Resist Every Perversive Evil Naughty Thought James 4:7
Remember Elohim(God) Punished Evil-doers in Noah's Time Genesis 6:13
Recall Every Prophetic Example in the New Testament 2Tim 3:16; 1Pet 3:20; Jude 6-7, 11
Repeat Effectual Prayers to Escape Nasty Temptations James 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Run Expecting the Prize Enter the Narrow Thoroughfare 1Corinthians 9:24
[Rev 3:19-22 KJV] 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and REPENT. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Repent Now
Repent now is a message Jesus wants to relay today as he stands knocking at the door of each and every person's heart! Will you invite him in, for he wants to dine with you NOW? That's a question you need only answer to him!
He died a horrible death for you and I so that we could have an intimate relationship with him. Cited above are a few acronyms for R.E.P.E.N.T., did any one in particular stand out to you perhaps? The one that struck a chord in me says we should Repudiate Evil Pleasures & Every Negative Thought that may come in to our mind and heart.
Repudiate means to "reject", "abandon", "cast off" and "lay aside". That brings to mind the words of Hebrews 12:1;
[Hebrews 12:1 KJV] 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
ARE YOU RUNNING TO EXPECT THE PRIZE BY ENTERING THE NARROW THOROUGHFARE?
Yes, run to get the prize, life eternal in heaven with our heavenly Father. To win the race means we must reach the finish line. It doesn't matter how fast we run, we can just as well walk at a steady pace, being patient with our circumstances of life.
The narrow road doesn't make it a cake walk yet with the right adjustments we can make it with the Lord's help. The weight of sin carries the pressures of an evil immoral world which will bog us down causing some to lose the race. Remember there's no sacrifice left for WILLFUL SIN!
[Hebrews 10:26 NIV] 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
We must renounce, reject and abandon everything evil that is thrown at us in this world. Submitting to God will draw us close to Him. This should be our number one priority as we resist the devil. Yes, resisting is key as we take a stand against evil and endure under the various trials and tests of temptation.
[James 4:7 NIV] 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
One day time will be up, meaning NOW is the time to draw close to God while there is time. Soon the Lord will pour out his wrath on this wicked world and only those who have taken refuge in Jesus Christ and his righteousness will escape. Now is the time to work out our salvation with FEAR and trembling!
[Phillipians 2:12 NIV] 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with FEAR and trembling,
[Joel 2:12 NLT] 12 That is why the LORD says, "Turn to me NOW, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Noah and Lot are prophetic pictures cited in the New Testament to remind us that God will destroy the wicked and those who love the world. It was the FEAR OF THE LORD that moved Noah to repudiate all the evil in his day. COMPARE below Hebrews 11:7 KJV
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with FEAR, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. KJV (caps and bold added for emphasis)
The NIV version of the above cited scripture says Noah's faith was moved by HOLY FEAR of the Lord. The Lord would never ask us to do something that is impossible to do. Like Noah, we have been given a free will to choose light over darkness, good over evil.
I hope this blog helps you, the reader to see how having a healthy fear of the Lord is not out of the ordinary. Noah is a good example set in the scriptures to give us some insight into the subject of the FEAR OF THE LORD.
[2Pe 2:4-7 KJV] 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
Lot is another example we can glean insight from. He must have had the same HOLY FEAR of the Lord. For the evil in his day vexed his spirit. Are you bothered by the filth being put forth in the world today? Like Lot, it vexes my spirit to even hear one curse word. There's a celebrity that's extremely popular today and I can see why.
I feel drawn to his infectious smile and positive upbeat demeanor but his cursing defiles his character. For that reason I stay away from anything he does. It's apparent Lot appreciated the holiness and righteousness of God in his day! Noah and Lot both chose good over evil. Those seeking after the Spirit of God are the true sons of God, they will prevail as overcomers.
Compare 1John 2:14-17 and Romans 8:13
[1John 2:14-17 NIV] 14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
16 For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
[Romans 8:13 KJV] 13 "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God".
Being led by the Spirit of God leads us down the road of repentance repudiating, hating the evil pleasures of this world. Does the phrase "evil pleasures" sound like an oxymoron to you, meaning a contradictory statement? Holy Spirit will NEVER contradict the Word of God.
Note these two translations of Proverbs 2:12-14
[Proverbs 2:14 NLT] 12 Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. 13 These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. 14 They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
[Proverbs 2:12-14 NIV] 12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, 13 who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, 14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
Some may think how could anything that is pleasurable be evil? Doesn't our heavenly Father God who is love want us to feel pleasure? He promises to give his children hope and a future as Jeremiah 29:11 says so eloquently?
