Written by TWFYT
Friday October 18
"For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV
In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul reveals four ways in which Satan works like a master counterfeiter. First, he supplies a counterfeit savior: "For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." So though there are cults that preach Jesus, they do not preach the Christ of Christianity. Second, Satan presents counterfeit servants: "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ...So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds" (vv. 13, 15 ESV). Third, Satan brings counterfeit saints: Paul identifies these false brethren as those who seem like your brother or sister on the outside but are secretly your enemy on the inside (See Gal 2:4). Further, Satan offers us a counterfeit salvation: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preaches to you, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8 ESV). It's not necessarily that Christians pretend to be children of the devil, but instead that the ungodly frequently appear to be righteous. God can distinguish a sinner from a saint, and you're going to discover both inside the church just as you will outside it. And that's a good thing because constant exposure to Bible preaching is what changes people. Jesus never claimed that the church was perfect, and neither should we. Our awareness of these truths shouldn't make us self-righteous and judgmental. Rather, it should make us paramedics of God's grace and mercy and cause us to be more fully committed to Christ.
Friday October 18
"For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV
In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul reveals four ways in which Satan works like a master counterfeiter. First, he supplies a counterfeit savior: "For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." So though there are cults that preach Jesus, they do not preach the Christ of Christianity. Second, Satan presents counterfeit servants: "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ...So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds" (vv. 13, 15 ESV). Third, Satan brings counterfeit saints: Paul identifies these false brethren as those who seem like your brother or sister on the outside but are secretly your enemy on the inside (See Gal 2:4). Further, Satan offers us a counterfeit salvation: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preaches to you, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8 ESV). It's not necessarily that Christians pretend to be children of the devil, but instead that the ungodly frequently appear to be righteous. God can distinguish a sinner from a saint, and you're going to discover both inside the church just as you will outside it. And that's a good thing because constant exposure to Bible preaching is what changes people. Jesus never claimed that the church was perfect, and neither should we. Our awareness of these truths shouldn't make us self-righteous and judgmental. Rather, it should make us paramedics of God's grace and mercy and cause us to be more fully committed to Christ.
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January
START BY FORGIVINGEMBRACING UNCERTAINTY AND FOLLOWING GODBLESSING IS PROGRESSIVEIS GOD SHAKING YOU UP?DON'T AVOID--ENGAGEYOU ARE COMMANDED TO LOVEJUST SOW THE SEEDSEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (1)SEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (2)PRAY ABOUT IT, THEN TAKE ACTIONTHE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORDTHE LINK BETWEEN DISOBEDIENCE AND STRESSHAVE YOU TALKED TO GOD ABOUT IT?KNOW YOUR PURPOSE, KNOW YOUR PARTNERSHOW GOD SEES YOUBE GUIDED BY WISDOM, NOT IMPULSEPAUSE AND REFLECTWHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (1)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (2)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (3)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (4)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (5)SEEKING GOD
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