What happened at the time of creation and how God proves that He loves mankind 

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It’s important to understand why things are the way they are. Why is the world polluted with evil? Theft, rape, violence, murder, lying, hatred, bitterness, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, sickness, deformity, mental illness, depression, and more: who is responsible? Have I participated? Is there a way to escape?

As far as you and I are concerned, it all began in the Garden of Eden just over6,000 years ago. Our great-grandparents, Adam and Eve, were created by God to live forever. [As an aside, some scientists in the study of longevity have come to the conclusion that the human cell should be able to renew itself indefinitely.] God had commanded Adam and Eve just one DON’T, found in Genesis 2:17:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

GOD SAID, Don’t eat the forbidden fruit or in that day you shall surely die.

One day in the Garden, Satan spoke through the serpent to Eve. He challenged the credibility of God’s Word and suggested to Eve that God was a liar. Satan told Eve that she wouldn’t die if she ate of the fruit but would live forever like God. Eve chose to believe the lie, and Adam followed her lead. They died spiritually that very day—just as God had said—but lived on many years in the flesh before they died physically as well. The Bible speaks about our condition before salvation in Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." The basic fact is that we were spiritually stillborn, spiritually dead. Our parents (Adam and Eve) no longer carried the seed of life, therefore could not pass it on. Eve and Adam sold their progeny to Satan, the prince of the power of the air.

Mankind was sold, therefore mankind had to be bought back; thus, one of Jesus Christ’s titles is the "Redeemer," which means one who buys back. Our parents, all the way back to Adam, were born spiritually dead and so were we. We were born as the children of Mr. and Mrs. So-and-So. Unfortunately, we were born wrong. This is why Jesus said we must be born-again, born a second time.

When you are born-again, you become a child of God. At that juncture, the Bible says a new name is written down in Glory—your name—if you make a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. This is not churchianity, but the new and living way in Christ Jesus. Today, as an ambassador of Jesus Christ, I have the ability, by the quickening power of the Holy Ghost, to usher you into the presence of the mighty Christ. It’s through His shed blood that you’ll gain justification before God.

God’s offer to you is that you can be born-again. All your sins will be forgiven and forgotten and all Satan's bondages broken; today will be the best day of your life and tomorrow will be better. Have you ever had a better offer? What God requires of you is for you to believe upon Jesus Christ, His only begotten son. Repent and turn from your sins and surrender your life to the direction and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. The end of this life-changing decision is eternal life.

No matter what you have done in the past, no matter how bound you might be by sin, drugs, alcohol, lust, or hatred, the blood of Jesus Christ is ready to wash away every sin and make you a brand new person in Christ Jesus. You will become born-again—born a second time—the true birthday of redeeming consequence.

Are you ready to make a decision for the King of Glory? You’ll never make a decision of greater magnitude and benefit. It does not exist. Follow me now, audibly, in the sinner’s prayer:

Dear God, I come to you a sinner. I ask forgiveness for my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ, your only begotten Son, shed His blood to break the bondage of sin in my life, and that His blood and only His blood can wash away my sins. Wash me clean in the blood of Christ. I promise to follow Jesus Christ with all my might from this day forth. Thank you, God, for saving my soul! Thank you for making me a new creature. In Jesus name I pray, believing it’s done. Amen.

Welcome to the Commonwealth of Israel. Congratulations, you are born-again. You are a child of God and today is the best day of your life.

Romans 10:10 reads:

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

To seal your salvation, you need to confess your salvation. Let’s do it together.

Repeat out loud after me: "I am born again. I am a child of God. All my sins have been washed clean in the blood of Jesus. I am a new creature in Christ Jesus. Thank you, Father, for my beautiful salvation!"

Now go and tell others what has happened to you. Be sure to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in water baptism, by immersion, and seek a church that honors the Word of God.

This is the beginning of everlasting salvation. New and phenomenal things have begun to happen in your life already. Before, you sat in darkness, but now you have seen a great light.