[Jer 29:11 NIV] 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Have you put your faith and trust in God's future for you? Our real life and future lies in God's hands. He created us giving us life and it's through his provision of salvation that our hope of eternity truly exist, and that is in Jesus Christ.
So therefore, to answer that question, consider the following. The determination of what's considered good or evil should always come from God, the Creator and not of ourselves or any other source.
[Rom 1:25 NIV] 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
[1John 4:8 NIV] 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
[Gen 1:31 NIV] 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.
God is the essence of love. His canopy of love covered Adam and Eve providing the best of fruits, all was good in the garden of Eden. Yet, there arose a problem in the garden of Eden. God told Adam and Eve they could eat the fruit from every tree in the garden, that it was good for them.
Except they were not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We know how that scenario ended, they both ate the FORBIDDEN FRUIT symbolized often through tradition as an apple.
It matters not what kind of fruit was on the tree, whether apples, oranges or pears. The lesson to learn is that ONLY God knows what is BEST for us today just as he did for our first parents Adam and Eve.
They were deceived by the notion that God was holding back something GOOD from them. What I find interesting is that it doesn't say the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were two separate trees. They were banned to eat from the ONE tree of the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil.
[Gen 3:3-5 NLT] 3 "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'"
4 "You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. 5 "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil."
This ONE tree contained both good and evil knowledge. So to merely touch it would put them unavoidably into contact with what is evil. It was inevitable that they would suffer the consequences as God had forewarned them.
He knew their eating from this tree mattered not that there was good knowledge on the tree. I'm led to believe God was showing Adam and Eve that in spite of there being good in the world, there was also existed evil.
The tree symbolized God's sovereignty. SOVEREIGNTY means supreme power and authority, having dominion and ownership. God the Creator was only trying to protect his creation from evil.
If the tree would only have had evil, it could make a case for itself as being good.
Evil could pretend to be good in the face of those unfamiliar with it as Adam and Eve were. Therefore understandably God included good on the tree. Light would expose the darkness, truth exposed all the lies. Good exposed evil. Only the true God who is sovereign, dictates what is good.
Anyone opposed to what God says is good is evil. Satan opposed God's Word. Satan comes from the root of Strong's Hebrew H7853 which means adversary, opposer, and accuser. He accused God of holding back for the purpose of being selfish.
How untrue and ridiculous that line of thinking was when God is the very essence of LOVE. 1John 4:8 Selfishness is remotely uncharacteristic of God's true nature. As a matter of fact, he is everything in opposition to what He was accused of being.
[1John 4:8 NIV] 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
[John 8:44 NIV] 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The only true God demonstrated a selfless love for all of mankind and all creation by sacrificing his only begotten Son on a torture stake. All who resist the lies of Satan have chosen to believe God knows what is best, trusting His Word as TRUTH.
Satan the devil is a LIAR and the father of lies. God reigns supreme in the hearts of all who recognize him as the Creator and true God. What happened in the garden had lasting effects that would plunge all of future mankind into a world of sin, chaos and death.
[John 17:3 NIV] 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Through Christ we have a way out of the dire circumstances of sin and death. Christ undid all the ramifications of Adam and Eve's sin. Through Christ we will have access to the tree of LIFE which contains only the GOOD fruit God wants to impart to us. God's servants will be free to come and go inside the city of the King, New Jerusalem. Have you fully surrendered yet to the Lord?
[Rev 22:2-3 NIV] 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
What exactly does it mean to fully surrender and submit ourselves to God today? It means we allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds to the good and acceptable will of Christ. It is the good and acceptable way of thinking that will lead us down the narrow path which leads to eternal life with God. Compare Romans 12:2
[Romans 12:2 KJV] 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Having a healthy fear of God leads us to obey his commandments which are a protection to all those heeding his command. Adam and Eve's disobedience led them outside of the Lord's set parameters bringing them outside of his banner of loving protection.
Compare Psalm 60:4, SOS 2:4 and Isaiah 5:26
[Psalm 60:4 NKJV] 4 You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
[Song 2:4 NKJV] 4 [The Shulamite to the Daughters of Jerusalem] He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me [was] love
[Isaiah 5:26 NKJV] 26 He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, And will whistle to them from the end of the earth; Surely they shall come with speed, swiftly.
