Category Archives: Devil

Affliction, Arguing, Battles, Bible, Devil, Emotions, Fighting, Harmony, Peace, Scripture

THE DANGER OF INFIGHTING (BLOG #3000)

GALATIANS 4:29

“But as at that time the son who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, so it is even now.”

Being teased and picked on is no fun. I never had much problem with that as a child because I was a big kid. But like everybody, there have been times when I was teased or made fun of by someone because of something I said or did. We see it all the time, especially with middle schoolers. They can be the worst. Everyone and anything is open for this among them.

In today’s verse, Paul is referring to Ishmael’s treatment of Isaac which is mentioned back in Genesis 21:9. “Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking Isaac.” You know the rest of the story – Sarah begged Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away, which he did. The angel appeared to Hagar in the desert as they were dying of thirst and gave them water to drink. Ishmael’s teasing of Isaac resulted in them being expelled from Abraham’s family, resulting in turmoil for generations.

APPLICATION

Okay, so we have one brother teasing his half-brother. Big deal, right? It is a big deal. Abraham and Sarah’s disobedience of using Hagar to birth a son to them resulted in this sibling rivalry that continues even until today in the Middle East. In the same way, infighting and jealousy among believers can do the same.

Paul told the Ephesians to behave themselves in Ephesians 4:1-6. “1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Peter also talked about the importance of unity in 1 Peter 2:1-3. “1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” 

We have to present a united front as believers. Why? Because the evil one will use our pettiness and teasing to tear us apart. He wants us out of the fight and will use us against each other to achieve that. Don’t let that happen on your watch. Love one another.

Father, I am grateful for Your unconditional love. Help me show the same to my fellow believers.

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Allegory, Bible, Chains, Devil, Encouragement, Freedom, God's Will, Holy Spirit, Law, Scripture, Slaves

ALLEGORY PART 1 – HAGAR

GALATIANS 4:24

“This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from Mount Sinai giving birth to children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.”

I have to admit that I am not a grammatical genius. If you have read many of my blogs, you have probably already figured that out. Right? So, I looked up the definition of allegory. “It is a figurative sentence or discourse, in which the principal object is described by another subject resembling it in its properties and circumstances.” – Webster. Thank you, Mr. Webster! I am sure we all understand it now.

Paul tells us plainly that he is going to be speaking “allegorically.” This Greek word is only used one time in the New Testament. It literally means to speak publicly something other than. Paul is going to be comparing the story of Hagar and Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac to our slavery to sin and our freedom in Christ. This allegory is not to imply in any way that the Old Testament story is not true. You can use an historical truth allegorically to make a point, which is what Paul has done here.

APPLICATION

Now that I have bored you to tears with the English lesson on allegories, how do we use today’s verse in our lives? Well, let’s focus on the topic of this first part of the allegory – Hagar. Who was she? She was a servant girl of Sarah’s. But she was more than a servant. She had been given to Abraham by Sarah to try to conceive a child which would satisfy God’s promise to give then a child. God never instructed them to do this. They just decided to “help God along.”

This first part of the allegory isn’t very encouraging. Hagar and Ishmael represent slavery to sin. Even after Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, she was still a servant. Nothing had changed. You and I are slaves to sin until we come to Jesus. We have no power to resist. We have no way to escape the devil’s schemes. There is no hope. We can’t “perform” our way out of sin. We have to have the chains broken.

Praise be to God we have a “chain-breaker.” He is Jesus, the Righteous One. He is the One to whom we run for freedom. Paul is so aware of this. He now sees how bound to sin he was while he was under the law, which is also represented by Hagar. Paul wants these Galatians to be free in Christ, not bound to the law. In the same way, God wants us to be free in Jesus. Are you free today?

Lord, I am thankful You gifted men like Paul to write under the inspiration of the Spirit to give us these truths.

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Accountability, Bible, Choices, Devil, Listening, Obedience, Scripture

ARE YOU LISTENING?

GALATIANS 4:21

“Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the Law?”

Sometimes we get so excited about something that we forget to think about what we are doing. For example, buying a new car. When you go to that dealership and see all those beautiful, shiny cars, you lose all rational thought (lol). Sure, they can “put you in” one of those beauties today and you can drive it home. But part of that deal is you now have to pay the price – every month for years. You are a slave to that car loan.

