LIES OF THE EVIL ONE – BEWARE

 

LIES OF THE EVIL ONE – BEWARE

Let’s please stop buying the lies of the devil. He is whispering softly into the ears of the Church and many of the pastors are buying it and have been selling it to you!

Lie #1. We are to love everyone in the world “unconditionally” and equally.

This lie has done more to weaken the church and to tear her from her Moorings of Christ than any overt sin. Such attention to the world and misplaced affections turn into pandering, the type of love that characterizes a sappy, sentimental feeling such as we often hear portrayed. This can cause us to miss the mark of God’s agape love, which is characterized by loving the unlovable and the unlovely, and not because they deserve to be loved or because of any excellence we or they possess, but because it is God’s nature to love this way.

Listen carefully to what Jesus says and think. “For God so love the world (the cosmos signifying the collective mass of people needing salvation), that He gave His only Son. God loves the world on purpose and with a purpose.

(IT’S CONDITIONAL)

that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. The one who believes in Him is not judged, but the one who does not believe is judged already because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God.”

The unbelieving world is already condemned. And every one person ever born, is born into sin as an unbeliever – and they are already condemned.  But God loves us so much that He has sent His Son as a means to forgiveness and reconciliation. Those who accept His gift of reconciliation and salvation are no longer condemned to an eternal death, but those who reject His gift are His enemy.

James 4:4, call the world adulteresses and enemies of God, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (Also see GotQuestions.Org).

(IT IS A CONDITIONAL PARADOX)

We, the Church, are in a spiritual war with this world, but we are to recognize the God ordained an “uneasy truce” we have with the world. We are burdened with the knowledge that in the end, this war will bring total destruction of those who oppose God, those who are enemies of God.

Herein lies our dilemma: The Paradox. Although we are in a war with the world, we, at the same time, are commanded to love this world as God loves this world. We are to bring them the Good News that they can escape their fate of destruction by coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus. We must somehow tell them and show them that they need not perish in the eternal lake of fire at the judgment.

 We must explain to the world that God loves them with an incomprehensible love. We must explain to them that He does not will that any should perish, but that all should come to know His Son and be saved. We must plead with the world to be reconciled to God and avoid their coming judgment and eternal destruction.

THE PARADOX DEEPENS

Since the world is enemies of God, they will be our enemies as well. They will insult us, and say all manner of evil about us. They will lie about us, they will hate us, persecute us, and try to kill us, because of Jesus. (see Matthew 5:11-13).

Finally, God loves the world, not because of who they are  but because they are of His creation and He loves what they can become as His children.

Still, we must know that there are 7 things God hates and that He hates about the world. According to Proverbs 6:16-19, there are six things the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to Him:

1. Haughty Eyes. A proud or arrogant look is considered hateful by God, symbolizing pride and arrogance.
2. A Lying Tongue. The intentional misuse of words to deceive or harm others is detestable to God.
3. Hands That Shed Innocent Blood. This refers to heartless cruelty, such as murder, and the protection of the innocent is a key aspect of God’s character.
4. A Heart That Devises Wicked Plans. The internal scheming and planning of evil deeds within one’s heart is seen as a deep-seated form of sin.
5. Feet That Are Quick to Rush Into Evil. This describes those who show no resistance to sin and quickly engage in evil actions.
6. A False Witness Who Pours Out Lies. A person who gives untrue testimony and spreads falsehoods is seen as a hateful act.
7. A Person Who Sows Discord Among Brethren. This refers to stirring up conflict, division, and disruption within the community.

Still, because God loves the world on purpose and with a purpose, “it is not His will that any should perish”, we love them also, and plead with them. Make no mistake, although all of us were made in His image, we, as Christians, are not of the same family as the world, which brings us to Lie #2.

Lie #2. Jesus’ words were spoken to and for the entire world.

On occassion Jesus would direct His Words at the watching world-at-large, but His teaching, His prophecies, His instructions and commands were spoken to and for His believers and His followers – not for the world-at-large.

His teachings and instructions were for the House of Israel and specifically for those who would believe in Him.

Read Matthew 13:10-11, “And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”

Also please Read Matthew 15:24, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel”. (the words of Jesus).

In Jeremiah 50:6, God calls Israel “His people” and “lost sheep.” The Messiah, spoken of throughout the Old Testament, was seen as the one who would gather these “lost sheep” (Ezekiel 34:23-24; Micah 5:4-5). When Jesus presented Himself as a shepherd to Israel, He was claiming to be the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy (Mark 6:34, 14:27; John 10:11-16; see also Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4; and Revelation 7:17).

Jesus’ words to the Canaanite woman also show an awareness of Israel’s place in God’s plan of salvation. God revealed through Moses that the children of Israel were “a holy people to the Lord, a chosen race, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6, NKJV). It was through the Jews that God issued His Law, preserved His Word, and sent His Son. This is why, elsewhere, Jesus tells a Samaritan that “salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). In Matthew 15, when the Jewish Messiah says that He was sent to “the house of Israel,” He is simply connecting His presence with God’s purpose in Old Testament history. Christ was “born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law” (Galatians 4:4-5, NKJV).

God includes the Gentiles (non-Jews) in His redemptive plan. Romans 11:17 tells us that “you, being a wild olive (a Gentile who believes in Jesus), were grafted in among them (The Jews who believe in Jesus) and became partakers with them of the rich root of the olive tree.

The rich root represent the spiritual nourishment the patriarchs and the covenants God made with them, particularly the Abrahamic covenant. The nourishment signifies the spiritual blessings and promises that flow from these covenants, including salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. By being grafted in, Gentile believers partake in these blessings, becoming heirs to the promises of God (Galatians 3:29). This sharing in the nourishment underscores the continuity of God’s redemptive plan and the fulfillment of His promises through Christ, who is the ultimate fulfillment of the law and the prophets.

