Have any of you read the Communist Manifesto? If not, you should. It declares that a lie, told long enough, devoid of the truth -- becomes truth! How do they accomplish this? They control your mind by replacing your old beliefs with their new propaganda. First they deride your current beliefs, creating doubt about them, then they offer their modern and progressives ideas. After all, the new ideas regarding religion have better facts which dispute the old belief system - a lie of course!.
In many countries on the planet tyrants have, and still are burning the Bible, calling it lies and myths that turn its proponents against the State. Some regimes call the Bible the "opioid of the people." In my 45 years as a Christian, I have watched the developed countries, which were founded on Jesus Christ, be drastically transformed into believing this lie. Sadly, by telling this lie about the Bible, over and over, devoid of the truth, it has become truth to hundreds of millions of people. Who is to blame? The Communists? No! They are doing the will of their father Satan.
Who is to blame then? The leaders of the Christian church! They are not doing the will of their Father in Heaven! This is why God's judgment begins in the House of God -- His Church. The Church has been commissioned to carry the gospel to the utter most parts of the earth. The Church is to be salt and light for those walking in the darkness of sin. It has been commissioned to reveal what the Bible says about the invisible realm -- who resides there -- and how followers of Christ can depend on Him & His heavenly beings to help them to be victorious in their earthly walk.
The more we talk about the happenings in the invisible realm, the more we will believe and cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and the messengers God sends to help us be a faithful witness to the power of the Cross. By denying the validity of the truths in the Bible, the more earth-conscious we become, trusting ourselves and our vain reasoning, submitting to the wiles of Satan & his demons. Yes, he is real -- lives in the invisible realm -- our arch enemy...roaming the earth seeking whom he may devour...I Pet. 5:8.
In my early days of teaching Bible classes in church, if I taught on the wiles of the devil, some would say, "You are glorifying the devil, you should only teach about Jesus Christ." While others would whisper to me, "Shhh...you shouldn't talk about the devil, he will hear you and do us harm." I couldn't believe what I was hearing, since I was teaching the Bible. The Apostle Paul said that we must put on the whole armor of God. Why? Because we have an enemy whose job is to kill, steal and destroy...John 10:10.
When we were last together in this series Who is Satan, I asked, "If Satan and his demons are not real why does the Bible have so much to say about protecting ourselves from these invisible entities. What are the fiery darts of the wicked one, which our shield of faith will quench? The word fiery in the Greek language is pyros meaning: kindle; ignite; inflame. Dart means: missile - to throw. Remember...the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (bombs, guns, spears) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds...II Cor. 10:4.
Our weapons are spiritual -- our battle is spiritual. The Apostle Paul described our spiritual weapons -- defensive & offensive -- as the whole armor of God in Eph. 6:10-20. 1) truth 2) righteousness 3) gospel of peace 4) shield of faith--quench all fiery darts of the wicked one 4) salvation 5) sword of the Spirit--Word of God 6) praying in the Spirit. How many of theses weapons are we implementing everyday?
One of the most effective fiery darts used by Satan and his hordes of demons is the tongue! Remember the little ditty you grew up with, "Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me!" Well...that is another lie! Calling someone insulting and humiliating names can hurt that persons spirit for a lifetime, if they are believed, while being hit with a rock hurts until the injury heals in a couple of days.
Just tune into any media today -- newspapers, television, radio, internet -- and listen to the insulting lies being hurled against any person who happens to be in the public eye--inflaming the passions of violent rage and revenge--fiery darts. The press knows if they speak their lies, over and over, devoid of the truth, the lies become truth to their gullible audience. You can see how the Communist creed is alive and well on planet earth today!
Now we know that Satan's most effective fiery dart is the tongue -- lies and deception. After all, Jesus called Satan a liar, the father of all lies. Wars in families, friendships, workplaces, cities, states and nations have erupted because of lies, inciting division and revenge. So if we find ourselves not telling the truth about a situation, an incident, or other people, we now know to whom we have surrendered our allegiance - Satan.
Since words are spirit, how does our shield of faith quench the fiery darts of lies spoken against us? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
When we were last together I asked, "Did God leave us defenseless against these mighty wicked powers in the invisible ream? After He was baptized...Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil...and when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry...Matt. 4:1-2. Matthew goes on to explain how Jesus was tempted by Satan to follow the way of the flesh and worship him.
With every resistance to Satan's temptations, Jesus said...It is written! What is written? The reason that Jesus could successfully resist Satan's temptation to follow him was because He knew God's answer -- it was the immutable Word of God! When Jesus was hungry after the long fast, Satan said mockingly...If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.
