Power of the Resurrection

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, 

and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

(John 10:17-18)

Because Jesus was crucified on the cross, did this mean His enemies had greater power than He did because they caused Him great suffering and in the end put Him to death?   Jesus gave this response to Pilate’s question:  

Then saith Pilate unto Him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore He that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (John 19:10-11l)

The enemies of Jesus did not have greater power. Jesus chose to give His life for the sins of all mankind according to God's plan. Jesus did not have to do it. He had the power to deliver Himself from the cross. He willingly laid down his life.

The death of Jesus on the cross was not the end of the story; to sinful mankind it as the beginning of reconciliation. The power of the Gospel does not conclude here. Three days after His death, Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Read about this in Luke 24:1-12.

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it. (Acts 2:24)

The greatest illustration of God's power was in the resurrection of Jesus Christ:  

For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. (2 Corinthians 13:4)

The resurrection of Jesus is a vital part of the power of the Gospel because through it. . .

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:10,15)

Through His resurrection, Jesus triumphed over the power of the enemy. Because of it, we have power over all the power of the enemy. We even have power over death, because our mortal bodies will also experience resurrection. 

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  1 Corinthian 15:51-23

There is great power in the resurrection. Apostle Paul spoke of knowing Jesus in the power of the resurrection 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  (Philippians 3:10)

There is one factor necessary to experience the powerful benefits of the blood of Jesus Christ. You must have faith in the blood:

Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through FAITH in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.  To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus.

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:24-26,28)

It is not enough that there is power in the Gospel. You must apply that power to your own life. You do this through faith. Basically, faith is believing. You must believe in the power of the Gospel in order to experience it.

If you have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and been forgiven of your sins, then you cannot experience the power of the Gospel. To experience the power of the Gospel you must:

Ö     ADMIT YOU HAVE SINNED:  

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

Ö     BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Ö     CONFESS YOUR SINS TO GOD AND ASK HIM TO FORGIVE YOU:  

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

Ö     BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND RECEIVE THE GIFT OF GOD'S SPIRIT:

Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 2:38)

Ö     EXPERIENCE A CHANGED LIFE:

Let the power of the Gospel work in you to change your old life-style, your sinful actions, attitudes, and thoughts:  

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

(Biblical Studies)




10/13/13
09/15/16
07/22/19

* Do You Really Know God?

Because straight is the gate and narrow is the way, 

which leadeth unto life, 

and few there be that find it. 

Matthew 7:14

We put so much emphasis on those things that are determined to be sin, and rightly so. However, the absence of those visible sins in our life does not guarantee our entrance into heaven. We have to know God in a real and personal way. We have to have an intimate relationship with Him in order for Him to reveal Himself to us in our lives and through His word. We have to have a relationship with God that is so closely knit that we love everything that He loves and by the same token, we hate everything that He hates. We have to accept His will for our lives and we can't do that without knowing Him in His fullness and being totally submitted and committed to His will.

Apostle Paul had the foresight to pray a very necessary prayer for the body of Christ in Colosse, He was not praying for better homes, modes of transportation, finances and other material or worldly things. No, he prayed that they may know God in His fullness so that they may be pleasing to God, produce spiritual fruit and be strengthened.

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Colossians 1:9-12

*  God's will is important because . . .  

          ®    Knowing God's will is the key to prayer, spiritual growth and fruitfulness in our individual lives - 

God's will is not only the key to prayer, it is the key to everything in our lives and on this earth!

Christ taught us that knowing God's will and living in obedience to that will is the key to it all! God is the potter; we are the clay. God keeps us spinning on His potter's wheel, shaping and reshaping us as He bathes our lives with His spirit to make us more Christ-like so He can use us for His will. Surrender daily. Keep your clay moist through daily prayer - prayer that's in accordance to His will.

*  Knowing God's will

          ®  Determines your eternal destiny - 

Our eternal destiny depends on doing God’s will. We must respond positively to God's plan of redemption for our life. . .

