Michael writes: King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun. The devil is up to his same old tricks. He has propagated the same lies ever since the Garden of Eden. However, the one true God is the God of new beginnings, When we are born-again of His Spirit, old things are passed away, He makes all things new.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus set up a new attitude; the beatitudes are God’s attitudes. According to Matthew 7:15-23 Jesus continued His sermon on the mount and warned the people about false prophets who did not speak for the true God. JEsus sID, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
God created Adam and Eve as three-part beings of body, soul, and spirit. When Adam and Eve doubted and disobeyed God, their spirit died that day. The mind is a part of the soul of man. This is where the will of man affects the reasoning and the decisions of life. Men and women usually base their decisions on feelings. However, feelings will deceive us. Feelings are part of the wisdom of this fallen world. This type of wisdom is earthly, sensual, and devilish. If you’re in the darkness but think you are in the light, how great is that darkness. In Matthew 7 Jesus said, not everyone who calls out Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. Even though you cast out devils and healed people in my name, I’ll say, depart from me, I never knew you.
Jesus had taught the multitude in Matthew 6 that the material things of this world are only temporary. Therefore, do not store up treasures on earth. Instead treasure treasures in Heaven, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. What is it that you treasure? What in this life do you hold dear? What do you value most? The devil will distract you to value your feelings; the lust of the eyes, and the lust of the flesh. He appeals to the over-desires of this world … the things we lust for over our love of Go; the things that blind us to the truth of the Word of God. Through the eyes of the flesh, men and women of this world think that the devil’s lies are true. The devil has convinced them that wrong is right and the righteousness of God is wrong. The devil’s purpose is to steal, to kill and to destroy.
The battlefield is for the minds and hearts of men and women. In this spiritual battle Ephesians 6 says: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high.” According to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are not of the flesh. Instead they are spiritual (empowered by the Spirit of God in Christ in us) for the pulling down of the devil’s spiritual strongholds. How do we fight back against the spiritual powers of the darkness of this world? We do this by casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Jesus Christ is the truth of the word of God made manifest. He alone is our standard for truth.
Let's continue Michael's message on treasuring treasure in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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