2020 Archives

  This seems to be the sentiment of many across our country and around the world today.  Others feign an appreciation for the things of God, supposing to add clout to their scripture laced humanistic philosophies and satanically inspired dogmas.  What went wrong in our “One Nation Under God?”  Perhaps those who have been ordained to resound “Thus saith the Lord…” have shrunk in fear or fawned over the flattery of man.  God help us to return to the Judeo-Christian principles that have proven themselves worthy of acceptance through countless generations, even among the ungodly.

  Perhaps an example is in order.  Though it may not sound politically correct, God has given instruction pertaining to the family, which, He says, consists of one biological male and one biological female, who are united in holy matrimony for life, and their biologically male and female offspring.  He would know; He created humanity with its two genders, and instituted marriage, as recorded  in Genesis, the book of beginnings.

  God puts it like this, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.  And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.  And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.  And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. (Mark 10:6–12)”  Obviously there are those who feel differently, and in America, for the moment, they have a right to be wrong, to disagree with Almighty God.

  If you and I disagree, we could both be wrong, but we cannot both be right.  There can be only one truth, only one right in moral issues.  He is a fool who would argue that truth is relative, …only a fool would argue with God.

  In a nationally published magazine, I read, “Thanksgiving is a good time to stop and remember the importance of saying, “Thank you.”  Not just once a year, but every day, to all those who help make our lives and businesses possible.”  As I read the article, I found myself looking for some mention of God—I was disappointed.  Would we, as a nation, leave God out of another holiday that was instituted for His glory and praise?

  Some say that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621, by forty Colonists and their Indian friends at the Plymouth Colony, to give thanks for the harvest.  Two years later, Thanksgiving was again celebrated with an official proclamation by Governor Bradford that began, “Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest…, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, …has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience…”

  On November 26, 1789 President George Washington issued yet another Thanksgiving Day proclamation.  He said, “Whereas, It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; …a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God…”

  Though Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, and a Deist, refused to issue a proclamation of Thanksgiving, in 1828, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale began campaigning for the restoration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.  Finally in 1863, President Lincoln listened seriously to her plea, and proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November to be the National Thanksgiving Day which was ratified by the Congress in 1941.

  Would you join me this year in the reinstitution of Thanksgiving for the purpose of Praise to God for His merciful bounty to us as a nation?

 We have been considering what the Bible has to say about our enemy, the devil.  He is more than a myth; he is a created angel.  In Ezekiel 28:14 he is called “the anointed cherub that covereth.”  He was the highest ranking angel in heaven.  God called him Lucifer, which means, “Light Bearer.”

  Isaiah 14:12-15 tells how that soon after creation, Lucifer led in a rebellion against God.  He and one third of the other angels were cast out of heaven.  In Matthew 12:24, the Pharisees refer to him as the “prince of the devils.”

  Satan, a powerful, though fallen, celestial being, also exercises a degree of power in the earth.  Before Jesus ascended back to Heaven, He warned, “the prince of this world cometh. (John 14:30).”  Later, Paul referred to him as the “Prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).  He and his minions became the open and declared enemies of God and man.  John tells us, “…he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44).”  We are told that sometimes, he even appears as “an angel of light” (2Corinthians 11:14).”

  Being without Christ, the natural (unsaved) man is no match for the devil.  Many who are impressed with his strength have chosen to worship him—unaware that he blinds them to the truth (2Corinthians 4:4), oppresses them with all manner of evil (Acts 10:38), and inflicts them with sickness, injury or disease (Matthew 9:32-33; 12:22; Luke 9:42).  Others he possesses, and leads to destruction of both body and soul. (Luke 8:30; John 13:26-27).

  But God never intended for us to be prey for the devil.  Everyone who has accepted Christ’s forgiveness, has victory over sin, death, hell, and fear.  To them, Satan is a defeated foe, and has no authority where they are concerned (Colossians 1:13).  Though they still live where sin abounds, they are by faith, citizens of another realm, and know experientially that “greater is He that is in them, than he that is in the world. (1John 4:4).”

  Satan is a topic most of us would rather not discuss.  Nevertheless, God has issued some vital information about the enemy of our souls, and we would do well to hear Him.  Last time we looked at Satan as he relates to God.  In this brief article, we will consider Satan’s abuse of the Word of God.

  First, you should know that Satan destroys the effects of the Word of God in unwary lives.  In Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower and soils, He said,  “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. (Mark 4:15).”  When a person begins to understand the Word of God, Satan might say, “Your mind is playing tricks on you; sin is not nearly so deadly as you think,” or “God is a God of love; He will not hold it against you.”  My friend, Satan lies! (John 8:44).

  Secondly, Satan misquotes, misinterprets or misapplies the Word.  When he tempted Christ in the wilderness with a quote from Psalm 91, he taunted,  “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  (Matthew 4:6).”  This was an effort to get Jesus to test the faithfulness of God in a foolhardy exhibition of faith — a gross misappropriation of the promise.  Jesus exposed his wicked intention when He answered with a verse of His own, “Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God,… (Deut. 6:16a ).”

  Admittedly, the Psalm quoted by the devil says that God will protect, but the promise is made to those who “dwell in the secret place of the most High (Psalm 91:1).”  One who lives in the presence of the Almighty, will have no desire, or need, to test His faithfulness.  Just because your car has air bags doesn’t mean that you should run into a tree.

  We must not allow Satan to snatch away the Word, one precept at a time by misquoting, misinterpreting, or misapplying it.

  Perhaps you have noticed how some, in our day, have a strange preoccupation with evil and the “dark side.”  Satan is the prince of that realm and would like to teach you about himself through the mouths of his minions.  Beware, he’s a liar and would steal away the truth—your only hope of deliverance from eternal hell.  He enjoys blinding the minds of those who do not know God. (2Corinthians 4:4)

  Rather than listen to Satan’s cronies talk about their master, let’s expose him with the Word of God.  Even the names that are ascribed to the devil in the Bible are revealing: the fowler, wicked one, murderer, god of this world, prince of the power of the air, ruler of darkness, adversary, roaring lion, angel of the bottomless pit, destroyer, accuser, and deceiver.  There is not one flattering word in the Scriptures pertaining to this nemesis of our souls.

  The Bible reveals that he was created by God as a holy angel (Ezekiel 28:11-14; Colossians 1:15-17).  He rebelled against God in pride (Ez. 28:15-17; Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18).  He can enter into God’s presence as the great accuser of the brethren (Job. 1:6; Revelation 12:7-8, 10).  He is condemned, and awaits the carrying out of the divine sentence (Is. 14:16; Matthew 25:41; Hebrews 2:14; James 2:19; Rev. 20:10).  His power and works are thwarted by the death of Christ on the cross and subsequent resurrection (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20; Hebrews 2:14; 1John 3:8).  He accuses God, and tries (unsuccessfully) to tempt Him with evil (Job 1:7-12; Matt. 4:10).  Satan, and the fallen angels that we call demons, are subject to the commands of God (Matt.8:31; 17:18; Mark 1:34; 5:15; Luke 4:35, 41).

  The Bible has more to say about the devil.  We will revisit this topic next time.  Until then, let me remind you that Satan was defeated by Christ.  Those that are Christ’s are eternally safe. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1John 4:4).  Have you made Christ your very own Savior and Lord?