8/21/13

From Jim McGuiggan... Peacock tongues and Polynesian kababs

Peacock tongues and Polynesian kababs

Those whose lives have been one long grim slog have my permission (without offence to me) to fling away from this piece in acute irritation. The remarks are addressed to those of us that have done quite well in life and still aren’t satisfied. They’re addressed to those among us that want an already good life fine-tuned so that every "right" we can imagine is fulfilled. (Not that that’ll ever happen. So many of us with plenty to be happy about will spend much of our time in sour discontent, like Ahab who had everything but went to bed, thoroughly peeved because Naboth wouldn’t sell him his lovely garden. Compare 1 Kings 21:4, and the story there.)
Shape a community or a nation and its words reflect the change. In the West the word "freedom" stresses individual rights, his or her independence, the fact that he or she is a free-standing unit among many. That’s not what it meant in ancient Greece, for example. To be free then and there meant that the person had a right to share in the shaping and governing of the society of which they felt they were a part. A slave had no vote, a resident alien had some influence but only the free had a genuine share in how the society would function and the direction it would take. Of course, this assumed that they cared about the society as a community in which they lived, and that assumption was part of the makeup of the people. But even that has changed significantly (hasn’t it?)! Freedom has come to stress the individual and the individual talks mainly of his or her individual rights rather than their right to shape and guide for the better the society of which they’re a part. So J.F Kennedy’s famous phrase, "Ask not what America can do you for you, but what you can do for America" is more at home in Greece’s past than in the West’s present. "What’s in it for me?" is the essence of freedom. "As a citizen, society owes me..." and a list as long as a football field follows.
It’s this fine-tuning that hacks me off. Nothing is to be overlooked; I have my rights! The rude waiter, the irritable shop assistant, the abrupt civil servant, the child that doesn’t express gratitude, the husband that isn’t interested right now in "talking it all out" or the wife who’s too busy to pour oil on my hurt ego—none of this is to be tolerated! I shouldn’t be treated this way. It doesn’t matter that on the whole my life is filled with pleasing experiences, multitudes of tiny pleasantries, scores of major gifts and wondrous relationships—riches that I could list with ease if I were in the mood. I want more! It’s my right.
We do it in marriages and other family relationships. Because we’re capable (certainly in the abstract, and for many of us in the concrete) of becoming better and finer people our relationships can grow in richness. And we should expect it and work toward that. (Did I really need to say that?) But consciously attempting to fine-tune something that is growing in the right direction can backfire. We go to some marriage seminars (often marvellous things and sometimes essential) and come away discontent. What is pictured there is a degree of sensitivity to one another’s felt needs that is unhealthy! Things we hardly would have noticed now loom big. Storms in teacups begin to look like tsunamis and silly stuff that we shrugged off now must be "thrashed out". Words and looks that we know are not appropriate become assaults against our very person when previously we saw them as part of the rough and tumble of life—to be noted before moving on. (Do I need to qualify all this with statements about the obvious?)
We do it in our religious life. We don’t ask what we can do for the congregation (or the church as a whole); we want to know what the congregation can do for us. How many programmes do they have that meet our felt needs and how close do they come to making us feel blessed and content? They mustn’t allow us to leave the building not quite "soaring" or "richly blessed". They must take into account all our conscience concerns or respond adequately to all our biblical or theological reservations. Bless me, if we judge it to be a matter foundational to faith then we must respond to it as such, but is everything a salvation and fellowship issue? Or is it of such magnitude that our personal consciences cannot abide the company of those we believe are in Jesus Christ? Maybe our consciences are too fine-tuned! Even should it be the case that this view or that on this text or that purpose is mistaken—does that mean we should lunge for the Yellow Pages and go church-hunting, one more time?
Vast needs stare at us! A new creation beckons us! A destiny has embraced us and we’ve been entrusted with a mission with cosmic dimensions and we demand more! We press church leaders—leaders too anxious to please us and some eager to make a name for themselves by promoting the presently popular—we press leaders for more and more and when we get it...we ask for more. We don’t ask for more of the riches of the everlasting gospel, or to be led into a deeper fellowship with Christ (a la Philippians 3). We want the "church cafeteria" to have more on the menu of what we have a taste for. Don’t bother us with profound biblical and theological issues, don’t gouge us with conviction about who we are why we are here, don’t torment us with our hoarding and don’t remind us that one of these days we’re going to meet the earnest God that has given his all in holy love (compare 1 Peter 1:13-21). No, just keep delightfully surprising us with new ways to make us feel blessed. ("Oh, look, peacock tongues and Polynesian Kababs are on the menu today.")

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... The Devices Of Satan (2 Corinthians 2:11)



                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"

                      The Devices Of Satan (2:11)

INTRODUCTION

1. When Paul wrote his second epistle to the Corinthians, he alluded to
   the possibility that Satan might take advantage of them:

   "lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant
   of his devices." (2Co 2:11)

2. Informed Christians, however, need not be in a position to be caught
   off guard...
   a. Satan's advantage is based upon one being "ignorant of his 
      devices"
   b. But if we are aware of the methods Satan uses to lead people 
      astray, we can resist him successfully!