Because straight is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  Matthew 7:14

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven.  Matthew 7:21

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.   1 John 2:17

          ®  It is the basis of our relationship with God -   

*  Our relationship to Jesus is based on doing God's will:  

For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.   Mark 3:35  

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.  Matthew 12:50

          ®  It provides direction -

God's will is important because we are incapable of directing our own way:   

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.   Jeremiah 10:23

We lack the ability to guide  our own steps. Without God's guidance we go our own way and stray from the plan of God:  

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way. Isaiah 53:6

         ®  It provides knowledge of the future - 

God is the only one with knowledge of the future. He knows the snares of Satan that await us. He knows the future of the economic and political systems. He knows what events await us in the future:   

I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done.  Isaiah 46:9-10

Man is able to function in the present and recall the past. He can also plan for the future. But God is the only one with actual knowledge of the future.

Some people think Satan has foreknowledge of the future. He does not. If he did, he never would have motivated the crucifixion of Jesus. He would have been able to look into the future and see that by this very act, redemption from sin would become a reality. Satan only knows what God chooses to reveal about the future. For example, Satan knows that his eternal destiny is Hell because God revealed it.

God has revealed His eternal plan for us also, do you believe it?

(Biblical Studies)




10/10/13
04/30/15
07/07/16
07/18/19

02/04/21

Spiritual Prerequisites

I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, 

that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, 

which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; 

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

(Romans 12:1-2)

There are some necessary conditions if you are to come to know the voice of God. It is something required before you are able to fully obtain and appreciate a right relationship with God.  Our goal, in this instance, is to come to know the voice of God.  Jesus said:  

If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  John 7:17

I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  Romans 12:1

If you meet these prerequisites, then you will come to know God’s voice and His will for your life.

Sin separates us from God's presence and because of sin, we have difficulty hearing and responding positively to the voice of God.  

In the natural world you do not recognize the voice of a stranger. You recognize voices of those you know and with whom you have developed a relationship. The same is true in the spiritual world. If you are to come to know God's voice, you must first come to know God and you cannot develop an intimate relationship with Him with sin in your life.

The word beseeches YOU to make the move towards God by giving your life to Him. God has already spoken through His written Word and revealed it is His will for you to develop such a relationship:  

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

God does not want us to spend our life in sin. He wants us to live it according to His plan:  

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.   1 Peter 4:2

Picture God standing at the door of your life desiring entrance so He can develop a relationship with you:  

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.   Revelation 3:20

God's stated purpose from the beginning of Adam and Eve's fall was to bring all men into the knowledge of Christ Jesus:  

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.   Ephesians 1:9-10

You are "gathered into Christ" by becoming part of the family of God. Just as you are born into a natural family, you must be "born again" spiritually into this spiritual family.

In the book of John, chapter 3, it explains in detail what it means to be born-again. 

To experience the new birth you must:

 →  Acknowledge you are a sinner:  

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.   Romans 3:23

 →  Recognize the penalty of sin is death:  

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.    Romans 6:23

God warned Adam and Eve that if they sinned, they would die. This meant both spiritual death (separation from God's presence) and physical death. When Jesus died on the cross, He died in our place. He died for our sins so we could have everlasting life.  If we accept His sacrifice for sin, we are no longer under the penalty of death.

→  Repent, confess our sins, ask forgiveness, and believe that Jesus died for us:  

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   1 John 1:8-9

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

→  Be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission (forgiveness) of your sins 

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.    John 3:3 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Matthew 19:28

→  Receive the gift that Jesus promised us; His Holy Spirit – which is evidenced by speaking in unknown tongues 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Acts 2:38

When we present our life to God in this manner, we are "born-again" spiritually:

Therefore, if any man be in Christ He a new creature; old things have passed away; Behold, all things are become new.   2 Corinthians 5:17

When we are born again we become part of God's spiritual family. We are no longer separated from the presence of God. When we die to the kingdom of darkness, we will live eternally with God.

We have established a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We have heard and responded to the truth of the Gospel. We are now in a position to learn how to recognize God's voice:  

To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.   John 18:37b

The Holy Spirit is a part of the prerequisite that will allow us to come to know God's voice. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit results in the Holy Spirit dwelling in our life and empowering us to live a holy life which is acceptable to God.

