We often view the major upheavals and divisions throughout Christian history as the crafty operation of Satan, but sometimes we miss how the deceiver can plant small seeds of doubt and discouragement into our hearts which can be just as devastating to our walk with Christ as anything.
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The Bible describes Satan as a ravenous lion who continually stalks and hunts his prey, an archer who launches fiery darts at his enemies, and a deceiver who lures men and women away from God through lusts and pleasures. In this sermon from evangelist Greg Gay, we are reminded that Satan knows where to strike and he will not yield in his attacks against God’s people.
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Some of our readers may remember that back during the election we posted some information about the Christian and the Civil Government and God’s relationship to the Civil Government. I am glad to inform you that much insightful and spirited conversation ensued from that article, perhaps eliciting a greater response than any we have yet put up. In regards to some of the questions and comments I think it good to revisit the issue and establish more firmly some biblical facts.
There are many today who believe that it is not only a Christian’s God given right, or liberty to vote, but that it is a Christian’s responsibility, some even saying that it is a sin NOT to vote! Others believe that it is not only unwise or unnecessary, but even that the it is a sin TO vote! I believe that this alone is reason enough to give the issue some due consideration.
There are few subjects more awesome, mysterious and wonderful that that of God’s providence or, his management and guidance over this universe. While we are insured time and time again of God’s omnipotence, there is not much that we are told of how God works insomuch as this is involved. It seems that the old adage, “the Lord moves in mysterious ways” is very applicable. Even inspired writers were hesitant to label something as definitely being the product of God’s providence. (Esther 4:14; Philemon 1:5) This is a subject which merits a lengthy study in its own right, but for now we consider what if anything, the Bible says about God’s providential control of the Kingdoms of Men.
As was said in our last article, it is the belief of the writer that in a most intimate way, the Devil is the Ruler of Earthly Kingdoms. What does that mean? Well, quite simply it means that our President and congress are not making decisions and policies based upon the Bible, which is the sole medium through which God leads men’s actions in the world today. As far as I know there is no nation on this earth who is governed by strict adherence to the scriptures, if there was it wouldn’t be a nation, it would be a congregation of the Lord’s church! And so we have no reason to doubt at least a part of Satan’s statement to Jesus in Luke 4 “for this has been delivered to me…” (verse 6) man kind delivered a measure of the service to their devil when they turned their backs on God as their kings chose to follow after the flesh and carnal desires. Satan continued by claiming to Jesus that he “gives” authority and glory in earthly kingdoms “to whomsoever he wishes.” Well now, that is an interesting thought isn’t it! Here Satan Claims that HE gives out the power in man’s kingdoms! Is that true? Well Jesus did not argue with him, he did not tell him that his words were false. How could it be that Satan gives civil authority? I find no scripture to indicate that Satan has the powers of deity; I don’t believe that he does, but it does seem that sometimes the works of his followers are attributed to him. The world serves the devil, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and the world chooses who is put in office, whether by voting in an election or by violently taking and giving a throne in a civil war or some such thing. The word of God does not lead men to these things, so they are attributed to be works of the Devil.
That being said we must also recognize that the Bible clearly teaches that God rules amidst the kingdoms of men as well. How does he do it? I do not know! The Bible tells us that years ago God “sent” nations here and there to do this and that. He called wicked Gentile kings his “servants” when he “used” them to accomplish some task. In fact in some cases we find were the Bible specifically tells of God raising up a man to set on the throne and striking another king dead for allowing himself to be worshiped. These brief glimpses behind the curtain of mystery which hides God’s providential work from our eyes only arouse our interest and amazement, but they do not answer the question of how. It is this writer’s firm conviction that God has in his power the ability to create and destroy as he wills, and that regardless of the Civil leaders, God is the master of this Universe, but how directly or indirectly does he involve himself? Beyond what the Bible specifically reveals we cannot know!
Does God Use Christians to Vote in His Candidate?
It is really amazing how providence is viewed as ammo for both sides of this issue! Some tell us that God providentially chooses every civil leader and if we vote, and happen to vote for the wrong person we have violated God’s will by voting against His candidate! Others tell us that God providentially uses Christians to put his person in office. To this writer there is still a great question that might never be fully answered as to how involved God is with the election and authority of every civil leader, but lets just say that God did use Christians to vote in his candidate. How would he do it? How would we know who to vote for? God does not highjack the free-will of men and guide them supernaturally, separate and apart from the scripture! If God wanted us to vote he would have told us how to vote in the scripture! He would have given some kind of principles to follow in our civil work, but the Bible still only tells Christians: pay, pray and obey. To just suppose that God wants you to vote and that some how he is going to ensure that you vote for the right person is to make broader, more sweeping assumptions about God’s providence than even the Apostles were willing to make! If there is justification or commandment for a Christian to vote, I do not believe it is to be found here. – CED
YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER…
Have you ever wondered why John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees vipers? What were some of the curses God used in the Garden of Eden? What is the significance of the serpent-dragon in the Revelation letter? Who are the sons of God? Who are the sons of Satan? We shall attempt to answer all of these questions and more.
