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 because of the time, again you have need of [someone] to teach you what are the elementary principles of the beginning of the Words of God and you have come to be ones having need of milk and not solid food. For all the ones partaking of milk are unskilled concerning a word of righteousness, for you are inarticulate babblers. – Hebrews 5:12, 13
But the solid food is of the mature, the ones through the habit exercising their sense to discern both proper and wrong – Hebrews 5:14
We need to prepare ourselves. We need to purify ourselves, we need to cleanse ourselves, and be ready.
Therefore, is someone cleanses himself from these things he is a vessel unto honor, sanctified and useful to the Despot, unto all good works being prepared – 2 Timothy 2:21
Paul is talking about being an unashamed workman who cuts straight the Word of God. This is one who is training in the proper use of Scripture. Knows the difference between what is doctrine and what is teaching; what is for our practice as Christians and what is for our learning. This is one who properly handles the Word of truth.
How can we train while doing the ordinary things we do each day? Start with the little things and begin to learn how to properly apply them to our lives.
Are you having victory over your sin nature? Do you even know what your sin nature is and what desires come from it? Are you lustful all the time? Are you angry? Do you think that if you can only go to church or up to a high mountain or away from people you will be closer to God? These are all desires from the sin nature. Sadly, many Christians today are never taught about their sin nature or how to have victory over it.
And the works of the flesh are evident, which things are: adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, licentiousness, idolatry, religious superstitious awe, enmity, strife, jealousy, inner burning anger, selfish ambitions, divisions, heresies, envy, murder (senseless slaughter), drunkenness, revelries, and such like these – Galatians 5:19-21
What about Satan? Do you understand how to put on the armor of God? Have you practiced putting it on? What about the desires that come from him, do you know them? Independence from God always leads us down a dark path that only produces fruit we are ashamed of.
in order that we should not be taken advantage of by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his way of thinking – 2 Corinthians 2:11
What is the framing of your mind, that is, what are the boundaries you place upon the way you think? Do you know them? Do you know what they should be in Christ? How we frame our minds directly impacts our actions.
For the ones that are [walking] according to flesh, set their minds of the things of the flesh, but the ones [walking] according to Spirit, the things of the Spirit. – Romans 8:5
We need to have the basics down before we can handle the more complex things. The result of practicing will be victory over our sin nature and over Satan and we will start to purify ourselves by removing the things in our lives that do not edify God or build us up in our Christian life. The more we do this the better we will be equipped and ready to do any good work our Lord brings our way.
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, fond of money, boasters, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, not pious, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, not friendly of good, traitors, headstrong, prideful, fond of pleasure rather than fond of God, having a form of godliness but denying its inherent ability. And from such people turn away – 1 Timothy 3:2-5
Pride brings nothing good into our world, it only leads to bad things. By pride the novice pastor will fall allowing false teachings and actions within the assembly. Pride will lead a believer to disregard a brother in Christ for their own liberty. By pride those who teach false doctrine subvert the innocent into thinking that gain is godliness. By pride false brethren remain in the church seeking to gain for themselves. It was by pride that Lucifer fell and through this pride he acted independently from God seeking to place himself in a position higher than he belonged. Let us not be ones who hold onto pride, for it is God’s righteousness that gives us the access that we have to Him, not anything we do. Yes, there are times where we can become very good at what we do, but let us never forget, apart from Christ we can do nothing just as the branch cannot produce fruit without the vine.
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 antichrist. They come out from the Church but are not of the Church (1 John 2:19). They belong to the world.
Don’t let the lies of this world influence you to act out of fear. We are the children of God. We are here to offer reconciliation to those around us, showing them the hope that we have through our lifestyle.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with objectivity of mind and respect
Whether it is lying about a pandemic, making up catastrophic events that never come true, or promises that are never intended to be kept, the world system manipulates those of it and we as Saints are to reject this.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the malignantly evil one
Knowing that it is from Satan and it is not about seeing things as they really are. We are to use it, not abuse it.
1 Corinthians 7:31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.
No happiness comes from what the world system offers because its desires are always changing. Rather than following its desires, let us seek out and do the will of God, for it never changes.
1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the desires of it; but he who does the will of God abides into the age.
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 it leading us to sin.
Be wrathful and do not sin, do not let the sun set on your indignation – Ephesians 4:26
When it comes to being angry because of the unrighteousness around us we need to be cautious not to allow that anger to fester within us. Yes, we should be wrathful against unrighteousness and hold those accountable who do such things, but at the same time not let that anger set down upon us. When this begins to happen, or if it has already happened to us and we find ourselves always in a state of being angry, we need to take the way of escape to have victory over our sin nature.
