Wednesday, July 6, 2022
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).
How can dispensational Bible study deliver us from experiencing a lifetime of fear, doubt, frustration, discouragement, and even apostasy?
When describing Satan, the Holy Spirit uses terms such as “subtil [sneaky, crafty, underhanded]” (Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3), “wiles [tricks, schemes, subterfuges]” (Ephesians 6:11), and “devices [plans, ingenuities, creative policies]” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Obviously, the Devil’s strength lies in his intelligence—mental prowess exceeded only by Almighty God’s infinitesimal wisdom. Lucifer/Satan was described as follows: “…Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12).
If we are to truly plumb the depths of Satan’s skill, to see his most stunning works, we must look far beyond drunkenness, pornography, war, euthanasia, homosexuality, and all the other sins of the flesh that are quite easy to mark as wicked. No one using any common sense would ever confuse these activities with “God’s will.” If Satan were the wise creature the Bible presents him to be, and he is, he would use disguises. Remember, in Matthew chapter 4 and Luke chapter 4, the Devil actually encouraged Jesus to obey Psalm 91. Avoiding the general public’s infantile view of Satan, we look at churches—yes, especially alleged “Christian” churches—to see his greatest evils.
Lest we think this is an exaggeration, consider 2 Corinthians chapter 11: “[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him…. [13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Indeed, Satan has “false apostles, ministers of righteousness,” those who resemble genuine spokesmen for God….
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333 Words of Grace 