We find ourselves in a world that seems to be over-run with
every inconceivable, negative and immoral way of living without the evidence of
consequences. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord
Pondereth the heart.” These words are very definite and are very true. There seems
to be a spirit of self-ness that has come into the hearts of people, what am I
talking about? A spirit of self-ness is one that considers only self, it’s my
way, my thoughts, my rights, my will and my thing. There is no consideration of
others and if it is, then self has to come out on top some way.
Now there are those who ignore the second half of this
statement “…the Lord pondereth the hearts.” God knows what is in the hearts of
man for even at the beginning “GOD saw that the wickedness of man was
great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his
heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). We can see this happening
now, but there is a real enemy that many times we choose to ignore or believe
is a fictitious character. Oh my friends let me tell you, he is real, as real
as you and I and he has come “…but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy…” (Jn. 10:10). We call him Lucifer,
but he has other names that he is known by; adversary, serpent, Belial, Beelzebub,
the enemy and Satan.
He comes to deceive all men, he is
the leader of all sinners and backsliders and all rebels, he causes sickness,
disease, and physical and mental maladies, he takes advantage of all
adversities of men to further his rebellion and hold them captive. He even
provokes to sin, he steals the Word of God from those who have just begun, lest
they should believe, he works false miracles and sets snares for us to fall
into. This is what we have been facing for years, and now it seems as though
the world has found solace in his deceptive and lying ways.
His work is mainly to oppose God
whenever possible, he uses counterfeit doctrines to deceive the Saints of God and
those who are open to his teachings. That
is why God tells us:
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but
try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone
out into the world”
(1 John 4:1).
The fact that
we are believers does not stop the devil from trying in every conceivable way
to imitate God. Believers are the ones Satan concentrates on and wars against. This
is why we must keep our Spiritual armor on and our two-edge sword sharpen; by
studying the Word of God daily.
Now, let’s look at the following 10
methods that Satan uses to capture and keep one bound in self-ness, that is
until the light of God’s Word comes into one’s ears and is received in the
heart. Now this is not all of his methods, but it
will give you a general idea of how he works and is working today.
1. He uses
every conceivable means to hold men in subjection to himself and keep them from
turning to God. If he fails in this, he tries to kill the believer’s testimony
and ruin his influence for God.
We have seen this in family, friends and co-workers; those
who find every excuse not to believe in God’s Word and that even includes
trying to put human reasoning to what God has done supernaturally in someone’s
life. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). There are those who approve sin and ignore the need for
repentance and holy living as they try to remove any penalty for sin and make
you doubt if there is a hell or not; this is the workings of Satan only.
2. If one
falls he tries to make him stay fallen or commit suicide. He endeavors to cause
men to end their lives by insisting it is the best way out; but he hides the
true fact that this will be only the beginning of real torment in eternal hell.
Everyone has experience some kind of storm in life that has
shaken the foundation that you believe in. It has been a category 10 hurricane that
has left you feeling hopeless and lost. Suicide is never the answer to any
storm, or trouble you are facing, it is never without serious consequences here
and the hereafter. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn.
2:15). As believers we must “lift up our eyes unto the hills…our help cometh
from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Ps.121:1-2).
3. Satan tries
to get one in a lukewarm condition and, if he succeeds, urges them to stay in
that condition so that God will cut them off in the end.
The Laodicea church was one that was proud and
self-satisfied, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, but they
also failed to see that they were wretched, and miserable and poor, and blind,
and naked (Rev.3:17). Yet to be lukewarm meant they were nauseating, sickening,
and most of all blind. If one chooses to be in this state of their journey,
then Christ says “…I will spue (spit) you out of my mouth” (v.16); and forever
be lost.. We must remain faithful to God and believe beyond our circumstances, situations
and what we see, and know in our knower that God is faithful to His promises.
4. He dares
men to do many things which they would not do under ordinary circumstances; and
men are foolish enough to think they are not brave if they do not accept his
dares.
Sometimes all it takes is a small crowd to get a mob mentality
going, and one person steps up in the midst and takes charge as the leader or
the agitator of the mob. It grows and grows into something that is destructive
and dangerous. Lives have been lost, families have been shattered and peace has
been destroyed. “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably
with all men” (Rom.12:18).
