THE FORCES OF EVIL/HOW THEY WORK

 

Evil began with Satan.  With Adam, sin entered into the world.

Most Christians know this,
but there are things we must understand about our enemy, that keeps us from
being the best we can for God.

Satan uses demons, and shows
up himself, at times,  as we are in the
process of developing  in our
relationship with God.

I don’t mean he can be
everywhere at all times like God, but his demons are dispatched by him to
follow us around, to see if we will open the door for them to enter.

By this, I mean when we get
in the flesh, or look back to the world, we can take a back-step into what we
used to be before salvation, and be tempted to turn back to our old carnal
ways.

 

Why do you think God’s
ministers
backslide?

Most of the time, it is
because they get so involved in God’s work,

they don’t make time to
spend with the God they serve.

 

Why do you think so many of
these occult religions get as far as they do?
They pray many times a day to their false god, which opens the door for
Satan to increase their growth, and spread their doctrines of error.

Evil will continue until the
end of the Church age, then it will become more furious during Jacob’s: The
Great Tribulation period of seven years, and will appear again, for a short
time,  at the end of the millennial reign
of Christ.

We as Christians, should
guard against, or be watchmen, confronting
evil.

Surprisingly enough,  sometimes, we as Christians, can be
influenced by Satan, to do his work.

How?

Hearts of
unbelief
–  Hebrews 3:12,13 —-Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the Living God.

But exhort one another daily, while
it is called today; lest any of

you be hardened through the deceitfulness
of sin.

 

Some begin to wander off
from the work of God, and God Himself, when the fiery trials come.  They might get criticized for they way we do
things, and become despondent and loose
their vision, instead of turning it over to God.

Fear could arise, and they
might never start what God has called them to do.  I have even seen people who are called to do
something, but try to influence someone else to do it, so they can be a part of
it, and they won’t have that responsibility on themselves.  It never works, and the other person becomes
troubled and out of place, and ultimately out of the will of God.  It won’t stand the test.

 

On the other hand, in the
body of Christ, we are commissioned to submit to authority.  A person who is called to do a work,  has authority over others under them.  From the pastor, all the way down, we have to
submit to someone.

Every ministry that is
involved with a Church, has the responsibility of answering to the
leadership.  If we can’t learn to follow,
we will never be successful  leaders.

Moses had a problem like
this, but God quickly handled the problem; but people’s lives were lost in the
process. (Numbers 16:1-3) – Look at verse 3 —-And they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron, and said
unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy,
every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up
yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

Or, “Moses and Aaron, What
right do you have to put yourselves forward, claiming that we must obey you,
and acting as though you were greater than anyone else among all these people
of the Lord?

 

Now, look at verse 28,31-33
—-And Moses said, hereby ye shall know
that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of
my own mind.

And it came to pass, as he had made an
end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under
them:

And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained
(or related) unto Korah, and all
their goods.

They, and all that appertained unto
them,  went down alive into the pit, and
the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

And Verse 34 states, All of
the people fled at their screams, fearing that the earth would swallow them up
too.  

 

Have you noticed when people
come against leadership, how their whole family is affected?

They pray and pray, their
loved ones come to Church, get saved, and are growing in the Lord. (which, by
the way in itself, makes Satan and his demons mad) Soon they see
something they question about what the leadership is doing; they call a
family meeting
, discuss it, and soon their family drops out of
Church
, backslides, and they blame the Church?  I’ve seen this over and over again. —-
Korah and his house were destroyed, as well as those who conspired with them.

The leaders are
responsible for the decisions they make.

It is not up to us to
straighten them out verbally, we are to pray for them.

Also, if you are not wearing
their shoes you have no right to judge them.

God called them to that
position.  Most of the time, they are
following the leadership of the Lord, and they could know something you
don’t know
.  

 

When we serve the Lord with
all our hearts, the trials will come to try to stop God’s work.  I have found, through experience, this is
when God is getting ready to do something great in that work.

Stay where you are, pray,
AND DON’T GIVE UP ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE.

We can be used unknowingly
in Satan’s plan: which is always trying to stop the work of God.

You wonder why you pray,
pray, pray, and can’t get peace?

