WILES OF THE DEVIL – PART EIGHT
Wednesday – April 19, 2017
Well you are a brave and wise soul to have returned for another round of our Bible Study concerning the “wiles of the devil”. Greetings and blessing from Patti and I at The Three Minute Word publications. Our handsome Arabian camel reminds us that it is hump day. Now to our primary text.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
We are focused on the wiles of the devil before we plunge into the whole armour of God. Our woes in life start way back in our lives with wrong ideas, words, and actions and according to the spiritual law of sowing and reaping we harvest destruction in our lives. The fact that we think our ideas and words are good in no way abrogates their destructiveness. Each of us need look any further than our own lives to see this in action. We don’t get a clean slate at the new birth but with it and the baptism of the Holy Spirit we have supernatural power to reverse the curse and turn it aside going forward. Natural people (we are supernatural people) can do this to some degree but there is nothing like the Holy Ghost and Power. Now let’s return to 2 Timothy.
2 Timothy 2:20-26 (KJV)
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
I have talked about our building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, the works we do which God did not ordain, and how that brings destruction into our lives. Notice in verse twenty-one above that the Apostle points out to us it is our responsibility to identify (in consultation with God) and remove (purge) all of the wood, hay, straw, and earth in our lives. To purge is to eliminate or to eradicate from our lives, this is serious business. Once that is done were are a vessel of honor and are in a position for the Master’s use whereas before we were useless to the Master. When the junk is removed, then, and only then, can our Lord, our Master lead us into the Word for which we are designed and He wills.
As we age we may have fantasies that we are still king of the jungle when in fact we are a faint hearted pussy cat. Paul says to flee (run as fast as you can in the opposite direction) the lust of youth. By the way so must the youth flee these same lusts just as Joseph did from Potiphar’s wife. Our focus concerning other believers is on righteousness, faith, charity (love), and peace. Righteousness is not only right standing with God but doing things the way God would do them in this case toward our fellow believers. Faith is to believe not only there is a God but what He says and that He will perform His Word. We are to think, speak, and act in love or obedience to the Word, selflessly toward our brother and sister in Christ. We are also to recognize that they are one with the Father as we are one with the Father. We are all in the same family.
A pure heart is a clean heart, a heart (mind) free of condemnation concerning other members of this great house. The word ‘heart’ in 2 Timothy 2:22 is the Greek word transliterated to English as ‘kardia’. This is the part of the mind (spiritual organ) through which all sensory and spiritual input is received and where the decision is made to accept or reject. In this case we are ready to receive them as children of God with open arms. It does not mean we condone speech and or actions contrary to the Word of God, we only seek to provide a place where light can shine. The Apostle goes on to say we are not to entertain foolish and unlearned questions however he really does not define examples of what those might be however I think we have all seen this and recognize it when we see it. We are to turn away error as led of the Spirit of God and with a soft voice and the uncovering of Truth (An exception to this would be a prophetic Word from a Prophet). The Apostle indicates that this Godly approach may lead the person into repentance, to acknowledge the Truth, and recover themselves from the snare of the devil. Notice they are in the snare of the devil through error and ignorance and perhaps laziness (lack of diligence). When we go our own way we are already ensnared and living in a fool’s paradise. I will pick-up again tomorrow with the wiles of the devil.
Receive the priestly blessing in the name of Jesus.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
