerning the Laodiceans, because they are half asleep!
"…and escape from the devil's snare, who have been taken captive by him to do his will" (v 26).
It may not be outright evil, but remember that a plant starts with a seed and then it grows. When it's fully mature then it brings forth the fruit. In Matt. 24 he's called 'Beelzebub,' prince of the demons!
Let's see Satan's activity that he is doing full time, full blast right here at the end-time.
Revelation 12:9: "And the great dragon…" What is the depiction of the gods of China? The main one is a dragon! It's none other than Satan the devil.
"…was cast out, the ancient serpent…" (v 9). Always a serpent, and all the religions of the world trace back their origin to the 'all knowing serpent' who brought them civilization and their religion!
"…who is called the Devil and Satan, who is deceiving…" (v 9). That's a present tense participle meaning on-going.
The truth is that if you overcome one deception and get rid it, Satan likes to come along and bring another one. He will make it as mild as can be, that seems like it's going to bring a benefit. He is crafty and cunning!
"…the whole world; he was cast down…" (v 9)—a prophecy that is yet to happen!
Verse 10: "And I heard a great voice in heaven say, 'Now has come the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ because the accuser of our brethren has been cast down, who accuses them day and night before our God." Notice day and night! What's why we have to be:
- vigilant
- sober
- on top of everything
Verse 11: "But they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb, and through the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death."
Now let's see how he has operated. We've gone through this before, but we need to go through it again so that we always remain vigilant and on top of it, and not be taken in by anything that are the wiles of the devil.
This is always a tactic that Satan uses. He comes as an 'angel of light.' He comes as someone bringing 'new truth.' If it's actually new Truth from the Bible, you can prove that. But he likes to do it through philosophy, because that's his main religious instrument in bringing the religions of the world to what they believe and do now: philosophy!
So, Paul writes in 2-Cor. 11, because these tactics are always there.
2-Corinthians 11:1: "I would that you might bear with me in a little nonsense; but indeed, do bear with me. For I am jealous over you with the jealousy of God because I have espoused you to one husband, so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (vs 1-2).
We're going to see that that is quite a statement, "…a chaste virgin…" When we read the parable of the marriage supper, they're called to the marriage supper of the Son. Are the guests the Bride? No! they're the guests! So, the truth of the matter is—as we have in the study: 144,000 Study—that not everyone who is going to be in first resurrection will be part of the Bride. It says, 'Blessed are those who came to the wedding supper of the Lamb.' The guests also receive eternal life, but that being the Bride of Christ (Rev. 14) are only those who have been truly faithful.
We'll look at it again and see who is the one trying to do the disrupting.
Verse 3: "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent… [that ancient serpent, Satan the devil] …deceived Eve…" The deception started right from the beginning and is continuing right down to this day!
"…by his craftiness…" (v 3). His subtleness, good sounding lies, which then turn out to be accusations against God!
"…so your minds might be corrupted… [that's what Satan wants to do, corrupt our minds] …from the simplicity that is in Christ. For indeed, if someone comes preaching another Jesus…" (vs 3-4).
Remember that there are lots of false Jesus' out there preaching another gospel. There isn't any other Gospel, as we saw that Paul wrote (Gal. 1). There's no other, but those who bring:
- a fake gospel
- a fake Jesus
- a fake Christianity
That's all instituted by Satan the devil!
"…whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit…" (v 4).
Isn't that true? The Spirit of God will be love, Truth and righteousness! The spirit of Satan is 'let's add a little to it; let's take a little from it. Beware! If you add to or take away from the Word of God, He's going to find out about it!
"…which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you put up with it as something good" (v 4).
Very seldom, unless someone is already steeped in evil, does he come along and say, 'Let's do evil.' No! He comes along and says:
Well, look at here, this is nice; think about how good this would be. Just think how many more people that you could have if you would just do this. Don't you think that would be worthwhile? Do you think God would be against that?
Well, unless you check it out with the Word of God, error can creep in!
Verse 5: "But I consider myself in no way inferior to those highly exalted so-called apostles." These were the false apostles! Not Peter, James and John, but the false apostles; those coming out and saying:
I know all about that; I was in Judea when Jesus was preaching. I hear Him say this, and I heard Him say that.
Verse 6: "For although I may be unpolished in speech…"
Then Paul exposes what it really is, how it is. He had to defend himself:
Verse 10: "As the Truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I don't love you? God knows I do. But what I am doing, I will do, so that I may cut off any occasion from those who are desiring an occasion; so that in the things they boast of, they also may be found even as we are" (vs 1-12). If you're a teacher, be like Paul!
Verse 13: "For such are false apostles… [highly so-called exalted apostles] …deceitful workers who are transforming themselves…"
They're not converted by Christ, but they're coming in with another spirit, another doctrine. This happens:
- in Christianity
- in religion
- in government
- in education
- in individuals
- in organizations
because Satan wants to subvert and captivate the whole world!
"…transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And it is no marvel, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" (vs 13-14)—bringing something new, interesting and good! It all has to do with loving God and keeping His commandments or not.
Verse 15: "Therefore, it is no great thing if his servants also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness—whose end shall be according to their works."
- Satan has his servants
- he has his ministers
- he has his politicians
- he has his educators
- he has his philosophers
- he has his economists
He has all of these things, and he controls the whole world!
We've got a big job on our hands if we are going to overcome this. Let's see what we are to do.
- we have to be on guard
- we have to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves
- we have to be strong in the Lord
- we have to be strong in the Truth
- we have to be strong in His Spirit
So that we can grow, change and overcome!
Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the might of His strength." That takes daily prayer and daily study always, always, always!
Verse 11: "Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
- scheming things in the mind
- scheming things that will detract you from God
Today we have so many things that are there to take away or attention from God!
Look at the upcoming Super Bowl tomorrow; there's so much satanism there especially in the entertainment and some of the advertisements. Just look at it and see if you can spot it, and see what Satan is trying to do. He likes to scatter seeds all around so that whomever will fall for them, will fall for them.
Verse 12: "Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood…" This is a wrestling match, but it's all going on in the mind:
- What do we think?
- What do we believe?
- How do we react?
- What are we going to do?
"…but against principalities… [high-powered demons] …and against powers, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual power of wickednessin high places" (v 12).
Isn't that so? Moreso than at any other time in our lifetime! It's happened in every generation, in every place in the world. Satan has his people, his experts, and he chooses intelligent, wise and accomplished people to carryout his will. He rewards them greatly. These are the things that we are up against!
When the fortunes of politics changes again—for the worse—we're going to see how that's going to come directly against us.
Verse 13: "Therefore, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to resist… [in the faith] …in the evil day… [any day] …and having worked out all things, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girded about with Truth, and wearing the breastplate of righteousness" (vs 13-14).
Having the laws and commandments of God written in our heart and mind! That's the breastplate of righteousness.
Verse 15: "And having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace."
- doing the things to promote the Gospel
- get the Word out to the world
- get the Word out to the brethren
Verse 16: "Besides all these, take up the shield of the faith…" That was not a big shield; it had a grip on it, and was made of really strong metal so that the warrior could deflect the missiles and things thrown at him! We need to do that.
One thing you can do with television to help your mind from being invaded with all things on television. There's a little button called 'mute.' Since so many things come in on television, through advertisements and false things, the mute button is your way of resisting all of that so it doesn't come in.
"…with which you will have the power to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one; and put on the helmet of salvation…" (vs 16-17).
Even in the book of Proverbs it tells us how we are to do that. This is really something, because we have so many things today to grab our attention and assault our mind, assault our emotions, and so forth.
Proverbs 4:18: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day"—the day of the resurrection!
Verse 19: "The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart… [the breastplate] …for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh…. [this is the reason we need the helmet of salvation] …Above all guard the door of your mind with diligence… [all the time] …for out of it are the issues of life" (vs 19-23).
