Pride's Abatement

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.

-Proverbs 3:5-6

TRICK #3: The Pride of Life – After luring Eve into dialogue regarding the seemingly harmless topic of fruit, Satan then injected doubt regarding God’s goodness into the conversation.

Satan didn’t just have his foot in the door at this point, He was renting space in Eve’s head and heart. As Eve pondered the Deceiver’s proposition of autonomy, independence, and entitlement under the guise of a harmless debate, Satan had already been given a key, moved in, and made himself right at home in Eve’s heart and mind.

“Eve-baby. You know, since YOU brought this up, and we’re already talking about God, I’m gonna do you a favor and let you in on a little secret: Truth is... the REAL reason He doesn’t want you eating this lovely piece of delish is because He knows it’ll make you God’s equal. That’s right! You’ll be just as awesome as Him, maybe even better! He set a boundary because He’s scared you’ll do a better job than Him. Honestly Evie-baby, I’ve been watching you in this garden for a while. Quite frankly, with your ideas, your motivation, and unparalleled work ethic: I’m 100% confident you’re the right gal for the job! I even took the liberty of making these ‘Eve for God’ buttons. Let’s go hand ‘em out to all our new friends!”

The Pride of Life is a real bugger. Isn't it truly and literally ironic that those marching in "PRIDE" parades wave God's symbol of judgment and wrath postponed? Proverbs 16:18 states, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Hmmmmm.

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In Genesis 3:6a we read, “Then the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, so she took some and ate it...”

The tree, which had previously been another tree among the others, was now the exclusive tree on Eve’s radar. She was dialed in, laser-focused, and quickly became obsessed with forbidden allure. Then, Eve willfully exercised a coup d’état against God and elected herself the new, improved, and rightful ruler of her own private garden.

Jesus was presented with a similar temptation from Satan. It came as an invitation to rule. (paraphrase) “Jesus, buddy. See that glorious landscape? It's all mine. The hills - mine. Fields - mine. Oceans, animals, kingdoms, and rulers - mine, mine, mine, and mine! Here’s the deal: Unlike the greedy Father of heaven, I’m the kind-and-giving sort. I’m willing to permit YOU to rule over everything. It’ll be like it’s ours. You know, a ‘tag-team-effort’ kinda thing. Whatdaya say, huh? Just bow low and worship me, and voila!”

When I get to heaven, I'm planning on asking Jesus if He laughed inwardly or aloud when Satan offered Him authority over all things. Satan’s empty promise would be like someone trying to lure Bill Gates in with monopoly money!

Jesus responded, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

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We will be tempted today, tomorrow, and every day in-fact until God calls us home or Jesus returns. Satan will continually attempt to deceive us. Like Eve, he seeks to make us believe we are the rightful rulers of our own private lives in our own private universes.

Satan wants us to buy into the lie that we are the CAPTAINS of our OWN destinies. He wants to lure us into thinking our lives are our own. He wants to trick us into thinking our decisions don’t really affect anyone but us. He deceives us into believing “it’s not a big deal,” or “I deserve this,” or “I’m entitled.”

It always starts out innocently enough. Then, before we know it, sin is camped-out in the middle of our living room with thick roots running through, around, and beneath our foundation - directly to the core of our hearts.

What’s the solution? Christ. His life. His death. His RESURRECTION! His power. His authority. Invite Christ to be the Lord of your life – top to bottom - and everything in between. He already knows the sin is there, but help only comes when we repent and ask.

Step 1: Rejoice! 1 Thess 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Rejoice in Christ and what He has done!

Step 2: Seize! 2 Cor 10:5b, “...take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Step 3: Be Transformed.  Romans 12:2, “...be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Let God do the work! Our part is to simply allow it to happen.

Step 4: Reassess. 2 Cor 13:5, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith...” That’s not self-help garbage. We have to compare our lives with the objective standard of God’s Word and ask, “Is there evidence of transformation? Is Christ truly living in and through me?”

Step 5: Repeat.

Sound impossible? For us, yes. For God, no. That’s why we need Christ - not Christian culture. That’s why we need the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit - not morality. That’s why we need to trust in God with ALL our heart and submit/commit ALL our ways to Him. That’s when pride finally abates and the narrow path of life is made straight right before us.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

The Lemon Tree

“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God..."

-Genesis 3:5

In the previous post, we examined Satan’s focused and highly effective strategy for obstructing and diminishing the ministry of the saints. We looked at how the crafty serpent plays upon on our selfishness, independence, autonomy, and egocentrism, making ourselves the center of the universe, and in doing so - our molehills turn into mountains... 

TRICK #2: The Issue of Trust – When our enemy, Satan, saw that Eve was willing to dialogue with him about the “forbidden fruit,” the Deceiver quickly realized she didn’t know God’s law - thus she didn’t know God’s heart.

Satan then took the “discussion” a huge leap down the road to rebellion: (paraphrase) “Lady, you look GORGEOUS by the way, It’s WAAAY CRAZY to think you could “literally” (air quote fingers) DIE from eating something our wonderful, good, and holy Creator made for us! So go on now! Go grab some of that delicious fruit and become what God always wanted for you!”

Satan did the same thing with Jesus. (paraphrase) “Jesus, we both know the Father is AWESOME (best singing voice), so let’s witness it right now for ourselves FIRST HAND! Why don’t YOU toss yourself off the top of the temple here and let’s watch His angels swoop in and rescue you!”

Again, Jesus didn’t debate or dialogue with Satan. Jesus simply rebuked the tempting deceiver with Scripture (Deut 6:16), “Don’t put the Lord God to the test.” Jesus wasn’t about to play the goofy “God, prove it to me!” game we all play at times. If you want God to show you evidence and PROOF of His love... just look to the Cross of Christ. God has nothing left to prove. It is finished, i.e. PAID IN FULL.

