Showing posts with label spirit world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spirit world. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

THE FORCES THAT ARE AGAINST US

Ephesians 6:11-12 

At the end of the book of Ephesians, Paul admonished them to “put on the full armor of God.” Why? We are involved in a spiritual conflict. There is a battle going on around us. We prepare by putting on the armor AND by knowing who our enemy is. Paul explained who our “struggle” is “against.” We are going to discuss this in our lesson. 

Who Is Against Us? 

• The devil (v. 11) – Paul warned about the “schemes of the devil“; he tries to defeat us by deceiving us (2 Corinthians 11:3); he is the father of lies (John 8:44); we need to be on the alert (1 Peter 5:8); yet we can overcome him (1 Peter 5:9; James 4:7). 

• The rulers (v. 12) – this word refers to those in power; yet the Greek word is also translated in many verses as “the beginning” (cf. John 8:44); this is a reminder that this battle has been going on since the beginning (Genesis 3:1); it includes angels who rebelled against God (Jude 6). 

• The powers (v. 12) – those with authority; same word used for the authority of Jesus (Matthew 28:18); these are ones who would challenge the authority of Christ; they want to be seen as the ultimate authority (cf. Genesis 10:8-10); they want to take the place of God (cf. Acts 12:20-22). 

• The world forces (v. 12) – this Greek word is only used in this verse in the NT, yet it is derived from a word that is used elsewhere to refer to Satan (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4); Satan has deceived the world and “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19); so this refers to the forces that are under Satan’s power. 

• The spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (v. 12) – not physical forces; Clarke: “disguised falsehood in the garb of truth; antinomianism in the guise of religion”; Jesus warned His apostles that their opponents would be religiously motivated (John 16:2-3) Who Is For Us? 

• God is for us (Romans 8:31-39) – nothing can defeat us as long as we remain with Him. 

• Jesus, the Lamb, will be victorious (Revelation 17:14) – He overcame death (Hebrews 2:14-15); we have hope through Him (Romans 6:5); we simply need to be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10). 

• We have our brethren to fight with us (2 Timothy 2:3) – there is strength in numbers; we need to encourage one another (Hebrews 3:12-13) www.eastsidecoc.us Eastside church of Christ, Morgantown, KY How We Defend Ourselves. 

• “Be strong in the Lord” (v. 10) – we must put our full faith and trust in Him; when we are weak, we are strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). 

• “Put on the full armor of God” (v. 11) – each piece describes or is derived from the word of God; we need to know the word (2 Timothy 2:15). 

• “Contend earnestly” (Jude 3) – this is not stated in this passage, but it is implied; “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). 

• “Be on the alert” (1 Peter 5:8) – the devil is looking for an opportunity when we are not ready for him; do not be “ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11, KJV). 

Conclusion 

• There are powerful forces that are opposed to God and His people – they want us to abandon Him. 

• Instead, let us put on the full armor of God and fight the good fight – we will be victorious through Him. 







Sunday, May 1, 2016

SATAN—THE GOD OF THIS WORLD



“My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

The Bible reveals much about an unseen power that works behind the scenes, shaping our world to its will and agenda. Are you being taken in? Most people who live in advanced nations find it easy to believe that the state of humanity has never been better. For them, evidence they see every day would make it hard to argue otherwise.

In this study you will discover the real source behind so many of the world’s problems. Learn about the being who is determined to bend your thinking to his own.

Technologically advanced countries command the highest standard of living in history. They enjoy comfortable and affordable housing, fast and efficient transportation, plenty to eat and drink, mostly secure employment, educational opportunities and a dizzying array of entertaining gadgets and opportunities. They benefit from incomes high enough to meet their basic needs and have plenty left over for many of their wants.

But that’s not the case for most of mankind. Millions of people go to sleep with hunger gnawing at their stomachs. Their meager income goes to purchase just enough food to keep them alive. Some have a little left over for housing, clothing and transportation. Every day 35,000 children—enough to populate a fair-sized city—die of starvation or disorders related to chronic malnutrition.

Disease prematurely takes the lives of tens of thousands more every day. Cholera, malaria, tuberculosis and typhoid—almost eradicated in developed nations—remain deadly threats throughout much of the world. Even in wealthy countries, cancer, heart disease and AIDS kill thousands by the hour.

