Choosing Our Advisors
Part Two
Satan does not have the divine attribute of omnipresence.
Omnipresence is the ability to be everywhere at the same time. Therefore, he is heavily dependent on human beings that he has deceived, and demonic spokespersons, to do his bidding. Such “advisors,” unwittingly or deliberately play key roles in the promotion of the devil’s agenda.
Satanic attacks have one objective, and that is to get the target out of participating in the plans of God; be it God’s one and only plan of salvation, or His post salvation plan, calling for discipleship (1).
These attacks can come in the form of “prosperity” (2) or “adversity (3), whichever one is more likely to succeed in each individual case.
All adversity is not from the devil, and all “prosperity” is not from God (4). The devil and his Eph. 6: 12 forces of evil will take advantage of every opportunity to drive a wedge between us and what should be an intimate walk with the Lord. The devil has had thousands of years of experience interacting with the members of the human race, and has learned what buttons to press and when to press them for maximum effect.
One of the reasons that many “Christians” do not feel that they are seldom, if ever, under attack is because the devil already has them where he wants them to be; that is uninvolved in the post salvation life of discipleship.
The devil is wise enough to quit while he is ahead of the game. Such believers can be used to unwittingly promote his agenda, just as they are!
The devil and his forces of evil can do nothing to undo the Work of God (5) that takes place the moment we a born again, making our salvation eternally secure (6) and us the recipient of the irrevocable (7) gift of eternal life. But he and they will do all they can to impede the forward progress in the post salvation life of a born-again believer.
Certainly, there is the need for expert advice from qualified professionals who have the knowledge, experience, and a history of success, when it is a secular undertaking that is in view, especially when we do not have sufficient knowledge of our own.
Our ignorance places us in the hands of those who are supposed to know what they are talking about.
This underscores the Matt. 7: 24-27 principle of a born-again believer having an edified soul structure in place BEFORE the need for solutions to spiritual issues present themselves.
Well-intended, but errant, advice can be disastrous (8), as the blind leads the blind into a ditch (9).
Seeking guidance, based on the experience of other people in similar situations can be just as confusing, as they too, will have different input based on their own positive or negative experiences. Furthermore, there is no assurance that our own experience will be the same.
Although Scripture contains many examples of giving practical advice, its primary purpose is to address spiritual issues, and is most beneficial when interpreted in that light.
I believe that the many counselors spoken of in Proverbs 15: 22 are all of the many verses of Scripture that address any given spiritual subject. With the spiritual discernment of an advancing disciple, one can see the spiritual significance in virtually everything that takes place here on Earth.
The key word here is “all.”
I say that, because by either isolating verses of Scripture or by using inaccurate translations of the original languages, Bibles can be made to appear to say just about anything that one wants it to say. When people’s knowledge of what the Bible actually has to say is based on what others have told them, it makes them easy targets for those who misquote or misapply Scripture.
When the devil tempted our Lord, he did so by quoting selected verses of Scripture (10)! Jesus responded by quoting other verses. Same “*Bible,” different verses, different applications.
*At the time, the Bible was still a work in progress, consisting at that time, of what would become the Old Testament of what would become the completed Canon of Scripture.
To this day, promoters of false doctrine will train their spokespersons to quote, but misapply, Scripture when they come knocking on your proverbial or actual door.
The Pharisees and the Scribes could accurately “quote” Scripture, but failed to understand and or apply what the very words they quoted actually meant.
Misinterpretation of the original languages present another major problem and a source of misguided advice.
For instance, in the original, inspired language (Hebrew) of the Old Testament, the Bible (11) does not say that we are not to kill, but that we are not to commit murder. There is a major difference.
God cannot do or command anyone else to do what He himself has labelled as sin. Scripture records God having commanded His people to engage in such things as military warfare, and to impose capital punishment. He also allows for the taking of human life in self-defense, or by accident, with no criminal or moral liability.
Eccl. 3: 1-8 cites several examples of times when one is to do just the opposite of what he or she should do under different circumstances. Issues with mistranslations are not limited to Old Testament Scripture.
For instance, because of the limitations and the ambiguity of the English language, the English translations of the New Testament, fail to distinguish the different types of “love” that is made clear in the original Greek language.
