Evil – Page 6 – Praying Pint

28.e. “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless”

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Romans 13:14    But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 13:12    The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

1 Thessalonians 5:8    But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

1 Corinthians 10:13   No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Jude 1:24    Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

2 Corinthians 2:11   so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

1 Peter 5:8    Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

“The tactics of intimidation and insinuation alternate in Satan’s plan of campaign. He plays both the bully and the beguiler. Force and fraud form his chief offensive against the camp of the saints.” (Simpson) Equipped with God’s armor we are more than conquerors. (Guzik) How aware are we of spiritual battles, attacks from Satan, lies from Satan, deception from Satan, and temptations from Satan? If we are not aware how will we arm ourselves against the battle for our soul? Too often we lack discernment. Too often we lack Godly wisdom and understanding. Too often we are blind and deaf to the battle for our soul. Too often we even try to battle in our own strength and power. We don’t stand a chance. How many times have we asked our children, What were you thinking?????? 99 times out of 100 we hear, I don’t know.

God tells us of His power and might and strength. There is none like Him, He is the creator. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. In Him is all truth. He knows all about Satan’s lies, deceptions, and influences. God warns us about Satan. God empowers us, if we avail ourselves to it, for the battle(s) we will face. He says “Arm yourselves”, “Put on the whole armor”, “I will be your rock, refuge, strength, power, might, and shield against the fiery attacks of Satan”, “I will never leave you or forsake you”, “I will not let you be tempted beyond what you can overcome”, “I am with you always”. And yet, we don’t acknowledge Him or avail ourselves to Him or rely on, trust in, or cling to Him. We go about our days without giving thought to spiritual battles. Is it possible that Satan doesn’t even need to bother attacking us because there is little to no spiritual activity in our lives? Can we not see the times we are living in? Can we not see and understand the influence Satan is having on people across our nation? Oh, that God would open our eyes to see and our ears to hear all that is false, cunning, and deceiving in our country. Oh, that God would awaken our soul to the battle before us and cause us to bow before Him as willing servants for this battle.

28.a. “Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you”

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

1 Corinthians 14:20    Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Hebrews 12:25   See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

Philippians 1:27   Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Proverbs 14:8    The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

John 12:35     So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

While walking in the dark we are always exposed to some danger we did not see. We learn this very early in life and will always choose to walk in lighted areas rather than darkened ones. We understand there is a risk associated with walking in the dark.

When we choose to walk in the dark (apart from Jesus Christ and the light of His Word) we foolishly tell ourselves there is no danger. We think we can see the dangers but we can’t and don’t. We blindly walk about without a care. We actually can be accustomed to the dark and shun the light. This shunning takes on many forms; neglect of God’s Word, little to no generosity, kindness, patience, hope…., little to no commitment to attending church yet alone becoming active in serving in some area, thinking, speaking, and doing fleshly/worldly things, having no outward testimony that you are even a follower of Jesus Christ, the busyness of life, worry, fear, confusion, unthankfulness, division, gossip, hopeless, faithless, anger, hate, lusts of the flesh, ………….. and the list continues to whatever it is in the dark that draws you and keeps you from desiring and seeking to walk in the light. Paul said to walk carefully, wisely, and make good use of your time. Any time we spend serving anything other than honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ is not a good use of our time. It is reckless and unwise. Desiring and seeking to honor and glorify Jesus Christ will always be a guiding light for your path in all you think, say, and do.

27.y. “On the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak”

Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Proverbs 12:23   A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Proverbs 15:2    The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Jude 1:10   But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively

Colossians 3:8   But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Matthew 12:34-37   You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Romans 1:28    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Paul’s appeal to the Ephesians was to be ever mindful of who they were in Christ and as such there ought to be a difference in how they speak and act even if the rest of the culture approves. They ought to know what is right, pure, and God honoring in their speech and actions. They ought to weigh every word in the light of God-honoring speech. As men, don’t have to spend much time outside our homes before we are bombarded with course language, filthy jokes, or other meaningless talk that adds nothing of value to our soul and certainly not toward God. We need to recognize and be able to discern what is right, honorable, and pleasing to God. The problem is we don’t recognize it as wrong or we shrug it off as fitting in. This problem has many roots that are anchored to our heart, mind, and soul. Neglect, complacency, remaining an infant in things of God, busyness, a lack of desire to honor and glorify God, wanting to fit in, shallow and stagnate knowledge of God’s Word, no hunger or thirst for His leading, and unwilling to fully commit to the will of God.

