Daily Devotional, Year 2 – FEBRUARY 24 (Satan & Sidewinders!)
By admin On January 19th, 2021.
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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – FEBRUARY 24
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Satan & Sidewinders!
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“Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life,
her (Satan’s followers) ways are moveable,
that thou canst not know them.”
Proverbs 5:6
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Everything in nature has some aspect of the Gospel written into it!
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And guided by the Holy Spirit, a person can gain heavenly wisdom from observing nature!
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And, well, needless to say, whatever wisdom is gleaned from nature, must be in harmony with the Bible, or it is merely error!
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Worker ant carrying leaf – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“THAT OLD SERPENT (SNAKE)…THE DEVIL”
Revelation 20:2
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Take the snake, for instance.
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Just look at how it winds itself back and forth!
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Just what can we learn from this aspect of the snake?
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Just what does this teach us about how Satan works in the world among people?
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wicked awesome snake – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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SATAN’S DIFFERENT DECEPTIONS
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Well, the winding snake seems to be a perfect illustration of how Satan can change course in the way he deals with the world!
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For instance, Satan deals with different people in different ways!
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With one person, Satan will lavish earthly riches and pleasures in attempt to keep them to be, happy citizens of his kingdom, this world!
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But for some reason, he deals with other people in just the opposite way!
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Eastern Tiger Snake – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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DIFFERENT DECEPTIONS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE
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Yes, Satan works differently with different people.
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For example, he will make life absolutely miserable for many persons: various misfortunes, so-called “mental chemical imbalances”, drug dependence, various social dysfunctions, and other similar troubles.
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And of course, Satan works as closely to natural circumstances, in attempt to, “cover his tracks”, as they say!
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In other words, Satan chooses one type of deception for persons whose environment, physical traits, or personality makes them to be most likely candidates for that particular deception.
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Demonic dreams – Wikipedia – US-public-domain
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TIME & EXPERIENCE MAKES US MORE SAVVY!
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Listen… “…for we are not ignorant of his (Satan’s) devices.” 2nd Corinthians 2:11
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Yes, as this above verse suggests, the Christian, by Word, and by experience, becomes more and more savvy as to just how this cunning serpent, the Devil, weaves his way back and forth through society!
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Listen again…. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents (snakes), and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16
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Here in the above verse, is a call to rid ourselves of all naivety, and become wise as serpents, becoming savvy about how Satan works his various deceptions in the world!
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Brown tree snake – Boiga – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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GOD IS IN ULTIMATE CONTROL!
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But as most Christians understand, the Lord is ultimately in control of the goings on in this world…
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Listen… “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, ‘What doest Thou?'” Daniel 4:35
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This above verse is not very well understood in Christendom. Nor is it very well accepted.
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But God is carrying out His ultimate will among earth’s inhabitants.
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And all the bad things in the world, He allows for the good for His people!
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Elisha & Chariots of Fire www.visualbiblealive.com
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ALL THINGS FOR OUR GOOD
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Yes, God is ultimately in control of all that goes on here!
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And God only allows that which is for the good of His children, and for God’s glory!
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Listen again… “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
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As this above verse reveals, everything that happens to God’s children, good and bad, are used by God to lead them to a closer walk with Jesus!
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Munch Det Syke Barn – 1896 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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SATAN IS SUBSERVIENT TO GOD!
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And so, those who are the targets of Satan’s attacks, are the very ones w
ho are candidates for Eternal Life!
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And God uses Satan to drive out their love for this world!
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And of course, Satan is very willing and happy to make life miserable for God’s people!
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Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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THE STORY OF JOB
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The story of Job is a wonderful illustration of how God interacts with Satan, to bring about ultimate good in the lives of His chosen people!
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In Job’s case, Satan strove to get Job to verbally curse God. But though Satan failed his contest with God, yet in the process, brought out some wickedness, that was hidden in Job’s heart. And at the end of Job’s trials, Job became humble and self-distrustful and more faithful to God!
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Listen to Job… “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
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Job here was speaking truth about himself, though he didn’t fully understand this, his statement about himself.
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But when Job’s trials ended, God had successfully removed that inward wickedness from Job’s heart, thus purifying his heart as gold is purified, “though it be tried with fire!” 1st Peter 1:7
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Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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GOD IS ONLY DOING GOOD!
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So, whether this sidewinder, Satan, is winding his way in the form of global paradigm shifts, or winding his way in the lives of individuals, we can rest confident that God is only allowing these things for our good!
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Listen… “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.” Psalm 76:10
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Yes, all Mankind praises the Lord, whether they like it or not! And in this crazy, topsy-turvy world we now live in, we may fear that things are out of control!
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And yet God is only allowing that which will be for His glory throughout the annals of time and eternity!
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“The remainder of wrath”, God will restrain!
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V for Merdeka flash mob protest on New Year’s Eve – Wikimedia – share-alike license.
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
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“Dear Lord, Help me to become wise as a serpent, yet harmless as a dove, so that I may not be ignorant of Satan’s devices in these last days…
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READ MORE…
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To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Floodwaters of the False Prophet: “Atheism & Psychology””, or you can also read… “February 6th (Forked-Tongued Christianity)”
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN