BUT CHRIST MAKES FREE IN HIS CHURCH
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/archive/030609/20030609040519_brief.php (U.S. News & World
Report, June 9, 2003, pages 32-34). That story showed how one of thousands of different sects have come to
dot our world and nations. 2) This lesson is not a survey all about Satan. It does offer insight on how the
believer on Christ can recognize Satan. Neither is the subject here about avowed Satan worship. Rather, the
scope will be limited to an actual example of a cult. With each new cult, one can just picture Satan laughing and
high-fiving himself. With more falsehoods to cast as uncredible and divisive, he mocks the true church of Christ.
Then people say "religion divides," and the church is given a bad rap. This is Satan's scheme, whether or not
the cult members think they are really serving God. In John 16:2, Jesus warned His chosen apostles of those
who would "think that he doeth God service" when persecuting the apostles. Witting or unwitting, Satan does
not care. 3) Letting the scriptures speak, will be the simple answer of how "Christ Overcomes Satan."
advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. From Revelation 12:9-10,
Satan is the devil. He is the enemy of God, and of the Son of God. He is the diabolical
confuser of God's truth. Also Satan is the lying accuser of God's people.
and the truth shall make you free. Free from Satan and from sin and from error.
Thus free from misguided "self" - the purpose of this website!
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach,
patient, 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26. And
that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive
by him at his will.
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14. And no marvel; for Satan
himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his
ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works.
| Very few would follow Satan if everything he said was false and evil, or if he was a red monster with a tail and pitchfork. That would be obvious. So Satan parades as an “angel of light.” He uses just enough of the Master’s word to deceive, and to get people calling evil good, and calling good evil (ISA 5:20). |
& World Report, June 9, 2003, pp.32-34), say that their most important teacher is
John the Baptizer. Yet the SM deny John’s basic plea: that Jesus is the Christ –
MATT. 3:1,11,14,15; 11:3; JOHN 3:27-30. The SM say their most important rite is
baptism, and yet they reject the “one baptism” of EPH 4:5, to practice many washings
(HEB 6:1-3).
against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Satan recruits into his
cults people who have gaps of ignorance. That’s where Satan punches down and
presses out people, against Christ (cf. ACTS 4:26). Satan uses contradiction, plus
emotionalism, to block meditative study, to blunt creative work, and to make “wearied
and faint”. 1 JOHN 4:3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have
heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Note from HEB
12:3, that the antidote to antichrist, is to “consider Him”, Christ Himself.
true religion, and the paint brushes he uses are false teachers. 2 PETER 2:1-2. But
there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false
teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the
Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2. And many
shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil
spoken of. After Satan has pounded his captives into ignorance, then he addresses
religious problems in general, but he is intently aiming at the church of Christ in
particular. Satan tells his captives that the church of Christ is “corrupted”, “impure”,
or “outdated”, and is surpassed by their cult. Thus, believers who walk in truth, get
stereotyped with religious people in error. However, once a Christian has the weapons
of Christ, he can understand the devices behind Satan’s tricks. Then, all of Satan’s
contradictions and fiery darts will not be able to make that Christian crazy.
EPHESIANS 6:16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
tells his captives in the cult that they are the one true religion, thus copying,
contradicting and perverting the “one faith” (EPHESIANS 4:4-6). That’s why it says
in GALATIANS 1:8, But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
And knowing there is one God, Satan gets the cult leader to exalt himself, “showing
himself that he is God” (2 THESS 2:4). SM’s claim an origin in the first few centuries
A.D. Blending some Gnostic, some Jewish, and some Christian practices, they
migrated from Palestine to Mesopotamia (Babylon, Iraq). But without foundation in
when, where, or what they are, they cannot be original. They are just another of
many cults. Strong talk and boasting is typical, because “the weaker the argument, the
stronger the words.”
books, like Genesis. They regard Adam as their “first messenger” (Well thanks!).
REVELATION 22:18-19. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the
prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto
him the plagues that are written in this book: 19. And if any man shall take away
from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the
book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book. [See also Deuteronomy 4:2 and PROVERBS 30:6]
power of God, which he can never have, because he is evil. When the sore loser gets
power over people through deceit, Satan usurps the place of Christ, so that he can
spiritually corrupt them (EPHESIANS 6:12).
learn what a “messiah” is?) One of the SM men said that, “Christianity changed to
make it more simple”, and then he added, “but we stayed like the roots on the trees.”
This is the copying, contradicting, caricaturing, and denying of Christ, that Satan foists
upon his brainwashed cult subjects. Then to lock in, they flatter themselves.
through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in
Christ. 4. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not
preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another
gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
wearing, dietary laws, washings, and pagan elements. More copying, contradicting,
and self-flattering. The strategy of Satan here is to keep his captives busy with all their
falsehoods, to keep them distracted from the truth.
on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,
and of faith toward God, 2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands,
and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3. And this will we do, if
God permit.
respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17. Which are a
shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18. Let no man beguile you of
your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those
things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19. And not
holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment
ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20. Wherefore if
ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the
world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21. (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22.
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of
men?
- Annual Golden Day of Baptism, “anniversary of John baptizing Jesus.” Ususally
done in “running water”, “living”. (Mockeries of true baptism)
- Can marry only other SM’s, for “pure bloodlines”. (Satan’s inside lock-up)
- Sunday is holy day. (Remember, Satan keeps some truth, for a cover)
- Eat only fish with scales. (Why old testament Jewish law??)
- Fast 36 days of year. (Keeps them preoccupied, on an empty stomach)
- Divorce and drinking alcohol forbidden. (Satan’s ammo against “hypocrites”)
- Leaders must wash three times before performing. (Typical cult neuroticism)
- Leaders marry virgins & be disease-free; for top position, have family history traced
back 7 generations, “pure”. (This is transmutation of old Jewish law)
- Weddings done almost entirely submerged in water. (Sounds like people just want to
get out of the Iraqi desert heat!)
- Pray – facing North Star, “facing God & force of light.” (shades of paganism).
myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think (of men)
above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
- Keep their hands busy in error.
- Keep their minds away from the truth.
- Puffs up their carnal pride, to keep them captive.
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; 3.
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath
created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
seeks to make his cults to resemble ordained religion. However, by keeping their
bodies in high gear, Satan is really keeping their minds in park. Satan’s captives ignore
the commands that they disobey, while Satan misquotes the scriptures that he twists
(MATT 4:1-11; 2 PETER 3:16). While keeping the slaves distracted within the cult,
Satan blinds them from seeing that they are in bondage to a lie. But thanks be to God,
who supplies the way to be free!
Christ to open our eyes of understanding, let His word shine in our life.
received mercy, we faint not; 2. But have renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but
by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the
sight of God. 3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4. In whom
the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants
for Jesus' sake.