Naturally, all those who FEAR the Lord will be drawn to his banner of love and protection. Yet, healthy HOLY FEAR is more. It's not ALL about what God can do for us. It's MORE about our desire to please the Lord, wanting to draw NEAR to HIM, it's MOST about the FEAR of separation from God.
Adam and Eve came into contact with all that was evil in spite of the fact that good was present on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It led them onto the wrong path where there was only sin, separating them from God. Separation from God led to sickness, suffering and death. We must listen, trust and obey God, believing his word that He WOULD NOT withhold anything GOOD from us.
[Psalm 84:11-12 KJV] 11 For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, blessed [is] the man that trusteth in thee.
Jacob the Deceiver
Initially, the account of Genesis paints an unappealing picture of Jacob for us. Jacob was known to be a liar, a trickster, a deceiver having tricked Esau his older brother out of his firstborn birthright blessing. He got the firstborn birthright blessing not only by tricking Esau but by straight out lying to his father Isaac. Compare Genesis chapters 25-27
[Gen 27:34-36, 41 NLT] 34 When Esau heard his father's words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. "Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!" he begged. 35 But Isaac said, "Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing."
36 Esau exclaimed, "No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven't you saved even one blessing for me?" ...
41 From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: "I will soon be mourning my father's death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob."
Evil was ever present in Jacob's world just as it is today. Jacob feared for his life because of what he had done to his brother Esau. Jacob's fear of Esau was understandable. There is something profound we can learn in that situation as it parallels the time we are living in today.
Jacob sought God's blessing as he became no longer focused on the fear of man, his brother Esau but rather on God. Jacob prevailed because he didn't let up in his pursuit of God. By his persistence in seeking God, he got to see God face to face. He recognized God was sovereign finally SUBMITTING FULLY to God. As a result he was a changed man as his life was preserved for the work God would call him to do.
[Genesis 32:30 KJV] 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
He called on the God of his forefathers Abraham and Isaac. Out of Jacob came the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. God changed Jacob's name to Israel to demonstrate it was his CHARACTER that had needed changing, his way of thinking and acting.
[Gen 32:24, 26-28 NLT] 24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. ... 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!" But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 "What is your name?" the man asked. He replied, "Jacob." 28 "Your name will no longer be Jacob," the man told him. "From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won."
Israel means he who PREVAILS in God; PREVAIL means to TRIUMPH, to CONQUER, and OVERCOME. Have you embraced your new name, the name of ISRAEL and allowed God to CHANGE you as he CHANGED Jacob?
We are all born with the likeness of Jacob in character, but it is by the BLOOD, saving GRACE and the washing of the WORD that saves and transforms us. We may encounter God face to face like Jacob when we wrestle with the son of man, not letting go until we are blessed.
The son of man Jesus Christ reflects the very FACE of God the Father. The man Jacob wrestled with was a prophetic picture of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the most significant thing we can take away from this story of Jacob? Most important's in learning to trust in God, knowing he will rectify any conflicts and turmoil in our life when we put him first. We learn not to fear what man can do to us. It's about having a reverent fear of God. Moreover, in this instance, it points to the FEAR of being SEPARATED from GOD.
GIVE GOD GLORY FOR GRACE IF HE HAS CHANGED YOU! AMEN!!!!
Knowledge of God
[John 17:3 KJV] 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
We can learn so much from the great teacher HIMSELF about God as we read the gospel accounts in the bible. The Holy Spirit will help to bring to mind the things we need to be mindful of in any given situation of life. Taking in the knowledge of God brings life eternal as it leads us to Jesus Christ who knew and did the perfect will of the Father as a demonstration for us.
One noteworthy instruction for these last days is to remain sober spiritually because the world is intoxicated by the polluted wine being served as entertainment and recreation amidst immense darkness. If we are wise and have a healthy FEAR of the Lord, we will OBEY ALL OF HIS COMMANDMENTS.
Proverbs 2:1-8 gives wise instruction to those fearing the Lord. Wisdom dictates that we store God's commandments in our heart and treasure the life his commands impart to us when we listen and obey them. Just as God told Adam and Eve, knowledge from the source he provides is what leads to life. The FEAR of God produces a HUNGER within us for the DEEP things of God, knowledge that leads to the tree of life. Compare
[1Co 2:10 NIV] 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
[Dan 2:22 NIV] 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
[Pro 3:18 KJV] 18 She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.