Paul begins an analogy today that will last the rest of chapter 4. He is going to be comparing the sons born from Hagar and Sarah. The story will develop over the next several days. Bottom line – slavery and freedom. In today’s verse Paul asks the Galatians if they are really listening to what the law is requiring of them. The Greek word for “listen” is akouo, which means to hear to understand. Paul is asking them if they really listening to the requirements of the law, are they really going to sign on that dotted line.

APPLICATION

This applies to us so well. We “sign on” to the newest fads and trends without ever thinking about the long term results. All we need is Jesus. Jesus told us so in John 14:6. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” He wasn’t bragging or being egotistical. He was simply speaking the truth.

I love 2 Corinthians 5:17 because it shows us what we need. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” All that old stuff we clung to just goes away. We don’t have to lean on it. All we need is Jesus who has made us into a new creation. Don’t listen to the whispers of the evil one who wants to keep you in bondage.

What will you do with your freedom in Christ? How will you serve your new Master, one for whom you serve willingly? He is not a cruel taskmaster. No, He loves us and leads us. He never pushes us. And don’t let this freedom scare you. He’s there to walk you through it. He has a plan. Listen to Him.

O Lord, I want to tune my ears to hear only Your voice.

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Abiding, Accountability, Belief, Bible, Devil, God's Will, Idols, Scripture

NOT KNOWING GOD

GALATIANS 4:8

“However, at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are not gods.”

I remember my BC (Before Christ) days, do you? I was enslaved to sin and did not even know it. To make matters worse, I was going to church and doing all the expected things there. I went to Sunday School, sang in the youth choir and threw a few bucks in the offering plate. I thought I was good. Boy, the devil can sure lure us into that false sense of security.

Paul shifts gears here a little in today’s verse. He turns his attention to the Gentile believers but puts them in the same category as the Jewish believers. They were both slaves to sin before coming to Christ. In contrast to the Jewish believers, who had been following the Mosaic law, these Gentile believers had worshipped just about anything. Paul referred to this idolatry by saying “which by nature are not gods.”

APPLICATION

But before we point too many fingers at these Gentile believers, let’s take a look at ourselves. In my BC days, my idols were selfish ambition, pleasure and pride, just to name a few. Romans 1:18 tells us the results of unbelief. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” Who wants to face the wrath of God? Not me!

The opposite of this is spelled out by Peter in 1 Peter 4:1-2. “1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.” That last phrase is the key – “for the will of God.” Before I came to Christ, I only pursued my own will. But now my heart is drawn to His will.

Do you know Him? I mean, do you really know Him? If you don’t, you are a slave to your own will and the schemes of the devil. By coming to Jesus and living under the knowledge of His will for your life, you can break free from the bonds of slavery. Your choice – what will it be?

Lord, I only want to live according to Your will for my life. Help me know You more and more.

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Bible, Devil, Division, Evil, God's Will, Harmony, Identity, Perfection, Relationships, Scripture

JUST WHO ARE YOU

GALATIANS 3:28

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

There is a lot of confusion about people today. People are choosing to identify as all kinds of other people or things. I heard recently about an elementary age child who thinks they are a cat. So, the school has to supply him with a litter box. I am not kidding. Way too confusing for me.

In today’s verse, Paul simplifies things. He says, “you are all one in Christ Jesus.” No longer do they have to think like a Jew or Greek. Whether you are slave or master doesn’t matter. The societal restraints against the sexes also fade away. He was making sure they knew that we are all together now in Jesus.

APPLICATION

How do you identify? Well, I’m Baptist so I can’t associate with those Catholics. Or We Methodists cannot go to that service because it’s being led by that Lutheran guy. We still wear our labels. No one is greater than the other in Christ. We are equal. Give each other room to grow.

I believe Paul says it best in Ephesians 4:4-6. “4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” We are one. We are united in Christ. We no longer need to be separated into classes or groups.

So, why do we have all these Christian denominations? I get asked that sometime by non-believers. They wonder why we can’t all get along. Good question. But as long as we are here on this earth, we are going to have divisions. Let’s strive to unite. Let’s strive to present a united front against the evil one. We are one!

Lord, thank You for showing me who I am. I know I am in You and You are in me.