Remember, we have died with Christ and have been raised to walk in newness of life – Romans 6:4
Therefore, we have been buried with Him through the immersion into the death, in order that just as Christ was raised out from the dead through the proper opinion of the Father, thus also we in newness of life should walk.
We are no longer bound to obey the sin nature – Romans 6:6
experientially knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified in order that the body of the sin [nature] should be rendered ineffective, so that we are no longer slaves to the sin [nature].
We need to count this to be true – Romans 6:11
Thus also, you should reckon yourselves to be dead. On the one hand to be [dead] to the sin [nature], on the other hand living ones to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Then we need to use our members for righteousness, expressing our wrath and then letting it go – Romans 6:13
Neither present your members instruments of unrighteousness to the sin [nature], but present yourselves to God as out from the dead being living ones, and your members instruments of righteousness to God.
Don’t let anger control you. The only thing it is going to do is bind you up and make you carnal. As ones who are in Christ and free to live righteously, this is where our minds need to be focused. Yes, there is a time for anger, but it should not be allowed to fill our minds. Rather, let us set our minds on the things above and enjoy the peace and happiness we have in Christ.
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 your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; – 1 Peter 1:13
Standing firm
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brethren in the world. – 1 Peter 5:8, 9
When we were talking about Satan’s use of doubt to cause the mind the waver because it cannot discern the different between what is proper and what is wrong, we used an example of putting on a mask for the sake of another saint. However, we should not use that as an excuse to not stand against the unrighteousness of those who seek to force submission by usurping authority they do not have or standing up for our faith. Don’t let Satan make a coward out of you. We need to stand against unrighteousness, even when we face persecution for it. The difference between the two is a matter of maturity and discerning what is proper and what is wrong in each situation. Don’t get so focused on dealing with the politics of this world that you lose focus on helping the saints. Some of them may not understand their freedom or the importance of maintaining that freedom as you do. Don’t be afraid to stand up and speak out against the lies of this world. Remember, we are to stand as luminaries in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation.
The Methods of Satan – Doubt
Doubt is a lack in the ability to discern what is proper and what is wrong in our actions. As Christians, we should have our senses trained to discern the difference between actions that are good and actions that are wrong.
But the solid food is of [the] mature, the ones through the exercise train the senses, having discernment toward both good and wrong – Hebrews 5:14
Because of this inability to discern between right and wrong the believer hesitates and will not act out from faith.
but let him ask in faith, not while doubting. For the one doubting is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed – James 1:6
Anything done by a Christian that is not out from faith is sin, which means that an action that normally would not be sin, such as eating and drinking, can become sin to the one who is not discerning what is proper in contrast to what is wrong. How can eating be wrong? Questioning whether God allows you to eat it without violating His standard and therefore causing a conscience issue because our action is not lining up with what we think is God’s expectation of us.
But the one doubting, if perhaps, he should eat is condemned because it is not out from faith. And all which is not out from faith is sin. – Romans 4:23
The righteous live out from faith. Satan does not want us to live by faith because it means we will be applying the promises God has given to the Church, training our senses to discern what is proper and what is wrong, and living a life of righteousness out from faith, which makes it very difficult for Satan to manipulate us. Satan wants Christians to be ignorant and therefore doubting so that we sin. He wants us to mix up Old and New Testament information and not make proper distinctions, which will always lead to sin. One who is sinning is not fellowshipping with God and therefore is not able to use the benefits of salvation, which includes having victory over Satan.
Remember, as part of our salvation we are sons; therefore, we are expected to act as mature ones, not children. Children are inarticulate babblers – ones who cannot properly explain what they know or how to correctly use knowledge.
When I was an inarticulate babbler, I spoke as an inarticulate babbler, I framed the mind as an inarticulate babbler, I reasoned as an inarticulate babbler. But when I became a man I rendered ineffective the things of the inarticulate babbler – 1 Corinthians 13:11
Study God’s Word, be around other saints, grow together while helping each other, use the knowledge you have while taking the time to discern what is proper and what is wrong. And as your knowledge grows don’t be so stubborn that you do not grow with it. In each situation we face we can discern what is proper for us as a child of God and what would be wrong or contrary to what God expects of us as His children. How am I showing a proper opinion of God? How am I showing a proper opinion of who I am in Christ? Yes, this takes time and effort, but both are well spent.
A good example of this today is whether or not to wear a mask. In some situations it is proper, in others it is not. We know masks do nothing for us and do not protect anyone. Yet, by being willing to submit to wearing a mask for the sake of others we can show a proper opinion of who we are in Christ? And of course, in other situations we should refuse to wear a mask because it would not show a proper opinion of God. We need to have our senses trained to know when we are not scaring the sheep and when we are standing against a wolf.