WHAT NEXT?

Welcome to the Commonwealth of Israel!  Here is your “new resident’s information package:” 

🟌 A miracle awaits you.  Be filled with the Holy Ghost as they were on the day of Pentecost.  Take in the Holy Ghost Series now!  Take this series one-by-one and when you reach Feature 5, the second-greatest miracle of all time awaits you.  

🟌 Forget religious dogmas that are not rooted in your majority-text King James Version of the Holy Bible.  Explore the Which Bible? Series for more information. 

🟌 Be free of the doctrines of men.  Visit Which Religion? to find out more.

🟌 As a born-again believer, you’re going to want to find a church: one that stands on the Word of God.  Use the guidelines in “I am Trying to Find a Church Out Here!” to help you.  

🟌 It is written of John the Baptist, who also baptized Jesus, the following in Mark 1:5:

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Get baptized at your new church by immersion. 

🟌 You are a new creation now.  You have new joys and new desires.  You are a new kind. 

Let your childlike faith prevail!  You are a born-again child of God because the Spirit of God bears witness with your spirit and because you said so—and continue to say so.

Few Questions to See if Your Phone is an Idol

 I have been imagining that where I am giving more time is taking most time of my life and Idiscovered that mobile is taking my most of the time.

Suppose everything I do with my phone is about Jesus, but has it become an idol? Maybe, as I do, we need these 4 questions we can ask ourself to see if our phone is an idol.

 The Definition of Idolatry: -

Idolatry is a sin. It’s the second of the ten commandments and one that God takes four whole verses to explain.

“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Exodus 20:3-6 

In the New Testament:

1 John 5:21 tells us to keep ourselves from idols. 

1 Corinthians 10:14 tells us to flee from idolatry, and 

Colossians 3:5 tells us to put idolatry to death.

 

In fact, the 254 instances of the word “idols” in the Bible are mentioned, and it was the number one cause for God’s judgment of His own chosen people (Israel). 

 

Now, when we think about idols, a lot of us think about those old statues people worshipped in Bible times. But Christians now are not in any danger of worshipping Molech, Baal, and Ashtoreth.

 

No, the danger for us has more to do with placing our desires, pursuits, and attentions on things other than our God. It was called Modern Idolatry.  Meeting Needs Without God. In it, there were four categories of needs that people meet either with or with out God. Those categories form the basis of the questions here.

 

Question 1: What is the focus of your life/time?

1.Does your phone occupy a large portion of your time?

2.Do you check it even before you greet the Lord and thank Him for a brand-new day?

3.When you are not sleeping or working, do you find yourself scrolling and scrolling, your phone never far from your fingers?

4.When you put it away, do you find yourself stressed to be apart from it?

5. Is it sometimes difficult to pull your mind away from your phone to do other things?

6.Are you surprised to find big chunks have time have passed with nothing really accomplished except looking at your phone?

7.Even if everything you are doing on your phone is godly and even ABOUT God, are you paying as much attention TO God as you are to your phone?

 

(SERIOUS QUESTION SHOULD BE ANSWERED TO SELF TO KNOW OUR CONDITIONS)

 

Question 2: Where does your comfort come from?

When you’re sad or upset, do you search for solace in your phone? Does it provide an escape from the real world, a place to numb your mind from the physical or mental pain you might be going through? Do you feel better when you are on your phone than you do without it? Has your phone become an immediate “quick fix” to anxiety or discomfort when time in prayer and worship might take a little more time and effort (but be of real help instead of a cheap substitute)?

 

Question 3: How do you feel connected/like you belong?

When you feel lonely or disconnected, do you reach for your phone? Does time on social media posting, commenting, and liking posts fill your need for fellowship? Does it make you feel important/loved when others like or share your posts? Are you seeking to fill a deep void of loneliness and connection that only God can fill (because that is what we are designed to be filled with)? Note: This is not to say that you cannot have Christian fellowship online. This is to point out the times when we use it as a substitute for connecting with God.

 

Question 4: Who/what provides your guidance?

When you have a question about what to do in your life, is “pray and wait for God to answer” your strategy? Or is your first response to post a question on social media or message other Christians to give you advice? Are there other ways you look for guidance online? Do you allow anything other than God to speak over your life?

The Solution If Your Phone Has Become an Idol

If you are like me, the answers to more than a few of those questions brought a ping of conviction. While phones are a great resource to keep us up to date with what is going on in the world and connected with other Christians, it can be a problem if we are using it too much or to meet the needs that God is supposed to be meeting for us.

So, if our phones have become our idols, what should we do now? Charles Spurgeon had a sermon about idolatry in 1891. It’s called Three Decisive Steps. In it, he details the three things we can do to get out from under the sin of idolatry. 

 Step 1: Confess and Repent

Do not make excuses. Tell God that you have sinned in making your phone an idol and that you are sorry. Cry out to Him and beg Him to help you not to do it anymore. Then believe and trust God that He will help you.

Step 2: Prepare Your Heart

Declare your decision and intention not to allow your phone to be your idol anymore. Settle it not just in the action of refraining from using it as much but in actively acknowledging that your phone doesn’t actually meet your needs at all. Think back on all the times you came away from your phone still feeling sad, still unsure of what to do, and still feeling lonely – but with hours of time wasted and nothing accomplished.

Step 3: Serve God Alone

It’s not enough to turn away from your phone if you will use other things to meet those same needs instead. Turn to God with your whole heart! Spend time with God, allow Him to be your comfort and connection, and seek Him for His guidance.

Your Phone is an Idol If It Comes Before God

Idolatry is no small thing to God. It is not something to take lightly and must be dealt with when God brings it to our attention. Cell phones can be useful tools, but if we are using them too much or as a substitute for time and attention to God, we must repent, get our hearts right, and serve God alone.

WHEN JESUS RETURNS TO TAKE HIS PEOPLE AND HE FINSS US PLAYING WITH PHONE THEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

Let us give more time of 24 hours of our day to God

What does “every spiritual blessing” mean in Ephesians 1:3?

In Ephesians 1:3–14, the apostle Paul opens his letter with an extended benediction. The entire twelve-verse passage constitutes one continuous sentence in the original Greek language. Paul gushes forth with declarations of God’s blessings without stopping for a breath. He begins, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (verse 3).

Every spiritual blessing refers to all the conceivable gifts of redemption that Christians receive by being united with Jesus Christ. Paul draws an intentional reference to the Trinity in Ephesians 1:3–14 and again in verse 17. God the Father is the originator and source of every spiritual blessing. The realm or scope of these gifts is “in Christ.” Only through our identification and union with God’s Son are we eligible to receive His untold blessings. And the nature of the gifts is spiritual. The Holy Spirit is the executor who applies the work of Christ to our hearts and lives.

Paul goes on to outline “every spiritual blessing.” First, we have God’s gift of being chosen and predestined “for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:4–5). Just as Yahweh chose Israel to be His treasured possession, He chooses believers to receive the great honor and privilege of becoming His beloved spiritual children through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father loves us so very much that “he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NLT).

Next, Paul features the gift of God’s “glorious grace” that He has “poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:6–8, NLT). Our heavenly Father is rich in grace, kindness, forgiveness, freedom, wisdom, and understanding, and He makes us rich in the same, in Jesus Christ, His Son. For this reason, Paul could say, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Certainly not the least of God’s blessings in Christ is that “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). The Greek word translated “redemption” here refers to the act of making full payment to free an enslaved person. When we believe in Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior, our sins are forgiven, paid for by His death on the cross (Matthew 26:27–28; Colossians 1:14). Christ’s death satisfies God’s demands, releasing us from sin and its associated death sentence (Romans 8:1–2) and making us “holy and blameless in his sight” (verse 4).

