Devotion: Resist The Devil By Faith

Who is this wicked one we call Satan?  The scriptures do not reveal much detail about this entity even though there is a lot of speculation pertaining to him and his existence.  There is no time period that explains exactly when he came into existence.  According to scripture, there are no indications as to when, if any, a revolt happened or when the fall occurred.  The Bible is somewhat vague about how he became known as Satan and his origins.  The lack of verifiable facts has not stopped the speculation about his existence or lack thereof.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9).

Lucifer was originally created as one of God’s highest angels.  Satan, who possesses all angelic attributes, is believed to have led some of the angels in a rebellion.  Many describe the devil as the originator and chef practitioner of sin (I John 3:8), as that wicked one (I John 5:18), as a thief and a destroyer (John 10:10), as a deceiver (Revelation 12:9), as a murderer and liar (John 8:44), and as the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10).  Many believe his craftiness and deceitful nature was first depicted during the fall of mankind in Genesis 3:1-13, and in fact he can masquerade as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14), as he deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:19).  Many believe that he is in opposition to all things of God by counterfeiting the works of God and destroying all that is good.  The phrase “deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9) is a definitive statement, that is a statement of summary, which summarizes his actions in the earth realm.  During every free moment in the earth realm, his only purpose supposedly has been to deceive the world.

To “deceive” is to tell a “lie.”  He is accused of being the father of lies and the father of deceit.  The stories go on to say that if he can plant a lie, get you to accept it, then get you to act upon it, he can gain control of your mind in the battle for your soul.  Supposedly he wants you to think on things that are not true, keeping you confused, so that you will not know God’s will for your life.  An unmaintained, undisciplined thought-life occurs from the deceptions brought on by him.  His main goal is to cause you not to maintain your thought-life.  He is out to deceive you so that he might gain access to your soul through your mind.  Some say he is not a creator and has used the same tactics as he did during his first encounter with mankind.  Some claim he uses the same methods today that he used in that encounter with Eve in the garden.  Why would he change his methods of operation since they worked so well for him in the past against them that were pure in heart and mind?  They had no thoughts that were not pure to confuse their minds and no bad genes passed down for past generations to deal with like you do, but he used temptation to defeat them.  What he used to defeat them then, is what he will use to defeat you today.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8).

Be sober (meaning clear minded) and be vigilant (meaning watchful) because your great enemy walks around like a hungry, roaring lion looking for some victim to devour.  Walks around like a hungry, roaring lion meaning he walks around roaring like a hungry lion, but he is not a lion.  Because he is the father of lies, he wants you to believe that he is a lion waiting to devour you.  He continuously travels through the earth realm, going back and forth in the earth, and walking up and down in it (Job 1:7), seeking souls to devour.  To seek whom he may devour means he has to seek those who are willing to play into his hands.  He does not have the right to devour anyone unless his or her action allows him to do that.  He must have your permission to devour you.  If you are looking for something or someone, it means that you do not have it or have not found them yet; therefore, he has no control over you unless you let him find you.

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

He has had many years to study human nature, but this does not mean we should be ignorant to his ways either (II Corinthians 2:11).  While you have been given authority over the power of the enemy, to resist him by faith, you should never underestimate him.  He just may prove not to be who you have been led to believe he is.

We forever pray that this inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Endure Hardship

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (I Corinthians 10:13 NIV).

Too many so-called believers still have pieces of their old sinful nature still living within them.  While many have been able to put to death many aspects of their sinful natures, many choose to keep souvenirs, clinging to particular portions of their old life.  While there are varying amounts being kept, these tokens only serve as reminders of a life gone by, a life that was completely ruled by a sinful nature.  The problem with keeping these souvenirs, these tokens alive, it gives opportunity for temptation to do its thing.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).

Every man is tempted, but he is tempted by his own passions and by his own desires.  His own lust serves as the bait for the temptation.  Once the trap is baited, it is man’s lower nature, his fleshly desires that draws him away and entices him.  Then once the temptation goes from the confines of man’s mind and he acts upon it, he then gives birth to sin.  Once sin is born, it grows up, matures, and then brings with it, death.

“But remember this—the wrong desires that come into your life aren’t anything new and different.  Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you.  And no temptation is irresistible.  You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says.  He will show you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it” (I Corinthians 10:11-13 TLB).

While the old cliché says, “God never gives you more than you can bear,” we actually see that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond your capability to “stand up against the temptation, if you choose.”  But you have to be willing to find the way of escape and not allow that old sinful nature and the temptation to give birth to sin.  It is then, when you find that way of escape, that you will be able to endure and “stand up against it.”  Remember, God will provide a way out, a way to escape, but you have to look for it and be willing to use it.

