Snared by the Schemer

[C.A.B.L]

I wanted to share something that I thought was really cool. You could almost say it was a revelation because I never thought of temptation like this. I took these notes so I will write them on here, I hope you all get something out of it:

"In war if an opponent is weak, they may result in guerilla warfare. To camouflage themselves to sneak behind the lines to gain the advantage on the battlefield. Satan has been forced to use the same tactic."

One thing I could never understand and I have been a victim of it to, is that Christians think that when you accept Christ that it's going to be easier and life won't have as many problems. When you become a Christian you have chosen God's side for eternity; the enemy of Satan and so he HATES you. And since you now know the truth, he will do anything he can to try and snare you and slip little camouflaged evils into your life.

Temptation will always be with us so you can't run from it, that doesn't mean you are to flee in the midst of it. When we face temptation we are being refined and purified by Christ. He is removing our weaknesses so that we can be a stronger follower of God, for the kindgom.

Satan; The Tempter; The Deceiver and The Father of Lies. These are all names that Satan goes by, but whatever name he goes by he always has the same "ultimate goal" to accomplish. His ultimate purpose is to alienate us from God. That's the bottom line, pretty simple war tactic just destroy the enemy. He wants to alienate us in this life and if possible the life to come (eternal life) so alienation is ALWAYS his ultimate goal.

Temptation will always come in various ways, intesity's and appearances. And Satan may never tempt us in certain places. Why? because he knows better than to tempt some of us to drink, have sex before marriage, etc etc. Some things we just don't struggle with. He uses what he knows will ALWAYS get our attention.

2Co 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Two things I want you all to notice in this passage. 1: Forgiveness is a big part in protecting eachother from Satan's schemes. And 2: we are not ignorant of his devices/schemes. So we know what schemes he will tempt us with, we are not ignorant, we know our weaknesses just like Satan knows them. Satan wants to narrow our focus to the one thing he is going to tempt us w/. Now why does he want to narrow our focus? because the temptation increases to the degree you focus on the object of temptation. Isn't that incredible? the more we focus on the sin, the more narrow minded we become.

Here are some examples in the bible:

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

First thing he did was draw her attention to the fruit that God told them not to eat. He didn't say "Hey Eve, look at this beautiful garden that God has made" no, he drew her attention from the garden God had created just for them, and focused her attention on the object of temptation. Next thing it says "she saw that the tree was good for food" SHE SAW this was no ordinary glance, it was a trance like attention. So Satan narrowed her view to the fruit and took it off the garden. And she in turn sinned against God.

This is why Paul tells us "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Jos 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
Jos 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Jos 7:22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
Jos 7:23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.

Same in this story, Achan "SAW" among the spoils. Satan narrowed his vision, all the while whispering in his ear something like this "You will become rich, think of all the things you can buy" he didn't say to Achan "God delivered this city into your hand, don't take anything" HE TOOK HIS FOCUS OFF THE BIG PICTURE, AND NARROWED IT TO THE TEMPTATION.

I will not list all of the stories in this post, if you like I can provide more biblical examples of this in scripture. Next time Satan tries to tempt you think of the BIG PICTURE (God's plan for your life) and pray. God has promised he will deliver you.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

THE MIND OF MAN, IS SATAN'S BATTLEFIELD

I LOVE YOU ALL, IN CHRIST.
Matt

 

[scott29]

Thank you Matt for your words of wisdom. I really needed to hear this today.

God bless