3. What are some of "The Devices Of Satan"?  How can we defend 
   ourselves against them?

[In study we shall attempt to answer these questions.  We begin by 
noticing a "device" of Satan that Paul described later in this same 
epistle...]

I. BLIND THE MINDS OF PEOPLE

   A. REGARDING THIS "DEVICE" OF SATAN...
      1. There are some whom "the god of this age" has blinded - cf. 
         2Co 4:3-4
      2. The Spirit warned this would be done through "doctrines of 
         demons" - 1Ti 4:1-3
      3. Today, many minds are blinded to the truth...
         a. By the doctrine of ATHEISM - there is no God
         b. By the doctrine of EVOLUTION - we are simply animals
         c. By the doctrine of HUMANISM - man is the measure of all 
            things, and in him alone is the solution to our problems
      -- Those who are so blinded are hindered from receiving the truth

   B. OUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST IT...
      1. Is actually a strong offense, involving a war for the 
         "thoughts" of men - 2Co 10:3-5
      2. Our greatest weapon is TRUTH, which can defeat the false
         arguments and free those who have been blinded into captivity
         - cf. Jn 8:32
         a. Thus the need for discussion and debate, in order to cast
            down "arguments" - 2Co 10:5
         b. Consider the example of Paul, who "reasoned" with others - 
            Ac 17:2-3; 19:8-9
      3. Other weapons involve CHRIST-LIKE ATTITUDES that are "mighty 
         in God"...
         a. E.g., the meekness and gentleness of Christ - 2Co 10:1-4
         b. E.g., patience and humility in correcting others - 2Ti 2:
            24-26
      -- "Speaking the truth in love" (Ep 4:15), we can be defeat 
         this "device of Satan"!

[Another "device of Satan" is to...]

II. GET PEOPLE HOOKED ON "THE THINGS OF THE WORLD"

   A. REGARDING THIS "DEVICE" OF SATAN...
      1. I am referring to those things described in 1Jn 2:15-17
         a. The lust of the flesh
         b. The lust of the eyes
         c. The pride of life
      2. Satan used these tactics against EVE - cf. Gen 3:6
         a. What she saw was "good for food" (the lust of the flesh)
         b. It was "pleasant to the eyes" (lust of the eyes)
         c. It was "desirable to make one wise" (pride of life)
      3. Satan also tried these tactics in tempting Jesus - Mt 4:1-11
         a. "command that these stones become bread" (lust of the 
            flesh)
         b. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down..." (pride 
            of life)
         c. "All these things I will give you if..." (lust of the eyes)
      4. Today, Satan uses these tactics with a vengeance, tempting
         people through...
         a. Immorality (lust of the flesh)
         b. Materialism (lust of the eyes)
         c. Arrogance (pride of life)

   B. OUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST IT...
      1. Saturate ourselves with the Word of God!
         a. This is how Jesus overcame His temptations by the devil
         b. Note how He answered each temptation by saying "It is 
            written..." - Mt 4:4,7,10
      2. Develop a strong love for the Father!
         a. For that love is incompatible with a love for the world 
            - cf. 1Jn 2:15
         b. One cannot be a friend of the world and maintain friendship
            with God - Jm 4:4
      -- By saturating ourselves with God's Word and being strong in 
         our love for Him, we will effectively submit to Him and be 
         able to resist the devil, causing him to flee! - Jm 4:7

[Yet let's not think that Satan will give up easily; there are other 
"devices" up his sleeve, including...]

III. PERSECUTE THOSE TRYING TO DO RIGHT

   A. REGARDING THIS "DEVICE" OF SATAN...
      1. Peter warned that the devil sought to devour Christians 
         through persecutions - 1Pe 5:8-9
      2. Paul worried that afflictions brought about by Satan might 
         tempt the Thessalonians to give up - 1Th 3:1-5
      3. Even today, Satan persecutes Christians!
         a. Some literally, through great suffering as Christians
         b. Others through social pressures that are often equally 
            effective:
            1) Peer pressure
            2) Ridicule
            3) Ostracism
   
   B. OUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST IT...
      1. Encourage one another!
         a. This is what Peter sought to do - cf. 1Pe 5:8-10
         b. Paul sent Timothy to do the same - cf. 1Th 3:2-3
      2. Adopt the proper attitude:  Rejoice!
         a. Knowing that trials can make us stronger - cf. Jm 1:2-4; 
            Ro 5:3-4
         b. Knowing that those who endure are blessed by God - cf. 
            1 Pe 4:12-14; Mt 5:10-12
      3. Commit yourself to God in doing good - cf. 1Pe 4:19
         a. God is a faithful Creator
         b. He takes note of our suffering, and will one day repay 
            those who trouble us (including Satan himself!), and give 
            us rest - cf. 2Th 1:4-8; Re 20:10

[There is another "device" of Satan, that often has deadly effect...]

