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January 21 - Satan’s Promises—Corrupt Strings Attached
Grace To You.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

Posted on 01/21/2019 6:29:34 AM PST by metmom

“The devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” (Matthew 4:8).

Satan offered the world’s kingdoms to Jesus on his own corrupt terms. God allowed this test to prove that Christ was and is a worthy Son, fit to one day inherit the world and rule from His throne. The devil, on the other hand, wanted to prove the Son’s unworthiness by getting Him to prematurely grab the kingdoms God had already promised Him.

The enemy approaches Christians also with corrupt bargaining chips. Whatever they might want in the realm of business, politics, fame, or anything else, he claims it can be theirs for a “reasonable” price or trade-off. He says we can be or have whatever we want, just so long as we pursue it according to the world’s way—which is also Satan’s way. In effect, it’s like saying to ourselves, “Why wait for a heavenly reward when you can cut corners, shade the truth, run ahead of God’s schedule, and have what you want now?”

But when we grab hold of Satan’s corrupt strings, we put self first and God last. Instead of seeking God’s kingdom first (Matt. 6:33), we act more like Abraham, who sought God’s promise of an heir through his own impatient, selfish act with Hagar (Gen. 16:1–6). The result of that sin was tragic and heart-breaking, and has been to this day.

Ask Yourself

“The world” doesn’t really know what “glory” is. And if we had a keener, more realistic sense of God’s awesome splendor, we’d see the world’s flimsy reflections for what they really are. What seems glorious and glamorous about the world to you? Ask God to help you see it truthfully.


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; General Discusssion; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: gty

1 posted on 01/21/2019 6:29:34 AM PST by metmom
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To: Alex Murphy; boatbums; CynicalBear; daniel1212; dragonblustar; Dutchboy88; ealgeone; Elsie; ...

Studying God’s Word ping


2 posted on 01/21/2019 6:29:56 AM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: metmom

My brain saw ‘strings’ and an s word and I went straight to Santana the chez luvin’ guitar player. But that’s probably just me.


3 posted on 01/21/2019 6:31:33 AM PST by rktman ( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: metmom

Teaching a boys Sunday School I asked what they thought Jesus used to battle Satan: Lasers? Cannons? Machine guns? Force Field? It was fun to go through possibilities but of course the answer is Scripture!


4 posted on 01/21/2019 6:35:04 AM PST by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper.)
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To: \/\/ayne

Great object lesson.


5 posted on 01/21/2019 6:47:24 AM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: metmom

-—But when we grab hold of Satan’s corrupt strings, we put self first and God last. Instead of seeking God’s kingdom first (Matt. 6:33), we act more like Abraham, who sought God’s promise of an heir through his own impatient, selfish act with Hagar (Gen. 16:1–6).-—

Did not Abram act on the request of his wife, Sarai? And wasn’t the reason she gave that the Lord has prevented her from bearing children?

Do you think that the devil was behind Sarai’s desire for Abram to be with Hagar in order to have a child? It doesn’t sound to me like Abram was subordinating God’s will to his own selfish desires, but trying to please his own wife Sarai by honoring her request.

Am I misinterpreting?

Your message today is, of course, spot on.


6 posted on 01/21/2019 6:51:32 AM PST by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: metmom

Prov 10:22 “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.”


7 posted on 01/21/2019 7:03:06 AM PST by Migraine
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To: MichaelCorleone

Was Abraham then repeating the sin of Adam by listening to and obeying a woman rather than God?


8 posted on 01/21/2019 7:55:56 AM PST by amihow
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To: MichaelCorleone
Do you think that the devil was behind Sarai’s desire for Abram to be with Hagar in order to have a child? It doesn’t sound to me like Abram was subordinating God’s will to his own selfish desires, but trying to please his own wife Sarai by honoring her request.

Probably.

And I think Abraham was trying to please Sarai. And in a way, he did subordinate God's will to his desires but I think that was cause he was looking at the situation in the flesh, and not through spiritual eyes.

9 posted on 01/21/2019 8:10:39 AM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: amihow

that thought crossed my mind, but Adam already knew the will of God, which was not to eat of the fruit.

I didn’t see where Abram was aware that God did not want Sarai to bear a child (is it clear what the will of God was? in this case?). Just that she was unable to but apparently wanted a child very much.

This brings up another question that if someone is unable to perform an otherwise normal bodily function (in this case having a baby), should it be concluded that it is God’s will? Conversely, if a woman is quite fertile and bears multiple children is it reasonable to conclude that was God’s will as well?

Please understand that I am not trying to antagonize others or lessen their faith by offering a perspective on Scripture. I do this with good intentions!


10 posted on 01/21/2019 9:17:04 AM PST by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: metmom

Just want to pass this along to you:

Someone said that back in those days having children was considered a blessing. Conversely, the inability to have children was somewhat of a disgrace, which explains why Hagar looked down on Sarai.

It was common practice for another woman to bear the child until birth (their version of artificial insemination?) so they can raise him/her as their own. Therefore it was not regarded as adultery in situations like this.

Just thought you might be interested.


11 posted on 01/21/2019 3:08:18 PM PST by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: MichaelCorleone

I’m going to presume that since barrenness is recognized as in God’s control, that it was God’s will for them to not have children until the perfect time for the fulfillment of His promise.

I don’t think there’s a lesson in Scripture with as obvious consequences as this one, that Abraham disobeyed God and took matters into his own hands, and this world has been dealing with the consequences of that one act of lack of faith for thousands of years.


12 posted on 01/21/2019 3:32:15 PM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: metmom

I see.


13 posted on 01/21/2019 3:39:53 PM PST by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: metmom

“I’m going to presume...”

That’s the point metmom. You’re presumptions may or may not be correct!

Still, wouldn’t you say Eve disobeying God and falling prey to the serpent more consequential?

At any rate, as mentioned before I am not looking for an argument. Bottom line is none of us are without sin; we all go to the Cross for our Salvation (believers I mean).


14 posted on 01/21/2019 3:45:01 PM PST by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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