Another spiritual blessing in Christ is that God makes “known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:9–10). Paul is speaking here about the divine mystery of the New Testament church, which was formerly kept a secret but is now revealed in Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:26–27). God’s plan is for both Jews and Gentiles to share equally in the gospel of salvation and form one new people united in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:12–13; 3:3, 5–6, 9).

Every spiritual blessing also includes the truth that we have obtained a heavenly inheritance (Ephesians 1:11–14). For now, we are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (verses 13–14). We are marked with God’s seal—the Holy Spirit—who provides us with spiritual security and proof of ownership. In eternity, we will take full possession of that inheritance.

Every spiritual blessing encompasses all the gifts of the Holy Spirit given by God the Father to those who have experienced His salvation in Jesus Christ. Peter affirms that God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). Believers in Jesus have no shortage of reasons to praise God for abundantly blessing us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Does a Christian have two natures

 

1 Corinthians 15:34                                                         “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin.”

                                          "Does a Christian have two natures?

The first problem that comes up with this question is one of semantics. For example:- 1.many prefer "sin nature,"

2.others prefer "sinful nature,"

and still others prefer the ambiguous "flesh." Whatever the specific names used for the warring parties, what is relevant is that an ongoing battle rages within the Christian.

The second problem is the actual definition of "nature." How this significant word is defined determines how one sees the distinction between:

1.the “old man” and

2.the “new man” and

its relevant outworking in the life of the Christian.

One way to view "nature" is to understand it as a "capacity" within a believer. Thus, the old man is interpreted as the former way of life, that of an unbeliever.

In this sense, the Christian has two competing capacities within him:-

the old capacity to sin and

the new capacity to resist sinning.

Difference between Unbeliever and Believer: -

1.The unbeliever has no such competition within; he does not have the capacity for godliness because he has only the sin nature. That’s not to say he cannot do “good works,” but his motivation for those works is always tainted by his sinfulness. In addition, he cannot resist sinning because he doesn’t have the capacity to not sin.

2.The believer, on the other hand, has the capacity for godliness because the Spirit of God lives within him or her. He still has the capacity for sin as well, but he now has the ability to resist sin and, more importantly, the desire to resist and to live godly.

When Christ was crucified, the old man was crucified with Him, resulting in the Christian’s no longer being a slave to sin (Romans 6:6). We “have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

At the moment of conversion, the Christian receives a new nature. It is instantaneous. Sanctification, on the other hand, is the process by which God develops our new nature, enabling us to grow into more holiness through time. This is a continuous process with many victories and defeats as the new nature battles with the “tent” in which it resides—the old man, old nature, flesh.

Apostle Paul faced the same within himself”:-

In Romans 7, Paul explains the battle that rages continually in even the most spiritually mature people. He laments that he does what he doesn’t want to do and, in fact, does the evil he detests. He says that is the result of “sin living in me” (Romans 7:20). He delights in God’s law according to his “inner being,” but he sees another law at work in “the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members” (v. 23).

Here is the classic example of the two entities, whatever terms they may carry. The point is that the battle is real, and it is one Christians will wage throughout their lives.

This is why believers are encouraged:

 1.To put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13),

2.To put to death that which akes a Christian sin (Colossians 3:5), and

3.To put aside other sins such as anger, wrath, malice, etc. (Colossians 3:8).

All this to say that the Christian has two natures—1.The old and 2. The new—but the new nature needs continual renewing (Colossians 3:10). This renewing, of course, is a lifetime process for the Christian. Even though the battle against sin is constant, we are no longer under the control of sin (Romans 6:6). The believer is truly a “new creation” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and it is Christ who will ultimately “rescue [us] from this body of death.

Romans 7:24–25: God's Spirit Can Help Us Overcome Sin.

Let us pray -Lord, as we anticipate that gift that we have eternal life in You, we pray that You would help us in our battles with sin today and every day. God, deliver us through the power of Christ over sin. We see in Your word and believer in your son who while on faced sin but resisting sin, never once giving in to sin and helping us to do so. Amen

God bless you all

 

What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11)

 In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist makes a profound declaration about the coming Messiah: “I baptize you with water, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” . John baptized with water to signify repentance, but he was preparing the way for One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire—a spiritual baptism, not a physical one.

John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus (see Mark 1:1–4). John called people to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). The word repent means to “change one’s mind.” In the Old Testament, repentance involved turning away from sin and turning to God (2 Chronicles 7:14; Ezekiel 33:11). Because the kingdom of heaven was near (or imminent), John preached that all should repent “for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4) and to show their change of heart by being baptized.

As John baptized and preached, he looked ahead to someone greater than himself (Matthew 3:11). In fact, the words he who is coming after me alludes to the messianic hope that had defined Judaism for generations: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2 compare with Isaiah 9:6–7).

John acknowledges that he is inferior compared to the Coming One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11).

First, he says that the coming one is “more powerful” than he. Indeed, Jesus the Messiah is mightier than John in every respect: Jesus is divine (Colossians 2:9), sinless (Hebrews 4:15), and the Savior of the world (John 3:16). No one can compare to Him.

Second, John states that he is unworthy of carrying the sandals of the coming Messiah (Matthew 3:11). In other words, John is unworthy of performing the most menial task in the service of the Messiah. John the Baptist believed that the imminent arrival of the Messiah meant that John would need to step aside (John 3:30).

 Last, John compares his water baptism to the Messiah’s baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). John’s baptism was a symbolic act of repentance, whereas the Messiah would inaugurate two types of spiritual baptism: a baptism with the Holy Spirit and a baptism with fire.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit occurs when a person is born again and made a part of the body of Christ. All believers in Jesus are partakers of the baptism of the Spirit: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

 The baptism by fire that John predicts could be seen in two ways:

 1. For those who confess their sins and repent, the baptism of fire alludes to the purifying and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. The same symbol is seen in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit descends on the disciples with a visible token: “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” (Acts 2:3).

 2. For those who refuse to repent, the baptism of fire has to do with judgment. “Our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). John the Baptist clearly had judgment in mind when he spoke of the baptism of fire, as he followed up that prediction with these words: “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12). Those who continue in sin and unrepentance are destined for the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14–15).

John the Baptist’s announcement of the coming Messiah reflects the culmination of messianic expectations and the uniqueness of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Now that Jesus has ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9–12), we eagerly await His return (Philippians 3:20). And we continue to worship Him who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Demonic control of the saints

 Demonic Control of the Saints. It is critical that Christians understand their vulnerability

to demonic influence. Those who say a demon cannot influence an area of a believer's life have left us with only two possible culprits for the problems we face: ourselves or God. If we blame ourselves we feel hopeless because we can't do anything to stop what we're doing. If we blame God our confidence in Him as our benevolent Father is shattered.

 Either way, we have no chance to gain the victory which the Bible promises us. In reality we are in a winnable war against principalities and powers from the defeated kingdom of darkness. But their lies can gain a measure of control if we let them.

 Here are several indications in Scripture that believers can lose control or come under bondage.

 Luke 13:10-18. While Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, "there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all" (verse 11). Verse 16 states that her physical disability was caused by satanic bondage.This woman was not an unbeliever. She was "a daughter of Abraham" (verse 16), a God-fearing woman of faith with a spiritual problem. As soon as Jesus released her from bondage, her physical problem was cured.

 

Notice that this woman wasn't protected from demonic control by being inside the synagogue. Neither the walls of a synagogue nor the walls of a church provide a sanctuary

from demonic influence. If plaster walls are not a barrier to Satan, do you think your skin is? The spiritual world is not subject to such natural barriers, nor is it limited by the laws

of physics. Admittedly, this event occurred before the cross. But it is an indication that believers are subject to demon control.

 Luke 22:31-34. The apostle Peter is an example of a believer who temporarily lost control to Satan. Jesus said to him, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat" (verse 31). What right did Satan have to make such a demand? Peter had apparently given Satan a foothold through pride when he debated with the disciples about which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Even though Peter wholeheartedly intended to stand by his Master to the death (verse 33), Jesus announced that Peter would deny Him three times (verse 34), which he did. It's encouraging to note, however, that Jesus had already prayed for Peter's successful recovery from the incident (verse 32).

 Ephesians 6:10-17. This passage contains Paul's familiar exhortation to believers to "put on the full armor of God, 176 * The Danger of Losing Control that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (verse 11). What is the purpose of armor? To

prevent the enemy's arrows from penetrating the body and injuring the soldier. If it is impossible for Satan's arrows to penetrate us, there would be no need for us to put on the

armor. The instructions regarding spiritual armor suggest that it is possible for the enemy to penetrate our lives and gain a measure of control.

 James 3:14-16. James indicates that if we yield to jealousy and selfish ambition, we may open ourselves to being controlled by wisdom which is "earthly, natural, demonic" (verse 15).

 1 Timothy 4:1-3. Paul wrote, "Some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (verse 1).The need to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ cannot be overstated (2 Corinthians 10:5).

 We must be able to discern the difference between true guidance from God and the incredible amount of counterfeit guidance that is everywhere in our world.

 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. This passage contains Paul's instructions concerning a man in the Corinthian church who was living in an incestuous relationship with his father's wife (verse 1). He was a man so deluded by Satan and controlled by immorality that he apparently flaunted his illicit relationship before the whole church. Paul's judgment on the matter was severe: "I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (verse 5). Paul was ready to allow Satan to have his way with the man for awhile in hopes that he would finally say "I've had enough" and repent.

 Some wonder if a person at this level of immorality is really a Christian. But if this man were a non-Christian Paul would not have disciplined him, because the church is only required to discipline those within its membership. This man was a believer (at least Paul treated him like one) who had allowed himself to become trapped in immorality. Paul's hope was that he experience the natural consequences of his sin, repent, and be set free from his bondage.

Ephesians 4:26,27. Paul instructed, '"In your anger do not sin, Do not let the sun go down while you are stil  angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" . The word "foothold" literally means a "place." Paul is saying that we may allow the devil a place in our lives if we fail to speak the truth in love and manage our emotions. Anger which turns to bitterness and unforgiveness is an open invitation to demonic control (2 Corinthians 2:10,11).

1 Peter 5:6-9. Peter warned, "Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (verse 8). The word "devour" means to consume or to swallow up. It is the same word used in 1 Corinthians 15:54: "Death is swallowed up in victory." To be swallowed up by something certainly conveys the thought of being controlled by it. If believers are not vulnerable to being controlled by Satan, Peter would not need to alert us to the possibility. 

The context of Peter's warning suggests two conditions which may predispose a believer to vulnerability. In verse 6 we are encouraged to humble ourselves before the Lord. Perhaps with the painful memory of the consequences of his own self-exaltation in mind, Peter indicates that whenever we resist pride we resist Satan. And verses 7 and 8 suggest that if we don't learn how to cast our anxieties on the Lord, we make ourselves easy prey for Satan.

Acts 5:1-11. This is perhaps the most definitive passage on Satan's ability to control believers. At the close of Acts 4 we discover that members of the young Jerusalem church

were voluntarily selling property and giving the proceeds to the apostles for use in ministry. "But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land?... You have not lied to men, but to God'" (verses 1-4).

The issue was not that Ananias and Sapphira withheld part of the proceeds, but that they lied about it, apparently saying that what they gave was the total amount they received.The consequence of the couple's sin was immediate and sobering: They died on the spot (verses 5,10).

