by David Brenneman
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
The way of the world isn't the way that the Lord Jesus Christ ever had in mind for humans. Most of what we have seen in human history has been Satan's attempts at recreating God's creation into his own image. Prior to the Tower of Babel, the Lord Jesus said that if God doesn't interfere with their progress, nothing would be impossible for them. Genesis 11:6.
The pure, untainted, unaffected by sin, mind of mankind was destined for great and wonderful things that our minds today cannot fathom.
Scripture eludes to this, I believe, in saying "but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”" 1 Corinthians 2:9.
Oh the depths of the depravity of mankind is! The greater sadness is how mankind celebrates their own supposed genius. This whole thing of Artificial Intelligence. Satan's easily smart enough to lay a foundation for deception well in advance of perpetrating that deception. We are easily fooled into following along when the path appears to be lined with roses and rainbows.
Jesus wasn't just making a supposition about life to those who would live after He ascended. He said we would face tribulations. We would face it. It would find us.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;" 1 Peter 4:12.
We're going to face a whole world of people sucked into Satan's deceptions. We are going to face situations where we must choose to go along or to take a stand. We read what Peter said..."which comes upon you for your testing".
Paul used instructional words to do with athletes and soldiers. Intentional to convey the true purpose of what we are going through. God hides nothing with regards to His training in righteousness that He has for those who love Him. We may not understand it at all, but His purposes are to always grow us in Christ.
We must differentiate between truth and lies. We must be intentional in the training that He's provided for our benefit. We must agree with Jesus on what is evil and what is righteousness. Not what the world says each of those is.
To affirm people's deviant beliefs and behaviors is not doing them any favors. To dismiss their ways of practiced sin and not stand on the truth of God's word isn't what we are to be doing. We should not give ground to the enemy of God. As some have said, hate the sin but not the sinner.
I have long been praying for many people in my life that have severely diverged from the truth of God's word. They have embraced sin in all its sinfulness. I have very little doubt that some of those whom I pray for are demon possessed. They dabbled too much in the things of this world, not having been saved, and the enemy of God took it from there. Saved people cannot be possessed by demons.
The battlefield is in our hearts and minds. The goal is the soul's of mankind.
Satan's schemes are for himself. He cares not who dies and goes to Hell. He absolutely doesn't want the Spirit to succeed in adding anyone to Heaven's numbers. Satan's never been to Hell. He knows full well just what the true purpose of Hell was. He's lost several extremely powerful demons due to the Lord Jesus sentencing them to Hell.
Demons are not to be trifled with. We read in the Bible of what happened to some who thought too lightly of dealing with demons. Acts chapter 19.
We will not be popular by standing by the Word of God. In the days of the early Church many thousands died because they took that stand.
Praying isn't just a means to get your needs met. Prayer isn't about physical needs. It's a Spiritual experience. It's our path of two way communication with Jesus Christ. Prayer helps keep our minds on the things above. Prayer helps us to see evil for what it really is. Prayer takes us into the very throne room of Our Savior.
When we do not take a stand in Christ Jesus, we're not showing a fallen world that there is a still better way. When we do not adhere to God's definition of what is evil and what is good, we are telling those around us that to defy God is ok, even if it is accepted by the world.
Jesus said that as it was in the days of Noah so it would be for the world when He returns. Read of how it was in the days of Noah in the book of Genesis. The thoughts of mankind were evil continually.
Protect what you have been taught is what Paul told Timothy. At least one translation said to guard it.
We are so up to our eyeballs in evil that we often say or do nothing about it. Do as Peter did when sinking into the water. Cry out to Jesus.
Be cognizant of the schemes of the Devil. Do not participate in them. Take nothing that the Spirit says is evil lightly. Pray always. Assume nothing. Stand firm as it says in Ephesians 6 in the whole armor of God.
Don't allow this world to lead you astray.
Reality Realized is to embrace God's truth no matter what the world tries to convince you of.
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