None of us has experienced a truly peaceful world. During the last few decades humanity has developed the horrifying ability to exterminate all human life. Now we have the weaponry—nuclear, chemical, biological and conventional—to kill every man, woman and child on earth many times over.

The last century alone saw catastrophic wars that took the lives of more than 150 million men, women and children—mostly civilians. In more recent years dozens of armed conflicts, uprisings and insurrections have raged around the globe every year, shattering the lives of millions. Few realize that even now the stage is being set for far greater catastrophes.

Why does so much conflict, violence and absolute evil permeate our societies? Where can we find the answer?

If a bright spot could be found in the world, surely it would be in the arena of religion, wouldn’t it? But, sadly, even religion, to which many look for solutions to the world’s problems, is in disarray. Many recent wars have seen not just the obvious interfaith conflicts, but Christian fighting Christian, Muslim killing Muslim and Jew confronting Jew.

Confusion abounds in the religious world. Even many pre-Christian religions with their pagan rites, practices and superstitions are making a comeback as people search for the meaning they no longer find in conventional rituals and beliefs.

Why are we plagued with these problems? Why such chaos and confusion? Is the anguish of the human race simply the result of uncontrollable circumstances—time and chance? Is our collective suffering simply the way things always have been and the way they always will be?

Scientists recognize that a basic law of the universe is that a cause exists for every effect. Things do not just happen. They occur because something or someone causes them to happen.

In fact, we can find a cause for every evil we see in the world. Crime, war, religious confusion, famine, starvation, disease and premature death in their many tragic forms all exist for a reason. Broken marriages, broken families, broken relationships and broken societies do not just happen. 

You can know the cause for this world’s problems, the underlying reason for so many of the difficulties you face in your own life. This study will help you understand that cause and—more importantly— what you can do about it.

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Chapter 5: A WORLD SET FREE


Appendix A: IS THE WHOLE WORLD DECEIVED?


Appendix B: THE WORD “LUCIFER” IN ISAIAH 14:12


Appendix C: WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SATAN TO INFLUENCE MANKIND?


Appendix D: FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF A DIFFERENT GOD


Appendix E: ALMIGHTY GOD: RULER OF THE UNIVERSE 


Appendix F: SATANAN ANGEL OF LIGHT?   


Appendix G: HOW CAN WE RESIST THE DEVIL? 

Appendix H: GOD AND SATAN—TRUTH AND LIFE vs. LIES AND MURDER 


Appendix I : THE SPIRIT WORLD'S DANGEROUS DARK SIDE 


Appendix J: WHAT IF YOU ARE CONFRONTED BY THE DARK SIDE OF THE SPIRITWORLD? 


Appendix K: WHAT IS CHANNELING? 


Appendix L: SATAN—THE GREAT COUNTERFEITER


Appendix M: TRANSGENDERISM

Appendix N: EVOLUTION AND ITS ROLE

Appendix O: THE DEATH OF MATERIALISM

Appendix P: MASONRY: Beyond The Light 

Appendix Q: UNIVERSAL RELIGION DISCARDS FATHERSThe Occult Plot to Idealize Women

Appendix R: FREEMASON EVANGELICALS



In the not-too-distant future the world will be transformed into a new world culture of outright idolatry and devil worship! And, not-so-amazingly, this new world order will be actively promoted by the most influential in the society!  

We want you to notice that we did not merely say “a religious culture of idolatry” for you to think that we might be talking about the worship of money and cars, etc., which are the milder forms of idolatry, but you will notice we use the word “outright”. Therefore, what we’re really suggesting is that the world will actually become a flat out heathen, devil-worshipping society just like the Canaanites, the Philistines, the Amorites, and all the other heathen nations. 

And the reason the world will become such a cesspool for the proliferation of this kind of worship is because its inhabitants will, firstly, be deceived, then socialized and educated into the practice of  idolatry and devil worship through a massive propaganda blitz!  

Can you believe that?  

If you think it's weird and practically impossible for a civilized and spiritually enlightened society to be suddenly convinced to go back to the dark ages of idol worship, frankly, we don’t blame you. In fact, we considered this thing so unthinkable that even when we saw the evidence staring us in the face we were almost in denial. And so we decided to do a further search of the Scriptures only to unearth more evidences of this dramatic shift in religious culture! 

We are already convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that as the end of the world draws near, the inhabitants of planet earth will descend into the worst religious crisis the world has ever seen!  

Take the time to read the above articles through and judge by yourself!