The Apostle Peter wrote “rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” The Apostle Paul wrote “I want to know Christ— yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…”

Participating in sufferings is not something we typically seek out or pray for, but it is something we SHOULD anticipate as genuine followers of Christ. We cannot resort to demanding God prove His love for us (again and again and again) in our oft self-imposed circumstances. God is more concerned with refining (sanctifying) our character (being transformed into the likeness of Christ) than delivering us from our temporary circumstances. In fact, God uses the afflictions of our circumstances to teach us faith, hope, and trust. He uses them to stretch, grow, and conform us into the image of Christ - loving obedient service in the context of Christian community.

Are you a “valley of death” Christian? Someone who prays fervently in crisis, fasts, goes to church, gets involves, and even... dare I say it... contributes, serves, and tithes in times of darkness and despair, only to readily dismisses God’s gracious provision the moment deliverance comes?

Who are you praising with trust on the mountaintop? Can you laugh at the trials and darkness coming (Prov 31:25)? I got it, you’re probably too busy with “reality” to fool around with Jesus when things are good. Back on the shelf He goes, along with the Gas-X tablets. Besides, the juicy fruit of life is calling. He’ll be there tomorrow. We can always just break Him out when it’s convenient for us... or can we?

Stop by tomorrow for the conclusion!

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

Blatant Deception

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8-9

Today, as redeemed disciples of Christ, we will be tempted. We can be certain of that fact because the Bible says it is true. Our adversary, Satan, is neither the devil of Hollywood nor a figment of secular literature. Make no mistake, Satan is not fictitious.

The greatest deception Satan perpetuates is his non-existence. Revelation 12:9 states, “The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, deceiving the whole world...”

Satan is the original rebel/adversary against God. Satan (which means adversary) uses deception as a primary weapon. Satan is humanity’s greatest adversary – attempting to lead the whole world astray through deception, denial, and distraction.

One of Satan’s go-to moves is to pose as something beautiful. As 2 Cor 11:14 Satan poses as an “angel of light.” Satan doesn’t lure us in with dirt and horror. Instead, he poses as an “angel of light.” Appreciation for the beauty of the human form metastasizes into pornographic, objectified, sensuality. Sensuality quickly morphs into perversion. Perversion becomes promiscuity, addiction, escape, and all forms of relational erosion and implosion. Eventually, the inevitable blowout occurs.

Satan’s deception takes things God intended for abundant life and goodness, and our adversary twists, perverts, and spoils them through entitlement, autonomy, and rebellion.

We can recognize Satan as basically a “three-trick pony.” Only then can we allow God to break the bondage of sin-cycles in life. Only then can we truly become redeemed for God and used in accordance with His perfect will for His eternal glory.

Breaking free is not through self-discipline. Emancipation comes exclusively in laying down one's life and following Jesus - daily. It’s not a “one and done” magical prayer or mystical water ceremony. When our lives are rightly aligned with Jesus and His mission (Gen 12:3) - to literally be the blessing of the Gospel’s light and truth to the ends of the earth - Satan is irrevocably and eternally thrown down!

Let’s look at examples from the Bible - specifically Jesus’ victory over Satan in Matthew 4:1-11.

TRICK #1: Lust of The Flesh – Satan tried to lure Jesus the same way he lured Eve. It started subtly and “innocently” enough. Most of us don’t even notice how pervasive Satan’s advance are in our own lives. “Hey, want some fruit? It’s good! God made it right? Why would He put it here if He didn’t want you to have it??? God didn’t really say you couldn’t eat it. You must have misheard Him.”

Eve succumbed to the temptation because 1) Adam failed in his duty, 2) she didn’t value God’s revelation, and 3) she engaged in dialogue with Satan, the deceiver, rather than exercising authority over him.

Satan pulled the same parlor trick on Jesus.

(Exaggerated paraphrase): “Hey bro! It’s been forty LONG DAYS! I know you’re hungry and I'd be willing to bet some freshly baked bread sounds REALLY delish right now, doesn’t it? Soooo, since you’re like totally awesome, powerful, the Cat’s Meow, and the Bee’s Knees... why not turn some of these here stones into some delicious, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth bread? That sounds A-MA-ZING doesn’t it? I’ll set a table for two!”

Jesus didn’t debate or argue. Jesus didn’t even contemplate the argument of the “goodness” of bread in his depleted state of hunger. What Jesus DID was to tell Satan - life is NOT found in bread, but in faithful obedience to the Father. Jesus, unlike Esau, demonstrated wisdom, i.e. skillful living: It's better to die of starvation than to abandon the divine promise of blessing and relationship with God.

Satan tells us that life is in the stuff we’re craving RIGHT NOW. That’s what advertising is all about. Consider the stuff we see around us all the time on the internet, in catalogs, and in our neighbors’ garages. That’s the stuff we obsess about. BUY NOW! That’s where we hopelessly strive to find life’s joy and fulfillment. We’ve bought into the deception. We’ve fallen for the lie that life is somewhere - anywhere - INDEPENDENT from God.

The Deceiver tells us that if we fill our bellies, fill our garages, our homes, our devices, our attics, our storage units, our walls, our collections... the next bite,  the next episode, the next purchase, the next... is THE thing that will FINALLY satisfy us. We’re junkies. We're in denial through Satan’s deception.

God tells us something very different. He told Adam it wasn’t in the fruit on the trees in the Garden of Eden, but in the fact that they - God and humanity - were together. Life isn’t defined by stuff, a feeling, pulse rate, or brain activity. Life is exclusively defined as perfect covenant relationship with our perfect, holy, gracious, loving, and almighty Creator.

Tune in tomorrow for part II!

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com