With this merciful act, God now says that “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not (just) of (Jewish) blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.” (see John 1:11-13).

This established the New Covenant House of God, the unified Body of Christ. Now it can truly be said that Jesus words were spoken for the world to hear but they were spoken specifically to and for The entire Household of God.

Please read these examples of God’s Words being spoken which may have been heard by the world-at-large, and on occassion specifically directed at the watching world, but His teaching, His prophecies, His instructions and commands were spoken to and for His believers and His followers – and not for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 5:13. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 5:14. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; Verse 15 nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Verse 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 5:21. “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ Verse 22. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Verse 23. Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, verse 24, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Verse 25. Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. Verse 26. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last quadrans. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 5:23 “Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 7:4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 18:15 “Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Luke 6:42 “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Luke 17:3 “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Romans 14:10 But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Romans 14:21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Revelation 1:9, I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Lie #3. We are to treat the entire world the same way we treat our Christian brothers and sisters, extending them the same privileges, honors and courtesies.

These few selected verses, of the many to be found, are representative that the Words of Jesus may have been heard by the listening world, but were spoken to and for the believers and followers of Jesus, alone, telling them how they are to treat one another. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 18:15-20, “Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that ON THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER MAY BE CONFIRMED. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Truly I say to you, whatever you bind (or forbid) on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (or permit) on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Again, in Matthew 18:21-22, Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times”.

Jesus enlarges the concept of brotherhood to encompass all who submit to God’s will. “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). Here biological relations yield to covenant loyalty. After His resurrection He instructs the women, “Go, tell My brothers to go to Galilee” (Matthew 28:10), signifying that the risen Lord now counts disciples as brothers, sharing His Father and His family with them (John 20:17). (also see Bible Hub comments)

Please don’t misunderstand. I am not saying that we are to deny our re-birth as Christians nor to deny our Christlike character. We, as Christians, filled, embodied by and controlled by the Holy Spirit still demonstrate His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The world, then as now, was hostile to believers—not incidentally hostile, but purposefully hostile. Wolves are intentional about the harm they inflict upon sheep. In such an environment, the question becomes: “How can we advance the kingdom of God effectively without becoming predatory ourselves?” Jesus taught His followers that to be Christlike in a godless world, they must combine the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove. In using these similes, Jesus invokes the common proverbial view of serpents and doves. The serpent was “subtle” or “crafty” or “shrewd” in Genesis 3:1. The dove, on the other hand, was thought of as innocent and harmless—doves were listed among the “clean animals” and were used for sacrifices (Leviticus 14:22). To this very day, doves are used as symbols of peace, and snakes are thought of as “sneaky.” But Jesus is telling His disciples who hear (Him), not entangle to themselves with this world and its ways and thereby become distracted (pulled away) from your primary message and the path of safety.

You start by outwardly loving your enemies, and by do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat people the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)

So, if your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For in doing so you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (see Proverbs 25:21-22 and Romans 12:20).

NOTE: The two foregoing paragraphs and the verses referenced in Proverbs 25:21-22 and Romans 12:20 may seem philosophical, parabolic or like a metaphor, but they are not. They reveal the hidden power of how we “resist the devil so he will flee from us”!

We are not to involve ourselves in any kind of dispute or argument that would distract us from what God is doing through and around us. Suppose a persons says to you, “give me your cloak”, instead of being distracted and involving yourself in a time consuming debate, just give them your cloak and stay focused on God’s business. Then, seeing a perceived weakness they may say, give me your coat also. Just give it to them and wave them away, perhaps thinking to yourself, “Take it – be gone and stop distracting me. This cloak and coat mean so little to me in the scope of what God is saying to me right now. I have much more important matters to attend at the moment and this coat is not worth my time.”

The same goes for being mistreated, slapped in the cheek, or having to walk a mile for someone. Honestly, this is not about being weak and timid. It is not about shocking people with your compliance inn order to “look good”. You are not a doormat – you are a doorman. Holdig open the door to the Kingdom of God. This is what that looks like!

Just get it done and over with – dispatch the distracting. Rid yourself of these temporary obstacles and get back to what is truly important, or else the devil in them will keep you endlessly chasing their arguments, and demands, involving you in their emotional chaos. Finish it and save your energy and yourself for God’s service.

This is how our spiritual armor is put to action.

Paradox? Inconsistency? Enigma? Anomaly? Conundrum? None these things. This is the mystery of God pointing to an Oracle of God, a divinely delivered message, the truth, or a command from God, conveyed through the inspired Scriptures of the Bible. (The term “Oracle”, which stems from the Hebrew word “massa”, (“burden”), and the Greek word, logion, (“word”), refers to God’s authoritative guidance and revelation to humanity.)

So, how is this to conclude and what am I to take from this? What am I to do? Please, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Do not be confused. Do not be deceived.

1. Love the world as God loves the world – on purpose and with His singular purpose.
2. Love what God loves and hate what God hates.
3. Know that the world may have heard what Jesus spoke, but His words were spoken to and for those who would believe in Him and would follow Him. (Know the difference).
4. There is a difference between the world and the family of God, the chosen ones, the children of God. (Know the difference).
5. Be aware that we are already engaged in the End Times War. It originates in the Spiritual realm but is being fought in the natural realm.
   1. Know your enemy.
   2. Know your weapons.
   3. Know God’s strategy. (Know the differences).
6. We act toward and treat our Christian brothers and sisters differently than how we act toward the world. (Know the difference).

“The accuser of our brothers and sister, Satan, has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And the brothers and sisters in the faith overcame the devil because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: AN OLIVE BRANCH IN ONE HAND – A SWORD IN THE OTHER.