September 22nd 2019
We Have God’s Word To Read, And Jesus Left The Holy Spirit To Guide Our Reading, And To Assist Us When We Pray.
1 Peter 3:17 (NIV)
It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Do you try to always do what you believe to be God’s will? Do you really have an idea of what God’s will would be? Do you read your Bible every day? Most polls tell us professing Christians do not read their Bible every day, in fact most professing Christians rarely ever read their Bible! Are you part of most Christians in this fact? When I have asked people, I know to be Christians, if they ever witness to unbelievers, they usually answer NO! Then they often say something like, well I just don’t know the Bible well enough, so I’m afraid to try and witness, because they may ask me questions about the Bible! Are you embarrassed because you don’t know your Bible well enough to witness to other people? Many such people have studied extensively and have extensive degrees in mankind’s ideas about this world, yet they have never taken time to read God’s Word!
People who do not have Jesus in their lives, usually only want to know, how your life has been improved by having Jesus being your guiding light in your life! If it is true you have Jesus guiding your life, how can you NOT read His Word every day? Is there really a creature the Bible refers to as Satan, who wonders about on this earth, and tempts people to commit sins? The Bible tells us there is! In fact, unless Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and committed that original sin, then there is no need for a Savior! The penalty for sin is death, and the remission for sin is obtained only through the shedding of blood, through a perfect sacrifice. Satan uses the same tactics to convince members of mankind to sin. He started doing this soon after God created mankind in His image. Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?" (Genesis 3:1). Satan asks us questions that can deceive us to think God has deceived us. Then Satan confuses us to think God has made life more complicated than need be. "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. (Genesis 3:4). Then Satan makes us think we know better than God, and thus should not feel bad about ignoring Him. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5).
We all want to take on an attitude that we know better than God what we should do. Many well meaning Christian groups tell us such things, as the Bible was written by men thousands of years ago, and thus, we need to update the Bible with the knowledge mankind has gained over these many years. Some even believe we can determine that God was wrong about such things as sexual orientation and thus, we should be free to determine our sexual identity, and not be held back by God’s old ideas, as expressed in our Bible. Paul wrote about this problem of being tempted by Satan, and that we may fall for Satan’s schemes. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:11-12). Notice what Paul is telling us here, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Satan tried to tempt Jesus when He walked this earth as a member of mankind too.
Immediately after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Bible tells us that Satan tried to tempt Jesus into following him instead of following God the Father, while Jesus was bound to this earth. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’" (Luke 4:3-4). Note that Jesus replied to Satan by quoting the Old Testament Scriptures. You can see from this that Jesus believed He should read the Scriptures when He was a man. How can you now not see the need for you to be immersed in the study of the Scriptures, as you walk this earth as a member of mankind? Satan uses a similar method to tempt Jesus as he did with Adam and Eve. The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’" (Luke 4:5-8). Jesus says our service must be to “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Satan tried to tempt Jesus into believing Jesus should seek to become great in this life by amassing great wealth and power in this life.
Satan tried to confuse Jesus into thinking He was capable of testing God by demanding that God would send His angels to protect Jesus as proof that God exists. Atheists still try to put God to a test, and then, they claim that God does not exist, because He will not follow their commands. Some professing Christians do similar things and expect God to respond to their commands. The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’" Jesus answered, "It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’" (Luke 4:9-12). Do you ever try to test God by praying for some “thing,” and then, expect a response by God to answer your prayer exactly like you perceive what should occur?
Jesus told His disciples (us) that He has defeated Satan by His death and resurrection, and there is no reason to fear Satan for His followers. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:31-32). Not only did Jesus create a safe place for us here on this earth, protected from Satan, but He also supplied us with assurance of our ability to converse with Jesus in heaven through prayer, but Jesus also left behind the Holy Spirit to assist us when we pray. When Jesus was leaving this earth to go back and be with His Father in heaven, Jesus did, "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:5-7).
Jesus told His followers, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. We have God’s Word to read, and Jesus left the Holy Spirit to guide our reading, and to assist us when we pray. What a wonderful gifts Jesus left for us!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 Peter 3:17 (NIV)
It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Do you try to always do what you believe to be God’s will? Do you really have an idea of what God’s will would be? Do you read your Bible every day? Most polls tell us professing Christians do not read their Bible every day, in fact most professing Christians rarely ever read their Bible! Are you part of most Christians in this fact? When I have asked people, I know to be Christians, if they ever witness to unbelievers, they usually answer NO! Then they often say something like, well I just don’t know the Bible well enough, so I’m afraid to try and witness, because they may ask me questions about the Bible! Are you embarrassed because you don’t know your Bible well enough to witness to other people? Many such people have studied extensively and have extensive degrees in mankind’s ideas about this world, yet they have never taken time to read God’s Word!
People who do not have Jesus in their lives, usually only want to know, how your life has been improved by having Jesus being your guiding light in your life! If it is true you have Jesus guiding your life, how can you NOT read His Word every day? Is there really a creature the Bible refers to as Satan, who wonders about on this earth, and tempts people to commit sins? The Bible tells us there is! In fact, unless Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and committed that original sin, then there is no need for a Savior! The penalty for sin is death, and the remission for sin is obtained only through the shedding of blood, through a perfect sacrifice. Satan uses the same tactics to convince members of mankind to sin. He started doing this soon after God created mankind in His image. Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?" (Genesis 3:1). Satan asks us questions that can deceive us to think God has deceived us. Then Satan confuses us to think God has made life more complicated than need be. "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. (Genesis 3:4). Then Satan makes us think we know better than God, and thus should not feel bad about ignoring Him. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5).
We all want to take on an attitude that we know better than God what we should do. Many well meaning Christian groups tell us such things, as the Bible was written by men thousands of years ago, and thus, we need to update the Bible with the knowledge mankind has gained over these many years. Some even believe we can determine that God was wrong about such things as sexual orientation and thus, we should be free to determine our sexual identity, and not be held back by God’s old ideas, as expressed in our Bible. Paul wrote about this problem of being tempted by Satan, and that we may fall for Satan’s schemes. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:11-12). Notice what Paul is telling us here, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Satan tried to tempt Jesus when He walked this earth as a member of mankind too.
Immediately after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Bible tells us that Satan tried to tempt Jesus into following him instead of following God the Father, while Jesus was bound to this earth. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’" (Luke 4:3-4). Note that Jesus replied to Satan by quoting the Old Testament Scriptures. You can see from this that Jesus believed He should read the Scriptures when He was a man. How can you now not see the need for you to be immersed in the study of the Scriptures, as you walk this earth as a member of mankind? Satan uses a similar method to tempt Jesus as he did with Adam and Eve. The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’" (Luke 4:5-8). Jesus says our service must be to “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Satan tried to tempt Jesus into believing Jesus should seek to become great in this life by amassing great wealth and power in this life.
Satan tried to confuse Jesus into thinking He was capable of testing God by demanding that God would send His angels to protect Jesus as proof that God exists. Atheists still try to put God to a test, and then, they claim that God does not exist, because He will not follow their commands. Some professing Christians do similar things and expect God to respond to their commands. The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’" Jesus answered, "It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’" (Luke 4:9-12). Do you ever try to test God by praying for some “thing,” and then, expect a response by God to answer your prayer exactly like you perceive what should occur?
Jesus told His disciples (us) that He has defeated Satan by His death and resurrection, and there is no reason to fear Satan for His followers. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:31-32). Not only did Jesus create a safe place for us here on this earth, protected from Satan, but He also supplied us with assurance of our ability to converse with Jesus in heaven through prayer, but Jesus also left behind the Holy Spirit to assist us when we pray. When Jesus was leaving this earth to go back and be with His Father in heaven, Jesus did, "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:5-7).
Jesus told His followers, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. We have God’s Word to read, and Jesus left the Holy Spirit to guide our reading, and to assist us when we pray. What a wonderful gifts Jesus left for us!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak