Bowing to Satan

 

Matthew 4:3

"And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

Matthew 4:6

“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command His angels concerning You’;

and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

Matthew 4:9

“All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”

 

Throughout the world, many "professing Christians" are bowing the knee to Satan via "doctrines of devils," and the great deception which has crept in among God's own elect today.  Jesus warned us this day would come upon us.  It's upon us now, and growing at an alarming rate throughout the world, having consumed many with a deadly spiritual virus.  Note the tempter, the one whom the Father used to test His only begotten Son, came to Jesus in an attempt to bring Him down and capture Him by seductive measures.  Seduction, via "seducing spirits" has seduced millions into a false movement today that claims to be worshiping Christ, when in reality they are worshiping Satan by bowing down to his temptations.

 

In the first test that Satan throws at Jesus, found in verse 3 above, Satan is tempting Jesus to speak His own provision into existence.  How closely does this align with the many false teachers in pulpits, teaching people they can control their own destiny by speaking into existence the desire of their hearts?  You can have what you will by speaking the positive, and believing by faith that what you have spoken will manifest itself in your life; you simply must "name it and claim it."  You can "right your own ticket!"  Such false teachings negate the sovereignty of God in an attempt to define one's own destiny.  It's a powerful appeal to fallen human nature. 

 

In the second test that Satan throws at Jesus, found in verse 6 above, Satan appeals to the sensational, to the miraculous powers of God.  He tempts the Christ to display His magical powers by jumping off the pinnacle of the temple, and thereby prove His claim of deity.  How applicable this is to those in the charismatic and pentecostal arenas today who have fallen for the temptation that suggest they are "little gods."  Day by day they seek after signs, wonders, dreams, visions, new revelation, miracles and healings; seduced by the seductress of deception.  They are seekers of the sensational, longing to satisfy their mystical cravings.  The word of God is apparently unable to satisfy their continual cravings for the supernatural elements of the spirit world.  They have fallen to the temptation of Satan, worshiping another Jesus, "another gospel," in reality, they have unwittingly fell before Satan, worshiped him, and are under his demonic spell.

 

In the third test that Satan throws at Jesus, found in verse 9 above, Satan offers Jesus the world, via the things of the world.  "All these THINGS," he promises, seeking to lure Jesus away from the kingdom of God, away from the eternal, and the mission set before Him.  Here my friends is some valuable insight into the false teachers who have "crept into the church unawares."  What they are offering that is so appealing to the fallen, sinful nature of man, is the same thing Satan offerered to Jesus.  Note how these modern day false teachers have an luxurious supply of the "THINGS" of this world.  Mansions in the millions, excessive and exhorbatant material wealth, fat bank accounts, all gained by offering people the promise of "health, wealth, and prosperity."  Those who follow these false doctrines and teachers of "greedy gain," have in reality bowed before Satan, having been seduced into his trap. 

 

Those following after these seductive lies of Satan are claiming to be worshipers of Christ; while in essence they worship Satan, who has presented himself to them with another Christ, "another gospel" (a false gospel).  Once they have taken the bait, it can be likened to a virus that begins to consume them, making them spiritually sick, blind, and deaf.  They are like addicts in denial, who live in denial of the reality that surrounds them.  They are apt to believe one lie after another, based solely on emotions, feelings, false signs, wonders, and supernatural promises.  They become angry when someone suggest they are following after lies, chasing after "seducing spirits," and "doctrines of devils."  Eventually they become actors, just as those they follow after in reality are!  The pride within them will not allow them to admit they have been duped, deceived, and misled by the "father of lies."  The "wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."  You can't reason with them; you cannot convince them of their error and heretical beliefs, of their false worship methods.  Their attitudes are similar to those bound up in cults; they have blinders on, and can see only what they have determined to believe and fall prey too.  It's like talking to a wall, or better yet someone who is deaf.  The spiritual virus that has consumed them has blinded and deafened them to the truth that evades them.

 

Buzzard Mouth Disease

Ephesians 5:4

 

"And there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."

