Category: Daily Prayers

 

 

The apostle Paul writes: “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:13-15, emphasis added).

Paul continues to expose the “super apostles” in Corinth for what they are: deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. They present a triple threat to the church as they proclaim “another Jesus,” “a different spirit,” and “a different gospel” (2 Cor. 11:4). And yet, the church welcomes them with open arms. That’s because the “super apostles” successfully disguise themselves as true apostles. They don’t necessarily oppose the apostle Paul, but they claim to have eclipsed him in spiritual gifts and public ministry.

For example, their speaking skills are far superior – or so they say – and their boldness in the church projects a contagious confidence that Paul seems to lack, as evidenced by his humility and self-inflicted poverty (2 Cor. 10:10; 11:5-10). If that isn’t enough, Paul’s physical presence is “weak” (2 Cor. 10:10), no doubt in part from the beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, and other hardships he faced as he carried on his apostolic ministry.

The “super apostles” likely are physically fit and attractive, while Paul, if alive on earth today,  would never make it on Christian television. In all of this, the false apostles are rotten to the core but come wrapped in the clever disguise of eloquent purveyors of the gospel.

This shouldn’t take us by surprise, writes Paul. The “super apostles” are simply following the lead of Satan, who masquerades as an angel of light. Three times in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul uses a form of the word rendered “disguise” in English. The “super apostles” are disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. And the false apostles, whom Paul identifies as Satan’s servants, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.

The Greek verb metaschematizo means “to change in fashion or appearance.” This is not a change of character but of clothing, an outward transformation for the purpose of hiding one’s true nature and intentions. Various English translations seek to capture this meaning, rendering the word as “masquerade” (NIV), “disguise” (NASB, ESV), and “transformed” (KJV). The Message uses “posing,” “dressing up,” and “masquerade.”

The evil one is a master of disguise. When he appears, people don’t fall at his feet as dead men, the way they respond in holy fear of Christ (cf. Rev. 1:17). Rather, he is alluring, attractive, seductive, and glamorous. He approaches with beauty and flattery. He offers special knowledge, or unique privilege, or exalted position. His minions feed on the same human frailties.

Corinthian believers, who want to become rich and reign like kings (1 Cor. 4:8), “are particularly susceptible to a false gospel dispensed by jaunty, diamond-studded apostles that appeals to their innate human pride and desire to be special. Swollen with pride themselves, these rivals gull [take advantage of] the Corinthians by stoking their vanity.”

Satan’s attacks on the church are seldom frontal. They don’t need to be. The evil one is contented with false apostles, who gain a foothold in a community of believers and destroy them with flattery and false doctrine from the inside out. Paul’s description of these “deceitful workers” employs the adjective dolios, which means someone who deals dishonestly or treacherously with others. The false apostles’ misrepresentation of their missionary work does not result from self-deception or even prideful exaggeration. The masquerade is quite deliberate.

That’s why Paul concludes these verses with the assurance that the false teachers’ end “will be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:15). Just as Corinthian believers stand one day before the judgment seat of Christ, resulting in varying degrees of rewards (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10), the “super apostles” are to be summoned before the great white throne and punished for their evil deeds. Not surprisingly, their role model also is banished to the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15; cf. Matt. 25:41).

 

 

 1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

I’ve noticed a trend in recent years.

Once upon a time, if a Christian came to the realization that they disagreed with what the Bible calls sin, they would merely walk away from the faith. They wanted to live life by their own rules without being anchored to the truths of God’s Word, so they split and no longer called themselves a Christian.

Lately, I’ve noticed a number of people—celebrities, politicians, athletes and even some in my everyday life—who make the choice to indulge in the things of the world, but still claim the Name of Christ. In order to do this, they often cherry-pick a Bible verse that they feel endorses their stance or twist Scripture to make it say something it doesn’t.

They may even be completely biblically illiterate, but in their mind, they’ve made Jesus or the Bible into some sort of sin-supporting entity. After all, if God is love, they reason, He must love everything they do.

I’m going to make this clear: Sin matters!

And what is sin? “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Yes, Jesus paid the price for your sin on the cross, and as a follower of His you no longer walk in shame and guilt, but in the fullness of Christ. Even still, as children of God, we are called repeatedly throughout Scripture to pursue righteousness and turn from the pleasures of the world. Why? Because there’s still a spiritual cost to sin.

The apostle Peter, in his first letter (1 Peter 2:11-12), tells us why it is important to turn from the lusts of this world.