5. Makes people
think they are missing everything in life if they do not go into all kinds of
sins which, in the end, will damn their souls.
Now, remember we are still looking at the methods that Satan
uses to ensnare people and especially the children of God – if he can. Before salvation
sin was fun, of course we never looked at it as being sin, for us it was fun
and something to do. For the Christian,
Jesus has cleansed us from our sins and He has washed us white as snow. We have
been forgiven and our sins have been forgotten. Satan knows which button to
push to bring on temptation into our minds, and our lives; he tries to make you
think of all that you are missing out on and this is what has weakened many a
soul. Life does not truly begin until you have received Jesus as your Savior,
don’t believe the lies of the enemy for his goal is to keep your soul damned.
6. Emphasizes
sin and sinful pleasures as innocent enjoyment.
“For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from
righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now
ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free
from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the
end everlasting life. For the wages of
sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom.
6:20-23). Now you choose!
7. Stirs unholy
passions in men and women, causing them to throw away all restraint and live a
life of revelry.
Galatians 5:19-21, gives
us 17 works of the flesh and a very stern warning that “…they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21). Those who continue to
want their way and those who say I’m grown and can do whatever I want, then
know this – you will not enter the kingdom of God. The only way to enter is
through repentance, confession and putting this life style out of your life
forever. “be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap” (Gal.6:7).
8. Tries to
make people think there is no joy in serving the Lord. This is one of his
greatest errors. Serving Christ and winning souls who will be thankful forever
pays the greatest dividends and afford the greatest pleasures known.
We are to fear the Lord our God, walk in all His ways, love
and serve Him with all our heart and soul, and keep His commandments (Deut.
10:12). If one does this then there is a love beyond understanding that we have
for our Father, God. Therefore, “ Serve the LORD
with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that
hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of
his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his
courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is
everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:2-5)
9. Preaches
to the diligent in business that he needs to take all his time for getting rich
before serving the Lord; while the fact is that if one will truly serve the
Lord, he can be abundantly prosperous with God’s help.
As long as one focuses on getting that 1st or next
million, then their eyes are not looking unto Jesus. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil desires, as long as your eyes are making more money, they are not seeking
direction or help from God and therefore, in prosperity there is a tendency to
forget God. Man is so depraved that he wants to take credit to himself for any
success and prosperity he has, but when truth be told, God is the one who gives
us power to get wealth (Deut. 8:18).
10. Urges churches
and their leaders to make religion a paying proposition by appealing to the
rich and influential through lowering the standards of holy living, making
salvation easy for all, and compromising essentials of the faith; and by
feeding the sheep messages on current events and book reviews instead of the
infallible Word of God.
The position of a pastor is a daunting task, and to say that
one is call to fulfil this position you must be certain that you have heard right.
For one, you have been chosen to be an overseer of God’s children, Jesus’
lambs, by feeding them and caring for them as Christ. Second, you must be one
free from sin, be a seeker of God, shepherd the flock, protect and nourish the
vineyard and protect and gather the sheep. As well as, comfort them in fear, be
morally clean, be honest and truthful, and be free from deceit. Yes, this must
be a call from God upon the life of one that only God chooses. “Ye have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring
forth fruit…” (John. 15:16). If there is any compromising of God’s Word so that
attendance goes up and finances increase, you are the one who will give an
account as to how and what you have taught God’s children.
There is so much more that I can speak on but this will do
for now. I encourage you to do your own Bible study so that you can have a
clear understanding of the enemy that we face daily, and to know his strategies
and schemes. God’s Word is sitting on the table or bookshelf, its right at our finger tips
on computers, phones, tablets and IPhones, all we have to do is access it. The days
are getting darker, and it seems easier for people to set aside their beliefs
and faith and even compromise their morals, all because of hardship or current conditions. Faith is our shield (Eph.
6:15) it is part of our Spiritual armor that God has provided for us we my keep it upon us and if we
take off our armor then we are vulnerable, and unprotected and open to all kinds of attacks.
Pray for your loved-ones who refuse to listen, lift up those
employees who laughs at you and seek God to help you reach the lost for there are so many more who need to hear God's truth, His Word. Pray that God
will open their hearts to understanding and that they will make a decision to
accept Christ before it is too late. God bless...
NinaJ
Chosen2Prayer
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