Psalms says: Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— the LORD—knows the thoughts of man

27.x. “Therefore be imitators of God”

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Leviticus 11:45   For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Matthew 5:48   You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Luke 6:35-36    But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

1 John 4:11   Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

The idea is simple – that we are to make God our example and model. What good does it to us to compare ourselves against others. It is a very practical application of being a Christian, born again, a new creation. Parents know firsthand how much training, encouragement, and repetition is required in raising an infant to a young adult. From early on most will try to model how to walk, talk, and think appropriately. Model yourself after God’s Holiness. We are told to meditate on what God has done, who He is, and what He can do. We are told to fearfully respect, honor, and glorify Him. We are told to praise and worship Him. Here we are given practical application of this – model how you think, how you act, and what you do after God’s demonstrated love, mercy, and grace. God’s behavior toward us becomes our measure for our behavior towards one another.” It is important to see that God is far more than our example. Many errors come into the church when Jesus is presented only as an example of behavior. We are not saved by the example of Jesus, but once saved His example is meaningful to us. God is more than our example, but He is also our example.” (Guzik)

As we do imitate God, we become representatives of God, especially before those who have shut God out of their life. “What are we sent into the world for? Is it not that we may keep men in mind of God, whom they are most anxious to forget? If we are imitators of God, as dear children, they will be compelled to recollect that there is a God, for they will see his character reflected in ours. I have heard of an atheist who said he could get over every argument except the example of his godly mother: he could never answer that.” (Spurgeon)

27.r. “But now you must put them all away”

Ephesians 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Romans 1:32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Colossians 3:5-8 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Galatians 5:21 I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

We should walk in a different way than the world around us does. There seems to be consistency for Christians to portray themselves as not so different than the world around them. We are not to have a spirit of compromise with the world. There ought to be something different about us. When there is fear, worry, anxiousness, and confusion we should be a reflection of the light of Jesus Christ displaying, peace, joy, understanding, and love. What kind of conversations do we allow ourselves to get into? What kind of things do we say that we would never say in church? What kind of things do we listen to or watch? How do we treat others? How kind, generous, forgiving…… are we outside of church? Sadly I fear that many Christians reflect they are much closer to things that are more worldly than things Godly. Do we forget that in all we say, think, and do we are to honor and glorify Jesus Christ? How much of what we think, say, and do throughout the day is accomplished without giving a single thought to honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ?

Die to self – Live for Christ

26.a “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

2 Corinthians 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Galatians 5:15    But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Galatians 5:19-21   Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:31-32   Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

James 3:14-16    But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Proverbs 16:28    A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Romans 1:29   They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

The purpose of God’s Word is not to make us squirm, but to bring us to our senses, to help us rid ourselves of worldly influences, to cancel the narcotic effects of worldly pleasures/desires, to set our feet on solid ground, to light the path we are to walk, and to give us discernment between right and wrong, truth and false, good and bad, eternal and temporal, heaven and hell, Holy and unholy, Godly and godly, etc….When there is neglect or lacking desire for His Word our hearts will take on and be filled with what our culture and society think is right in its own eyes. We should not think we are immune to the troubles affecting the Corinthian church. When God’s Word is being neglected all sorts of unholy thoughts and actions will manifest in our lives. Our hearts, minds, and souls will be filled with something. We get to choose what that is. Intentionally choose to be filled to overflowing with His Word, the Grace, Love, and Mercy of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for His honor and glory.

25.u. “For many deceivers have gone out into the world”

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Acts 20:30    and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

2 John 1:7-11    For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.  Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.  Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,  for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Jeremiah 23:14-15   But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”  Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.”

It is so easy for all people, including Christians, to be taken in by image, charisma, and outward appearances. Many will only recognize evil if it is openly and unanimously declared as evil. Why is this? Sometimes I wonder if it is more because of our itching ears wanting it this way. We want our pastor to be one of influence, great in clarity of speech, and proclaiming insights we never knew. We don’t want to diligently search scripture to know and understand – discern – the Word of God through the leading and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. We want to be spoon-fed with what our pastor has to say about scripture. We don’t spend time reading and studying God’s Word with a desire to have God give us wisdom in understanding and applying it. The Word of God was not given to pastors only. God has given us His Word so that we can know Him more and more and live more and more in ways that truly honor and glorify Him. Do we think that being spoon-fed a few select scriptures once per week will fill us? Do we think being spoon-fed once per week we will have any chance of discerning what is right and wrong, true and false, good and bad in the sight of God? This lack of desire to know and study God’s Word leaves us open to embracing lies and deceptions of Satan himself, who transforms himself into an angel of light. If Satan were to appear before a human audience, he would be regarded as an angel of light. Those who can discern it look at those who cannot and wonder with amazement at how easily they have been deceived.

“It is generally said that Satan has three forms under which he tempts men: 1. The subtle serpent. 2. The roaring lion. 3. The angel of light. He often, as the angel of light, persuades men to do things under the name of religion, which is disruptive, destructive, and disloyal of things of God. As a roaring lion, the horrors of all kinds of twisted persecutions and atrocities occur. As the subtle serpent, he frequently and easily deceives us so that that which is right is called wrong and that which is wrong is called right. He appeals to the weak and strong, learned and unlearned, wise and foolish, proud and humble, rich and poor. He temps us all when we least expect it. Why does God’s Word tell us to be diligent, resist, stand firm, and remain faithful? It is because of the lies and deceptions of the father of all lies and deceit. How are we to know and discern that which is true and false, right and wrong, good and bad if the Word of God is not desired in our lives more than being spoon-fed once per week? Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

25.s. “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds”

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Ephesians 6:13-18     Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

1 Samuel 17:45-50    Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Isaiah 2:11-12     The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.  For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

We walk according to the flesh in the sense that we all do. We are flesh and blood human beings, and we struggle with the same things the Corinthian Christians struggled with. However, Paul wants to make it clear that he does not war according to the flesh. Our weapons were not material or fleshly but spiritual, suited for spiritual war. Think about that and how it applies to how we should live, in order that in all we say, think, and do we honor and glorify Jesus Christ. Love rather than hate, Faith rather than self-reliance and self-assurance, Confidence rather than doubt, Power of the Holy Spirit rather than might of flesh, Joy rather than despair, Peace rather than conflict, Hope rather than fear and anxiousness, Kindness rather than hard-hearted and callous, Generous rather than selfish and self-centered, rejoicing rather than mourning, Holiness rather than polluted by worldly desires, Surrender to the will of God rather than the influence of self-reliance, etc…. The fleshly, worldly, and human way is to overpower, dominate, manipulate, and out-maneuver. The spiritual, Jesus honoring and glorifying way is to humble yourself, die to yourself, and let God show His resurrection power through you.

This reliance on fleshly/worldly methods and the habit of thinking this way is a false stronghold. It stubbornly sets down deep roots in the heart and mind, and it colors all of our actions and thinking. It is hard to let go of the thinking that values the things and ways of this world, but God’s power really can break down these strongholds. (Guzik)

25.p. “Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place”

Psalm 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.

God’s protection conquers any odds or probabilities. “It is impossible that any ill should happen to the man who is beloved of the Lord; the most crushing calamities can only shorten his journey and hasten him to his reward. Ill to him is no ill, but only good in a mysterious form. Losses enrich him, sickness is his medicine, reproach is his honor, death is his gain. No evil in the strict sense of the word can happen to him, for everything is overruled for good.” (Spurgeon)

It is safe and secure to be in the fortress and shelter of God. Does this mean we will not face trials and troubles. Absolutely not. It is in these trials and troubles that we find a peace that passes all understanding and willingly surrender to whatever the plans and purposes of God are. I think of Stephen and filled with the Holy Spirit spoke truth and was stoned at the hands of evil religious men. It is in the complete trusting surrender that we find peace, rest, and hope.

22.o. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Psalms 56:5   All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

Psalms 119:71     It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

Romans 8:28     And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

When something bad happens in the life of a new Christian, they will often say, “Lord, why is this happening to me?” When something bad happens in the life of a mature Christian, they will often say, “Lord, why is this happening to me?” Same question, but different motivations. The new Christian may think it unreasonable that a bad thing happened. But the mature Christian knows problems are part of life in a fallen world. His “Why?” question is to discern from God what he can learn from the difficult situation—how he might grow in faith. When the teenage Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery, he no doubt asked the “Why?” question. At first, he may have thought, “What did I do to deserve this?” But later, his “Why?” likely turned into, “Oh, now I see why!” He realized God had sent him to Egypt to prepare a place for Jacob’s family to escape the famine in Canaan. When you experience difficulties in life, it’s not wrong to ask “Why?” Just make sure you’re asking for the right reason.