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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 5 July 2024:
2 Corinthians 11:3 — But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Satan destroys and kills the same way today as he did with Adam and Eve, through suggestion, deception, and lies which he uses to lead people “astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” This is what Satan will try to do to you today and every day through his various servants, many unknowing servants, who “disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians. 11:14–15)
Satan and his servants can’t take away what God has given you; they can only deceive you into giving it away, denying it, rejecting it, or ignoring it. He won’t attack you with an axe but rather an idea, a lie, convincing you that God isn’t who He says He is, that you aren’t who God says you are, that circumstances aren’t in God’s complete, perfect, and loving sovereignty, or that other people aren’t who God says they are. Satan wants you to believe that you must sin to be safe, secure, and satisfied in order to separate you from God’s will for your life.
To see Satan’s pattern, look at what he did to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden:
- Genesis 3:1-7 — Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
While Adam and Eve stood in the middle of God’s perfect and abundant provision, free to “eat of the trees in the garden,” Satan got Adam and Eve to focus on the one (just one) tree from which they were not allowed to eat (a focus on lack rather than God’s abundance), and he used it to get Adam and Eve to question God’s goodness, suggesting God’s restriction was a wrongfully withheld blessing rather than a divine protection. He convinced them they had to sin to be satisfied, safe, and secure, and He convinced them that they could experience a better life as self-sovereigns, thereby, getting them to rebel against God’s dominion (His Kingdom), and surrender the dominion God had given them under His dominion. They stopped abiding (living in) God’s Spirit and became spiritually dead.
Jesus came to fix what Adam and Eve broke, to bring people back to the paradise of God’s perfect will and perfect provision. He paid for the forgiveness of our sins, showed us the life humans were always meant to live as God’s image bearers living out God’s invisible character in visible ways, and empowered us with the Spirit to live Kingdom-now lives into eternity. However Satan, who can’t take that all away from us, continuously tempts us to doubt God and His promises and to trust in ourselves for something or someone else for ‘salvation.’ “Did God really say…?” Satan tempts us with constant suggestions, lies, deceptions, which are communicated to us continuously through his servants, those who proclaim a way, truth, and life which is anything other than Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Or these “false prophets” misrepresent the will and character of Christ or what He desires from His ambassadors.
Remember, today, Satan wants you to be “led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” You might have a sincere devotion to Christ, but is it pure? Purity and fidelity start with your thought life. However, what you think about comes from the information you receive and on what you choose to focus. So, while some think they can’t control their thoughts, they are wrong. You control your thoughts but controlling the information you receive and choosing to direct your focus on what is worthy of attention. They Bible says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Romans 12:2); it also says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Tune out the false messengers out there, and focus all your attention on Jesus and His word for you. Test every message out there from the standard of God’s word. Obey Jesus over social morality or even common sense, and stop listening to all those lies which proclaim various forms of self-centeredness – self-sufficiency, self-actualization, self-satisfaction, etc. And stop believing those lies which seek to convince you that God isn’t, from His perfectly loving sovereignty, giving you what is the very best for you and working all things out together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His Romans 8:29 purpose (Romans 8:28-29).
- Philippians 4:4-8 — Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
2 Corinthians 11:5, 6 — But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way.”
Similar to many today, the church in Corinth was being led astray by dynamic, impressive, talented teachers who were falsely preaching “another Jesus” for their own personal gain. They were “rock star” preachers who were wolves in sheep’ clothing. Jesus said that the discerning would recognize false prophets by their fruit, and Paul says the same thing, as humbly as possible, comparing his own fruit to theirs.
Paul is a great example of real leadership, a man who had earned the right to lead and, as opposed to false teachers, had true “knowledge” required for leadership which can only be obtained through the Holy Spirit and from genuine experience and practical application:
Paul preached the gospel free of charge. How many leaders do you know who lead without reward? Paul gave to others but did not take; his leadership was not burdensome. Paul was motivated solely by love, and he did not direct attention to himself but rather to Christ.