Although Jesus had the power and authority to command the stones to become bread, He knew the wiles of the devil desired that He submit to the lust of the flesh. Jesus overcame Satan's temptation by saying...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God...Matt. 4:3-4. The allegiance of Jesus Christ was totally submitted to God -- not the world, the flesh or the devil! Jesus overcame the wiles of the devil for us - but we must overcome His way!
The final temptation was when Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, saying to Jesus...All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me...Matt 4:8-9. What did Jesus say? Away with you Satan! For it is written...You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve...Matt. 4:10.
Jesus, as a man, knew the Word of God, therefore, was able to defeat the temptations of Satan. Do you know the Word of God well enough to defeat the temptations Satan throws at you on a daily basis? Only God's Word can defeat the wiles of Satan. After Jesus shed His blood as a sacrifice for our sins, death and the fear of death was finally defeated. Satan was defanged spiritually, but still roamed the earth roaring like a lion seeking whom he may devour...I Pet. 5:8.
If the power and authority of Satan has been defeated by the blood of Jesus Christ, why is he allowed to roam the earth and roar -- creating chaos and destruction? Satan was defeated spiritually, but he is still god of this world and is allowed to tempt mankind until the end of the world. He has not faced his final judgment as yet.
When is his final judgment? At the end of the world, the earth and the works that are in it will burn up. At this same time, Satan will face his final judgment...the devil, who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are...and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever...Rev. 20:10.
In the meantime...the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds...II Cor. 10:4. The word strongholds means: Satan's arguments/deception against God/Jesus Christ. God has not left His followers defenseless against the mighty wicked powers in the invisible realm. But...we must use those spiritual weapons to defeat the wiles - deceptions/arguments - of the devil. If we do not use the spiritual weapons supplied to us by God -- we will be defeated!
What is the number one weapon that Satan uses against us? IGNORANCE! As a whole, the Church has neglected to emphasize to the followers of Jesus Christ that there are two real realms - worlds. The most important realm is the spiritual invisible realm. Why is it the most important realm? The spiritual invisible realm is eternal - was, is, and always will be. The earthly realm is physical and created by God -- it will burn up at the end of the age.
When we talk about something over and over again, it becomes real - clear in understanding. By the Church neglecting to discuss with the followers of Christ the importance of understanding the invisible realm, we have fallen prey to the world, the flesh and the devil. The Apostle Paul wrote...Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might...put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...Eph. 6:10-11. What is the armor of God?
The Apostle Paul said that after we have prepared ourselves according to God's instructions, we are to...stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness...and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one...and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...Eph. 6:14-18.
If Satan and his demons are not real why does the Bible have so much to say about protecting ourselves from these invisible entities. What are the fiery darts of the wicked one, which our shield of faith will quench? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
So the dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast with him...Rev. 12:9. The word deceives in the original Greek language is planao meaning: to roam - stray from the truth; fraudulent.
The dragon symbolizes the Devil & Satan. He is that serpent of old. What does that mean? In the Garden of Eden it was the serpent who whispered lies to Eve and deceived her - she fell into temptation and ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. By doing so, sin entered the human race, spiritually separating them from God. Adam & Eve submitted themselves to the god of this world - Satan - who was given permission to deceive the whole world.
In this series so far, we have revealed what the Bible says about who lives in the invisible realm and how these beings - good and bad - influence human beings on the earth. When we were last together I asked, "Why isn't the Church teaching the followers of Christ over and over and over again, that the invisible spiritual realm is real -- that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, angels, Satan and demons are real -- and that we in the earthly realm are influenced by these 'very real beings' who live in the invisible realm?"
The Church leadership in the mainstream denominations have become dependent on psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors, rather than the gifts of the Holy Spirit to resolve issues in the life of a Christ follower...I Corinthians chapters 12-14. Regarding the Body of Christ, the Apostle Paul said that Jesus...gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers...Eph. 4:11. Why would Jesus do this?
The Apostle Paul answered...till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ...Eph 4:13-15.
I was watching a Christian television program the other day where a viewer wrote about their daughter, describing acts of violence, insults, vengeful promises and threats to kill - asking if these symptoms could be demonic? The host quickly answered, "No - while demons are real, your description doesn't reveal that. You daughter needs a good psychiatrist and some medication."
Why did Jesus send the Holy Spirit to the earth with spiritual gifts? To equip His Church to have victory over the powers of darkness that would assail us. But these things must be taught daily to the followers of Christ, so they can mature spiritually. The war that is going on in the invisible spiritual realm for our souls, must become so vivid, we will finally rise up and do exploits -- turn the world upside down - as did the early Church giving all glory to God...Acts. 17:6.