Some who have difficulty with satanic control of believers have argued that Ananias and Sapphira were unbelievers. I don't buy that argument. First, Acts 4:31 states that this event took place within the context of the Christian community, of which Ananias and Sapphira were obviously members. Second, Acts 5:11 records, "And great fear came upon the whole church." If God were judging someone outside the church, why would great fear come upon those within the church? There was great fear among believers because God had dramatically displayed His attitude toward believers who live a lie. Third, the severity of

the punishment indicates that God was underscoring the importance of truth in the community of believers. Unbelievers lie all the time, and they usually are not as swiftly and thoroughly judged as were Ananias and Sapphira. I believe that God was communicating early in the church's history that our major problem is not communism, drugs, or false religions; it's giving in to Satan's deception.

 Ananias' problem was that he had allowed Satan's deception to fill (control) his heart. The word "filled" in Acts 5:3 is the same word used in Ephesians 5:18: "Be filled with the Spirit." It is possible for the believer to be filled with satanic deception or filled by the Spirit. To whichever source you yield, by that source you shall be filled and controlled. When you allow Satan to deceive you in any area of your life, you are vulnerable. God had to dramatically intervene in the early church to reveal what the primary battle would be

If Satan could go undetected into your church or your marriage or you personally and get you to believe a lie, could he control your life?

RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESISTING CONTROL: -We should not say, "The devil made me do it." No, he didn't make you do it; you did it. Somewhere along the line you chose to give the devil a foothold. He merely took advantage of the opportunity you gave him. You have all the resources and protection you need to live a victorious life in Christ every day. If you're not living it, it's your choice. When you leave a door open for the devil by not resisting temptation, accusation, or deception, he will enter it. And if you continue to allow him access to that area, he will eventually control it. You won't lose your salvation, but you will lose your daily victory.

Many Christians today who cannot control their lives in some area wallow in self-blame instead of acting responsibly to solve the problem. They berate themselves and punish themselves for not having the willpower to break a bad habit, when instead they should be resisting Satan in an area where he has obviously robbed them of control. Anything bad which you cannot stop doing, or anything good which you cannot make yourself do, could be an area of demonic control.

SIN VERSES GROWTH

 If we see the 1 John 2:12-14 which says: -

12.I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

13.I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one.I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

14.I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

 First John 2:12-14 describes three levels of Christian growth in relation to sin. The first level is compared to "little children" (verse 12). Little children in the faith are

characterized by having their sins forgiven and possessing a knowledge of God. In other words, they are in the family of God and have overcome the penalty of sin, but they haven't grown to the full maturity.

 The second level is "young men" (verses 13,14), those who have overcome the evil one. These are aggressively growing believers who are strong because the Word of God abides in them. They know the truth and how to use it to resist Satan in the battle for their minds. They are no longer in bondage to uncontrollable habits, and they have resolved the personal and spiritual conflicts which keep many Christians

from experiencing freedom in Christ. They are free, and they know how to stay free.

 The third level is "fathers" (verses 13,14), those who have developed a deep personal knowledge of God. Their faith Enticed to Do It Your Way is securely founded on a close, intimate, loving relationship with God, which is the goal of our spiritual growth. Having challenged us to combat sin's power in our lives through a commitment to growth, John goes on to describe the avenues through which Satan tempts us.

 The word of God says that we grow from childhood to fathers level and if not growing then let us analyze where the problem is. Let the word of God work in us like a mirror as mentioned by James James 1:23-27 

 “If you listen to the Word and don’t live out the message you hear, you become like the person who looks in the mirror of the Word to discover the reflection of his face in the beginning. You perceive how God sees you in the mirror of the Word, but then you go out and forget your divine origin. But those who set their gaze deeply into the perfecting law of liberty are fascinated by and respond to the truth they hear and are strengthened by it—they experience God’s blessing in all that they do! If someone believes they have a relationship with God but fails to guard his words then his heart is drifting away and his religion is shallow and empty. True spirituality that is pure in the eyes of our Father God is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans, and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the world’s values”.

 God bless you all