“Manasseh, made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did MUCH EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD provoking Him to anger.” (2 Kings 21:6)
One common statement I’ve notice in going through the Bible, is a similar phase occurring over 49 times, particularly in the Old Testament. It is a phrase that indicates someone, or a people, was doing “evil in the sight of the Lord” or “evil in the eyes of the Lord”. Most of these references refer to the kings over Israel. God’s intention was that He would be king but the people said to Samuel: “…appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel…And Samuel prayed to the LORD. The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but THEY HAVE REJECTED ME from being KING OVER THEM.” (1 Sam. 8:5-7)
Why is it so difficult for us to be obedient to the Lord? “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have DIVINE POWER TO DEMOLISH 1STRONGHOLDS.” (2 Corin. 10:4) 1ochurōma: an opposing fortification of error or corruption.
In the devil’s first battle for control over one of God’s children, he challenged Eve with “is that really what God meant?” Eve was explaining to Satan that GOD COMMANDED THEM NOT TO EAT of the tree in the middle of the garden. So, the devil responded with: “God knows that when you eat the fruit of that tree, you will know things you have never known before. You will be able to tell the difference between good and evil. YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD.” (Gen. 3:5) So, Satan began building up an opposing fortification of error to deceive Eve and it worked: “The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat. It was also pleasing to look at. And it would make a person wise. So, she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it.” (Gen. 3:6)
Adam and Eve disobeyed God and had this opposing fortification, this stronghold in their spiritual DNA which was passed down to all mankind, which is why the scripture says: “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23)
This came about because Satan, who was called Lucifer, was defeated in his attempt to be God, so, he set out to draw people away from God! This is after he said: “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God…I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I WILL MAKE MYSELF LIKE THE MOST HIGH.” (Isa. 14:13-14) God spoke to Ezekiel about Lucifer: “You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty…You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God…You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created Until UNRIGHTEOUSNESS WAS FOUND IN YOU.” (Ezekiel 28:12, 14-15) Lucifer was in a very high position but was not satisfied, he wanted to be God! This was God’s response to Satan’s rebellion: “…you are brought down to hell, to the depths of the pit.” (Isa. 14:15) So, Satan’s mission has been to pull people away from following the Lord and serving him, how does he do this? “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil PROWLS AROUND like a roaring lion LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO 1DEVOUR. Resist him, STANDING FIRM IN THE FAITH, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9) 1katapinō: to swallow up, to overwhelm. How much power does the devil have in his pulling us away? Jesus, “…likewise also partook of the same [suffering death], that through death He might render powerless him WHO HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, that is, the devil…” (Heb. 2:14) You see that’s why Jesus said: “The thief comes only TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I came that THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, and have it 1abundantly.” (John 10:10) 1Perissos: over and above, more than is necessary, superior in quality.
Satan has the power to steal our confidence is Jesus Christ, kill our faith and destroy our relationship with Jesus! Why, because he has the power of death over those who choose NOT to follow Jesus! Jesus has power, over and above that of the devil, to keep us, with more than necessary power! If we choose to obey and follow Jesus.
Now, our challenge is to live in holiness: “…let us 1purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, PERFECTING 2HOLINESS out of reverence for God.” (2 Corin. 7:1) 1katharos: cleanse, purify. 2hagiōsunē: holiness, sanctity, a holy or sanctified state.
What authority does Paul have telling us we need to be perfecting holiness? I’m pretty sure that he gets it from here: “I am the LORD…your God; therefore, BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY.” (Lev. 11:45)
Peter tells us that: “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so BE HOLY IN ALL YOU DO; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)
Ok, we are commanded to be holy but how do we become holy? Paul teaches us in Romans: “I am using an example from everyday life…Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness…NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” (Rom.6:19, 22). Sanctification is what sets us free from sin and empowers us to live holy.
“…do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God…And such were some of you. But you were washed, YOU WERE SANCTIFIED, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corin. 6:9-11)
Why is living a holy life so important? “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD.” (Heb. 12:14)
What we need to remember in our pursuit of holiness is to keep the second of the great commandments which is to: “…the second is like it: ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’” (Matt. 22:39)
“The three most important things to have are faith, hope and love. But the GREATEST OF THEM IS LOVE.” (1 Corin. 13:13)
Considering this statement made by Paul, let us look at something else he said: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may STRENGTHEN YOU WITH POWER through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, MAY HAVE POWER, together with all the Lord’s holy people, TO 1GRASP how wide and long and high and deep is THE LOVE OF CHRIST, and to 2know this love that surpasses knowledge [goes beyond] –that you may be FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.” (Eph. 3:16-19) 1katalambanō: to take hold of to make one’s own. 2ginōskō: understand, perceive, have intimate knowledge of.
Why do we have to be strengthened with “POWER” to understand this concept? Well, you see, if the devil can prevent us from intimately knowing and being filled with the love of Christ things will just continue as they are with arguing, fighting, mistreating and being mistreated with no signs of real unity! It is essential for us to grasp the awesomeness of this immeasurable “love” of Christ, and make it our own! This will result in us being FILLED UP with ALL of God’s fullness. For, you see: God loved those He created, so much that: “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) When we have power to grasp this then: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to LAY DOWN OUR LIVES for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16)
When we commit ourselves to the Lord, live a holy life and learn to know what it is to love with the love of Jesus, we are ready for the next. To make sure we are only serving one master! “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15) This “love” is agápē it is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is God’s love the kind of love Jesus Christ has for his Father and for His followers. So, we must not agápē the world.
This above scripture verse begins with a command, everything else in the verse is an argument, or incentive, for why we should not love the world. Consider this reasoning: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other…” (Matt. 6:24)
So, if getting ahead in this world and making it our priority to do whatever we need to do, to get our way, that has become our master. Jesus says that we cannot serve two masters and we must know that, “…everything in the world–the lust (longing for what is forbidden) of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:16)
Here is the purpose for adopting this kind of reasoning, “…the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides (lives with God) FOREVER.” (1 John 2:17)
Jesus said to us: “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15) John emphasized it like this: “For this is the love of God, that WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)
So, in conclusion, remember this commandment: “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD.” Because: “…in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self…of money, proud, arrogant…lovers of pleasure rather than LOVERS OF GOD, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. AVOID SUCH PEOPLE.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5)
Ok, now we have one master, the Lord Jesus Christ. What will He do with us? “Lord…GRANT TO YOUR SERVANTS TO CONTINUE BEGIN TO SPEAK YOUR WORD WITH ALL BOLDNESS, while you STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND TO HEAL, AND SIGNS AND WONDERS ARE PERFORMED through the name of your HOLY SERVANT JESUS.” (Acts 4:29-30)
Every one of us who are Holy Spirit filled children of God SHOULD BE speaking God’s word WITH BOLDNESS and allowing His hand to be STRETCHED OUT THROUGH US PERFORMING SIGNS AND WONDERS FOR HIS GLORY!!! When all this was going on people by the thousands were added to God daily! Paul said it like this: “…my speech and my message were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in THE POWER OF GOD.” (1 Corin. 2:4-5)
Most often our finely prepared and anointed messages are followed with discussion and debate and not DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE SPIRIT AND POWER! When God performs a miracle, the discussion is not about what we said but about WHAT GOD DID!
“…in a few days, you will be baptized with THE HOLY SPIRIT…YOU WILL RECEIVE 1POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:5, 8) 1dunamis: the word refers to “strength, power, or ability.” the root word dynamite, dynamo and dynamic.
When Annas the high priest began to question Peter and the others about preaching in the name of Jesus, they were speechless when they saw the 40-year-old previously lame from birth, a man that everyone knew… “…seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, THEY HAD NOTHING TO SAY IN REPLY.” (Acts 4:14)
I am certainly not saying that miracles are not happening, but they should be a regular part of the Holy Spirit filled person’s life! So, what do we need to do? What did the 120 do? “These all with one mind were CONTINUALLY DEVOTING THEMSELVES TO PRAYER…” (Acts 1:14)
This is how we keep ourselves from evil and overcome the influence of the devil in our lives. We will live productive lives for the Lord and have glorious victory!
-Bill Stockham