 

We recently attended a Major League Baseball Game at Tropicana Field for a playoff game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox.  The loss of the Rays to the Red Sox proved to be a somewhat expected disappointment, which we were able to deal with (after all, it's only a ballgame).  Beyond disappointing, and to the extent of being brazenly reprehensible, sickening, and digusting were several of the male species sitting behind us with cases "Buzzard-Mouth Disease."  Undoubtedly, if you have spent enough time in society, you are familiar with this disease that produces gross, corrupt, filthy trash and communication protruding from the tongue and lips.  This disease could care less that ladies and children may be present an within hearing distance.  By the way, their are no ladies with cases of Buzzard Mouth Disease, only brute beasts speak with such wicked tongues. Of course this disease is not only found at sports events, but those with Buzzard-Mouth Disease can be found at any event today, even a family outting to a local restaurant for dinner. Forty years ago, such talk was apt to cause one to be busted in the mouth!  The mouths of many among the world clearly demonstrate the vile and corrupt nature of the heart that possesses them.  Jesus said, "out of the abundance of athe heart, the mouth speaks."  Your speech reveals the condition of your heart!  Sometimes I am tempted to record conversations I have with others, and then present them with a quick replay to reveal the Buzzard-Mouth Disease that has captivated their hearts.  Perhaps it's time for you to clean it up, especially if you profess to represent the name of Christ by professing to be a Christian.  Christians don't talk that way my friends! 

 

Think before you speak, consider your words before you spew out your rank smelling and disgusting communication.  Such vile communication is not pleasing to God and is an offense to any true child of God.  If it doesn't bother you, then perhaps you need to "examine yourself to be sure you're in the faith."   Sheep should never be comfortable wallowing in a hog pen.  We have attended our last playoff game, and will not attend games where certain teams are playing.  We will also refrain from purchasing tickets in the Walmart sections where all the drunks with Buzzard-Mouth Disease tend to congregate.  Do us all a favor, clean up your mouth, or keep it shut.  The smell is beyond the capacity of any God-fearing human to tolerate.  

1 Timothy 4:1

 

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."

 

Who can deny that we are living in the "latter times" as described by Scripture?  Jesus said we may not know "the day nor the hour," yet we are given throughout the Scriptures certain signs that would define us as living in these "latter times."  The "Spirit of God" has given us a sure word regarding the infiltration of "seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (or demons), into the latter day church; and fales teachers who will slip in unawares.  Much of modern day Christianity, the emerging church, as well as movements which  once led the way historically in "the faith that was once delivered to the saints," have currently descended in apostasy.  They have departed from genuine biblical faith, fallen prey to these "seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."  I find myself daily, appalled by the number of professing Christians who have fallen into demonic traps of deception, mesmerized by false teachers, much of it coming from the national pulpits of false teachers whom the demonic realm is using to distribute "doctrines of devils," most of them dominating the airwaves of so-called "Christian televison."  Spiritual poison via these false teachings have infected many professing Christians, which should not surprise us when we consider and meditate upon the words of Jesus with regards to the deception He said would "deceive even the very elect," in the "last days."  The one main characteristic I have found which dominates the attitude of those drinking spiritual poison, is an attitude of superiority, as well as a spirit of rebellion and accusation against those whom God has truly called to proclaim the truth.  They are like adolescent teenagers who believe they know everything, and yet know nothing, determionjed to reject the wise counsel of their parents.  A wise man once quoted the words of Paul to me while I was guilty of feasting on spiritual poison.  I had the same attitude of which was spoken above, when he said to me; "If any man thinks that he stands, let him take heed, lest he fall."  Many would be wise to re-consider their postions and attitudes in these "latter days."  Pride stands at the forefront of dismissing the possibility that we have been deceived and led astray by "seducing spirits and doctrines of devils."  I determined many years ago; if what I believe cannot withstand the critical scrutiny and analysis of the Scriptures, then I must put it behind me as unworhty of my attention.  If what others are teaching is clearly contrary to "sound doctrine," regardless of how popular they may be, or how many of the multitudes are flocking after them, they can only be defined as "wolves in sheeps clothing." These false teachers are damning themselves to hell; as well as leading thousands astray and away from "the faith once delievered to the saints."  A false gospel proclaimed by a false messenger who is "disguised as an angel of light," and promoted as a "messenger of righteousness," will not and cannot save anyone.  

"He the has ears to hear, let him hear" what the "Spirit speaks expressly."