In the September 20, 2020 post, What Will It Profit A Man?, under the category, The Cause, I wrote in a footnote about how I (and you as an authentic Christian) am regularly visited by Satan, the tempter in some manner to tempt me to the sin of compromising God’s Word. As the Lord leads today, I follow up that footnote with a more thorough word of instruction and exhortation to the aspiring strong men and great women of God in the image of our Lord Jesus Christ reading this to help in these latter times.1 Truly, it is absolutely imperative that we cling to what we know about God, His will, way and Word as it is written to “wage the good warfare,” (1 Timothy 1:18, NKJV).
In the post footnote referenced above, I was discussing the truth of how “we all have been tempted by the satanic deceit of feminism from whatever weakness or desire of the flesh to believe the lies God is no longer honoring His Word as it is written, biased males from Moses and to include Christ for centuries have misunderstood or purposely misinterpreted the Word to subjugate females or blasphemously, God made a mistake and is wrong (Genesis 3:1-6; Isaiah 29:16, 45:9-10; Romans 9:20; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; James 1:14).” From the foregoing, it is clear weaknesses and desires arising from the sinful flesh makes us very susceptible to being tempted and deceived.
The deceiver remains crafty and subtle from millennia ago in Eden with Eve; having since gained a wealth of experience tempting and deceiving mankind (Genesis 3:1, 13; 2 Corinthians 11:3, 10-15; Revelation 12:9). After God, only Satan and his minions better know sinful fallen human nature, our weaknesses, common desires and proclivities based on observation and success employing methodologies that entice. He is the master of suggestion, planting thoughts (beware your memories), ideas and doubts. He stirs up feelings (sensual, bitter and even happy) to ensnare and unabashedly lies on and contradicts God along with His Word toward his deceptive ends (John 8:44).
Satan’s core strategy of deception from the beginning is formed by the limitations God has placed on him. He, of course, wanted to destroy mankind from the face of the earth and for all eternity in Eden, but God would not allow that. God did allow Satan to attempt to seduce the first humans to sin leading to the carrying out of the divine decree of death, but with a turn of events he did not foresee knowing God to be righteous: God would Personally make a way for His fallen creatures’ deliverance (Genesis 3:14-15; Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-26; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Colossians 2:11-15)! Nevertheless, temptation to sin through deceit remains Satan’s chief weapon against men.
His weapon has been repeatedly and successfully used on God’s people such as in the Bible when Balaam deceived Israel and the Nicolaitans, first century Christians (Numbers 25; Revelation 2:12-17).2 So confident is he with his ability to tempt to sin using deceit, he went after the sinless Son of God, but failed (Matthew 4:1-11)! Our Savior and Lord wills that we not be overcome by the tempter either; teaching us to pray to that end and praying for us while still on the earth (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 22:31-32; John 17:15). Indeed, we are to stay alert for the crafty working of that evil one to avoid being his unwitting vessels or deceitfully tempted into sin (2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 1 Peter 5:8-11).
Despite there being no temptation to suddenly come upon us “except such as is common to man,” the history of Christianity from the first century until now, follows the examples of Israel’s failures (1 Corinthians 10:1-13a, NKJV). From sexual immorality, manmade religion (allowing unimaginable corruptions) to now, full on rebellion against the Lord in the order of mankind, we professed Christians have been so easily deceived as again, James warns through our “own desires” (James 1:14-15, NKJV).3 Because he craftily and subtly operates in the unseen spiritual shadows (Ephesians 6:12), many in ignorance and/or pride underestimate Satan’s ability to tempt and deceive us at the point of even latent desires (which he counts on) we discover too late ensnared us.4
The Lord Jesus and His apostles repeatedly warn us about the prominence of deception in these latter times and the need to avoid being deceived (Matthew 24:3-5, 11, 15-28; 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:1-7; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11; 2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 3:4-9; Revelation 13:1-3, 11-15, 18:21-24). Being tempted by Satan is inescapable since God allows it. But He wants us to successfully endure it as James reminds us (James 1:12-13). To that end also, the apostle Paul writes, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape...,” (1 Corinthians 10:13b, NKJV). To experience His deliverance, we must not yield to, but stand firm by faith in the temptation!