While we have a few powerful churches in strategic places on the planet, we need every church that claims that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses them from sin, and reconciles them to their Father in Heaven, to daily teach their congregation the reality of the invisible realm, so they can mature in their knowledge of the Son of God and how He has equipped us spiritually to overcome the Prince of Darkness -- Satan.
The Apostle Paul clearly explained the realities of the invisible realm. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might...put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...Eph. 6:10-11. Devil! If there is no devil, why is Paul telling us to arm ourselves so we can stand against him? What in the world are wiles?
The word wiles in the original Greek language is methodeia meaning: travelling over; travesty, trickery; lie in wait. Have you ever heard someone say, "I have a method to my madness?" Well, the devil has a method to his madness -- it is to walk all over us and defeat us. He is invisible; he is real and he will defeat us - unless we wake up and take charge of our own spiritual life! Do you have a Bible? Everything you need to know about the invisible realm is in there -- so open it and read. If you don't, you will become fodder for the devil
The Apostle Paul went on to explain about the invisible realm...for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places...Eph 6:12. Paul is explaining that our warfare is not with flesh & blood - human beings - but rather with rulers of the darkness in the invisible realm. So why are human beings fighting each other every moment of everyday somewhere in the world? The Church has neglected to teach them that their enemy - the devil - lives in the invisible spiritual realm.
Did God leave us defenseless against these mighty wicked powers in the invisible realm? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
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God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth...John 4:24. The word Spirit in the original Greek language is pneuma meaning: breath. So God created man in His own Image; in the Image of God He created him; male and female He created them...Gen. 1:27. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being...Gen. 2:7.
Without the Bible we could never understand the invisible spiritual realm or the physical material realm. God was, is, and always will be Spirit. God is an eternal being, living in the invisible spiritual world. He breathed His spirit-life into man causing him to become a living being. We were created in His Image: a spirit being. Since we were created in the Image of God, we also are an eternal being, living in the invisible spiritual world, yet we also have a physical body in order to function in the physical material world.
Over the centuries, the most hated book that was ever been printed is the Bible, because it reveals the truth about the eternal spiritual realm. It reveals mankind's sinful nature, God's judgment, and God's punishment for choosing to follow Satan, rather than the blessings he will receive for following God. Tyrants in most countries around the globe have burned the Bible by the millions, while viciously persecuting the readers of God's book -- beatings, imprisonment, chained in dungeons, starvation, burned at the stake, thrown to the lions, stretched on racks until their bodies are torn in pieces, and many other atrocities. These precious souls died in order to reveal the reality of the invisible spiritual realm. They lived for Jesus Christ and experienced vicious Satanic attacks.
When we were last together I asked, "Why don't people believe that Satan is real?" My answer is, "The same reason they don't believe God is real!" I lay the total blame at the feet of the Church who have been negligent in emphasizing the reality of the invisible spiritual realm. The more we talk about something the more real it becomes to us. How do I know?
Advertisers pay huge amounts of money to advertise their product over radio, television, internet and newspapers. Each ad is spoken over and over and over - adnauseam. Does this repetition get into the minds of the potential customers, causing them to believe the advertising, and clamor to purchase the product? I believe you know the answer - talking about something over and over causes you to believe.
Consider the modern press. The mainstream press owns most of the audio/visual media networks, so their ability to formulate their ideas into the minds of the populous is powerfully persuasive. Globalist leaders, with an anti-Christ agenda, have bought up most of the small independent newspapers around the globe, in order to indoctrinate their readers with their agenda. Is it working? You bet!
Has Hollywood indoctrinated modern society through their movies and television programs by scripting paganism and immorality as a 'normal way of life' for their viewers? Of course! What a person hears and sees everyday, over and over, becomes real to him - it is finally believed! While it has taken Hollywood a few decades through visual & audio indoctrination, modern society finally reflects the pagan immoral values it espouses. Did saying something over and over and over again work? You bet!
Many university professors have taken it upon themselves to eradicate any vestige of Christianity in their students through humiliation, shame, and blackmail (failing grade if they don't comply with their radical godless beliefs). Is it working? You bet!
The Church, as a whole around the world, has not taught the followers of Christ the reality of the invisible spiritual realm. We live on the earth a very short time, but eternity is forever, so one would think there should more emphasis on how to be prepared for eternity. The Apostle Paul said...Set you mind on things above, not on things on the earth...Col. 3:2. Why isn't the Church emphasizing this teaching in scripture?
Paul explained about Jesus when he declared...He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation...for by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers...all things were created through Him and for Him...Col.1:15-16.
Why isn't the Church teaching the followers of Christ over and over and over again, that the invisible spiritual realm is real -- that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, angels, Satan and demons are real -- and that we in the earthly realm are influenced by these 'very real beings' who live in the invisible realm? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