We pray that today’s inspirational message will be a blessing to you and we pray that you will share them with others so that they may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: An Ugly Tree

It was the first man, Adam who came from the earth, who “was made a living soul” (I Corinthians 15:45).  Scripture tells us “Adam was the figure or the type of him who was to come” (Romans 5:14).  It was Jesus who was first made in the likeness of earthy man, fashioned as the first.  Then upon his resurrection, “he was made a quickening or life-giving spirit” (I Corinthians 15:45).  We know that first came the natural man and then came the spiritual man.  And as we have bore the image of the earthly man, we now have the opportunity to bear the image of the heavenly man.  We now have the opportunity to put on a spiritual body that comes directly from God.

“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.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30).

We are fully aware that all things work together for the good to those who have love for God.  It is those who have this love for God that have come to him and it is them that he has declared not guilty, and filled with the goodness of Jesus Christ.  He has given them right standing and given them his glory.  For God knew before the beginning, pre-destined, if you will, that those who would come to him would bear the likeness of the only begotten son of God, that he, Jesus Christ might be the firstborn among many brothers.

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming” (I Corinthians 15:19-23).  “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).

If our hope in Jesus rest solely in this present life, then we have completely missed the boat.  Jesus Christ has risen from the dead to become the firstfruits of them who have died or slept.  He is the firstfruits of the first resurrection.  This be the resurrection from the dead that came to all men because of what Jesus himself did.  It is in this life, this resurrected life, that we are to rest our hope.  We know that everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, being members of his sinful race, and wherever there is sin, death results.  And because all who are in Christ are related to Christ, then all will rise again because Christ redeemed us when he hung on that “ugly tree”

We forever pray that this inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: The Weapon Of The Spirit

We now know that there is a battle going on in our mind for the control of our soul.  We also now know that our enemy comes from the spirit realm.

“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).  “For though we walk (live) in the flesh (in this body), we do not war (fight) after (according to) the flesh (human standards) (II Corinthians 10:3).

Although we live in this world in the flesh, we do not engage in war according to the flesh, as the world does.  We do not wrestle against people made of flesh and blood.  While it appears that our encounters are mostly with people, things are not always as they appear to be.  In this war, we wrestle against persons without bodies.  We battle against the evil rulers of the spirit realm.  That’s right; we battle against the mighty satanic beings, against the great evil princes of darkness, and against the wicked spirits of this unseen world.  This battle takes place in the arena of our mind for the control of our soul.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full” (II Corinthians 10:3-6 WET).

Therefore, the weaponry of our warfare cannot be that of conventional human weapons.  No, we must use spiritual weaponry, weapons provided to us by God.  These mighty weapons are designed to knock down and overthrow the enemy’s strongholds.  When used properly, these mighty weapons can cast down every proud argument against God.  These mighty weapons can pull down every high thing that promotes itself against the knowledge of God.  These mighty weapons can bring into captivity every thought, every idea, and every suggestion that comes into your mind.  These weapons can bring into compliance your mind with the mind of Christ.  Keep in mind that these battles take place in our mind.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11).  “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Through all of this, we are to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Then we are to put on the whole armor of God so that we will be able to stand against all of the wiles of the devil.  We are to put on truth, the true word, to put on righteousness; to fit ourselves with the gospel of peace; and above all, we are to take with us faith, to take with us salvation, and to take with us the word of God.  Having put on all of these things, we are to stand, for then we will be able to stand against all enemies, to withstand all attacks, and quench every fiery dart of the devil.  When we use “God’s instruments of war,” we can stand against the tricks of the devil, we can keep our position against all of his deceits, and we can eventually win the war.

We hope that today’s inspirational message will allow you to see who our true enemy is and give you a new perspective on the real war that we are fighting.  We pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: The Blessing Of The Lord Will Make You Rich

We know that we continually talk about prosperity and how it is God’s will for his children to prosper.  We have shown you many passages that reveal it is God’s will for us to prosper.  We know that many look around the Christian circles and only see those who preach about prosperity prospering while others appear to struggle to make ends meet, while waiting on their own prosperity.  Because we see the apparent injustices of those in religious leadership positions wearing the expensive designer clothes, riding in the expensive luxury cars, and living in the big expensive houses with servants and the like, many have decided that prosperity can only be of the devil and so they do not want any part of the so-called prosperity message.  What they do not realize is that they are actually hurting themselves.

First of all, not everything in this world that we live in is as it appears to be.  This is just a fact of life.  Since the beginning of man, we have been deceived, manipulated into doing things that have gone against the truths that are found in the word of God.  The really sad part is that the same deceit and manipulation still goes on today by the very one that has continually deceived the world.  The devil’s craftiness and deceitful nature was first depicted during the fall of mankind (Genesis 3:1-13).  If he was able to alter what God had said in the mind of Eve (II Corinthians 11:3), what makes you think he cannot do the same today?

