Sunday, June 28, 2009

Trickery

Monday, June 29, 2009: 2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
What is the devil’s deception? The deception persists that is not sufficient that Christ died to wipe away your sins; you must work to be worthy of heaven.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009: 1 Corinthians 3:18–19
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness
Can the wisdom of the wise really be foolishness? Yes, indeed! Don’t eminent scientists keep discovering new answers that destroy the ‘wise’ theorems of the past?

Wednesday, July 1, 2009: 2 Corinthians 4:1–2
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Comment: it is said that you can deceive some people all the time and all people some of the time, but you can’t deceive all people all the time.

Thursday, July 2, 2009: Luke 20:22–25
Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me? Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”
They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Is this an example of man’s wisdom being foolishness to God? I feel it is the perfect example because nothing is hidden from Him.

Friday, July 3, 2009: Ephesians 4:14–15
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ
What is the emphasis on in this passage? The emphasis is on growing up in our knowledge of the Bible to avoid being deceived. This is the exact aim of the blog.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Envy and Jealousy

Monday, June 22, 2009: Romans 1:28–32
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
What happens in the secret lives of those who reject God? God gives them over to evil passions including envy and jealousy.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009: Philippians 1:15–17
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: the former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
Can the good news (Gospel) of Christ be spoken with only pure motives? No, it is sometimes told using envy and jealousy against another who is doing the same.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009: 1 Timothy 6:3–5
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
How can you identify a charismatic speaker who is speaking for personal gain instead of pure motives? Look for one who does not open the Bible, quotes a verse out of context, talks incessantly about sending money, and just makes you feel good about the future without the words of Christ.

Thursday, June 25, 2009: Titus 3:3
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
Were you really like this before you met Jesus Christ? Yes, but in the past tense.

Friday, June 26, 2009: 1 Peter 2:1–3
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
What does laying aside mean? Letting go in a conscious way. Don’t be jealous anymore.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Friend

Monday, June 15, 2009: Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
What company should you keep? Stay with the wise; avoid fools.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009: Proverbs 18:24
A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
What is the rule of friendship? Be friendly but stick to your best friend through thick or thin.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009: Proverbs 27:10
Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
Whom to turn to in bad times? Not distant family, but nearby friends.

Thursday, June 18, 2009: Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
What is the test of friendship? The wounds suffered by a friend for your sake, not the love shown by fair-weather friends.

Friday, June 19, 2009: James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
Who’s your best friend? God, if you believe Him.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Demons 1

Monday, June 8, 2009: Luke 11:14–16
And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.
What can a demon do to a victim? During possession, the demon runs the victim in his own way.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009: Luke 11:24–26
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’
And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
What is a demon’s house? The mind of the willing victim.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009: Luke 11:27–28
And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”
But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
What form do demons take? They are often multi-limbed women.

Thursday, June 11, 2009: Matthew 17:15–18
“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
Who was at fault for the demon not being cast out? The lack of faith in the father.

Friday, June 12, 2009: Matthew 17:19–21
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
What prompts demon possession? Willingness of the victim.