WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? (Part 3)

Greetings Brethren, and welcome to our 3^rd instalment of What’s Wrong With This Picture?

I’m not talking about these pictures because I feel we’re directly guilty of them; I only use them as a talking point for us to address fundamental problems in our collective belief systems that creates loopholes for the enemy.

In today’s picture, we have Satan and Jesus, Again!

On the left is Satan, arms akimbo, jeeringly taunting the Christ; on the right is Jesus, peaceful and calm, confident of the actions of His “followers”.

First of all, we have already established in Part 1 of this series that the devil is too small to have these kinds of conversations with God. Secondly, Jesus does not have a Facebook account, so to “follow” Him there doesn’t grant anyone access to Heaven.

There’re dozens of images like these on Social Media based on the same theme:

If you’re truly a child of God, you will “Like” this, or “share” this or “follow”, etc.

If you don’t do any of the specified actions, then you’re not a Believer, you don’t have “time for God”, or more directly (as in our subject for today), you’re a “Satan Follower”.  

The antics of this image are summed up in one word: MANIPULATION!

I was filled with anger when I saw this; but unfortunately, we as ministers sometimes use these same tactics to blackmail our members into doing what we want them to do.

We established yesterday that the work of the Kingdom is a mandate on every believer, but sometimes I hear Job’s accusing voice asking me as a fundraising minister, “Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?” (Job 13:7 NET)

I tuned to a Christian channel one day and heard a Man of God commanding me to “Go to the Phone NOW! Delay is disobedience”. I was really rattled by that approach. I came to hear the word of God from you and be blessed and all I get is condemnation and judgment for every time I spend looking at you instead of going to the phone. (It also seems like you don’t want my brain to analyse what you just asked me to do).

Most blessed is that pastor whose members are so established in Christ that they are “Rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith”; converts who are not easily “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,” (Col 2:7; Eph 4:14).

Brethren, Heb. 13:9 says, “It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace”.

God’s children will do more out of genuine love for Him than out of fear or emotional blackmailing.

The average Christian now feels as though God was more in love with them when they were stark sinners than now that they’re His children. He would willingly die for them then; but now He wouldn’t raise a finger to solve their problems if they didn’t “act”, “serve”, “sow”, etc.

Before we judge Mr. Tirmah, let’s check our ways; and establish ourselves in “the love of Christ, which passes knowledge” so that “we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear”(Eph 3:14-21; Luk 1:74).

AMEN

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus Name.

GREG ELKAN

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? (Part 1)

The phrase, “What’s wrong with this picture?” is an idiomatic expression stated when there is an apparent oddity or unfairness in what has just been said. This week, however, we’ll be using it in the literal sense of the word. We’ll be looking at popular faith-related images or screenshots and deducting biblical lessons from them.

Our first picture is one that has inspired, (and misled) countless millions around the world.

The above image is probably an artist’s conceptualisation of the ‘eternal’ battle between GOOD and EVIL: Satan on the left side, Jesus on the right, both locked in an arm wrestling match to see who would overcome.

So what’s wrong with this picture?

While this picture is what Satan would have us believe is the reality of the spirit world, it SUBTLY places him on the same level with Jesus. Even though he loses (as many internet commentators conclude) he’ll just be a sort of “second among equals”.

So, let’s state this as categorically as possible: SATAN IS NOT JESUS’ EQUAL!!!

They do not arm-wrestle behind our backs, they do not engage in banters, quarrels, or any such like.  Satan is a created being just like any of the other beasts, seraphs, cherubs, angels, etc. in heaven. Rebellion did not automatically confer on him the power to arm-wrestle God.

Even Satan’s so-called “War in Heaven” of Rev 12:7 was NOT with God but with Michael and co. Satan is not Jesus’ equal. Here’s a passage from Rev 20:1-2

“And I saw AN ANGEL come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, who is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years”.

Not ‘Jesus’, not even ‘Archangel Michael’, but “an angel”, just one of the ranks, was sent to bungle him. Even that does not automatically make him that “angel”s equal!

Jesus is the creator of ALL things;

“Things in heaven and on earth, seen and not seen – all spiritual rulers, lords, powers, and authorities. Everything was made through him and for him”.  (Col 1:16 ERV)

Jesus is not seated on a pub stool contesting with Satan; He is seated in Heaven, “FAR ABOVE all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come” (Eph 1:21).  

Not trying to put a guilt load on us or anything but the disrespect of this picture wouldn’t have been thinkable if God had not come down in the flesh to rescue us from the bondage of sin.

Yes, He came as the man Jesus and took on Himself our just punishment so that He can win the victory over Satan FOR US, (not for Himself), Now WE are seated “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6).

That means this picture is not just untrue of Christ, it is also untrue of the ‘weakest’ Born-Again Christian.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”.  Hos 4:6.

“My people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge”.  Isa 5:13

“By knowledge the righteous will be delivered”.  Pro 11:9 (NET)

AMEN

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus Name.

GREG ELKAN