Friday, March 31, 2017

Are you choosing godly behavior?

Spirituality wears many masks; all but one leads to eternal death. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” That thought continues when Jesus said in Matthew 12:22, “Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.” In context, Jesus was rebuking someone accusing Him performing His miracles by the power of Satan. But as Jesus said, “A house divided against itself will fall!”

With a culture so interested in exploring NEW ways to experience spirituality, we have to be careful not to fall into a trap of accepting something other than the truth. While Wiccan faiths, the Occult, and other more Satanic based faiths are on the rise, the more prevalent attack is getting us to accept things God is opposed to.

We live in a sin-sick society that is constantly attempting to justify sinful behavior by somehow associating it with goodness or spirituality. The truth of the matter is, there is absolutely nothing spiritual about grotesque and uncontrollable desires. Everything about that kind of chaos, negligence, or even ignorance is displeasing to God, it goes against what He’s instructed us to avoid.

The apostle Paul drew a stark contrast between the sinful works of the flesh and commendable fruit of the Spirit. In fact, he wrote: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another” (Galatians 5:16-17). Then Paul listed several works of the flesh that God condemns as sinful and destructive. He said: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness...drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand...that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). The outrageous claim that spirituality can be achieved by engaging in sinful practices is little more than an attempt to “call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).

True spirituality can only be achieved when a person chooses to crucify “the flesh with its passions and desires” and foster the fruit of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-24). Let’s consider how to protect our entire life from Satan’s sneaky attacks on our soul.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Satan's secret approach

The Reformation Movement of the 16th century brought about a renewed respect for Scripture. Like nearly all acts of reform, it meant some old customs had to go away, and some stricter enforcements were instituted.

Strict adherence to the commands of God is important, however, done with poor motives or done too hasty can prove to be counter-productive. An example of this was in New England during that same time in Salem, MA.

The Salem witch trials in 1692 became instantly famous, so many people’s attention were focused on the series of hearings and prosecutions of the people accused of witchcraft. The trials resulted in the executions of twenty people, fourteen of them women, and all but one by hanging.

We can look into many situations similar before or after those events and see people taking extreme and unwise approaches to stamp out the impact of Satan. However, many times what results is an attitude that plays right into his hands – hate, favoritism, hypocrisy, etc.

Paul warns us in Galatians 6:1, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” The right spirit or attitude is an important element in keeping us from falling into a temptation as well.

It takes wisdom to respond to the evils around us in a way that won’t lead to further ungodliness. Satan has interwoven his philosophies so deep into our culture that it requires us to have discernment on how to approach those who are caught up in ungodly behavior.

Hebrews 5:14, “Solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

In a culture that seems more intrigued by Satan’s presence, we have the sensitive balance of being stern against acts of unrighteousness, without shutting the door on the very ones held captive by Satan in their choices and lifestyles. Consider these words in Jude 18-23, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Friday, March 17, 2017

Is Satan attacking your house?

There have been many movies made glorifying master-thieves. Those adventurous movies may be okay on a screen, but in real life burglars give most of us the creeps. There are all kinds of reasons a burglar would break into your house, but the crazy thing is many detectives claim that many thieves prefer to target the same house repeatedly. It may seem odd, but here are the reasons why: familiarity and the expectation that you’ll replace expensive items.

Why wouldn’t more homeowners take precautions so there wouldn’t be a second time? Who knows, but consider the burglary of your soul. Why are so many people easily lured away from faith in God? How is Satan so successful?

Jesus was accused of working for Satan, but Jesus gave an illustration that might answer how a person protects against spiritual burglary. Luke 11:21-22, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.” In context, Jesus is the “stronger man” taking away the power of Satan. But the illustration should be understood -- that anyone who wants to protect his house better be prepared.

Satan doesn’t plan on easily giving up those he’s deceived. He’s a master thief that works rigorously to plunder your goods. The reality is that Satan is “roaming around looking to devour someone,” and his likely victim is the unprepared person.

Time after time we’re told to be “sober and alert,” “to stand firm,” or “prepare your minds for action.” As followers of Christ, we’re given that protection from God. We see how Jesus modeled His use of Biblical wisdom to fight off an attack from Satan while fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4). More detail for us is given in Ephesians 6:10-17 on how to don the armor of God.

Jesus spent three years teaching His disciples how to pray (Luke 11), and instructing them on mission work (Luke 10), and even how to stay faithful during persecution (1 Peter 2:21). All of these kinds of things help to keep us in His protection. Yet so many Christians go about their life without taking serious measures to keep Satan out of their life. They often decided to walk in complete “ignorance of his schemes,” making them easy targets.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be looking into the realities of Satan’s attack from a historical and modern perspective. The Bible reveals so much about our adversary for a good reason. Join us as we study about the spiritual war we are engaged in.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Growing Relationships

“It’s hard to get well when you dwell among the sick,” a Buddhist monk told a young traveler. “Realize that sickness longs for company.” If that’s true for the flu, then it’s equally true for spiritual sickness. Solomon gave similar advice to his sons about using wisdom when encountering those of the world.

He said in Proverbs 22:10, “Drive out a scoffer (a person who mocks and sneers at people), and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease,” and Proverbs 22:5, “Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.” But, instead, he shows us the right directions; Proverbs 22:17-18, “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.” Or in Proverbs 22:3, “The prudent (wise person) sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”

It’s easy to adopt the attitudes of people around you, but we have to overcome the temptations to become negative or ungodly. Under the New Covenant with God, He’s offered something that helps us in that process: the Holy Spirit, which we’re told we receive as a gift to help us in the discernment process. Consider these words from Galatians 5:16-17, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

God has shared  His wisdom with us to help spot sin before we step in it, and make the appropriate decisions, but all of this is contingent upon us wanting to listen and being willing to follow. Unfortunately, too many folks do not rely on the Spirit to guide their thoughts and actions, which leads to a hardened heart.

Parents serve as examples to help prevent this from happening, as well as grandparents, and brothers and sisters in Christ. All of us can help be the voice of reason that keeps us from rebelling against God’s wisdom in dealing with folks around us. How do we do that? You probably already know the answer. Read the directions, ask for help, slow down and think.

2 Timothy 2:15-16, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness…”

Take advantage of the opportunities around you to encourage another brother or sister.