LIFE of VICTORY - 3

LIFE OF VICTORY – 3

Although Christians can live a life of victory through Jesus, the way that Satan works in our lives to thwart the plans of God has been noted in the past lesson.  Satan roamed the earth in the days of Job (Job 1:7) and he is still doing the same as specified in 1 Pet.5:8.  The occult has become so popular today, but as we identified the meaning and various ways Satan works through the occult, the popularity extends back to the O.T.  Deut.18:10-12

The purpose of this lesson will be to stress the truth of Eph.6:12.  It would be easy to skim over this passage without realizing the danger it imposes on the life of a Christian.  Although we live on this earth in the form of flesh and blood, we do have a spirit unseen.  In order for Jesus to bring salvation to us, He had to become like us in flesh and blood to die for us as an eternal sacrifice.  Phil.2:7,8  

As we accepted Jesus as our redeeming Savior in obedience in faith, we were given the gift of a spirit—the Holy Spirit.  Our fleshly bodies became a temple of this Holy Spirit.  1 Cor.6:19,20   Then we became new in Christ Jesus.  2 Cor.5:17   This Holy Spirit is real.  It helps us in so many ways.  Rom.8:26; Rom.8:13,14  

If we truly realize the certainty of the Holy Spirit, why would we not recognize the truth of rulers of darkness as Satan and his demons.  Eph.6:12   As before mentioned, they do roam the earth and seek to destroy our faithfulness and obedience to our Lord.  We are well aware that Satan entered the Garden and caused Eve to sin in disobedience to God’s one command.  Gen.3:24   God even gave advice to Cain before he killed Abel.  Gen.4:7   From this time, Satan has been seeking whom he may cause to sin—separate themselves from God.  Isa.59:2; 1 Jhn.3:4

Just as there is a Holy Spirit, so we must recognize the fact that there are evil spirits that want to come into our lives to push out the Holy Spirit.  We hear people joke, “The devil made me do it.”  It isn’t a joking matter.  The devil does want to make us disobey but we have a choice.  Joshua made the important choice that we should be ready to make.  Josh.24:15

In this battle between heaven and hell as Satan attempts to win the minds and hearts of men, Paul warns the Ephesian Christians to take a stand against the devil’s schemes.  Eph.6:11   Schemes can be intriguing but deceitful.  We need to be very aware.  If Satan’s schemes were always visible, we might be more successful in combatting them, but they are not flesh and blood. (Eph.2:12)  The main thrust of the battle is against our mind and heart and then it might become evident in flesh.

Paul explains this in 2 Cor.10:3-5.  How our thoughts need to be taken captive in obedience to Christ as we stand against the devil’s schemes.  Remember from our last lesson how Satan is the father of lies; how he disguises himself as an angel of light; how he uses very clever, crafty strategies to entangle us in sin. 

Satan must have been rejoicing when Jesus died on the cross, but Jesus’ victory was soon recognized as He arose from the dead.  Now this victory must be achieved individually by each of us and we overcome temptation set before us.  The “darkness” is outside the life of a Christian.  Eph.5:8,11   Christ has rescued us from the domain of darkness and brought us into His kingdom.  Col.1:13

Even though the goal of Satan is to thwart the plans of God, they still know the existence of God and believe.  They just will not obey.  Jam.2:19   Scripture gives us examples of those possessed of a demon but that demon recognizes Jesus.

One of these examples is in Lk.4:33,34.  A man was possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon; however, that demon recognized Jesus and wanted to be left alone.  Another example is found in Acts 16:16,17.  A slave girl had a spirit of divination and kept following Paul and recognizing that Paul and those with him were servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to the way of salvation.  In both cases they were removed.

Let us obey 1 Thess.5:21 for the one who practices sin if of the devil.  1 Jhn.3:8   Let us be filled with the Spirit,  (Eph.5:18) that we may also walk (live) by the Spirit.  Gal.5:25 

LIFE of VICTORY - 2

LIFE OF VICTORY – 2

If we have enemies, we should know who they are, where they are and what they intend to do.  As Christians, we do have a terrible enemy—Satan.  Since he is an enemy, we need to learn as much as we can about him and the tactics he uses against us as well as the demons that work for him.

We know that Satan first appeared as a serpent in the Garden to tempt Eve.  From the beginning Satan has wanted to thwart the plans of God.  As we think of the origin of Satan remember the Scripture in Deut.29:29.  There are several suppositions but the fact is, we do not know.  Two of the major ideas that have a lot of Scriptural backing are given by Victor Knowles and Jack Cottrell.  Generally speaking, Cottrell believes that Satan and his “angels” are fallen angels that rebelled against God and were removed from God’s presence.  This belief is set forth in his book, What the Bible Says about God the Creator.  Another belief set forth by Knowles in his book, Angels and Demons, is that demons are spirits of the wicked dead.  Both set forth their beliefs in a convincing manner with Biblical references and quotes from theologians of the past.  We know Satan is evil and continues to this day to cause mankind to fall from faithfulness to God.  God is over all and confines Satan within His power.  The importance of this study lies in the fact that Satan is real and can destroy our lives.  Illustrations of these things will be given in the following discussion.