Satan wants to get in there and stir it up the wrong way!
Verse 24: "Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and devious lips put far from you. Let your eyes look right on… [the path of salvation] …and let your eyelids look straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left; remove your foot from evil" (vs 24-27).
How is that for New Testament doctrine in the book of Proverbs. Quite something! That agrees with Eph. 6:
Ephesians 6:18: "Praying at all times with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and in this very thing being watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." It's a full time thing to do! That's quite a job.
We know that in Rev. 2 & 3 that Satan is there to try and disrupt the churches and the people of God. That's why we have to be vigilant in everything in every way that we can.
James 4:5: "Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, 'The spirit that dwells in us lusts with envy'?"
We still have human nature, and we still have to fight against it. All of these things with the Spirit of God tell us how we fight against it:
- we resist the evil
- we resist the temptation
- we put out the evil thoughts
- we get away from the darkness of this world
Verse 6: "But He gives greater grace. This is the reason it says, 'God sets Himself against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.' Therefore, submit yourselves to God…." (vs 6-7).
You do that daily, weekly, yearly with all of the annual Holy days. We just exactly two months and one week away from Passover. This is a good time to start to really get things lined up for Passover and renewing the New Covenant.
"…Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (v 7). He has to, he cannot stay!
Verse 8: "Draw near to God… [you do that with your heart, mind, attitude, study and prayer] …and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded!"
That's what hypocrisy is, double-minded! You cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in the Church and expect the blessings of God.
If you're doubled-minded, v 9: "Be grieved and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into grieving, and your joy into mourning. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you" (vs 9-10).
That's the whole purpose of why we're here and where we are going. As you look at the world today and see all the evil that is going on, be sure to guard the door of your mind:
- do it diligently
- resist against the wiles of the devil
- resist the temptations and evil that comes along
that comes with
- prayer
- study
- devoting yourself to God's way
Scriptural References:
- Matthew 24:7-8
- John 3:2-8
- Matthew 4:3-10
- Acts 26:13-18
- 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
- 2 Corinthians 4:2-5
- Revelation 9:11
- John 12:30-31
- John 14:30
- Ephesians 2:1-2
- 1 Peter 5:8-9
- 2 Timothy 2:25-26
- Revelation 12:9-11
- 2 Corinthians 11:1-6, 10-15
- Ephesians 6:10-17
- Proverbs 4:18-27
- Ephesians 6:18
- James 4:5-10
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Joel 1
- Matthew 1:18
- Revelation 1
- Luke 4
- 1 Peter 3
- Revelation 14
- Galatians 1
- Revelation 2; 3
Also referenced: Articles:
- Locust Swarms Pose 'Unprecedented Threat to Food Security and Livelihoods' in East Africa {https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/28/climate-crisis-fueled-locust-swarms-pose-unprecedented-threat-food-security-and}
- Fake Politicians, Fake Media and Fake Laws Have Destroyed America by Dave Daubenmire; January 23rd, 2020 {https://newswithviews.com/fake-politicians-fake-media-and-fake-laws-have-destroyed-america/}
- From Natural News {https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-11-20-public-schools-being-transformed-into-rape-training-camps.html}
- Italian exorcist says society risks collapse due to 'aggressive Satanism' by Elise Harris, Dec 22, 2019 {https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2019/12/italian-exorcist-says-society-risks-collapse-due-to-aggressive-satanism/}
- Experimenters Pay Mexican Women to Get Pregnant and Abort by WESLEY J. SMITH, January 16, 2020 {https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/experimenters-pay-mexican-women-to-get-pregnant-and-abort/}
- CONFUSION IN THE CHURCH: LGBT CLERGY EXPANDS ACROSS THE NATION December 16, 2019
{http://dmgnews.com/index.php/2019/12/16/confusion-in-the-church-lgbt-clergy-expands-across-the-nation/}
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 2/6/20
Corrected: 2/13/20
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