[Rev 2:7 KJV] 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
[Rev 22:14 KJV] 14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Wisdom leads us to search out for knowledge of God which serves as a protection for us. He is the one and only source to provide protection from evil. We must TRUST God at his WORD when he tells us what is GOOD knowledge because some knowledge simply is NOT GOOD. Discernment is needed to determine what knowledge is good coming from God, and that which is bad coming from evil sources. This we MUST remember and TAKE to HEART!
Not all knowledge is worthy of our attention because some things simply are not beneficial in knowing. Jesus had something to say about this in the book of Revelation when he rebuked those who felt it would be beneficial in knowing the deep things of Satan.
[Rev 2:23-24 NIV] 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets, 'I will not impose any other burden on you,
Never forget GOD'S enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. His knowledge is what God tried to protect Adam and Eve from and it's the same today. FEAR of the LORD will keep us from seeking deep knowledge of God's number one enemy. The KJV uses the term, "depths" of Satan" which comes from Strong's concordance G899 "bathos" meaning deep or profound. Yet even deeper it comes from a root word G901 meaning "early in the morning". Who does that remind you of?
[Isaiah 14:12 KJV] 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Lucifer, son of the morning is known as the angel of light, yet in reality he is the opposite of light. In him is ONLY darkness. He mimics the things of God to deceive everyone. Hearts PURE and God fearing will seek out God's will.
As truth seekers with PURE hearts persistence in pursuing truth is key. In this mindset, we will be able to discern what is truly of God. Also, the Holy Spirit will lead us to repentance to make adjustments as our needs call for. These treacherous times consist of great deception calling for keen awareness and spiritual discernment. Hear what the spirit is saying to the churches.
Jesus had good reason to tell us to avoid the deeper things of Satan because it's a matter of safeguarding our heart, mind and soul. The FEAR of GOD will deter us from reading, watching or listening to something that is not approved by God. Never forget that God alone can destroy both soul and body in hell.
[Matthew 10:28 KJV] 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather FEAR HIM which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The spirit is saying we must be careful in what we read, watch and listen to. Our eyes, ears, hands, feet, and nose can all lead us down the wrong path. Our various senses of sight, sound, smell and touch we often take for granted. It's through the senses that the enemy can gain access to our very mind and heart which is our soul.
Our eyes and ears can get us in trouble when we watch and look and listen to the wrong things, things that are evil and perverse. Sexual addiction stemming from easy access on the web has claimed many victims among the Christian population.
When led to walk down the wrong path some have been induced to commit perversive sexually immoral acts and even murder. The sense of smell can intoxicate one to over eat, over indulging in any and all lusts of the flesh.
[Proverbs 2:1-8 NIV] 1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding-- 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Roots Of Deception
[2Corinthians 11:13-16, 18 KJV] 13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. ...
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
The deception Paul had to contend with in his day is abundantly clear from the above cited scripture. The roots of deception came from those that were seeking GLORY in their FLESH. How does that look today in practical terms? As much as I hate to admit it, I've walked on the self seeking glory red carpet before myself. It's not worth one red cent or penny as the saying goes.
It looks like pride, arrogance, and superiority, high mindedness. These so called "superfine apostles" in Paul's day were apparently good at what they did. On the outside they looked beautiful as the pharisees did in Jesus day but inside they were full of hypocrisy and pretension.
[Matthew 23:27 KJV] 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness.
The root of deception is in the notion that looking good on the outside is what is truly beautiful. Today's standard of beauty is determined by the prevailing spirits controlling the world that influence every genre of the arts media especially users of social media. Have you found on social media it's all about how beautiful you look?
Not only how beautiful you look, but how much BETTER looking you are than the next person. Evidence shows this same spirit has crept inside the churches today, manifested among Christians socializing on the web. Have you been cautious or not so much in your dealings on social media?
Have you gotten caught up in the spider web of "Who's the prettiest or sexiest"? Have you run across the pictures of your Christian friends, particularly female, even Christian ministers that scream at you, "Do I look SEXY enough for you as I pose up close from an angle to catch you in the slanted gaze of my heavy painted eyes and pursed lips"? Who comes to mind when you see this in pictures? Remember Jezebel painted her eyes to seduce the man God sent to judge her.
[2Kings 9:30 NLT] 30 When Jezebel, the queen mother, heard that Jehu had come to Jezreel, she painted her eyelids and fixed her hair and sat at a window.
Have you mastered the close up pose, with the tilted angle to achieve the seductive eyes looking up into the lens of your camera. I stand accused. I was so caught up in this craze back in 2010. It was the Jezebel spirit all over me as the Lord let me know.
