The seducing power of the devil and his agents of evil are just as strong today as they were in the days of Paul. Satan appeals to humankind in this day and time as did the serpent in the Garden of Eden when he beguiled Eve with his deceit and lies. He says that God is depriving the human creation from the joys of life and anyone who ridicules a believer for following God is one of Satan’s agents.  

Paul knew of the temptations that were a part of life, thus he told Timothy II Timothy 3: 14 and 15: But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  He told him to continue (live the life in Christ) which he knew was true from being taught by his parents, Paul and his reading of the old writings. The end of living in Christ is the promised salvation in which there is no room for evil doing. Timothy was to do as James wrote in Chapter 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Thus, we know that Paul’s instruction to Timothy to continue in the things he learned would be submission to God through Christ causing the devil to flee.

In the world today, there are all kinds of ideas about what it means to be a believer and follower of Christ. Most of those ideas are not of God: they are right out of the book of the devil. Differing denominations have different means by which salvation is obtained by the believer. Obviously, none of them can be correct unless they follow the instructions in the scriptures as per Acts 2:38.  Religious groups proclaim that homosexuals are in God’s grace even as they practice their sinful behavior and choose them for leaders. Those are but two examples of the evil that Satan makes so attractive.

In I Timothy 4:1-2 Paul told Timothy, 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; It’s as Paul wrote of false apostles in II Corinthians 11:13 and then followed with verse 14, And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. That which is contrary to the truth, but that which is so alluring is pure evil. If it isn’t in conformance with the principles of God and the teachings of Christ it is evil, and anyone who speaks otherwise is an agent of evil. The light is actually the darkness of sin.

Not long after the beginning of the assembly belonging to Christ (church), false doctrines began to rear their ugly heads. Paul told the elders of the early assembly (church) as follows in Acts 20-28-30 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. It is obvious that false teachers have drawn away disciples who would rather follow men than God.  

Paul gave Timothy very sound instruction. He wrote in II Timothy 4:2-4, 2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Only those who are blind to the truth and who refuse to listen will deny that those verses aren’t true.  Such false teachers are agents of evil. Preaching the gospel in all its power and truth is the only way to counter Satan in order to bring the saving news of Christ to the lost.

© 06-02-2009 DEC

                       Next Series The One True Body