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.  1 John 4:4

One of the most important ministries of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to guide the believer into God's will:  

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.   John 16:13-14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  Romans 8:14

There is a definite relationship between being a child of God (born again) and being led by the Holy Spirit.

The natural man (who is not born-again) does not receive and follow guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because he has not become a "spiritual man" through the new birth experience, He does not recognize the voice of God:  

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  1 Corinthians 2:14 

The following examples from the book of Acts demonstrate the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers:

Philip:  

A disciple, by the name of Philip, was led by the Spirit to join a chariot he saw on a desert road to Gaza:  

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near and join thyself to this chariot.  Acts 8:29

Philip obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit. This resulted in the salvation and water baptism of an Ethiopian man who was riding in the chariot.

Peter:  

Peter was told by the Holy Spirit to go with three men who came from Caesarea. Peter said:  

And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.  Acts 11:12

Peter recognized the leading of the Holy Spirit. He had no doubts when the Spirit spoke in his inner being and revealed God's will to him. He obeyed and it resulted in the first cross-cultural ministry to the Gentiles.

Paul:  

Paul often changed his evangelistic schedule at the prompting of the Holy Spirit:

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them not.  Acts 16:7

Paul planned to go to Mysia, but the Holy Spirit gave him different directions.

These three examples are just a few of many in the Bible which illustrate how the Holy Spirit enables you to hear God’s voice. 

As Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit takes the will of God and reveals it to you.

Biblical Studies

10/09/13

04/02/15

07/04/16

07/17/19

02/03/21

* Never Give Up

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, 

that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 

Luke 18:1

When you come to that 'wilderness' experience in your life and nothing seems to be going the way you think it ought to go, don't give up on God; instead, look to Him and don't become weary while you wait.  

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  Galatians 6:9

This may be difficult to conceive, let alone do, but we must learn to trust in God.  Trust in the timing of God; fully believing that He will work your situation out according to His good, perfect and acceptable will.  We may never know the intimate details of how God is moving in our life, but we do know that God is moving and will touch our heart with His desire for our life.  You may not understand it initially . . . and that's alright, take it to God.  He is the only one, not man or things, that can resolve every situation in your life.

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

There is a biblical account of a woman named Hannah who desperately wanted a child. As was the custom in those times, her husband, Elkanah, had another wife, Pininnah.  Hannah was taunted by Pininnah because she was barren and this did not make the situation any easier for Hannah as Pininnah was fruitful and able to bear children.  Despite Elkanah’s love for Hannah and his desire to do anything he could for her, Hannah remained distraught because she was unable to bear children.

Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?  1 Samuel 1:8

The one thing Hannah wanted above all else was children. Her prayer demonstrates the level of desperation Hannah had reached as she prayed to God to give her a child:

"And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, 'O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head"  1 Samuel 1:10-11

The account goes on to say that Hannah prayed so desperately and with such yearning that the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk.    After talking with her, Eli told her, 

"Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him."   1 Samuel 1:17

My question is how often are we desperate enough with our petitions to God that we can go before him and pour our hearts out despite what it may look like to others?  Hannah may have began her prayers in her home, but she ended up at the temple.  When we go to God with our petitions, is it an half-hearted prayer?  Do we display to God how sincerely we want or need a thing or do we already have a back-up plan in case God does not answer our request.  In this account, it was God who made Hannah barren.  

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.   1 Samuel 1:5

He wanted her in a position so that she had no place and no one to turn to but God.   And because she was so desperate to have her petition granted by God, she promised to give back the very thing she was asking for.  What are you willing to give up or do for God in exchange  for God granting you the desire of your heart?

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.   1 Samuel 1:11

When Hannah discovered she was pregnant, she did not forget her petition and her vow to God.  She gave God thanks and worshipped Him:

And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." So they worshiped the Lord there.  1 Samuel 1:26-28

The account does not end there.  Hannah’s final prayer is recorded:  

And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. "No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. "Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed. "The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble. "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed."   1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah continues to thank God and to praise Him.  Hannah was at peace from the moment the priest Eli told her that she would receive her petition!  What great faith!  She did not question Eli or God as to when, where or how.  She trusted in God and believed in His word.