Many are aware of the devil and his minion’s infiltration into the Church, but has any thought been given to other areas that he may have influenced.  It should not be out of the question to consider the devil’s role in the translation of the very Bible that we use.  And no we have not lost our minds nor are we speaking against what some consider to be the very word of God.  We know that Satan himself can masquerade around as “an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14).  We also know that his ministers can be transformed into “ministers of righteousness” (II Corinthians 11:15).  And we know that his only purpose, since the beginning, has been to deceive mankind (Revelation 12:9).  We all have been taught that the devil knows the Bible, so not to consider this possibility may prove to be detrimental.

Scripture upon scripture has revealed that God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper.  Misinterpretations have caused many to reject the prosperity message, seeing it in a negative light.  Since “no man can serve two masters, because he will either love the one and hate the other or he will keep or hold on to one and have not respect for the other” (Matthew 6:24), prosperity has been taken off the table.  According to scripture, it is “the love of money” that is “the root or cause of all evil” (I Timothy 6:10), so by taking money out of the equation, then we get rid of the evil that is cause by this “evil money.”  You see, if you do not have this “evil,” then you can love the Lord God with all of your heart, soul, strength, or mind.  Problem solved, right?  Not exactly.  Money in and of itself is not evil.  In this economical system, money is just a tool necessary for you to live.  It is the “love of money” that is the problem not the money itself.

God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper.  And as we have continually stated, there is a specific reason for the prosperity.  God gives us the power or the ability to get wealth to fulfill his promise, that agreement he made with our ancestors (Deuteronomy 8:18).  But in order to prosper the right way, we have to understand that there is a godly path to prosperity, a way that adds no sorrow.  Of course, if there be a right way to prosper, then surely there be a wrong way to prosper.  You just need to make sure that you find the right path to prosperity.  We will give you a clue, it involves having “the blessings of the Lord” for “the blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22 NLT).

Again, we pray that today’s message will abundantly bless you and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: God Is A Genius

Have you ever wondered why man was created out of the dust, but the woman was created from the rib of man?

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” (Genesis 2:21-22).

Over the years, man has created some interesting stories related to the creation of man.  There are even more interesting stories associated with the creation of woman from the rib of man.  Believe it or not, the answer has more to do with sin and salvation than anything else.

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation” (Acts 17:26).

According to this passage, God created from one blood all the nations of men living on the face of the earth.  This is why Eve was created in the fashion that she was created, so that there would be only one blood for all mankind.  Had Eve been created from the dust as man was, there would have been two bloods.  And with two bloods, the need for two saviors.  While there is much speculation on how the other people came to be on the earth, it appears that we all came from one man: one man, one blood, and one race; the human race and with that, the need for one savior.  How awesome is God?  God is a genius.

As always, we pray that today’s inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: God Plays No Favorites

Recently, we referred to a study we did on “The Characteristics of God, his nature, his character, and his personality.”  In that commentary, we revealed the one thing we had discovered that completely summed God up in a nutshell, “God is a god of integrity.”  We defined “integrity” as “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards; uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty; or the state of being complete or undivided.”  We also mentioned that “the integrity thing” had absolutely nothing to do with God’s abilities or his capabilities.

We found that the sovereignty of God speaks to the abilities and capabilities of God but has little to do with the integrity of God.  And as we mentioned before, we do not make it a habit of speaking for God because God’s words speak for and interpret themselves; however, there are times when the significance of those words gets lost in translation.  God has the ability to be unfair, immoral, unrighteous, and to do evil and bad things.  He has the ability to change anything that he chooses to change, especially his mind, if he chooses to change it, as well as the ability to lie, if he wants or chooses to.  God is fully capable of doing anything he so chooses, but the God that we serve, the sovereign God of all creation has chosen not to do any of the abovementioned things because he is “a god of integrity.”

Therefore, when you read in scripture “there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts” (II Chronicles 19:7), “God changes not” (Malachi 3:6), and “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18), know that God has chosen these very traits to be part of “his nature, his character, and his personality.”  What God has said at the beginning and what he said in past times still holds true today and will continue in the future (Ezekiel 24:14).  What he gave at the beginning, he is still giving today and he will continue to give in the future (James 1:17).  Regardless of his abilities, God has chosen not to do certain things that would bring into question his integrity.  Many of the changes you see today are because man changed what God has said, not God changing what God has said.  Man has changed many things and then used God’s name to do so.  Man has done this so much throughout the years; he is now not able to distinguish the truth from the fiction.  God has not changed his mind about any one thing that he stated in the beginning or changed any one of those things that he put into place in the beginning.  God has never lied, not one time, past or present.  And God has never played nor does he play favorites.  This is why our God has chosen to be “the One of integrity;” that way, his children would recognize him over all others.

As you read today’s commentary, we pray that this message will bless you as well as inform you.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW