No Matter What They Say; The Battle Isn’t With Blood & Flesh.
I wasn’t around during the 1st or 2nd World Wars, but some of the sayings were still spoken when I was a kid; one of them was “Loose lips sink ships“, it’s referring to sharing knowledge of troop positions with others (family members overseas?) who may carry it to adversaries who could use it to locate and sink naval vessels at sea.
The Bible speaks of the problems we have with managing our tongue…the tongue’s set on fire by Hell. Ref James 3:6 & James 3:1-12.
It’s no good asking God to give us wisdom as to what to say, but then just opening the mouth regardless of His advice, to satisfy the pride or anger of the flesh.
Don’t be a contributor to evil activity.
Our actions and words are being observed by more beings than our work colleagues, neighbors and family; God hears everything, His angels hear plenty, and… Evil beings (both men and demons) are listening too, and the latter spread it like fire.
God uses language that we relate to, when He speaks in wisdom and instruction. It’s up to us to look into His Word and with Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can understand what He’s saying. sometimes He speaks loud and clear, sometimes quietly, and sometimes in a hidden way. He may be hiding His Word from the lost, or protecting a treasure until we’re ready to dig for it.
In the Bible, demons are sometimes referred to as “birds”, because of the analogy of the Earthly and spiritual:
- Such as those that consume carrion (The decaying flesh of a dead animal.),
They consume the flesh of man by feeding his evil nature.
Ref. James 1:15 …and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
- They can carrying a message over great distances in a short time, by relay calling between each other, and carrying “on the wing” to a remote destination.
What demons hear, they spread to others and even to men, for mutual evil benefit. - They aren’t hindered by obstacles that men encounter on the ground.
Demons have been spreading bad news since Adam, and doing so, without modern technology, or dependence on man made vehicles. - They can benefit from roosting in structures that men have established.
Evil visits where men have created systems of government, both secular and Christian, and in homes occupied by both Godly and unGodly persons. - They observe the actions of men from a distance, without being noticed or caught.
Evil often lurks where good dwells, so that it can opportunely corrupt. - They’re quick to eat good fruit from your tree, but leave the remainder of that piece to rot or be eaten by wasps, after exposing the flesh.
Evil seeks to satisfy it’s own desires and leave it’s object in a worse state. - Some birds copy the characteristics of others, to the others detriment, by stealing their food or their nest, or to be fed by them without having to work for it.
This reminds me of the scripture… 2 Timothy 3:5-7 “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” - They’re referred to as being active agents in evil processes: Revelation 18:2 “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”
The devine inspiration of Scripture throughout, provides greater value than the natural recorded account, consider the following:
- Genesis 15:11 And the birds of prey came down on the carcases; and Abram scared them away.
- Gen 40:17 And in the uppermost basket there were all manner of victuals for Pharaoh that the baker makes, and the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head.
- Ecclesiastes 10:20
Don’t curse the king, even in your thought; Don’t curse the rich, even in your bedroom;
For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter. - Jeremiah 5:26-27 For among my people are found wicked [men]: they lay wait, as fowlers stoop down; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit:
- Daniel 4:10-14 Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.
The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached unto the heavens, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the heavens; he cried aloud, and said thus: Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts get away from under it, and the birds from its branches. - Matthew 13: 31-32 Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens is like a grain of mustard [seed] which a man took and sowed in his field; which is less indeed than all seeds, but when it is grown is greater than herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of heaven come and roost in its branches.
As shown by Christ in the following parable, it;s another occasion when birds are representative of “The wicked one”.
Matthew 13:3 & 4 And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went out to sow: 4 and as he sowed, some [grains] fell along the way, and the birds came and devoured them; …18 Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Scripture identifies satan’s activity in a number of areas, this one speaks of it in the context of what has been mentioned above… Ephesians 2:1 & 2 and you, being dead in your offences and sins– 2 in which ye once walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience:
Satan works with what he sees, and hears…
- Job 1:6-12 And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and Satan came also among them. 7 And Jehovah said to Satan, Where have you come from? And Satan answered Jehovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And Jehovah said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there isn’t any one like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and abstains from evil? 9 And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t you made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is spread abroad in the land. 11 But put forth thy hand now and touch all that he has, [and see] if he will not curse you to your face! 12 And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in your hand; only upon himself don’t put your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.
- Job 2:1-7 And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, and Satan also came among them to present himself before Jehovah. 2 And Jehovah said to Satan, Where have you come from? And Satan answered Jehovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And Jehovah said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there isn’t any one like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and abstains from evil? and still he remains firm in his integrity, though you
moved me against him, to swallow him up without cause. 4 And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Skin for skin, yes, all that a man has will he give for his life; 5 but put out your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, [and see] if he will not curse you to your face! 6 And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.
Although evil works with what it sees and hears,
God isn’t limited to working with appearances and what he hears:
He knows the thoughts of every person…
Acts1:24 And they prayed, and said,
You Lord, knower of the hearts of all,
show which one of these two you have chosen,.
Also see Genesis 6:3-5,
Don’t give evil an opportunity!
Our struggle isn’t against blood and flesh, Ephesians 6:12,
Agents of evil use popular “Social Media” to share their thoughts; and so many people submit to their request. One such social media site, has the prompt… “Make a Post… Whats on Your Mind?”.
The world’s serving a different master to the Christian;
Don’t serve him!
Luke 16:13.
By speaking about, or texting, or posting doubt, fear or dissatisfaction with present circumstances; people are saying to the devil, demons, men and God;
That they aren’t fully trusting in, or appreciating, Gods’ promise to provide and satisfy!
On one hand we say “I trust God”, and on the other hand…
“My life’s not good enough, I need more than He gives”,
or, “I need to help myself because He won’t”,
or “God helped me in gaining this employment, but i’m worried about the global threat of war or stock-market crash, or a large business starting here and affecting my security!”
The worlds perception of doom, gloom or stock-market boom, shouldn’t be the conversation of the sons of God (1 Peter 1:15 , 2 Peter 3:11, Matthew 6:26-34).
We thank God for our food, but do we really believe He’s provided it? And if we are thanking Him for it and believe he’s provided it, how do we then complain about it as we eat?
Whether it’s the devil, or demons, or the evil flesh in others, or in us; that’s the source of brethren speaking against brethren; the bottom line is, it’s evil. It shouldn’t be in the mouths of Saints who’ve tasted of the goodness, grace, & mercy of God through Christ.
Nehemiah tells us of how God sees if we say we trust Him, and are lying…
Nehemiah 6:10-13 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let’s meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let’s close the doors of the temple, for they’re coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.” And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Nehemiah wasn’t distracted by the accusations of his enemies, he kept his focus on the work of God, and built with those who had a heart and mind to serve the people for God’s glory.
We need to spend more time fellowshipping with the living,
both in the Church building, and away from it.
Hebrews 11:1-40 is a great encouragement, that’s based on what has been done by men and women of faith who have gone before us and how we should be…
Giving no room for evil, but rather:
Thinking, living and speaking by faith in humility.
Trusting in God and showing it in our daily lives,
having in our hearts and on our tongues,
His Word of peace and salvation through Christ.
Study like a Berean! 