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Bible, Captivity, Chains, Conviction, Deliverance, Devil, Escape, Freedom, Judgment, Prison, Rescue, Scripture

NO ESCAPE

GALATIANS 3:23

“But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed.”

Click! Click! That is the sound you hear as you enter the jail. I served as a Chaplain for our County Sheriff Department for a while. Part of my duties was to visit the officers in the jail. You see, my role was not chaplain to the prisoners. My role was to the officers. And even though they were innocent of any crime, they were locked behind those bars every day also. On the other hand, the inmates remained behind. They could not just walk out. They were condemned to serve their sentence.

Paul continues the idea of the Law being restrictive and confining in today’s verse. In fact, he uses two words that point to that. He says “were kept in custody.” That’s the Greek word phrouréō which means “to actively display whatever defensive and offensive means are necessary to guard.” (HELPS Word Studies). The other word Paul uses is sugkleió which means to enclose or shut in. Paul is saying the Law held us captive until Jesus could be revealed.

APPLICATION

Well Carl, I’m not held captive by anything. I am free as a bird. Are you really? If you are in Jesus, you are free (as we discussed over the past few days), but even then, we can put ourselves back up under Law by thinking we have to do certain things to earn “brownie points” for heaven. There is nothing you can do, outside of surrendering to Jesus, that will get you through those pearly gates.

Acts 16:26 is a great picture of our salvation in Christ. Paul and Silas are sitting in prison for preaching about Jesus and then this happens. “and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” That’s must be how it looks to God when we finally give our lives to Him. Bam! The chains fall off.

In stark contrast to our freedom in Christ, we see Satan, that ‘ole deceiver chained by God. Revelation 20:1-3 give us a great picture of that. “1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.” Praise be God, Who is the chain breaker and chain maker.

O Father, You have promised freedom for me and imprisonment for the devil. You are the all powerful Judge.

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Access, Accountability, Battles, Bible, Devil, Opponents, Satan, Scripture, Security, Testimony

NOT FOR A SECOND

GALATIANS 2:5

“But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.”

There are some things in life which you just can’t allow for a second. You can’t allow a match to be struck in a room filled with propane. The result would be devastating. Neither would you allow a fox into your chicken coop. There would be feathers and blood everywhere. Some things just can’t be tolerated. Period.

Paul goes on in verse 5 of chapter 2 to explain his complete denial of any suggestions or influence from those wanting to impose the Mosaic law on the Gentiles, thus altering the Gospel he has been preaching. Albert Barnes says this about this verse. “We did not submit to this at all. We did not yield even for the shortest time. We did not waver in our opposition to their demands, or in the slightest degree become subject to their wishes.” In other words, we do not give them an inch for we know they would take a mile.

APPLICATION

This verse is so applicable to us today. You may not see it at first glance but look again at what Paul is saying. We cannot allow the world to influence the Gospel. We must influence the world with the Gospel. Paul did say in 1 Corinthians 9:22b, “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.” I would encourage you to read that verse in context (verses 19-23) to get the full picture of what Paul is saying. He is not saying to take on the behaviors of those people.

We must relate to people and our world without becoming them. I can share the Gospel with someone without lowering my standards or accepting their vices. Ephesians 5:8 tells us, “for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” We have to hold the torch of Christ high even though the world is doing everything it can to blow that flame out.

If the Lord has called you to someone or a group of people who do not hold to the truth of the Gospel, hold firm. Do not give in to their promptings to reduce the demands of the Gospel. Keep it simple and clear but hold the line. Don’t give in for a second. Satan loves to find those little cracks in the armor. Stand firm.

O Father, I will not give in with Your help. You sustain me and lift me up.

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Allies, Battles, Deceit, Deception, Devil, Enemies, Falsehoods, Satan, Scripture

SPIES AMONG US

GALATIANS 2:4

“Yet it was a concern because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.”

I love a good spy movie. Now, there are two kinds of spy movies. You have one where the good guy is the spy trying to stop the evil intentions of someone. The other kind is when the spy is the enemy who has infiltrated the good guys with the intent to dismantle their efforts. Which one do you pull for? Of course, you said the good guy, right?