First, simply put, we are to turn our backs on evil desires because the Bible calls us to do so. Peter says, “Abstain from fleshly lusts” (v. 11). If we are truly followers of Jesus and pursuing a relationship with Him, then we must heed the Word of God. Peter is commanding the reader to live a life of transformation in Jesus.

When we sin, there is forgiveness. However, sinning should not be our default setting. Our desire should be to follow God’s Word and His righteousness.

Second, we should abstain from the pleasures of the world because we are “sojourners and pilgrims,” (v. 11) simply passing through on our way to our true and eternal home. In my part of the country, hiking the Appalachian Trail is a major event. It’s an arduous journey, stretching more than 2,000 miles.

When a person is hiking the trail, they don’t concern themselves with what is happening in the surrounding communities (of which they are not citizens), and they don’t accumulate things that will needlessly burden them. They have one goal, and their eyes are fixed on it.

The same is true for us. We are citizens of heaven. We should not immerse ourselves in the pleasures of this world—or weigh ourselves down with the junk of this world—because it hinders our walk with God. Rather, we should draw ever closer to God and follow where He is leading.

Third, we need to abstain from these fleshly lusts because they “war against the soul” (v. 11). One of the main goals of war is to inflict casualties on the opposing side. Even for followers of Christ, there is a battle raging, with Satan trying to harm you spiritually. These evil desires seek to destroy your testimony, your character, your family and your ministry—that is why we must flee from such things.

Finally, we are to keep away from such desires because it gives us an opportunity to witness to others (v. 12). When unbelievers see that we are living apart from the trappings of the world, it makes them question what makes us different.

I’ve always said that you can’t live a life that is good enough to save anybody. However, you can pursue God in such a way that others will see your faith, and this will give you an opportunity to share “the hope that is within you” (1 Peter 3:15).

My friends, it is a grave mistake to take sin lightly, or to believe the lie that—since Christ died for our sin—there are no consequences to our actions. There are spiritual and eternal (not to mention physical) costs to be paid when we ignore God’s guidance through His Word. Rather, I would encourage you to cling to Christ, and dig so deeply into the Bible that you can spot a truth from a lie.

Then pursue Him with all that you have so that others will see the Light shining through you.

 

John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Romans 12:1-2.  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Paul’s image of the believer’s spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:10-17 clearly suggests the activity of warfare. And warfare suggests there will be captives. But in spiritual warfare, there are no physical conflicts or captives. Indeed, Paul says elsewhere that our battles are not in the physical realm as worldly battles are (2 Corinthians 10:3). So whom or what are we fighting? And whom or what do we take captive in order to win?

It has been rightly suggested that spiritual warfare takes place “between the ears.” That is, in the mind. That’s where history’s first spiritual battle took place. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had to weigh Satan’s words against God’s words and make a choice—the activity of the mind. They should have done what Paul says we should do: take “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). We must weigh every thought. If it is a lie, or dishonoring to God, we capture that thought and subdue it with the truths of God’s Word.

We can only find victorious freedom by knowing God’s truth (John 8:32).

Every good [spiritual] warrior constantly asks himself this question: What does the Bible say about this?

 

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

In his first epistle, the apostle John had a lot of say about the devil. He wrote to his churches, telling them they had overcome the wicked one (2:13). The devil, he said, has “sinned from the beginning” and tempts others to do the same, but Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (3:8).

John wrote, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (5:19). The One in us—Jesus Christ—is greater than he who dominates the world.

Satan may be a prince, a ruler, and the god of this world, but his power is limited, and his abilities can never match God’s omnipotence. Through Christ, we have overcome the devil, we are of God, and we belong to Him who is greater than Satan by far.

Let’s live like overcomers—unafraid, unintimidated, victorious. Be thankful Satan has limitations and our infinite God knows how to protect us from all evil.

God would not throw us into the conflict if He did not also give us the resources needed to stand against the enemy.

 

 

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

In his first epistle, the apostle John had a lot of say about the devil. He wrote to his churches, telling them they had overcome the wicked one (2:13). The devil, he said, has “sinned from the beginning” and tempts others to do the same, but Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (3:8).

John wrote, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (5:19). The One in us—Jesus Christ—is greater than he who dominates the world.

Satan may be a prince, a ruler, and the god of this world, but his power is limited, and his abilities can never match God’s omnipotence. Through Christ, we have overcome the devil, we are of God, and we belong to Him who is greater than Satan by far.

Let’s live like overcomers—unafraid, unintimidated, victorious. Be thankful Satan has limitations and our infinite God knows how to protect us from all evil.