IV. GET PEOPLE TO ENJOY EVIL COMPANY

   A. REGARDING THIS "DEVICE" OF SATAN...
      1. The wrong companions can defeat one's effort to do good - cf.
         1Co 15:33
      2. Amnon was led astray by the counsel of his "friend", Jonadab 
         - 2Sa 13:1ff
      3. Today, many Christians are hindered in their spiritual 
         growth...
         a. By the company they keep
         b. By the activities in which such company engages

   B. OUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST IT...
      1. Realize the danger of the wrong companions - cf. Pr 13:20
      2. Heed the advice Paul made to the Corinthians:
         a. "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers..."
            - 2Co 6:14-16
         b. "Come out from among them..." - 2Co 6:17-18
         c. "...perfecting holiness in the fear of God." - 2Co 7:1

[Finally, let's look at one more "device" of Satan...]

V. DISCOURAGE PEOPLE THROUGH UNCHRIST-LIKE CHRISTIANS

   A. REGARDING THIS "DEVICE" OF SATAN...
      1. This relates to Paul's concern in our text - cf. 2Co 2:6-11
         a. A sinning brother was disciplined, and had repented
         b. The need now was for the church to confirm their love and
            forgiveness
         c. Otherwise, Satan might take advantage of this situation:
            1) Defeating the church by their unwillingness to forgive
            2) Overcoming the weak brother by his being swallowed up in
               sorrow if forgiveness was not granted by the 
               congregation
      2. Today, Satan sometimes wins many souls by this "device"
         a. Christians who are unloving, unmerciful, and unforgiving,
            become stumblingblocks to others
         b. Christians who are apathetic, sluggish, in their service 
            and devotion to God, adversely influence new Christians

   B. OUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST IT...
      1. Place our ultimate faith in the Lord, not in brethren - cf. 
         2Ti 4:16-18
         a. This is not to suggest that brethren can't be trusted
         b. But brethren are fallible, the Lord is not!
      2. Remember that not all brethren set the proper example - e.g., 
         3Jn 9-12
         a. Imitate the good examples
         b. Don't let the bad ones discourage us

CONCLUSION

1. This is not an exhaustive list, rather only a sampling of "The
   Devices Of Satan"
   a. The Scriptures certainly reveal much more about how the "Great 
      Deceiver" works
   b. There is also an interesting work of fiction that provides some
      interesting insights; it is called "The Screwtape Letters", by 
      C. S. Lewis

2. I trust this study has been sufficient to show, however...
   a. That our adversary is indeed strong
   b. That ignorance of his devices make us susceptible
   c. That if we are not diligent, he can indeed take advantage of us!

Remember, therefore, these important words of the apostle Paul...

   "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."

   "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
   principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
   darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in
   the heavenly places."

   "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able
   to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

                                 (Ep 6:10-13)


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

eXTReMe Tracker 

From Gary... Bad day, good day, better day




Yesterday was a "bad" day.  I hurt; only the chiropractors at (Healthsource in Wesley Chapel, Florida) helped.  I am VERY THANKFUL!!!   It is one thing to do your job, it quite another to really care- and they do.  Today, I slept late (probably needed it) and so here it is- almost 1pm and I am just getting around to doing my posting for the day!!! But, earlier, this morning I took the dogs for their separate walks.  Pal first.  When we went to the dog-walk, we encountered a cow with one long and one short horn and a young ruddy colored bull.  The cow ignored us, but the bull was curious.  He came right up to the fence and licked my hand on two separate occasions, but after Pal barked at him he ran away. Then on the way home, I stopped to talk with a neighbor about his bus trip out west to the national parks- sounded like a very enjoyable two weeks.  Then it was Buddy's turn.  We walked up to route 98 (where he does his business) and I took a couple of pictures. Nice sign!  And somehow even the bugs buzzing around at the front of it seemed friendly.  What a difference a day makes!!!  Not only did I feel a little better, but somehow the world seemed nicer.  Then I remembered Neil McKensie from Degussa; and his favorite verse (emboldened below)....

Psalm 30

 1  I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up,
and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
  2 Yahweh my God, I cried to you,
and you have healed me.
  3 Yahweh, you have brought up my soul from Sheol.
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
  4 Sing praise to Yahweh, you saints of his.
Give thanks to his holy name.
  5 For his anger is but for a moment.
His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may stay for the night,
but joy comes in the morning.


It occurred to me that sickness and the anger of God have something in common.  Both may be of a fleeting nature.  If you are feeling not up-to-Par today, rejoice, you probably will feel better tomorrow!!!  And if you need to change some things in your life; go ahead, do it. God will forgive and tomorrow will probably be full of joy.  If today is better than yesterday (and it IS), I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!!!  Hope you can say the same!!!!