Well, in today’s verse, Paul reveals there were spies among them. He called them “false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom.” Sounds pretty sinister to me. One definition of the Greek word used for “spy” is to “intently look at, especially to inflict harm (damage); to observe something secretly, i.e. with covered (evil) motives.” That word is only used here in Gal 2:4.

APPLICATION

Our takeaway from this verse should be that we need to be aware of those around us who are pretending to be something they are not. The disciple John warns us in 1 John 2:19 about this. “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us.”

The enemy loves to infiltrate the camp of God to try and sabotage His work. He will use anyone or anything to do that. He sets boobytraps and landmines. He explodes families. He especially loves to attack the lives of Christian leaders. 1 Peter 5:8 is another reminder of his intent. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

It’s enough to make you pull the covers up and stay in bed, right? No!!! We have to get up and strap on the armor of God each day. We have to listen for God’s orders and then go on the offensive. We have to take the fight to the enemy. There are literally billions of people on their way to the enemy’s camp of destruction. We have our orders. Let’s march.

Lord, help us drive out the spies among us and storm the strongholds.

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Abiding, Bible, Boundaries, Calling, Devil, God's Will, Markers, Property, Scripture

BOUNDARY MARKERS

GALATIANS 1:15

“But when He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace was pleased”

When I bought my first house in Florida in 1997, one thing I was given was a site plan for my house and property. There were clear boundary markers that showed where my property ended. At my second house, I had to search until I found those boundary stakes which were hidden by a lot of lush, tropical plants. My properties were both “set apart” by those makers. They established that property as mine. It belonged to me.

The word Paul uses in today’s verse for “set apart” is the Greek word, aphorizo. Using the same definition for my property boundaries, apply that here. That’s what the word means. God had set Paul apart. He had marked Paul as His possession. God had essentially driven the boundary stake in the ground declaring Paul was His and would always be.

APPLICATION

The devil owns us all until we give our lives to Jesus. He has us right where he wants us – in his stomping grounds. But when we surrender to Jesus, God claims those grounds. Every scare inch of you belongs to Him. 2 Corinthians 6:16-17 tell us, “16 Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, ‘I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17 Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,’ says the Lord. ‘AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.’”

Paul is quoting from Isaiah 3:11. The message is clear. Be separate from the world. Drive down some distinct boundaries. Don’t blur the lines. You know, even though we have to live in this world, we don’t have to live like the world. If you are a believer, you belong to Jesus. Live like it. Stay set apart.

Thank You, Lord, for driving down those boundary markers in my heart so that I know that I belong to You.

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Allies, Battles, Bible, Defeat, Defense, Deliverance, Demons, Devil, Enemies, Protection, Rescue, Scripture

THE DEVOURER

MALACHI 3:11

“‘Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground; nor will the vine in the field prove fruitless to you,’ says the LORD of armies.”

One thing I have learned from ministry is that we are in constant need of protection from those who want to devour, eat up and destroy what we are trying to do for the Lord. The enemy does not want us to be successful in God’s work. He will do anything to destroy it. He will use anything at his disposal. So, I pray for His protection all the time.

In verse 11 of Malachi 3, God promises the people that as a result of their obedience in giving, which have discussed the last couple of days, He will protect them. I love what Matthew Poole says in his commentary about this verse. “The devourer; all kinds of devourers, the locust, the canker-worm, caterpillar, etc., pests of those countries very often; though they are in mighty armies and incredible multitudes, yet a rebuke from God will check them all at once as if they were but one.”

APPLICATION

Did you catch that last phrase in the above paragraph? “yet a rebuke from God will check them all at once as if they were but one.” Even if the devil sends hordes of demons against you, one rebuke of God will send them all scattering. Woo-hoo! Just one little flick of His finger! We have an all-powerful God watching our back. Who ‘ya gonna call? Not Ghost Busters. I am going to call on Jesus.

We are promised God’s protection today just as suredly as the Old Testament believers were. God is still God. He hasn’t changed. He still loves His children. He still gives His protection when needed. He still moves in and destroys those incoming volleys of the devil.

Look at these verses in Psalms 3. “1 LORD, how my enemies have increased! Many are rising up against me. 2 Many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in God.’ Selah 3 But You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.” As a friend of mine used to say, “If that don’t light your fire, your woods wet.” Glory, Hallelujah! We serve a living Savior.

“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, Whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him He’s always near.”

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