God would not throw us into the conflict if He did not also give us the resources needed to stand against the enemy.

 

 

Lam 3:19-27  Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Life is hard. As much as we want to avoid the pain of loss, health struggles, family dysfunction and more, the reality is that we live in a fallen and broken world. Even as we call upon Jesus as Savior, we are not immune to sorrow.

Sometimes, we bring pain upon ourselves through our own actions and choices, bearing the consequences of our sin. Other times, we suffer the scars of somebody else’s bad decisions, struggling through life due to something that was out of our control. And then, there is the pain that we endure simply as a byproduct of living in broken vessels during our time on earth.

If you are currently struggling, perhaps you can find some solace and strength in the prophet Jeremiah’s descriptions of God in the book of Lamentations. A little backstory: Due to the sin of the Israelites, God had used Babylon to bring His judgment on the land. Pain, sorrow and desperation were everywhere. Jerusalem lay in desolate ruins.

With this in mind, Jeremiah cried out to God, revealing a few truths about God’s nature.

First, God is faithful concerning His judgment (Lamentations 3:19-20). The people of God had sinned and they refused to repent, and God’s righteousness would not allow that to continue. God is a righteous judge—He must punish sin. Therefore, God sent the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem, which brought great affliction.

Today, we live in a culture that celebrates sin, even within the church (in some cases). We pretend that sin doesn’t matter.

We should never think that we can escape God’s judgment, however. It may seem like we’re getting away with something for a time, but God is faithful concerning His judgment.

Second, God is faithful concerning His mercy (Lamentations 3:21-24). In these verses, Jeremiah focuses on three of the attributes of the Lord. Jeremiah says that God is:

• Merciful. This is also translated lovingkindness, great love and steadfast love.
• Compassionate. This is the same word used for the womb; just as a mother shows compassion to her own children, the Lord shows compassion to His children.
• Faithful. He is unchanging, as in a rock. The storms may come, but the rock is firm, strong and unmovable.

As Jeremiah focused on these attributes of the Lord, he responded by saying, “The Lord is my portion.” This phrase refers back to Numbers 18:20 when the Lord told Aaron that he would not have any land as an inheritance because the Lord would be his portion.

And now, as Jeremiah looked out over the destruction of Jerusalem, there was nothing left. There was only the Lord, the One who remained permanent in the midst of change.

Finally, God is faithful in His goodness (Lamentations 3:25-27). The Lord is good to those who wait upon Him and hope in Him, recognizing that the problems of the world will not last forever and that nothing can pervert or change God’s purposes. The Lord is good to those who humble themselves before Him, realizing that He is ultimately in control of our lives and destiny (and we are not).

Jeremiah recognized these things, which made it possible for him to see the bigger picture of why his present suffering was taking place. It gave him a faith-filled hope moving forward.

My friends, we live in a world that is constantly changing and full of sorrow. Many of you are probably struggling with something even now.

As you travel through the dark valley of grief and pain, I pray that you will take Jeremiah’s words to heart. Focus on the full view of God’s judgment, mercy and goodness, recognizing that He is in control and He is faithful. Cling to the promise and find peace in understanding that “the Lord is my portion.”

 

Col 1:21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

There is no good news unless you understand the bad news. (Sin) What you believe about sin determines what you believe about salvation. And Paul didn’t mince words. He wrote, “You were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds” (v. 21). You cannot fully appreciate what Jesus has done for you until you understand the desperate condition we are all in apart from Christ.

We don’t normally look at our own sin. We usually turn a blind eye to it. We look at ourselves as doing good or for good reasons. We justify our thoughts, words, and actions and don’t give a second thought about whether they are in line with God’s Word or if they honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

If we are a believer we hear much about the GOOD NEWS of and through Jesus Christ. Redemption, Salvation, Forgiveness, and Eternal Life. And we should not only hear this but proclaim it. The problem arises in that we don’t think or talk about “SIN” in the believer.

We are justified by and through faith in the sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins. However, there is also the gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell us. The Holy Spirit will lead, guide, encourage, convict, and grow and mature us. This growing and maturing is called sanctification. It begins the minute we become believers, “born again”.

We grow and mature as we are in His Word with a heart that seeks and desires to know more and more of what pleases God so that in all thoughts, words, and actions we will honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

Neglecting God’s Word will not grow or mature us. We will remain a baby in not only God’s Word but in the things of God too.

Our sinful nature can only be understood through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit opening our hearts and minds to the wonder of it. It will expose sin if we seek to know the condition of our hearts and minds.