Lies of the Devil

We are living in a time when so many people are creating memories in their head that never occurred. These are not their own thoughts, they are from the devil who paints pictures in the minds of defenseless unbelievers to cause problems in relationships.

Many people I have known have been accused of things they never did or said.

One very famous case was in the garden of Eden when the devil placed doubts in Eve's head saying "did God really say that?" His purpose was to cause Eve to distrust God. If he could get her to distrust God she would resist listening to the very One Who created her. Satan accused God of lying to Eve, even withholding information from her to prevent her from becoming like God.

Eve believed the devil because he flattered her, she liked that he was making her feel as powerful as God, even to the point that she could defy his command to not eat from the tree.

Don't think for one minute that the devil created the doubts in mankind just that one time. He has been continuing to destroy interpersonal relationships from the very beginning.

The truth is that most people do not have the courage or dedication to remain strong against lies. The sad truth is that most people will cave easily to the pressure of their peers to fit with the crowd. The pull of the crowd is far greater than the dedication to truth and righteousness.

All we have to do is look around us to see all the people who are indulging in the latest fad or fashion so as not to stand out. They will give up important character traits to be able to be loved by others.

Titus 1:9
"He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."

One cannot rebuke or administer sound doctrine if they fear the reaction of others.

1 Peter 2:1-25
"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ..."

Our love for Christ must be so great that rejection of others is completely irrelevant. We must be able to walk away from those who love their pride and acceptance of others more than they love God.

Psalm 34:17-20
"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken."

No one will be as close to us or as dedicated to our well being as Christ is, no one should be honored above Him.

Luke 10:16
“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Where is your loyalty is it to Christ or to man?

Miss-judging Out of Bitterness or Jealousy

Often people will judge something as harsh even when it is the cure and blessing if they would just listen. Because they don't want to hear it, they deliberately misjudge it. Also those who are jealous will wrongly judge on purpose. 

Joanne Maya DeGroot

5 hrs

If you think I'm harsh, then you see
Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Paul, and the Prophets were mean as well.
They Spoke Truth!

Do You Fear the Devil?

I don't fear the devil at all, he runs from the Holy Spirit that lives in me. If he attacks me it is only with God's permission to test me. 

When God tests me He doesn't need to see how I will respond, He already knows that. He tests me so that I will see what is in my heart. 

When we respond badly its no one else's fault but us. We can train ourselves through prayer and self restraint to act according to God's will, we do not have to be manipulated by the expectations or manipulations of others.

Matthew 4:1
"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."

When God reveals us through our responses to His tests then is when we confess our failings and ask for strength to do better next time. Those who cannot confess will not grow.

Those who do not think they have any failings remain spiritual and emotional babies without growth and possessing intense pride. The very pride that got the devil thrown out of heaven.

Is our goal to become more like Christ or just loved by the world? Its an important question in order to move on in holiness and obedience to Christ.

Does the Truth Hurt?

"DID YOU KNOW THAT:
The truth only hurts when you're not abiding in it."Karen Puff Rosenkrantz

Love is Action not Merely a Word

A lot of people express words in place of a life of obedience.

They think the words are enough, there doesn't have to be any lifestyle or actions that reflect the words. When we are living for Christ people will notice it even without words.

Don't say "luv ya" to God unless you are seeking to obey His word.

So many people throw around the words; "luv ya" as though that proves their love.

If you do not treat God with respect loving His Word don't bother saying "luv ya."

This is a good principle for anyone, if we love God we will treat others with respect and dignity.

Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Love is an action word, not merely something to say.