Maybe you need to repent and
ask your family to forgive you for getting out of your place. We are not God,
we can’t control people.

 

You might ask me how I know
all this.

Well I’m sorry to say, I was
involved in something like this myself on two occasions of my life.  When I understood, I repented.

But that didn’t keep me from
reaping what I sowed.

People of God, it is important
to me, to instruct you in how  not
to fall into this trap of Satan.

There are no “Lone Rangers”
in the body of Christ, everyone is connected to someone.

 

We should be on guard and
stay out of things that could cause us to be influenced.  How do the forces of evil influence us?

In our
thought life
—- 1 Corinthians 13:4,5
—- Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not

easily provoked, thinketh no evil (or we could say, is not ready to

suspect evil).

We see here,
devices that Satan uses, that could cause us to think evil of someone:

1- Lack of
love

2- Lack of
patience

3- Lack of
kindness

4- Envy   (or
jealousy or rivalry)

5- The pushing
of self forward

6- Pride

7-
Inappropriate behavior

8-
Self-seeking

9-
Being easily provoked

10- I call these The Nine Rotten Fruit of Evil.

All of which,
manifest in someone who is ready to think or suspect evil of others.

Believe me,
these are things that should not, but do, operate at times in the body
of Christ.

We are told in
Romans 12:21 to …Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome
(or Conquer) evil with
good.

In the very
next chapter, Chapter 13 we are instructed to honor authority.

These are
things the devil doesn’t want us to know that keeps us from being the best
followers
of Christ we can be.

 

Evil Forces
Influence Us Through Our Companionships
1 Corinthians
15:33 —-Be not deceived: evil
communications
(or companionships)corrupt
good manners.

Have you ever
noticed how, when you get around some people, even in the body of Christ, there
is a spirit of criticism that enters the conversation?

Before we know
it, we enter into the gossip without even meaning too; and we feel so
convicted afterwards; and wonder how we allowed ourselves to get involved.

 

In Proverbs
6:16-19, we are introduced to seven things that are an abomination unto the
Lord, which is called Seven Deadly Sins.

Let’s read it
—-These six things doth the Lord hate;
yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:

a proud
look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart
that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in

running to mischief,

a false
witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord

among the brethren.

Wow! God hates them, and they are an abomination (or loathsome
and wickedness) to him.

The sowing of
discord among the brethren causes more trouble in the Church than sinners or
demons on the outside.

The Church of
Jesus Christ needs revival, and a time of repentance.

 

This evil is
what the world and the Church are guilty of.
We see every day where there is a misuse of money in both.

Does the Word
say money is evil?

No.  Look at 1 Timothy 6:10 —-For the love of money is the root of all evil:  which while some coveted after (or were
greedy about), they have erred (or
turned away) from the faith, and pierced
themselves
(to torture one’s soul)
through with many sorrows.

It is the love
of money; that-is the putting of money before God.

God calls
evil, putting money and what you want, before Him and His work.  He calls the love of money the root of all
evil.

Think about
it, what seems to be number one on the mind of the world, and also, I’m ashamed
to say, on the mind of much of the Church?
MONEY!

Money is not evil;
it is used by God to do good for His children and those in need.

It takes
money, to send the Gospel around the world.

It takes money
to live.

But, Church,
our dependency is to be focused on God.
He is the supernatural God who supplies all our needs and also gives us
the desires of our hearts.  Our money may
fail, but God will never fail us.

The apostle
Paul does not condemn the possession of riches: they are only evil where they
are badly used. Neither does he speak against rich men: for he would condemn
such men as Abraham, and Joseph of Armethea who used their wealth
righteously.  He condemns the haste to be
rich.

The rich must
not put their trust in their wealth, but put their trust in God, and their
focus on the treasures that have eternal value.

There is much
more I could go into about The Forces of Evil and How They Work, but time won’t
permit today.

We will stay
away from the evil one, if we set ourselves to live in the Word, and God’s
Spirit. ——–   Until next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DON’T GET CAUGHT-UP IN OTHER PEOPLE’S STRIFE

WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO STAY IN STRIFE. EVERY TIME YOU’RE AROUND THEM,YOU CAN FEEL IT. PERSONALLY, IF I CAN, I AVOID THAT KIND OF PERSONALITY. BUT IT’S VERY HARD IF THEIR STRIFE IS DIRECTED TOWARD YOU, OR THOSE YOU LOVE.