The Old Testament Account
In Genesis chapter 3 we read about man’s fall from the grace of Eden and the curses that were put on those involved. Adam was to keep the ground and eat by result of hard labor. Eve was going to have pain when she gave birth. Aging and death would eventually occur, and alas, the burden of sin which no common man could remove.
Yet there was another curse that was just as poignant, the curse on the serpent. Verses fourteen and fifteen, “So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
God declares that the serpent [Satan] was cursed and doomed for causing the best part of creation [man] to fall. “On your belly you shall go, and eat dust all the days of your life,” a hard punishment? Not yet. “You shall bruise His heel, and He shall bruise your head.” This is the greater curse–a mortal wound!
Because of the attempted alliance to the creation, God said, “I will put enmity between your seed and her Seed.” There is an invoking of hostility yet no threat by the Holy Father to remove man’s free choice. In essence, those that follow the Divine are His children and those that follow the Rebel are his children.
This understanding is recognized right away in the sixth chapter verses one through six. “Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”
The “sons” of God saw the “daughters” of men, married them and, losing favor with God, created a generation of giants. The Hebrew word for giants here is Nephil, which is translated better as “tyrants or bully”– hence giants or “men of renown.” Succeeding this account is the story of Noah and then the greedy men of Babel.
All through the Scripture we have this struggle of “Who is right?” presented to us. The question was asked to Christ in John six, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” In the account given to us in Numbers twenty-one, Israel was not following God. As a punishment and hard reminder of the earlier rebellions, He sent poisonous snakes into the camp. To save the people from their punishable sins (because God is not willing that any should perish, nor can He tolerate sin), Moses was commanded to raise a brass snake and put it on a pole. All who were bitten were obliged to look at the brass snake and live. Those that quickly changed their minds from sin hastened to the brass snake– those who refused… This gives us a little more meaning to the Scripture, “Now is the day of salvation.”
The New Testament Account
John the Baptist also knew the children of the Devil. Matthew chapter seven teaches us that upon seeing the Pharisees and Sadducees John addressed them as the “brood [offspring] of vipers” because they often addressed themselves as Abraham’s heirs.
Jesus continued the thoughts of John and the curse from God when He spoke to the rebellious ones in Matthew chapter twelve stating, “He that is not with Me is against Me, and he that does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” To those that scatter in verse thirty-four they are once again addressed as vipers.
The greatest evidence of Satan’s children is found in John chapter eight. Christ stated that everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. By contrast the righteous actions of the faithful make them slaves of righteousness. Causing deep stirrings with such words, the people cried out, “We are Abraham’s seed!” Jesus replied in verses thirty-nine through forty-one, “Do the works of Abraham [be faithful to God].” In verse forty-four Jesus tells them plainly, “You are of your father the Devil and you wish to do the desires of you father.” He, Satan, was a slayer of men from the beginning because Truth was not in him.
A person who believes a lie soon sins and becomes a slave to it. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” In spreading that truth, Christ sent out His disciples to preach in the cities. To those cities that chose not to receive freedom, the disciples were commanded to kick the dust off their feet as a throwback to the curse in Genesis chapter three, “eat dust…”
In preparing the disciples for that same mission of freedom spreading, Jesus told the men to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16.
Paul says of the unjustified in Romans chapter three verses ten through eighteen that, “the poison of asps is behind their lips,” and “they have not known the way of peace for there is no fear of God before their eyes.” How did the serpent trick Eve? He took the fear of God out of her focus.
James admonishes that all men’s mouths should speak the truth and not poisonous words, but we tend bless God and curse man who is in the image of God. James 3:8-10.
It is little wonder why Satan and his puppets are referred to as dragons, sea monsters, giants, and serpents throughout the Scripture. God sheds light and reveals the hidden things of darkness so that we may clearly see things as they are. As the enlightened of God we see Satan as he was introduced to us before…(Revelation 12:9) “ So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Whose child are you? Have you been enlightened from darkness? Or are you locked in the chains of sin and darkness still?
“No servant can serve two masters…”– Jesus (Matthew 6:24)