1 John 4:1-3

INTRODUCTION  We need to discern God’s will, & we need to discern other spirits as well, for we are marked as targets for deception by the enemy 
 Scripture tells us, “Do not deceive yourself” (1Cor 3:18; Jam 1;26), “Be not deceived by anyone” (Eph 5:6; 2Thes 2:3), and watch out for the great deceiver, Satan (Rev 12:9; 13:14; 19:20; 20:10)  How do we deceive ourselves?
  How can others deceive us?
  How can Satan deceive us?
  What is the common trait for getting deceived by ourselves, by someone else, or by Satan? “Ooooo, something shiny….”
 So, how do we prevent being deceived?  Cling to what is true. And what would that be?.Ps 119 The Internet? | Co-workers? | Newsweek? | God’s Word
Illustration. A trained dog who is told not to eat his treat won’t focus on the forbidden treat, but instead will put his eyes on his master. In similar fashion, we need to keep our eyes on our Master.

In brief, our hearts/minds are only truly known by our omniscient God. Satan can only guess real good ...

How far can Satan go to deceive someone?
  Ps 139:1-4- O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

God knows everything about u.  we maybe able to Hide it from our  families and  friends but not God.

 Jn 2:23-25  Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

1. the Bible never explicitly says that Satan cannot know our thoughts, but it never shows him doing so; though he might be able to inject thoughts into someone’s mind, by God’s allowance, of course. 

 Satan & his demons may not be able to read and know our minds like God does, but they can monitor our eye movements and our checkbook, and tell where our heart is each and every day

Example. When Satan entered Judas we can only speculate that deceptive greedy thoughts were given to him, but Judas was still held accountable for acting on those thoughts ..................Mat 26:24 

2.  We succumb to our own lusts for pleasure, power, and greed, which are often attributed to Satan as his lies and deceptions (e.g., Kings Saul & David, Judas, Peter, Ananias & Sapphira) since he is known as the father of all lies (John 8:44). Yet, we are totally accountable, like Judas, for acting on any thoughts we have in our minds.

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1. How do we tell if a thought is from Satan or from our own evil heart? 
2. What about the lying spirit that caused some false prophets to mislead King Ahab.................................................................. 1 Kings 22:22-23 First of all, it was God that allowed and even enabled the lying spirit to do what he did. We are not told how the spirit accomplished the job. We can only speculate it might’ve been temporary possession.

22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

1. 23 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.

2 nd, the false prophets were not robots or puppets, so they would have been accountable for every word that came from their lips.   Just as we are today.  What  we say our actions and our thoughts are known to God and we  will be  held accountable all of it. _______________________________________________________________________________

And can Satan even read minds and inject thoughts into our minds?

1. Romans 1:20  (KJV)

   20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
2.  Demons can ravish the bodies of believers and non-believers with disease & pain (e.g., Job). The demoniacs we see in Scripture seem to be in physical & mental torment, but even the possessed are held accountable for their actions – else, they would have an excuse before God for their sinful thoughts & actions .
3. Several demons spoke through their hosts, which indicate they can inject thoughts into one’s mind for words and actions to come out (e.g., a legion of demons spoke to Christ in Mark 5, and after being expelled from the man he was noted to be in his “right mind”; & an evil spirit spoke to & assaulted some would-be exorcists in Acts 19.
4. Conclusion. Christians can take comfort we cannot be possessed by demons, though we could be obsessed and afflicted by them.

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 1 John 4:1-3  Test the Spirits – HOW?

1. The spirits in this context are not necessarily demonic or angelic, but the spirits of people. Our spirit is the real essence of who we are.
2. Therefore, does someone’s spirit (the real individual) truly believe, according to the Bible, in CEvery belief or doctrine someone utters to us should be tested against the Bible. This is testing the spirits christ or not?
3. Every belief or doctrine someone utters to us should be tested against the Bible. This is testing the spirits.  We as God's people  need to know what His word tell us and not just what others want us  to believe.  We have  to search out the truth for ourselves. The antichrist will use every means that  he or she can  to get us to believe what they are saying  it true.  They will paint  beautiful  picture of what  they are saying is  true.  but  when  it  comes  down to what we believe is true  we better know  that what  they are telling us is from God and not what they want  you to believe.

