Boldly Rebellious

Things are getting worse all the time. Even many of those we thought were level headed are regressing in decency it seems.

Perhaps the devil is on the prowl and those who are pretenders are not going to be able to continue their pretense, while the devil works to twist their minds, they are being exposed frequently. The devil not only wants to destroy the born again believers, he also wants to destroy those he uses as pawns, those that already belong to him.

1 Peter 5:8 "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

The devil is using helpless pretenders to carry out his vile deeds against believers. Those who are not born again have no defenses against the wiles of the devil, they are pawns in his hands. The targets of Satan's calamities are born again believers, those he hates as much as he hates God.

Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Pretense is hard work, it is only worth doing if it gains the pretender something. In our present day, the wicked man is elevated while the righteous one is denigrated, allowing those who used to hide, the audacity to fearlessly proclaim and defend their evil openly.

What the pretenders used to hide because there was pressure from the culture to live decently, are now finding their freedom to demonstrate the evil that is within their heart, boldly and without conscience in a very public way.

Jeremiah 6:15 ""Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD."

Understanding all this makes it easier to obey God, in our responses. When we are not sure of what we see, we tend to back off from boldness, even questioning our own decisions, giving the devil more power over us.

God gave us many passages describing what is going to happen in the end of day, while at the same time providing guidance as to the actions that must be taken to disarm the devil. The tactics of the devil are many, if we know what they are, we can protect ourselves from becoming like the culture around us. (Refer to 2 Timothy 3)

One of the tactics of the devil is to cause us to feel rejected if we don't fit into the thinking and activities of the mainstream culture. When we walk a different path from the rest of society, it automatically puts us on the outs with most everyone else around us.

The devil also likes to cause guilt in us for making others angry when we choose not to follow the mob. There is an interesting phenomena, when we walk our own path based on our desires to obey God, the mob will become angry while onlookers think we must have done something wrong to cause the anger.

Satan works by diverting our attention from truth through activity often useless activity, he attempts to discourage us, he causes division in the body while bringing in deception to confuse.
Often he prevents clear communication that would resolve matters between brethren. His most used tactic is that of flattery, building pride in those who are not seeking Christ. If he can get people to focus on self, personal gratification, and worldly accomplishment, he can control those who are in bondage to pleasure.

Nearly every day now we see those around us using these tactics to thwart the work of God and to undermine the walk of the believer in Christ. The most used and often most effective maneuver is intimidation, causing fear that we have done something wrong or fear that people won't like us. If I had to name the one most effective scheme used today against believers it would be that of manipulative intimidation.

I am convinced that our culture has reached the point it has, that being terrified of being seen as mean spirited or evil, because believers have remained silent when they should have spoken, lacking courage, unwilling to be criticized for standing for righteousness, they have remained pleasant, challenging nothing, with friends and family, maintaining their status in the community while compromising God's principles and commands.

Anyone here on facebook who has brought truth uncompromised will testify to the personal attacks one encounters for their faithfulness to God's truths.

Deuteronomy 5:32-33 ""So you shall observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left. "You shall walk in all the way which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess."

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 ""Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD'S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?"

Deuteronomy 7:9 ""Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;"

Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;"

2 Timothy 3:12 "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"

John 15:18 "“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."

1 Peter 4:12-14 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."

 1 Peter 3:14 "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,"