2 Pet.2:4   Even though Satan works against God, the final power rests with God.  Some of the angels sinned so God cast them into hell.  Matt.25:41  The abandonment of the angels’ abode is also mentioned in Jude 6.  God has the final authority over them.

God’s final authority is apparent in the life of Job.  Job was a godly man.  Satan appeared before God with the sons of God.  God asked him from where he had come.  Satan’s answer is recorded in Job 1:7.  He was roaming the earth to defeat God and still is to this day.  1 Pet.5:8   Satan requested permission to harm Job in several ways.  Note that Satan had to ask permission and each time God gave him limits within which he could act.  Job 1:12

Satan is given several titles of description in the Bible.  He is a liar and murderer.  Jhn.8:44   Satan is also a tempter.  Lk.4:1,2   Satan proved to be a betrayer in the life of Judas.  Lk.22:3,4   He is a perpetual sinner from the beginning.  1 Jhn.3:8   Satan accuses Christians so is called the Accuser.  Rev.12:10   John tells us that the children of the devil are obvious because they are void of love.  1 Jhn.3:10   The devil is conceited.  1 Tim.3:6,7   We can fall into his snares.

False doctrine is a trap that is used by Satan.  2 Cor.11:13-15   This becomes a dangerous disguise for us to confront.  With all of the above characteristics, it is no wonder that he is called the evil one.  Matt.5:37 (NIV)   Satan has been given the name, Beelzebub and the prince of demons.  Matt.12:24   Revelation speaks of the dragon and the ancient serpent along with Satan, the devil and his angels.  Rev.12:9   Next come two terms used fairly often in Scriptures:  ruler of this world – Jhn.12:31  and prince of the power of the air – Eph.2:2.

Since Satan is so full of evil, let us make ourselves aware of some of his works. His main goal to  defeat God’s plan and purpose.  He attempts to do this in many ways. Satan longs to bring suffering on anyone, especially believers of God.  Lk.13:16   This does not mean that all suffering was wrought by Satan nor because of sin.  Think of Job who had faith in his Redeemer.  Job 19:25   Yet God allowed Satan to bring suffering upon him.

Satan is a schemer and is behind the scenes to take advantage.  2 Cor.2:11   Paul was warning the Corinthians that in a lack of forgiveness, Satan could use to cause sin in their lives.  Satan can look so godly that we might fall for his schemes.  2 Cor.11:13,14   Someone might begin to believe God’s Word but Satan in his deceit comes along and snatches that belief away from them.  Teaching a new Christian becomes so very important for this reason.  Mk.4:15  

Our attitudes, words, and deeds come from our heart and Satan loves to cast the thought of sin into our heart. His desire is to take out any good and replace it with evil.  He can do that in so many ways.  We listen to the wrong person.  We make excuses for ourselves and justify what we are doing.  We may even put off changing something we know to be wrong.  Acts 5:3   Desire of praise and approval may have caused them to do this.  For whatever reason, Satan put it into their hearts.  Satan also put into the heart of Judas to betray his Lord.  Jhn.13:2

Examples are given throughout the O.T. as well as the N.T. of Satan working in various ways to defeat God’s purpose.  He has many demons working for him to instill sin in our lives.  Popularity of the occult today is not new.  The practices extend far back into the O.T.  The occult is defined in 3 ways: consulting the dead, foretelling the future, and the practice of magic.  Are these things practices of today?  Definitely.  Can you find your horoscope easily?  It is available everywhere.  Does your horoscope reveal God’s plans for you? No! Rather it puts trust in the occult (supernatural, magical). 

Other tricks of the occult are automatic writing, table lifting, fortune telling (Deut.18:10), witchcraft (Gal.5:19,20), Ouija Board, palm readers, Tarot cards, spiritists (Lev.19:31), and many others not of God.  Satanists employ many of these and others.  It is dangerous to think of these things as “just a game.” 