Therefore, to make ourselves as deception proof as possible we must daily do the following seven things. One, take Jesus Christ seriously when He demands of anyone that will follow Him to “deny himself” (Luke 9:23, NKJV). Two, practice putting the sinful flesh and its desires to death by and “walk in the Spirit” (Romans 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16, NKJV). Three, know our God, the God of the Bible--He does not change no, not even to accommodate our desires (Daniel 11:32; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:16-18). Four, know God’s Word (Psalm 119:9-11, 2 Timothy 2:15). Five, be content in Christ (1 Timothy 6:6-10). Six, keep short sin accounts with God--practicing sin invites Satan’s temptations (Psalm 32:1-5; 1 John 1:8-10). Seven, forgive so, God can forgive you (Mark 11:25-26)!5
1 Learn about who the aspiring strong men and great women of God in the image of Jesus Christ are in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics. It is published
by the Publishing Division of Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc. with fresh editing in 2019 for greater clarity and updated web addresses in the footnotes. It is
available at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and ChristianBooks.com. These book sellers with Apple also have the digital download of the
book. Type the title into their search engines if necessary. You can also purchase the book and all related Strong Man Of God Brand Group Study Print Resources in
the Strong Man Store!
2 See the January 26, 2020 post, The Spirit Of Harlotry and its footnote on the Nicolaitans, under the category, Call To Repent.
3 Lusts (desires) for riches, positions, privilege, power etc. are reasons many professed Christians of all hues and genders will not fully answer God’s call to repent from
plainly seen sins of corrupting and compromising His Word as well as rebellion against Him and apostasy they are caught up in at this hour (Titus 1:16).
4 An excellent case study is this past century’s uprising of Western women armed with a number of righteous grievances against their male led societies, but which by the
midpoint of the century, had morphed into an all out rebellion against God and His order of mankind. Called now, feminists, these women and their male supporters in-
spired other rebels against the divine order such as those practicing same sex relations, infiltrated many churches and while allying themselves with black Americans for
example, have smeared their righteous cause for racial justice. At this hour the pursuit of secular and professed Christian feminists is for power and accolades amazingly
in line with that of Satan who incited, tempted, deceived and ensnared them into this great evil (Genesis 3:4-6; Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 4:5-8; Revelation 13:4)!
5 Holding grudges in unforgiveness leads to bitterness and is a flashing neon light summons to Satan to tempt you to greater sin (Ephesians 4:25-27, 31; Hebrews 12:12-
15).
Though voting is and will remain an imperfect and maddening process of democracy as long as it exists, I urge all that profess to be Christians to vote! While the Lord has given me no word about the outcome of this year’s Presidential election, He has affirmed what He led me to write in 2016 about a “temporary door of opportunity” for the Gospel remaining after it that is already closing.1 For now, the voting of mainly white conservative Christians such as those identifying as evangelical can possibly still make a difference as was done in the 2016 Presidential election.2
Our democratic republic is ostensibly open to and welcomes any number of citizen initiated parties, their candidates and platforms. However, the political professionals, media, and money have seen to it that the authentic party options are only the Republicans or Democrats. Both of these parties, their candidates and platforms have shortcomings that challenge a biblical worldview in some form or another as I lamented in a previous post.3 Nevertheless, in praying for how to vote with a biblical worldview in candidate fields that continue to be “bad and worst,” I was able to push myself to do so with the family as God designed it as my driving concern where I could apply it (Malachi 4:4-6).
Once again in a Presidential election both major party candidates profess to be Christians. But as one aspiring to be a strong man of God in the image of Jesus Christ and teaching other Christian men to do likewise as the Lord in His Word summons us,4 I am very challenged to discern this same heart in the words, actions and demeanor reflecting the character of President Donald Trump or former Vice President, Joe Biden. And while I know we are not electing a national pastor, for the sake of all the men as family heads also watching these two professed Christians, I am disheartened for their sakes because what they are seeing does not commend the faith or biblical manhood.
Both men represent forms of manmade Christianity the religion American style that permit one to go to church, give, sing a few songs, listen to a sermon on Sunday and otherwise maybe attempt to live out a few morals that are not inconvenient or present a conflict of interest with what is politically or financially expedient.5 Mr. Trump’s amazing difficulty calling out clear racism and racist acts and Mr. Biden’s dogmatic insistence a woman’s right to choose to murder her unborn child is morally right illustrate my latter point. The raw, selfish ambition and arrogance of both of these men is also hard to watch as for example, each asserts the ability to arrest and control God’s Coronavirus.6
Vice President Mike Pence by far sets the best example of professed Christian dedication and biblical manhood operating in our nation’s media fish bowl. During his debate with challenging Vice Presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, she characterized herself with the politically correct label “person of faith” and took exception to any inference she was not by her political views and actions. Being a person of faith means absolutely nothing in a biblical worldview if that faith is not in Christ and without obedience to God’s Word (John 5:16-23; 1 John 2:18-23)! America’s disintegrating families need the firm conviction of their value and help from real Christian leaders devoted to restoring them.
Political correctness, tolerance, revised false history narratives for the sake of multiculturalism, abortion, radical feminism, same sex relations, gender confusion etc. are not working to restore, but destroy families as God in His Word designed. In our deeply divided nation politically conservative whites that also profess to be evangelical Christians in large numbers have rallied to Mr. Trump as their champion because he does publicly speak out against most of the socially liberal ideologies corrupting the nation and working against the family. Mr. Biden has most black and other political liberals calling themselves “progressive” and many too, professed Christians embracing him. Biblical conservatives--for who character and righteousness matter--and independents are in a tough spot.
Rather than sit out not liking either candidate, there are still those lesser known parties and candidates that can be considered. I certainly would have sat this one out if it had not been for the sake of restoring men and the families God has called them to lead for the time that is left. As well, I was moved to vote by the suffering many black Americans endured to secure my right to do so; suffering I was able to see as a boy on my family’s black and white television in the 1960s. This was suffering caused by the systemic racism of our nation undergirded by the fathers of those professed to be Christians among the white conservatives unreservedly behind Mr. Trump and many who like him, have trouble truly empathizing with the suffering of blacks and other minorities.7
Evangelicals may indeed, again save the day politically for Mr. Trump and the Republicans. Alas though, if so, it is still only a temporary postponing of the inevitable. Unrepentant rebelling, apostate Christians with the growing unsaved openly anti-God, anti-Christian and anti-Bible citizenry of the nation are making their ascent now! Four more years will do nothing but give them extra time to build up their numbers and influence. Meanwhile, God Almighty continues His activity regardless of who is in the White House. Without repentance today or forthcoming, the world and nation are under His judgment. As He foretells in His despised Book, the Bible, the Coronavirus pestilence and calamities of 2020 will surely seem tame four years from now (Jeremiah 30:23-24; Luke 21:25-26).
1 See the December 4, 2016 post, Now Is The Day Of Salvation, under the category, Call To Repent.
2 Read the December 9, 2016 post, Professing Christian Racism Is Sin Too, under the category, Call To Repent.
3 See the March 26, 2017 repost, The 2012 Presidential Election, under the category, Biblical Worldview.
4 Learn about the aspiring strong man of God in the image of Christ in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics. It is published by the Publishing Division of
Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc. with fresh editing in 2019 for greater clarity and updated web addresses in the footnotes. It is available at major internet
booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and ChristianBooks.com. These book sellers with Apple also have the digital download of the book. Type the title into
their search engines if necessary. You can also purchase the book and all related Strong Man Of God Brand Group Study Print Resources in the Strong Man Store!
5 See the two-part post that begins September 11, 2016, American Culture’s Religion, under the category, Call To Repent.
6 Really? Neither these men nor any other sinful mortal has the ability to arrest or control a pestilence God has initiated unless He wills it so! Therefore, to vote for either
of these men on the basis of which can best arrest, control or eradicate the Coronavirus on his watch is pure folly. God in grace and mercy will act in accord with the
counsel of His own will and timing to diminish the pestilence. What can move His hand sooner is humble, heartfelt and complete repentance on the part of the nation’s
leaders and people guilty of over the top transgression, sin and iniquity beginning in His own house among those who profess as Christians to know Him (1 John 2:3-6).
This is as He has had me crying out for months. Read especially the April 5, 2020 post, God Is Speaking and on the 19th, Does Anybody Repent Anymore?, both un-
der the category, Call To Repent.
7 The oppression and violence involved in human sex trafficking is evil. However, it does not begin to compare with the experience of slavery my forefathers had in the
hands of many professed Christian white men that included sexual abuse and even went so far as to corrupt the Bible to justify their evil deeds and deceive their chattel.
When conservative white evangelicals attempt to equivocate the historic, accurately portrayed cruelty of their forefathers toward my own with contemporary sex traffick-
ing as wicked as it is to downplay the continuing reality of systemic racism in our nation, whether intended or not it minimizes what my forefathers suffered. This shows
you still do not get it and gives the appearance you do not want to! Please do not just pose with the President for photo opportunities and proudly exult in your access,
but you repent of sin and exhort him to do the same. For those souls that have done so, the Lord bless you.
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