SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/11/2019
10:31 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-4 “Intro
to the Believer’s Armor”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Ephesians
6:14-15
Message of the verses: “14 Stand firm
then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of
righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that
comes from the gospel of peace” (NIV).
Lord
willing we will look at the next two sections on how Satan attacks believers,
and then try and finish this introduction on Saturday, looking at the last two.
The
sixth way that Satan attacks believers is by persuading them to trust their own
resources. I suppose that this is not
the hardest way for Satan as when we were all born we were born with Adam’s sin
nature, and one of the major parts of that nature is selfishness, and
pride. Because of these two things
people most always want their own way because they are selfish and because of
their pride they think perhaps that they are never wrong. When a person becomes a believer he continues
to have the old nature, or some call it the flesh, at any rate there is still a
desire to do things their own way, not trusting in the Spirit of God to guide
them to do the things that He wants them to do.
I
am not sure if I mentioned what I am about to write recently or not, as it is
something that I have been learning from the book from Warren Wiersbe. At any rate those who have been following that
we have spoken about two sins that David committed that are found in the OT
Word of God. One was the sin of adultery
and murder and the other is found in 1 Chronicles 21:1-8 “1 Then Satan stood up against
Israel and moved David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and to
the princes of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan,
and bring me word that I may know their number." 3 Joab said, "May
the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord
the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this
thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?" 4 Nevertheless, the
king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went
throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5 Joab gave the number of the
census of all the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who
drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword. 6 But he
did not number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s command was abhorrent
to Joab.
“7 God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel. 8 David said
to God, "I have sinned
greatly, in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the
iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.’”
This
sin of David was more serious than his sin with Bathsheba and her husband as
only four people died because of this sin, yet in the numbering of the people
70,000 people died because of David’s pride, because he was following his own
plan and not the plan of the Lord.
Notice that David tells the Lord “I have sinned greatly,” and when he
confessed his sin for adultery he said that he had sinned.
John
MacArthur writes “It is
easy for believers to rely on their knowledge of God’s Word instead of the One
who gives the Word and makes it effective.
No matter how orthodox and comprehensive our theology and no matter how
solid the scriptural foundation of our understanding, if we do not rely day by
day on God’s leading and provision, living in constant faith and dependent
prayer, we are unprepared soldiers of
Christ and are vulnerable of our spiritual adversaries. Being filled with God’s Word by not obedient
to His Spirit has caused the downfall of many believers. Right doctrine without right devotion is a
serious pitfall for many Christians. The
person who trusts in his own understanding instead of the Lord Himself (Pr.
3:5) plays into Satan’s hands. As we
noted with this very church at Ephesus, within a few years it became cold and
mechanical in the expression of its orthodoxy.
Right theology without deep devotion to Christ cannot prevent the death
of church.” I felt it necessary
to highlight this whole quote because of the importance of it.
The
seventh way Satan attacks the believer is by leading them into hypocrisy. If we look back at the history of the church
we can see that Satan puts religious unbelievers in the church along with real
believers who live disobedient lives which is a bad combination. As believers we cannot be more concerned
about our outward reputation than our inner spirituality as this can be
something that Satan can use and not the Lord using it. It all has to do with pride, and not humility
as this battle is an ongoing battle for believers.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: One of the things that I have to remember is
that of something that Dr. Wiersbe has quoted from an old Scottish preacher who
said “The successful Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” I think that keeping short lists with the
Lord goes along with this favorite quote of mine.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to work, through the Spirit’s help
to become less prideful and more humble.
Today’s quotation from “Love in Action”
talks about yesterday’s verses from 1 Corinthians 1:4-9:
“Much of the early church’s
encouragement was passed from one person to another through writing. When they were together in their assemblies,
they verbally encouraged one another.
But between those risky and infrequent meetings, they depended heavily on
written works of hope. Written
encouragement is one of the most effective tools God has given to His children.”
10/11/2019 11:27 AM
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