Cowardice - March 6, 2015

 

cow·ard·ice ˈkou(ə)rdəs/  noun

noun: cowardice - lack of bravery.

“I ain’t no punk!” We like to make that announcement in a loud clear voice when we’re trying to convince someone to back off. But what we forget to do is to shout at ourselves in the same manner when the enemy shows up.

Let me share a cold hard fact with you…you can be mad if you want to, I really don’t care if you do because if what I say makes you angry then maybe you should ask yourself why you’re angry….it’s just that simple.

You are a punk if you’re easily manipulated (I am guilty from time to time.) You are a punk if you set up situations to do something that you otherwise wouldn't do or have the courage to do. You are a punk when you bribe and placate others because it’s of benefit to you (again, I am guilty from time to time)

Oh, believe me….I know how this works. I know how cunning the enemy can be. I know because I’m still learning about the power, strength and character of God. Sin, I know well but funny thing is the enemy is so slick when he has you working for him that he doesn't even give you a job description…he just lets you do what you would normally do… you find that you’re good at it!

The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians, chapter 2 and verse 11, says that we are not to be ignorant of the schemes, or the plans, or the stratagems, or the tricks of Satan.  We need to know how he works.  We need to know something of his character, something of his person, something of his approach.  And since we have the Word of God, which unmasks Satan’s disguises, and which reveals his schemes, there’s really no reason to be ignorant.  

For the saints, for people who not only believe in the devil, but believe in God, and maybe believe in the true God, Satan has another approach.  He likes to be mistaken for God.  Tertullian once said: “Diabolos est Dei simia,” and that translates into “The devil is God’s monkey.”  What Tertullian meant was that the devil likes nothing better than to ape God, and believe me, there are a lot of unwitting Christian people who think God is doing something when it isn’t God at all. 

How does Satan attack believers?

Satan incites our fleshly desires within us through the unbelieving world around us.

In Gal.5:19-20 Paul describes those actions using four categories:

• ·        Sexual immorality, that is, sexual activities outside of marriage
• ·        Idolatry, that is, false religious doctrines and practices
• ·        1 Tim.4: 5 speaks of “deceiving spirits through hypocritical liars.”
• ·        Selfishness
• ·        Destructive addictions

2. Satan attempts to deceive us with the lies of worldly wisdom through the unbelieving world around us.

3. He attempts to deceive us with a false Jesus and a false gospel through false Christians.

4. Satan can physically afflict us or ones that we love with illness, crimes, disasters, persecution and the like.

Luke 22: 31- 32      31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."…