Not all of my selfies were reflecting this kind of spirit. So please don't misinterpret what I'm saying. Many people have nice pics of themselves (selfies) included whether they took them or someone else did. Also, I'm not saying that everyone who post selfie pics or are wearing eye make up and lipstick has a Jezebel spirit.
The lust and carnality behind some pictures we encounter on social media are undeniable. It's hard not to discern these spirits when you have the gift of spiritual discernment. Yet some pics you don't need the spirit of discernment because it's that obvious.
I listened to the Lord in 2010 and quickly removed those questionable pics I had of myself which reflected not only lust but a spirit of Jezebel as well. Most important, I had to change my way of thinking asking the Lord to purify my heart and make me over. It was the FEAR of the LORD in me.
There's a problem when we pose in ways reflecting a spirit of the world, a spirit of lust, pride and selfishness. You know what I'm talking about ladies. When social media was just getting started with the selfies, my experience was the seductive gaze of eyes and stance of how we pose in our pics. But today it's so much more.
It's now about the tight pants and the low cut, tight blouses/tank tops that are low cut exposing cleavage, the too short and tight skirts or body clinging dresses. The fashion trends are too revealing to be considered modest for a Christian. This goes for the men as well when they have pants so tight there's nothing left for the imagination.
The worldly spirit shows up in so many other ways on social media as well. As mentioned, at times in the past, I could be ADAMANT, forcefully contentious in some of my communications on social media. Sometimes when I discern that spirit trying to creep back in me I cringe inside and plead mercy from God. I know there's nothing wrong is expressing truth in light of the darkness that prevails in the world. I'm speaking of an ANGRY defensive, insecure spirit that can be rooted in PRIDE, HATRED or JEALOUSY.
Let's face it, the enemy knows exactly which buttons to push to set us off on social media or any scenario. We can be set off just from someone driving the speed limit in front of us. These are stressful times we live in. You may find that the Lord wants to limit your time drastically on social media as He did with me.
If you find that you can't leave social media for more than a few days or even a couple of weeks, then you likely have an addiction. Anything we can't control will control us. The only thing we should allow to control us would be the Holy Spirit or simply stated the will of God. I try to apply what the Lord is saying through me to the church to myself first and foremost.
Also, one last thing on this topic, the Jezebel spirit can manifest in men just as well. Clearly, it's a rebellious spirit. It was the spirit of rebellion that led Adam and Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit. It's a spirit that prevails in a fallen world.
The spirit of God revealed to me back in 2010 what direction I was headed if I didn't change. If we have the FEAR of the Lord, caution is readily taken by those wanting to avoid trouble in their relationship with the Lord.
I take time away from social media now, months at a time. It's good to get away and just spend quality time with the Lord. I'm careful about what kind of pics I post if any of myself. The FEAR of the Lord compels me to glorify and reflect God's spirit in everything I do or say and nothing less.
If you feel convicted in your heart about anything in this blog posting, take that up with the Lord. This is food for thought as the Lord leads me in writing. I realize this is a touchy subject indeed but I must speak truth as it is what it is.
...... to be continued in Part 3
Scriptures for reference:
[Rom 8:1-16 KJV] 1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
[Gen 25:31, 33 NLT] 31 "All right," Jacob replied, "but trade me your rights as the firstborn son." ... 33 But Jacob said, "First you must swear that your birthright is mine." So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.
[Gen 27:19, 21-22, 30, 36 NLT] 19 Jacob replied, "It's Esau, your firstborn son. I've done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing." ... 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau."
22 So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. "The voice is Jacob's, but the hands are Esau's," Isaac said. ... 30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father,
Esau returned from his hunt. ... 36 Esau exclaimed, "No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven't you saved even one blessing for me?"
[Ezekiel 3:19 NLT] 19 If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.
[Psalm 111:10 NIV] 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
[Proverbs 1:7 NIV] 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
[Isaiah 13:13 NLT] 13 For I will shake the heavens. The earth will move from its place when the LORD of Heaven's Armies displays his wrath in the day of his fierce anger."
[Rev 6:17 NLT] 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?"
[Rev 18:4-5 NIV] 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: " 'Come out of her, my people,' so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.
[Rev 3:16-22 NIV] 16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
[1Peter 2:9-12, 15-17 HCSB] 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.
12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation. ...
15 For it is God's will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16 As God's slaves, live as free people, but don't use your freedom as a way to conceal evil. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor.
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