Month: October 2021

The devil’s hatred of Scripture is revealed the first time his name is mentioned in the Bible. Moreover, those who associate with him manifest the same hatred. Let us notice Genesis 3: 1-3:

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”

“…Yea, hath God said… ” This is Satan’s first utterance in Scripture. It is a challenge to the authority of the Word of God. Eve, in listening to the devil, altered God’s Word:

1. She omitted the words every and freely (Genesis 2: 16).

2. She added the words neither shall ye touch it(Genesis 3:3), to God’s command in Genesis 2:17.

3. She altered the certainty of “… thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2: 17), to the uncertainty of “… lest ye die” (Genesis 3:3). Satan’s temptation succeeded because the Word of God was omitted, added to, and altered. It was undermined to the extent that the devil was believed when he denied the Word of God, saying, “… Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4).

In sharp contrast, Satan’s temptation of the last Adam failed because the Lord Jesus Christ three times repeated, honoured, and established what God had said. He refuted the devil’s suggestions with the affirmation, “… It is written … “ (Matthew4:4,7,10).

In Christ’s great high priestly prayer (John 17), the Word of God is referred to three times (verses 8,14,17). The disciples received the Word, and they conformed to it. That fellowship with the Father sanctified them and determined their relationship to the world. God’s commandments are only kept when they are obeyed.

Three times God has warned us of the seriousness of altering His Word:

1. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2).

2. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6).

3. “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: 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. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:18-21).

God has entrusted us with His Word; therefore, it is time for believers to uphold His Word.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” ( 1 Thessalonians 5: 18).

God intends that our Christian life should be one of constant prayer, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5: 17); constant joy, “Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5: 16); and constant thanksgiving, “In every thing give thanks …” (1 Thessalonians 5: 18). The Apostle Paul certainly lived out his own injunctions, for he was unceasing in prayer, full of thanksgiving, and rejoiced greatly in all circumstances. He lived continually in the spirit of thanksgiving. Praise was as natural to him as breathing. He could truly say with the Psalmist, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34: 1 ). He was ever on the lookout to find some cause for gratitude, and every prayer had its note of praise. He was never without some theme for thanksgiving. He perpetually thanked God for His marvelous grace in saving his soul, in calling him to be His apostle to the Gentiles (1 Timothy 1: 12-16). He thanked God for the faith, love, fellowship, and witness of his beloved converts. What heartfelt gratitude he showed to the believers in Philippi for their thoughtfulness to him in his hour of need! (Read Philippians 4:10-19.)

The apostle exhorted and encouraged his fellow Christians to cultivate the beautiful flower of thanksgiving in the garden of the soul. “… be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15), he said to his converts in Colosse. To emphasize this injunction, he adds, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3: 17). In his epistle to the Ephesians, he exhorts, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20). No time of prayer should be without its season of thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).

The Apostle Paul exhorted believers not merely to give thanks in some things, but “In every thing …”; nothing is to be excluded. It is very easy to give thanks for some things because they give such pleasure to body, mind, and soul. We thank God for the springtime, and for the annual miracle of the harvest. We find cause for deep gratitude in the love of parents, wife, husband, brothers, sisters, lover, and friend; in God’s bountiful provision for our daily needs, for the gift of sound body and sound mind. We thank God for the great men of the past who toiled, prayed, and suffered that we might enjoy our national independence, our freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience. We do not find it difficult to give thanks to God for the wonderful way He has brought us through the dark days of the past, for the glorious victory He is granting to us and our allies over a cruel and relentless foe. Above all these material blessings, the believer thanks God for the gift of His beloved Son, through whose atoning blood we have been “ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,” and for the great gift of eternal life. For ten thousand precious gifts from the giver of “Every good gift and every perfect gift …” (James 1: 17), we should lift up our hearts in thankfulness and praise. It is sad to reflect on the fact that there are multitudes who are thankless, full of murmurings and complaints; they never lift up the heart in praise to God. There are times when the ingratitude of man burdens the heart of Christian workers, and the soul cries out in sorrow. “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8).

But to give thanks in “… every thing …”, how hard and seemingly impossible! How can we give thanks at the coffin that contains the mortal remains of our nearest and dearest; in failure in business; in the loss of sight, hearing, or speech; when that man or woman tries us so sorely and continuously; in these and a hundred other heavy trials, how can we give thanks? The heart is tempted to rebel and to murmur rather than to give thanks. Yea, there are times when even the choicest of God’s saints find themselves struggling hard with giant despair; the burden of life gets on top of them for a while and crushes the spirit.