This has been such a negative lesson but Christians must beware of these forces surrounding us.  Satan is active now but his end is sure.  Rev.20:10; Rom.16:20   Meanwhile, we can have victory through Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has given within us power far greater than he who is in the world.  1 Jhn.4:4

  

  

Life of Victory - 1

LIFE OF VICTORY – 1

We all want victory.  We can immediately think of sports or war.  Victory is overcoming in a struggle.  As Jesus was speaking to His disciples, He told them that in the world they would have tribulation but to take courage for He had overcome the world.  Jhn.16:33   Many times the “world” means inhabited earth.  But we also know that the world is often referring to “worldly”.  Paul writes to the Corinthians about worldly or fleshly wisdom.  2 Cor.1:12   This is not the wisdom of God.  2 Cor.10:4,5   This is similar to the statement that we live in the world but not of the world.

Jesus said we would have tribulation or troubles.  We can all relate to that.  Many of those troubles come in the form of temptation.  Temptation is not evil.  Jesus was tempted.  His response was powerful in that He answered Satan with the Word of God.  How we need to have the Word of God in our hearts.  Phil.2:16; Ps.19:7,8   None of us would want to get wrapped up in sin but it seems that one sin calls for another.  How closely do we stay in the Word?  David gives us the “before” and “after.”  Ps.119:67   The “after” made so much difference for now have I kept Thy Word.  Too often we fall into sin and then remember His Word too late.  God’s Word needs to be in our heart at all times.  The only way is to study His Word every day.  Ps.119:101   This kept David’s feet from every evil way as it will ours.

Temptation is an enticement to do something wrong or forbidden.  In other words—to sin.  Sin is the transgression of the law.  1 Jhn.3:4   Jesus pronounced eternal condemnation on those who practiced lawlessness—those who sinned.  Matt.7:23   Today it seems that man has lessened the meaning of sin by calling it a “failure” or a “weakness.”  Sin is sin and we are all guilty.  Rom.3:23   There are wages to pay when we sin.  Rom.6:23

“The devil made me do it” may be true in that we let the devil have the reigns in our lives.  Satan has desired to foil God’s plans for us since the Garden.  He is a liar and the father of lies.  Jhn.8:44   We have believed these lies.  Satan wants to undo God’s work in us.  Mk.4:15   When we get away from our communication with God (prayer and Bible study) we are open for Satan to enter our heart.  Judas had walked with Jesus three years and yet was vulnerable to Satan’s tactics.  Jhn.13:2

The devil knows our weaknesses and waits to make us fall into sin.  1 Pet.5:8   He is able to disguise himself as an angel of light by assuming charisma, doctrines that seem right, and an outward showing of love but it is all a deception to cause us to fall from the Truth.  The devil’s message to Eve sounded good but caused a separation from God.  2 Cor.11:13-15

The second part of Rom.3:23 gives us great hope.  We are offered a gift of eternal life but it must be in Christ Jesus.  This gift must be something we accept.  We have to believe to the point of obeying in faith.  Jhn.3:36; Heb.5:9   Because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, He exchanged His righteousness for our sin.  2 Cor.5:21   If we accept this gift, we can then escape the deception of the devil but we must continue to stand in faith to the end.  Rev.2:10

Jesus has overcome the world so we can have victory in Him.  1 Cor.15:57   This brings us victory because of our faith.  1 Jhn.5:4    As we accept Jesus as our Savior in faith and obedience, we become a new man with the gift of the Holy Spirit living within us.  This is power.  1 Jhn.4:4   Thus, we can look forward to victory in Jesus.    

Even though we look forward to this victory in Jesus, it is not automatic.  We must fight the good fight of faith.  1 Tim.6:11,12   We are given things we must pursue in this fight—righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.  We are given armor for this fight.  Eph.6:10,11   We cannot be like the Galatians in  Gal.1:6.  Satan does not let us alone just because we gave our lives to the Lord in becoming Christians.

We must leave the “old things” behind and not take them up ever again.  2 Cor.5:17   Our life is now new in Christ.  Rom.13:14   Gone is the former manner of life and we are new in the spirit of our mind.  Eph.4:22-24

     

Bk. Review-This Beautiful Mess

THE BEAUTIFUL MESS

Rick McKinley

McKinley begins with the kingdom as both beautiful, but a mess.  There is no real way of defining the kingdom, but it is the “living, breathing presence and purpose and reign of God.”  He continues.  The kingdom is like yeast worked through the dough, the mustard seed that grows from something so small into a tree, and a treasure in a field that is worth selling all you have to purchase it.

“Repenting turns us away from our own poverty and toward God’s best.”  We are the mess.  Many pertinent examples are used as well as Scriptures.  Another good quote is “The kingdom demands that I notice others, love others, pray for them, and serve them.”  McKinley becomes very practical about the kingdom.  “I can’t embrace the kingdom when my arms are full of me.”  The kingdom is already but not yet.

This book is practical and down to earth with reality of today’s culture.  One thing that bothered me was the mention several times of alcoholic drinks and nicotine, neither which has any part in the kingdom.  Perhaps it was to make a point.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.