Will you have faith and trust that God will grant you your petitions?  And when He does, will you remember to thank Him?

We don't always know the intimate details of God's plan for our life; Particularly when we get in seemingly insurmountable situations.  That's why prayer is always in order. In the case of Hannah, God's plan was the birth of the prophet, Samuel. Good required Samuel from his youth. Everything worked for the good for Hannah. Not only did she have Samuel; whom she gave to God as she promised she would, but God blessed her with several more children.

And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.  1 Samuel 2:21

Seek God no matter what!  God tells us in His word to seek Him first!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Matthew 6:33

This is a good practice no matter what your situation may be; rather you are up or down.  Apostle Paul puts it this way:

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Philippians 4:11-13

(Biblical Study)

10/07/13
04/24/15
06/27/16
07/16/19

02/02/21

* Free Your Mind

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, 

where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Colossians 3:1-2

From the word of God, we know that we are to love God with all of our heart, our soul, mind and strength.

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.    Luke 10:27 

And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,  Deuteronomy 11:13

God would have it that we are in perfect peace:

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:7

Staying focused on God; on His sovereignty; on things above will keep your mind in perfect peace.  When we understand that Satan is in direct opposition to God, then we understand the reason why the mind is  a battlefield and is under constant attack by the enemy. Satan knows that if he can get our mind off of God; if he can distract us long enough, we will not be able to sustain our connection to God. As Apostle Paul says in several of his epistles, 'brethren, I would not have you ignorant'. Knowing is half the battle. So we understand that Satan attacks on all fronts and he attempts to challenge the word of God. Throughout the new testament, we are admonished and encouraged to guard our minds and to keep our thoughts on God. When the enemy recognizes that we have a made up mind or that we are sincere in our efforts to serve God, he moves in with all sorts of contrary thoughts, suggestions, influences and ideas to distract us from our primary focus.

Though it would be impossible to list them all, the following list summarizes the main strategies of attack Satan uses in the battle for the mind:

®     Questioning the authority of God:

The first temptation of man started in the mind with this strategy: Questioning the authority of God.   Satan said to Eve, "Yea, hath God said...?" 

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?   Genesis 3:1

Did God really say that you would surely die if you ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? 

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  Genesis 3:4

Questioning God and His Word leads to doubt, unbelief, and skepticism.

®     Deception and seduction:

Deception is also part of the enemy's strategy. When Satan confronted Eve, he was disguised as a beautiful serpent. Satan uses lies, cults, and "religious spirits" to deceive millions in our world today. Some of the deceptions Satan advances include the following appeals:

     ¨     "You can become a god."

     ¨      "You can know the future."

     ¨     "You future, including eternity, is predestined. There is nothing you can do about it."

     ¨     "Everyone is a child of God." 

     ¨      "There are more ways to Heaven than by Jesus."

     ¨      "God is too good to send anyone to Hell."

     ¨       "All God expects you to do is live a good life and do the best you can."

     ¨      "The Bible should not be taken literally." 

     ¨      "The Bible contains many errors."

Seducing spirits of Satan attack the mind to distort the truth of God's Word:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.   1 Timothy 4:1

Satan used this attack on Jesus in Luke 4:9-12. He tried to get Jesus to throw himself off a high point of the temple since God had promised to...

. . . give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee, And in their hands they shall bear thee up. . .  Luke 4:10-11

®     The flesh:

Satan uses the flesh to war against the mind:

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.   Romans 7:23

Satan uses your own mouth, your eyes, ears, and even your senses of touch and smell to foster wicked thoughts in your mind.

®     Blinding minds of unbelievers:

Satan works in the minds of unbelievers to blind them to the truth of the Gospel:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.   2 Corinthians 4:4

®     Depression:

To be depressed is to be downcast, sad, discouraged, or in low spirit. It includes feelings of despair, despondency, and dejection. Depression can lead to suicidal thoughts or actual suicide because of the hopeless feelings which produces uncontrollable mental grief, sorrow, heartache, and crying.