Let it be admitted that it is hard to give thanks always in all things, but through divine grace it is gloriously possible. When we have learned to live out the apostolic injunction, we shall find that life will become completely transformed. There are thousands of Christians who have maintained the spirit of thanksgiving and praise under the hardest possible circumstances. Did not the Apostle Paul practice his own precept? With his back bleeding and smarting with pain, and his feet fixed fast in the stocks, he “… sang praises unto God…” (Acts 16:25). One of his brightest epistles was written when a prisoner, and uncertain whether the morrow would bring life or death. It is full of thanksgiving and joy, and he called on his converts to “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). The early Christians faced the lions and the stake with a song and a smile, thanking God that they were counted worthy to suffer and to die for the sake of the Name of Jesus.

It is only as we recognize that it is “… the will of God in Christ Jesus …” that we should give thanks for all things that we will be ready and able to live out the apostolic injunction. The trustful and obedient believer who lives to do the will of God will give thanks in all things, knowing that whatever lies within His will must have some good behind it. That trying experience you are passing through just now is meant for your good. God has a plan for your life and mine, and it is His great purpose that we should grow in the likeness of His dear Son, and glorify Him in all things.

Life’s trials are sent to develop in us the Christian virtues and graces of love, trust, patience, humility, fortitude, and courage. When these things are seen in us, the thoughts of men tum Christward and heavenward. Men will then see their own selfishness, unbelief, impatience, pride, and cowardice. Often their hostility to us is but a cloak to hide their own deep sense of sin, defeat, and dissatisfaction. When we believe beyond all doubt that “… all things work together for good to them that love God…” (Romans 8:28), we shall not find it difficult in everything to give thanks. When we live this life of continuous thanksgiving, we shall find its effect on body, mind, and soul will be most beneficial, for “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD…” (Psalm 92:1). “… O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever” (Psalm 30: 12).

“He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4). The wise man in these writings still speaks to us today. It will be well for us to exercise a proper and salutary care in the use and disposition of precious seed entrusted to our hand. We should know that, under certain conditions, we

must withhold action, lest there be useless and futile waste. But the diligent and determined man, the fearless and faithful, will not be deterred or turned aside by the threat of difficulty or trial; rather, these will be regarded as challenges to be faced and overcome. Faint-heartedness is no qualification for the Christian warrior.

In the preparation and selection of a Gideon’s band (Judges 7), there must first be eliminated those who are craven and fearful. Such are utterly useless when it comes to the business of being called upon to stand alone “… every man in his place …” (Judges 7:21). The quality of God given courage, when confronted by the seeming might of an outnumbering enemy host, is of great value! But in this realm, human bluster and pretentious bravado break away- they are not enough!

Conquering courage, when facing Satan’s massed multitudes, must depend on that kind of knowledge of God Himself, that is blessed with an experience that is personal and intimate, being wholly independent of outside and extraneous resources. Witness Paul’s words concerning his own experience when facing the devilish cruelty of Nero, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me …and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” (2 Timothy 4:16-17).

We are moving through days of immense difficulty in Gospel witness. The chicken-hearted, the hesitant, and the fearful will certainly be likely to counsel that we hold our hand, and wait for more propitious times! No time, this, for either sowing or reaping, they would protest! Unwise counsellors all! We are moving into the teeth of a gale; conditions will probably deteriorate! “…evil men and seducers shall wax worse

and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). Then how dare we wait? There is a great work to be done! “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). So runs the tremendous declaration of our triumphant Lord and Master.

William Carey’s missionary journey was launched from England in days when the whole continent of Europe was alerted and alarmed by the threat and fear of Napoleonic wars, by the way! “The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the

streets” (Proverbs 22:13). The only satisfying reason why Carey displayed such seeming nonchalance, in such a “do-and-dare” spirit, is that he had listened to the voice of the Lord, and nothing else mattered he must obey!

We believe that, despite all the threats of the enemy, and the hesitancy and fear of the faint-hearted and disobedient, these are the very days in which to call for the advance! God’s divine program must be fulfilled and finalized. He has already issued His call in terms crystal clear. He expects His obedient and faithful servants to fall into line, and

with the resources adequate to the need, which He tells us are available in their abundance, to finish the job. Forward, then, in Christ’s Name!

1) Put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-18).

2) Know Satan’s devices (II Corinthians 2:11).

3) Resist the devil (James 4:7; I Peter 5:8,9).

4) Be sober, be vigilant lest he devour us (I Peter 5:8,9).

5) Give him no place (beach head). (Ephesians 4:7).

6) Quote Scripture to refute his lies (Matthew 4:1-11; I John 2:14).

7) Overcome him by the blood of Christ and a good testimony (Revelation 12:11).

8) Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18) & yielded to the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-13; 3:13)