Doubleminded People Follow Satan Are Convince That God Is Unfair And Choose For Themselves Right And Wrong

                                                 When The Door Slams

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.                                                                                                      (Revelation 20:1-3 NKJV) 

            We have seen that the fallen cherub Lucifer is waging war against mankind in general and against you as an individual. He and his helpers--known as demons--continually stir up evil in our world. But what will the end of these things be? What will be the outcome of our struggling--our striving, our ongoing battle to bring our lives under the One who died and now lives for us--versus the one who would bring us nothing but pain, suffering ,and eternal destruction? And, beyond our own lives, what will be the end of these things for the rest of the world?

            But this is not the end of the story, for we read that "after these things he must be released for a little while" (Revelation 20:3). And what happens next? "Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth" (vv. 7-8). 

            That will be one last test for mankind. Those who follow Satan will have taken God's living kindness for granted--the released Satan will convince them that God is unfair and that they ought to choose for themselves right and wrong. But after the dust settles from that final battle, Satan will be banished forever (vv. 8-10). 

            With Satan removed and all of humanity brought into the family of God--except for the incorrigibly wicked who refuse to repent, who will be burned up in the Lake of Fire and become ashes under the feet of the righteous (Malachi 4:3)--what is the reward of the warrior who can finally lay down his weapons at the end of the conflict? 

            John 3:16 reveals that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." But that eternal existence does not mean that we will become angels or some kind of "super-humans," as so many professing Christians mistakenly believe. The Bible reveals that all who have been called to follow Christ have been called to become sons and daughters of God, the very children of the living God--brothers, sisters, and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14-21; Hebrews 2:10-18; 2 Corinthians 6:18). To those who overcome in this life, the reward is very simply everything. As John was inspired by God to write in the last book of the Bible, "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" Revelation 21:7).  

            Think about this: You must never forget who is on your side in your battle against the one who directs the course of this world. On the night when He was betrayed, Jesus encouraged His disciples--including those who are His disciples today--with these comforting words: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search you heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                            Never Rest Ministries    

                                                                                                            Peace (6)

               

Why Do People Want To Deceive Themselves

                                                 When The Door Slams

And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars--their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."                                                                                                            (Revelation 21:6-8 HCSB) 

            Fundamentally, that is what spiritual warfare is all about. That is the lesson Jesus emphasized in His vision given to the Apostle John in Revelation 2-3, in which every message admonishes us to be overcomers. And it is really more than an admonition--it is a requirement. Not that any of us will overcome every shortcoming in this life, but we must be overcoming our carnal nature as a daily way of life. 

            There ought to be evidence in our lives for God to see. Consider the parable of the Minas. The man who hid his mina and failed to multiply it had that mina taken away from him (Luke 19:22-24). It would appear, from the loss of his mina and the title of "wicked servant," that he will not be in the kingdom of God. Though different in some respects, the parable of the Talents has the same lesson for the fearful, lazy, and wicked. Note all three characteristics in this parable: "And I was afraid...'But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant...'Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:25-26, 30). Those too fearful to step out in faith to obey, the wicked who refuse to repent of sin, and those too lazy to put in the effort--who are thus unprofitable servants--will be cast into the Lake of Fire and will not be in the Kingdom of God. 

            Each of these parables indicates that God understands our different backgrounds and abilities but does not countenance gross laziness and lack of progress. We cannot sit back and expect that it is all done for us. This is seen where James admonishes us to be doers of the word, not hearers only. If we are the hearers only, we deceive ourselves. "For if anyone is a hearers of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was" (James 1:23-24). 

            Think about this: Why would people want to deceive themselves? As human beings, we are all guilty of this in one way or another. We do not see ourselves as others see us--and certainly not as God sees us. We are often blind to our shortcomings that others can easily see. And sadly, more often than not, it is not a matter of our being blind, but simply our choices, and our rationalizing around a problem, postponing our attention to it, or refusing to face it. Changing bad habits is not easy when you are doubleminded, and Satan influenced often seeks to take the easy way (who-ever-will-know). This is the same message the Apostle Paul gave to the Romans when he wrote that "not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified" (Romans 2:13). 

Confession: I know, LORD, that a man's way of life is not his own; no one who walks determines his own steps. Discipline me, O LORD, but with justice--not in Your anger, or You will reduce me to nothing (Jeremiah 10:23-24). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.                                          

                                        Never Rest Ministries 

                                                                                                                    (warfare 5)

What Does The Lord God Require Of Us

                                                 When The Door Slams

LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.                                                                     (Psalm 15:1-5 NIV) 

            Many see God as One who is impossible to please. They see Him as a harsh, demanding Being who enjoys punishing people and seems to hate His very creation. Others go to the opposite extreme of thinking that God requires virtually nothing of us. Both concepts are wrong. 

            So, what does Lord God require of us? Do you realize that the Bible asks and answers that exact question? "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"(Micah 6:8). King David expressed a similar sentiment, asking in Psalm 15:1, "LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?"

            And what about those Ten Commandments? Are they as oppressive as some think? Are they burdensome and impossible to keep? Some think so, and I've personally been told this. I've also heard some said that there is nothing you can do to be saved--it has all been done for you. But is that what God's word reveals? 

            Notice what John, says about God's commandments: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" for everyone born of God overcome the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcome the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3-5). 

            But didn't Jesus come to nail these commandments to the cross? Didn't He do away with them? Let read what Jesus said when a young ruler came to Him and asked the following question in Matthew 19:16. "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" This is the key question. So, what was Jesus answer? "But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments" (v.17). Now, if keeping the commandments is a requirement for eternal life--which is what Jesus clearly said--you would want to know where these commandments are :(read Ex 20:1-17;  Dt 5:6-21). 

            And what about Jesus' own words in the Sermon on the Mount? Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Matthew 5:17-18). 

            Think about this: That is about as direct a statement as can be made explaining what Christ Jesus requires of us, but why do we have the law of God? Is it to keep us from every good thing, or is it to keep us from every act that brings heartache and suffering? Notice God's reaction to the children of Israel: "Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever" (Deuteronomy 5:29).  

            God knows that keeping His law keeps us out of trouble. It protects us against needless pain and suffering. Consider the very first of the Ten Commandments: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:2-3). 

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                        Never Rest Ministries                    (warfare 4)