Sometimes Satan uses circumstances of life to lead to depression. For examples, a great loss or fear of loss, suppressed anger, a low self concept of yourself, unfulfilled expectations, and a negative attitude can all be used to cause depression. We are warned about "fainting in the day of adversity" (troubled or distressed circumstances).

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.   Proverbs 24:10

Sometimes depression is caused by the negative attitudes of those around us through which Satan works. During the Israelites time in the wilderness, God's people admitted, "our brethren have discouraged our hearts." 

Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. Deuteronomy 1:28

King David often reflected discouragement in his Psalms (see Psalms 69 for an example). Apostle Paul also had times of deep depression:

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life . . . 2 Corinthians 1:8

If you do not conquer depression it can also lead to oppression by Satanic spirits. This is a deeper form of depression where Satan gains more restrictive power over the mind.

®     Discouragement:

Discouragement means to be "without courage." Satan wants to discourage you because if you are "without courage," you are ineffective in warfare.

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.  Numbers 21:4 

Discouragement is dangerous in that it causes us to murmur and complain - 

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.   Numbers 21:5

We find that murmuring and complaining against God does not bring positive results:

And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.  Numbers 21:6

®     Wrong attitudes and emotions:

Satan causes wrong attitudes towards others. He inserts fiery darts of envy, jealousy, suspicion, un-forgiveness, distrust, anger, hatred, intolerance, prejudice, competition, impatience, unrighteous judging, criticism, covetousness, and selfishness.

He also tries to cause wrong attitudes of greed, discontent, pride, vanity, ego, importance, arrogance, intellectualism, and self-righteousness. Wrong attitudes lead to wrong emotions and both stem from your thoughts.

These attitudes and emotions render you ineffective in spiritual warfare. 

For example, the word indicates that 

"God resisteth the proud . . ."   James 4:6

When you are filled with pride, you are actually arrayed in battle against God.

®     Rebellion:

Satan also inserts rebellious thoughts into your mind. Rebellion is willful disobedience against God's authority. Rebellion includes self-will, stubbornness, and disobedience. Remember that rebellion was the original sin of Satan. His five statements of "I will" demonstrated his rebellion (Isaiah 14:12-14). The "I will" spirit is a way to recognize the operation of Satan through rebellion:

I will ascend into heaven, 
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: 
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

®     Confusion:

Satan also causes indecision, confusion, and frustration in your mind. When you are confused, indecisive, and frustrated, you obviously cannot be a good Christian soldier.

®     Accusation and condemnation:

Satan is called 

"the accuser of the brethren"    Revelation 12:10 

He sends fiery darts of accusation into your mind, makes you feel inferior, and condemns you. He will give you guilty feelings of shame, unworthiness, and embarrassment.

One good way to tell the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the condemnation of Satan is to remember that Satan always generalizes. For example, he speaks into your mind with statements like these: 

   ¨     "You are no good," 
    ¨     "You can never live a Christian life," 
    ¨     "God couldn't love you because you are too great of a sinner."

When the Holy Spirit is convicting you, it is specific. For example, He brings to your attention that you have a problem with anger or dishonesty, etc.

®     Sexual Impurity:

Satan will insert thoughts of sexual impurity, lust, and mental sexual fantasies. Jesus said:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.   Matthew 5:28

Though these things exist, we do not have to despair, God has equipped us to overcome this battle:

             ♥      The helmet of salvation 

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.    1 Thessalonian 5:8 

To protect your mind from attack:

             ♥      Pray continuously


Pray without ceasing    1 Thessalonian 5:17

                 ♥     Thinking on positive things


Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.    Philippians 4:8

                  ♥       Bring every contrary thought under subjection   

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  2 Corinthians 10:5

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  (2 Corinthians 5:10) 

Finally, know that He that is within you is greater than every negative force against you.

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.   1 John 4:4

(Biblical Studies)

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