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Prepared for Good Works

The importance of training cannot be overstated. In every aspect of our lives the people who do the best are the ones who spend the time to train. From interns to an apprentice, training is an essential part of everyday life. The same goes for living out the Christian life. Often our lives can seem to be so mundane that we could not possibly do something great with God. Getting out of our comfort zone tends to heighten our attitude, whether it is going on a mission trip or leading a crowd of people to salvation or any other goal, and we feel closer to God. We want to do something out of the ordinary, but are we ready for that?

Ever wonder why some people always seem to be in the right place at the right time to help others, and we, ever so willing, never seem to get that opportunity? Well, if you pay attention most of those people are trained to not only handle the situation but pay attention to what is going on around them so they can recognize when someone needs help. I recall a story in the news a while ago of a couple messing around on at beach pretending to drown and the lifeguard comes running over to help, which of course to them they thought it was funny, until he passed them and rescued a child just behind them that was actually drowning. You see, he knew what to look for. He was trained and ready. We should be the same way in our Christian lives, constantly training so we are ready for whenever God wants to use us.

For also you are obligated to be teachers […]

Prepared for Good Works2023-12-14T08:45:16-08:00

The Methods of Satan – Pride

Pride comes from being puffed up in one’s mind resulting in an opinion that is higher than reality, which produces arrogance and disdainful conduct due to this haughty attitude.

It was pride that caused Lucifer to fall from his position within God’s government

Ezekiel 28:17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.

When it comes to pride within the Church it is a temptation that will be levied by Satan against a novice who is placed into a position of a Pastor within the assembly. In Paul’s letter to Timothy he warns him not to place a novice into a position of a pastor due to the likelihood that Satan will use pride against him.

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. – 1 Timothy 3:6

Pride is also a characteristic of a false teacher. One who teaches doctrine that is contrary to godliness

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not come to healthy words, the [words] of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the teaching according to godliness, he is proud, standing upon nothing, but is diseased concerning disputes and arguments out from which come envy, strife, blasphemy, suspicious malignant evils, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose gain is godliness. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. – 1 Timothy 6:3-6

Pride will also be seen among the unbelievers who stay within the Church.

For men will exist as fond of themselves, […]

The Methods of Satan – Pride2023-12-14T08:45:33-08:00

The Methods of Satan – Lying

Lying is a temptation that comes from Satan and is intended to create a false or misleading impression. He is the father of lies and where you find lying, he is directly involved.

John 8:44 You are out from the father the devil, and the desires of your father you desirously will to do. He was a manslayer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks out from his own, because he is a liar and the father of it.

He influences situations to persuade saints to lie, even to God

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, because of why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and you to pilfer from the price of the land?

Not speaking the truth is a big deal. Even a little lie is a direct result of the influence of Satan. This is something we should be paying attention to and anyone who lies should be called out for doing this. Especially those in positions of authority.

When it comes to the world system, lying is an integrated part of it and often is seen as a good thing. But how can falsely misleading others be good? The world system was created by Satan to manipulate humans to obey his desires rather than their own. Lying is one of the ways he does this.

Therefore, when politicians, doctors, and leaders lie this is not something that should take a Christian by surprise. They are of the world and the world is fond of its own (John 15:19). Those in the Church who lie are following after Satan and are the […]

The Methods of Satan – Lying2023-12-14T08:45:51-08:00

The Works of the Flesh – Inner burning anger

The works of the flesh, which are a product of the sin nature residing in the flesh, are plainly seen in certain desires and actions. One of these works is an inner burning anger. Sometimes mistranslated as “wrath”, this is a work within a person that will produce all kinds of wrong actions because it holds their mind in anger so that they are not clearly thinking, but rather lash out in anger by both their words and deeds.

Inner burning anger has a very negative impact on other Christians and shows that the one caught in it is carnal. That is, not focusing on the things of God, but on the things of the flesh.

For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I desirously will, and also I shall be found by you such as you do not desirously will; lest strife, jealousies, inner burning anger, selfish ambitions, backbiting, whisperings, conceits, confusions – 2 Corinthians 12:20

We are to put away this type of attitude from us, putting off the old man

Let all bitterness, inner burning anger, wrath, clamor, and blasphemy be put away from you, with all wrong. – Ephesians 4:31

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: wrath, inner burning anger, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. – Colossians 3:8

Stop lying to one another, having stripped off the old man with its practices and put on as an outer garment the new man, the one being renewed unto the full experiential knowledge according to the image of its creator. – Colossians 3:9, 10

Anger is not sin; however, the sin nature can take our anger and misapplying […]

The Works of the Flesh – Inner burning anger2023-12-14T08:46:30-08:00

The Methods of Satan – Cowardice in Spiritual Things

When faced with the possibility of persecution, ridicule, or even discrimination we can be tempted by Satan to deny our faith.

Peter, who was so willing to die to defend Christ on the night in which He was betrayed was used as an example for us on how Satan can manipulate the situation so that we negatively react when facing opposition.

Just prior to the betrayal of Christ, Satan had made a request to sift all the disciples; however, he was given permission to only sift Peter.

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has asked for you, to sift as wheat. But I have supplicated concerning you, in order that your faith should not fall and when you return to support your brethren – Luke 22:31,32

Peter was not a coward and was willing to even die for Christ.

And he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to be with you and unto prison and unto death to go.” – Luke 22:33

However, Peter would not even make it through the night without denying Christ three times.

And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will never crow before you deny to know Me three times – Luke 22:24

In the end Peter did just as the Lord has said and denied he knew Him three times before the rooster crowed, even though he was in no danger. This broke Peter’s heart, but would later, after the Lord restored him, be used for our benefit because in the letters he wrote to the Church we learn a lot about defending ourselves against Satan.

Protecting the sensitive part of the mind

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest […]

The Methods of Satan – Cowardice in Spiritual Things2023-12-14T08:46:50-08:00
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