Trying to develop and apply emotionally charged personal love, when the verse is referring to unconditional love will result in false guilt trips and self-induced pressure that God never intended for us to experience.
1Cor. 13: 4-8 Is often quoted at weddings. But it is speaking of agape love that is kind, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrong doings, patient, enduring all things, etc.. Personal love, on the other hand, is very fragile, can be easily offended, and can change in a heartbeat. The newlyweds will learn soon enough their need to apply unconditional love and the accompanying forgiveness, if their marriage is to go the distance in harmony.
A misapplication of unconditional love can promote ungodly “everything goes” scenarios which has never, is not now, or will ever be, what God intended.
. . .
God’s irreversible work seals (baptizes), that is to mark the soul for identification as a child of God (12), and regenerates (13) what had been the dead spirit of the individual, the moment he or she are born-again. This is the Work of God, and not human clergy
Eternal security is not a license to sin. One is foolish to think that he or she can flout the laws of God and not be disciplined.
Although God’s irrevocable (14) GIFT of eternal life is eternally secure (15) Rom. 8: 1, there are still OTHER consequences (16) for the post (after) salvation sins that a Christian commits.
Furthermore, when a born-again believer is in intimate FELLOWSHIP (17) with God, advancing in the post salvation life of discipleship, he or she will have an increasing desire to rid himself or herself of ANY attitude or behavior that grieves (18) God the Holy Spirit.
End of Part Two
(1) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (2) Luke 4: 6 (3) Book of Job (4) Luke 4: 6 (5) Eph. 4:30/Titus 3: 5 (6) Rom. 8: 1 (7) Rom. 11: 29 (8) Hosea 4: 6 (9) Matt. 15: 14 (10) Matt. 4: 1-4/Luke 4: 1-4 (11) Exodus 20: 13 (12) Eph. 4: 30 (13) Titus 3:5 (14) Rom 11: 29 (15) Romans 8:1 (16) Heb. 12:6 (17) 2Cor. 13: 14 (18) Eph. 4: 30
Part Two
Satan does not have the divine attribute of omnipresence.
Omnipresence is the ability to be everywhere at the same time. Therefore, he is heavily dependent on human beings that he has deceived, and demonic spokespersons, to do his bidding. Such “advisors,” unwittingly or deliberately play key roles in the promotion of the devil’s agenda.
Satanic attacks have one objective, and that is to get the target out of participating in the plans of God; be it God’s one and only plan of salvation, or His post salvation plan, calling for discipleship (1).
These attacks can come in the form of “prosperity” (2) or “adversity (3), whichever one is more likely to succeed in each individual case.
All adversity is not from the devil, and all “prosperity” is not from God (4). The devil and his Eph. 6: 12 forces of evil will take advantage of every opportunity to drive a wedge between us and what should be an intimate walk with the Lord. The devil has had thousands of years of experience interacting with the members of the human race, and has learned what buttons to press and when to press them for maximum effect.
One of the reasons that many “Christians” do not feel that they are seldom, if ever, under attack is because the devil already has them where he wants them to be; that is uninvolved in the post salvation life of discipleship.
The devil is wise enough to quit while he is ahead of the game. Such believers can be used to unwittingly promote his agenda, just as they are!
The devil and his forces of evil can do nothing to undo the Work of God (5) that takes place the moment we a born again, making our salvation eternally secure (6) and us the recipient of the irrevocable (7) gift of eternal life. But he and they will do all they can to impede the forward progress in the post salvation life of a born-again believer.
Certainly, there is the need for expert advice from qualified professionals who have the knowledge, experience, and a history of success, when it is a secular undertaking that is in view, especially when we do not have sufficient knowledge of our own.
Our ignorance places us in the hands of those who are supposed to know what they are talking about.
This underscores the Matt. 7: 24-27 principle of a born-again believer having an edified soul structure in place BEFORE the need for solutions to spiritual issues present themselves.
Well-intended, but errant, advice can be disastrous (8), as the blind leads the blind into a ditch (9).