 Tomorrow will do  the rest of the lesson.  Just  ponder  this though.:  It  is not  the preacher or sunday school teacher or even mom and dad that is  going  to have  to stand  before the  throne of God and me judged for what  you and I believe and do in this life.  Each of  us will have to stand  for ourselves.

Read Hebrews 2

Discoveriniscovering the Word

• In verse 1 we read, "pay more careful attention . . . to," and in verse 3 we are told not to "ignore." What is it that we are to focus our lives on? We need  to Focus  on  living  our lives  for Christ and not on what others  want us  to live for.
• What logic does the writer use in verses 2-3 to further focus our attention on the peril of drifting away? That  there is a time  that  we need to stand  up and say  that   we  are wiling  to know  that  we are wrong and have sinned.  We also know  that  as God's children  when we do wrong  just as a parent  will discipline there children.  Some times  it  will be a soft spoken word  " you don's want to do that.  Sometimes It  is a good  old fashion whipping.  Yes God  does  spiritual whip  us when we  sin.  I have never seen in the Bible  God  using  a time outs when we  sinned.  
• How does the writer strengthen the warning that God's salvation in Christ is well worth our most intense obedience (vv. 3-4)?He has  show  us  signs and wonders of Salvation.

Ezekiel 25-32

Judgments against the Ammonites. (1-7) Against the Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines. (8-17)1-7. It is wicked to be glad at the calamities of any, especially of God's people; it is a sin for which he will surely reckon. God will make it appear that he is the God of Israel, though he suffers them for a time to be captives in Babylon. It is better to know Him, and to be poor, than to be rich and ignorant of him.

8-17 Though one event seem to the righteous and wicked, it is vastly different. Those who glory in any other defence and protection than the Divine power, providence, and promise, will, sooner or later, be ashamed of their glorying. Those who will not leave it to God to take vengeance for them, may expect that he will take vengeance on them. The equity of the Lord's judgments is to be observed, when he not only avenges injuries upon those that did them, but by those against whom they were done. Those who treasure up old hatred, and watch for the opportunity of manifesting it, are treasuring up for themselves wrath against the day of wrath.

Explore the Bible Lesson Preview
June 29, 2014
“When Pride Turns to Greed”
Background: Ezekiel 25:1 – 32:32
Lesson: Ezekiel 28:1-5, 11-13a, 14-19

Motivation: Surely by now the Jewish exiles in Babylon had grown weary of Ezekiel’s prophecies against Jerusalem.  As often happens when sin and judgment are disclosed, thoughts immediately turn to the other guy and ask “what about him?”  In this lesson, Ezekiel answers that question about Israel’s neighbors. 

HCSB, p. 1390: 25:1-32:32 “This section of Ezekiel bridges the book’s message of doom and its message of hope.  Doom for Israel’s antagonists spells hope for Israel itself.  The placement of these oracles at this point disrupts the flow of the book and heightens the tension as the destruction of the temple is imminent.  God’s judgment on these nations is based on the Abrahamic covenant, which said that those who cursed Israel would be cursed by God (Gn 12:1-3.¹ Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:)

³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. All the nations named in the oracle had either taken part in Jerusalem’s destruction or had rejoiced over it.  The audience for these oracles was Judean, and so they had cause for future hope.”

Examination:

I.    Condemnation of Bitter Revenge (25:1-17)

      “Say to the Ammonites: Hear the word of the Lord God: This is what the Lord God says: Because you said, ‘Good!’ about My sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it was laid waste, and about the house of Judah when they went into exile, therefore I am about to give you to the people of the east as a possession.” (25:2-4)

Nation	Relationship with Judah	Sin
Ammon	Founded by Lot’s illegitimate son.	Rejoicing over the defeat of God’s people. (25:6)
Moab	Founded by Lot’s other illegitimate son.	Rejoicing over the defeat of God’s people. (25:8)
Edom	Founded by Esau	Probably aided the Babylonians in attacking Jerusalem. (25:12)
Philistia	Founded by immigrants from Macedonia & Greece	Vengeance against God’s people. (25:15)