Paul’s leadership was gracious, gentle, patient, and enduring; in fact, Paul even questioned whether he was too gentle (2 Corinthians 11:21). To those who are easily enamored by self-confident superficial “leadership,” Paul’s meekness was perceived as weakness, but Paul warns others not to be deceived.
Paul could match credentials with anyone, but he did not consider credentials or pedigree to be the measure or qualifier of leadership but rather Holy Spirit empowerment along with sacrifice and suffering in love for the cause. Paul had put his life on the line countless times for Jesus and often endured without even food or water. All the while in the face of many pressures and temptations, he remained holy and faithful – he did not falter, and his character was unblemished. Despite his shining character, he did not boast in himself but rather boasted in Christ and was quick to point out his own sins, flaws, and weaknesses in order to reveal the Grace of God in his own life. (2 Corinthians 11;28-32)
Consider the popular preachers and leaders today: how many live like Paul? How many “gifted speakers” have been raised up to “super-apostle” status? Take a moment to be introspective. Do you lead like Paul? Have you paid the price to lead? Thousands of years ago, Sun Tzu once remarked that great generals are never honored or noticed because they don’t fight great battles – they win quietly, behind the scenes so that the “great battles” are never required, and they don’t have egos that demand the recognition that comes from spectacular (avoidable) victories. The irony is that greatness is not glamorous, most will miss it. Case in point, in the time of the reign of the mighty Herod, whose kingdom’s ruins still stand prominent today, our Savior was born in a manger — “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:2) Today, the only thing most people know about Herod is that he killed countless babies trying to destroy Jesus. But the One who was not esteemed is our Savior!
2 Corinthians 11:14 — And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.
Satan’s servants will present themselves as godly or good people. It takes discernment through the word of God to identify these imposters.
2 Corinthians 11:19-21 — For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!
Paul sought to humbly teach the beautiful simplicity of the Gospel and intentionally didn’t use cleaver or emotional speeches to influence people, “that [their] faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). However, a message of repentance, unworthiness, utter dependency, grace, and selfless submission, obedience, and suffering is unacceptable to the self-righteous and beneath those who are far too enlightened by such a message. So, they turn to teachers, coaches, philosophers, scholars, and artists who promise fulfillment apart from God but really make them slaves to self-centeredness. These modern-day prophets present themselves as great teachers, get rich and/or famous from their false teachings (devouring others), and sometimes preach “beneficial” harshness (strikes… in the face), which is sometimes called tough love. Paul didn’t use gimmicks but was concerned that some would be led astray by those that did.
- 2 Timothy 4:3-5 — For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Corinthians 11:24-27 — Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
What are you willing to endure to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others?
2 Corinthians 11:29 — Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
From Henry T. Blackaby – “Christians do not live in isolation. When we sin, there are repercussions throughout the Christian community. When a brother or sister suffers, we are affected. Our calling is not to be solitary Christians but to be members of a priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9).
It was impossible for Paul to remain unmoved while there were believers in Corinth who were spiritually weak. When he learned that false teachers had caused Christians in Corinth to stumble in their faith, Paul burned with indignation. Paul told the church members at Corinth to rejoice when a church member rejoices and to weep when a fellow member weeps (1 Cor. 12:26). We depend on one another, and this influences everything we do. Jesus said that even when we pray, we are to begin by saying “our Father” (Matt. 6:9). We must do everything with our fellow Christian in mind (1 Cor. 14:12).
It’s possible to become so preoccupied with your own spiritual journey that you do not get involved in your church. You can become so focused on what God is doing in your own country that you are oblivious to the suffering and persecution that your fellow Christians face in countries around the world. If other believers around you are rejoicing or hurting, and you are unaffected, you have become desensitized to the people of God.
Ask God to place a burden on your heart for fellow believers. Make yourself aware of their needs. Pray for them and adjust your life to God’s activity in their lives.”
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 5 July 2024: Lead others today by denying self, taking up your cross and following Jesus. Leaders know the way and show the way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) If you aren’t leading others towards Jesus, you are leading them astray.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 