TODAY, WE WILL DISCOVER WHAT THE WORD HAS TO SAY ABOUT STRIFE: AND MY ADVICE TO YOU IS OUR TITLE FOR THIS MESSAGE: DON’T GET CAUGHT-UP IN OTHER PEOPLE’S STRIFE. AVOID IT WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHOICE.

ONE OF THE HARDEST CHALLENGES IN OUR WALK WITH THE LORD, IS TO STAY OUT OF STRIFE: JAMES 3:14-16 – BUT IF YE HAVE BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE (OR QUARELING) IN YOUR HEARTS, GLORY NOT (DO NOT BE PROUD),  AND LIE NOT AGAINST THE TRUTH.

            THIS WISDOM IS NOT FROM ABOVE, BUT IS EARTHLY, SENSUAL, DEVILISH.

            FOR WHERE ENVYING AND STRIFE IS, THERE IS CONFUSION AND EVERY EVIL WORK.

STRIFE OPENS-UP THE DOOR FOR EVERY EVIL WORK! WHEN I SAY THIS, I MEAN, STRIFE OPENS-UP THE DOOR FOR THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS, TO BE INVITED INTO OUR HOMES, CHURCHES, AND WORK PLACES. THESE ARE EVIL WORKS SUCH AS: HATRED; PERVERSION; SIN; SCOFFING; GOSSIP; PRIDE; ANGER; AND FLESH.

ALL OF THESE CAUSE DIVISION; AND MANY TIMES, SEPARATION AND DIVORCE. NOT TO MENTION ALL KINDS OF CRIMES AND WARS —-AND YES, CHURCH SPLITS.

PROVERBS 10:12  HATRED STIRRETH UP STRIFES…  HERE, WE SEE STRIFE ORIGINATES FROM HATRED.

PROVERBS 16:28  – A FROWARD MAN SOWETH STRIFE: AND A WISPERER SEPARATETH CHIEF FRIENDS. THE DISOBEDIENT MAN OR WOMAN SOWS DISSENSION AND DAMAGES FRIENDSHIPS.

OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS BEEN MY ADVICE: DO NOT HAVE CONVERSATION WITH A PERSON OF STRIFE. IT IS DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD, AND IS POISON TO THE SOUL OF THOSE WHO GET INVOLVED WITH SUCH,  AND IT CAUSES DIVISION. 

IT IS VERY EASY TO CHOOSE SIDES, AND MANY BE DEFILED.  IT IS NOT INNOCENT; IT IS DEVILISH: OR WE COULD SAY DEMONIC!

IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE, THAT THOSE WHO GET INTO STRIFE, ALWAYS NEED A COHART, OR ACCOMPLICE. THEY HAVE A HARD TIME EXPRESSING IT WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE; AND MANY TIMES , IN THE CHURCH, THEY “DRAW-IN” A STRUGGLING NEW CONVERTWHO IS STILL ON THE  “MILK BOTTLE”, SO-TO-SPEAK. THEY DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND THEY ARE BEING USED BY THE HATE OF ANOTHER HALF-BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIAN.

PROVERBS 17:19 – HE LOVETH TRANSGRESSION (OR LOVES TO OFFEND) THAT LOVETH STRIFE;  AND HE THAT EXALTETH HIS GATE SEEKETH DESTRUCTION.

THIS VERSE WARNS THAT OFFENSES ARE EASILY COMMITTED BUT DIFFICULT TO DISSOLVE OR GO AWAY. IT’S LIKE ‘WILD FIRE” ON DRY TIMBER: IT IS HARD TO EXTINGUISH.

PROVERBS 22:10 – CAST OUT THE SCORNER, AND CONTENTION WILL GO OUT; YEA, STRIFE AND REPROACH SHALL CEASE. IN THIS VERSE, WE ARE REMINDED THAT CONTENTION AND BICKERING WILL EXIST AS LONG AS THE SCORNER IS AROUND. A GOOD REFERENCE FOR THIS IS MATTHEW 18:17 – AND IF HE SHALL NEGLECT TO HEAR THEM, TELL IT UNTO THE CHURCH: BUT IF HE NEGLECT TO HEAR THE CHURCH, LET HIM BE UNTO THEE AS A HEATHEN MAN AND A PUBLICAN (AS A PAGAN AND TAX COLLECTOR).

THE FUEL IS WHAT KEEPS THEN FIRE BURNING.  —-I KNOW SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO GET OVER THINGS, AND FORGIVE,  ESPECIALLY IF IT IS AN ON-GOING OCCURANCE. BUT FORGIVENESS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT IN GOD’S WORD. WE ARE COMMANDED TO FORGIVE 70 TIMES 7 IN MATTHEW 18:22. IT IS SAID, THAT MEANS 490 TIMES IN ONE DAY.

IF ONE PARTY TO A QUARREL, REALLY WISHES FOR PEACE, HE CAN OFTEN OBTAIN IT BY SIMPLY ABSTAINING FROM MAINTAINING HIS CONTENTION. HIS OPPONENT   WILL GET TIRED OF A ONE-SIDED WAR.

PATIENCE, MEEKNESS, AND QUIET ENDURANCE WILL MAKE PEACE IN THE END. THIS WAS CHRIST’S METHOD. HE BROUGHT PEACE BY HIS ACTIONS OF BROTHERLY LOVE, PEACEABLY SUBMITTING TO WRONG.

I BELIEVE MANY TIMES THE FIRE WOULD GO OUT IF A THIRD PARTY DIDN’T ADD THE FUEL. BUT A THIRD PARTY WHO IS ALWAYS IN STRIFE THEMSELVES,  INTERFERES, NOT AS A PEACEMAKER; BUT TO TAKE ONE SIDE; OR TO MEDDLE IN PURE MISCHIEF MAKING, DELIGHTING TO STIR UP THE EMBERS OF STRIFE; OR TO SHOW THEIR OWN POWER  AND IMPORTANCE.

GREAT HARM IS DONE, BY MERELY CARELESS GOSSIP OR TALE-BEARING. WHEN AN ELEMENT OF SPITE IS ADDED AND THERE IS A DELIBERATE TTEMPT TO AGGRAVATE A QUARREL, THE TALE-BEARER IS DEFINITELY CRUEL. MOST TALES ARE LIKE SNOWBALLS, THEY GROW AS THEY PROCEED.

THE WORD OF GOD SAYS IT SO WELL, EVEN A CHILD CAN UNDERSTAND: II TIMOTHY 2:23-25 – BUT FOOLISH AND UNLEARNED QUESTIONS AVOID, KNOWING THAT THEY DO GENDER STRIFES.

               AND THE SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT STRIVE: BUT BE GENTLE UNTO ALL MEN, APT TO TEACH; PATIENT,

               IN MEEKNESS INSTRUCTING THOSE WHO OPPOSE THEMSELVES; IF GOD WILL PREADVENTURE (OR MAYBE) WILL GIVE THE REPENTANCE TO THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE TRUTH.

I ASK YOU TODAY, IF YOU HAVE AN AGENDA, JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT—-TURN THAT OVER TO GOD AND LET HIM WORK ALL OF THIS OUT FOR YOU.

THOSE WHO ARE CAUGHT-UP IS SOMEONE ELSE’S STRIFE, TO REPENT, AND STAY AWAY (IF POSSIBLE), FROM THAY ANGRY AND UNFORGIVING PERSON, AND PRAY THEY WILL REPENT OF THEIR UNFORGIVENESS, BEFORE YOU FA;; INTO THAT SNARE WITH THEM.

SPEND TIME YOU HAVE BEEN WASTING: LISTENING, AND JOINING-IN ON THEIR STRIFE,—-IN PRAYING FOR THOSE THEY ARE AGAINST; THAT THEIR LIVES WILL CHANGE.

FOR HE THAT WILL LOVE LIFE, AND SEE GOOD DAYS, LET HIM REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL, AND HIS LIPS THAT THEY SPEAK NO GUILE.

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