II.   Condemnation of Selfish Pride (26:1 – 28:19)

A.   Judgment of the Cities “Son of man, because Tyre said about Jerusalem, ‘Good! The gateway to the peoples is shattered.  She has been turned over to me.  I will be filled now that she lies in ruins,’ therefore this is what the Lord god says: See, I am against you, Tyre! I will raise up many nations against you, just as the sea raises it waves.” (26:2-3)

HCSB, p. 1391; 26:2 “The Phoenicians represented the remnants of the original population that occupied Canaan before the Israelites arrived. As the most powerful city on the Phoenician coast, Tyre dominated not only other coastal cities but much of the Phoenician inland areas as well.  Tyre’s Hebrew name is tsur, which means “rock.” Built atop an island off the Phoenician coast, Tyre was virtually impregnable by sea or land.  The Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel (722 B.C.) but were forced to withdraw from their siege of Tyre after five years of effort.  Relations between

Israel and Tyre were often cordial (1 Kg 5; 7). Tyre, the preeminent maritime power of the ancient world, joined Judah in revolt against the Babylonian Empire (Jr 27:3). After Nebuchadnezzar defeated Jerusalem he besieged Tyre for 13 years (585-572 B.C.) but was unsuccessful in his campaign to conquer the offshore rock fortress.  In the fourth century B.C., Alexander built a causeway of stone, timber, and rubble a half mile long and 200 feet wide from the mainland to the island.  By this means Tyre was finally conquered, thus fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy (27:36).”

The ancient Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon were renowned for their adventurous seamen and multiplied trade.  In David and Solomon’s day, they cooperated in building the temple (2 Sam. 5:11 ff). Judgment is now forthcoming because they rejoiced in the defeat of God’s people; they thought that the destruction of Jerusalem would increase their share of trade.  Their pride was so great that in 28:6, God’s Word states, “…you regard your heart as that of a god.” Ultimately, all sin results from an attitude which supposes man knows more than God. 

B.   Judgment of Satan (28:1-19)

      Chapter 28 has a double application: First to the historical ruler of Tyre, probably Ittobaal II and next to Satan “you were an anointed guardian cherub” (14)

1.   Sin of Pride “Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god.  Yes, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you! By your wisdom and understanding you have acquired wealth for yourself.  You have acquired gold and silver for your treasuries.  By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has become proud because of your wealth.” (28:2-5)  Pride centers around the pronouns; “I, Me, My and Mine.”  Our minds attention and hearts affection is diverted from God to us.

2.   Sin of Ingratitude “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, lament for the king of Tyre and say to him: This is what the Lord God says: You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.  You were in Eden, the garden of God.  Every kind of precious stone covered you: carnelian, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and emerald.  Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold; they were prepared on the day you were created.” (28:10-13) Both the King of Tyre and Satan had perfect settings “in Eden, in the garden of God” (12).  Their rebellion and utter lack of gratitude reminds one of Paul’s condemnation, “For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude.” (Romans 1:21)

3.   Sin of Rebellion “You were an anointed guardian cherub, for I had appointed you.  You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones.  From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you.  Through the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned.  So I expelled you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and banished you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.  Your heart became proud because of your beauty; For the sake of your splendor you corrupted your wisdom.  So I threw you down to the earth; I made you a spectacle before kings.  You profaned sanctuaries by the magnitude of your iniquities in your dishonest trade.  So I made fire come from within you, and it consumed you.  I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of everyone watching you.  All those who know you among the nations are appalled at you.  You have become an object of horror and will never exist again.” (28:14-19)

III. Condemnation of Contempt for God’s People (28:20-26)

      Following the long exposition on judgment of Judah’s neighbors, Ezekiel gives a reassuring prophecy of future hope.  Having used Judah’s neighbors to punish her, God promises a future featuring:

A.   Safety – God’s people will not be threatened by so much as a thorn. (24)

B.   Security – Having been scattered, they will now be gathered under the protection of God Himself. (25)

C.   Significance – Not only will they be safe and secure, they will prosper in the land.  This prophecy will obviously have only partial fulfillment until Christ returns to set up His kingdom. (26)