Seeking guidance, based on the experience of other people in similar situations can be just as confusing, as they too, will have different input based on their own positive or negative experiences. Furthermore, there is no assurance that our own experience will be the same.
Although Scripture contains many examples of giving practical advice, its primary purpose is to address spiritual issues, and is most beneficial when interpreted in that light.
I believe that the many counselors spoken of in Proverbs 15: 22 are all of the many verses of Scripture that address any given spiritual subject. With the spiritual discernment of an advancing disciple, one can see the spiritual significance in virtually everything that takes place here on Earth.
The key word here is “all.”
I say that, because by either isolating verses of Scripture or by using inaccurate translations of the original languages, Bibles can be made to appear to say just about anything that one wants it to say. When people’s knowledge of what the Bible actually has to say is based on what others have told them, it makes them easy targets for those who misquote or misapply Scripture.
When the devil tempted our Lord, he did so by quoting selected verses of Scripture (10)! Jesus responded by quoting other verses. Same “*Bible,” different verses, different applications.
*At the time, the Bible was still a work in progress, consisting at that time, of what would become the Old Testament of what would become the completed Canon of Scripture.
To this day, promoters of false doctrine will train their spokespersons to quote, but misapply, Scripture when they come knocking on your proverbial or actual door.
The Pharisees and the Scribes could accurately “quote” Scripture, but failed to understand and or apply what the very words they quoted actually meant.
Misinterpretation of the original languages present another major problem and a source of misguided advice.
For instance, in the original, inspired language (Hebrew) of the Old Testament, the Bible (11) does not say that we are not to kill, but that we are not to commit murder. There is a major difference.
God cannot do or command anyone else to do what He himself has labelled as sin. Scripture records God having commanded His people to engage in such things as military warfare, and to impose capital punishment. He also allows for the taking of human life in self-defense, or by accident, with no criminal or moral liability.
Eccl. 3: 1-8 cites several examples of times when one is to do just the opposite of what he or she should do under different circumstances. Issues with mistranslations are not limited to Old Testament Scripture.
For instance, because of the limitations and the ambiguity of the English language, the English translations of the New Testament, fail to distinguish the different types of “love” that is made clear in the original Greek language.
Trying to develop and apply emotionally charged personal love, when the verse is referring to unconditional love will result in false guilt trips and self-induced pressure that God never intended for us to experience.
1Cor. 13: 4-8 Is often quoted at weddings. But it is speaking of agape love that is kind, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrong doings, patient, enduring all things, etc.. Personal love, on the other hand, is very fragile, can be easily offended, and can change in a heartbeat. The newlyweds will learn soon enough their need to apply unconditional love and the accompanying forgiveness, if their marriage is to go the distance in harmony.
A misapplication of unconditional love can promote ungodly “everything goes” scenarios which has never, is not now, or will ever be, what God intended.
. . .
God’s irreversible work seals (baptizes), that is to mark the soul for identification as a child of God (12), and regenerates (13) what had been the dead spirit of the individual, the moment he or she are born-again. This is the Work of God, and not human clergy
Eternal security is not a license to sin. One is foolish to think that he or she can flout the laws of God and not be disciplined.
Although God’s irrevocable (14) GIFT of eternal life is eternally secure (15) Rom. 8: 1, there are still OTHER consequences (16) for the post (after) salvation sins that a Christian commits.
Furthermore, when a born-again believer is in intimate FELLOWSHIP (17) with God, advancing in the post salvation life of discipleship, he or she will have an increasing desire to rid himself or herself of ANY attitude or behavior that grieves (18) God the Holy Spirit.
End of Part Two
(1) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (2) Luke 4: 6 (3) Book of Job (4) Luke 4: 6 (5) Eph. 4:30/Titus 3: 5 (6) Rom. 8: 1 (7) Rom. 11: 29 (8) Hosea 4: 6 (9) Matt. 15: 14 (10) Matt. 4: 1-4/Luke 4: 1-4 (11) Exodus 20: 13 (12) Eph. 4: 30 (13) Titus 3:5 (14) Rom 11: 29 (15) Romans 8:1 (16) Heb. 12:6 (17) 2Cor. 13: 14 (18) Eph. 4: 30