IV. Condemnation of Empty Boasting (29:1 – 32:32)

A.   Four figures to describe Egypt.

1.   Monster (29:3) – crocodile clumsy – powerful                             

2.   Broken reed (29:6-9a) – unreliability

3.   Broken arms (30:20-26) – helplessness

4.   Great cedar tree chopped down (31:1-18) – pride brought down                      

B.   Egypt’s False Sense of Greatness -All through the Old Testament, Egypt is presented as having a false sense of greatness, living in past grandeur.

      History:

3000 BC     - Union of Kingdom

2450          - Great Pyramid

      1720 - 1550     - Rule by Hyksos (foreigners; period of Joseph)

      1520 - 1320     - Military Achievements

      1320 - 1200     - Great building activity, Ramses II – end of greatness

      1200 -   745     - Long period of decay

        745 -   663     - Ethiopian Pharaohs

              663 -   525      - Saitic Dynasty, period of Ezekiel – Pharaoh Necho attempted to recapture grandeur of                                        past.

        332 -              - Alexander ended dynasties of Egypt (30 dynasties) 

C.   False sense of greatness precedes downfall (Rome, England, France)

            Warning signals of downfall (losing power of God)

            1.   Attitude of self-centeredness

            2.   Rebellious attitude toward the will of God

3.   Pride in achievement (past or present)

4.   Loss of interest in Bible Study or prayer

5.   Serious doubts about authenticity of the Bible

6.   Appeal of secular (worldliness)

7.   No remorse over sin

8.   A critical, unforgiving, bitter spirit

D.   Three major lessons from all oracles

1.   Final impotence of world power before God.

2.   Universal sovereignty of God.

3.   Fate of a nation that resists God.            

Application:

1.   Those opposed to God’s people will be judged.

2.   Satan leads forces opposed to God’s purpose and God’s people.

3.   Pride precedes destruction.

2 peter 1:1-11

2 Peter 1 >> New International Version 1984

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1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Making One’s Calling and Election Sure

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Simon Peter - Margin, "Symeon." The name is written either "Simon" or "Simeon" - Σίμων Simōn or Συμεών Sumeōn. Either word properly means "hearing;" and perhaps, like other names, was at first significant. The first epistle 1 Peter 1:1 begins simply, "Peter, an apostle," etc. The name Simon, however, was, his proper name - "Peter," or "Cephas," having been added to it by the Saviour, John 1:42. Compare Matthew 16:18.

1:1-11 Faith unites the weak believer to Christ, as really as it does the strong one, and purifies the heart of one as truly as of another; and every sincere believer is by his faith justified in the sight of God. Faith worketh godliness, and produces effects which no other grace in the soul can do. In Christ all fulness dwells, and pardon, peace, grace, and knowledge, and new principles, are thus given through the Holy Spirit. The promises to those who are partakers of a Divine nature, will cause us to inquire whether we are really renewed in the spirit of our minds; let us turn all these promises into prayers for the transforming and purifying grace of the Holy Spirit. The believer must add knowledge to his virtue, increasing acquaintance with the whole truth and will of God. We must add temperance to knowledge; moderation about worldly things; and add to temperance, patience, or cheerful submission to the will of God. Tribulation worketh patience, whereby we bear all calamities and crosses with silence and submission. To patience we must add godliness: this includes the holy affections and dispositions found in the true worshipper of God; with tender affection to all fellow Christians, who are children of the same Father, servants of the same Master, members of the same family, travellers to the same country, heirs of the same inheritance. Wherefore let Christians labour to attain assurance of their calling, and of their election, by believing and well-doing; and thus carefully to endeavour, is a firm argument of the grace and mercy of God, upholding them so that they shall not utterly fall. Those who are diligent in the work of religion, shall have a triumphant entrance into that everlasting kingdom where Christ reigns, and they shall reign with him for ever and ever; and it is in the practice of every good work that we are to expect entrance to heaven.

This is one of the prisons that Peter was in in rome.