Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to ask you a little question.
Have you ever had someone tell you to keep your head on a swivel? If you did, it means that you must always be looking out for danger. I can remember when I was in driver’s training class, and the instructor wanted to make sure that you turned your head both ways three times before pulling out into traffic. Obviously the more times you look, the safer you are going to be. When soldiers go out on patrols, they will walk slowly and cautiously, constantly looking all around them and at their environment.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
The Apostle warned the church to be alert, watchful and aware of what was going on around them. One must be very careful and cautious, because the devil wants to steal people’s souls, and we must always be vigilant, and keep our heads on a swivel.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Vigilance is to maintain a state of heightened awareness and readiness. Sometimes when this country feels like it might get attacked, they heighten the defcon rating, making sure that the soldiers are prepared, just in case something happens. A Christian is very much like a soldier, who has to be ready for any eventualities, because the devil is like a wild animal, who is running around the world today and attempting to destroy people’s obedience to God. The devil can appear in many different forms, from a smiling mother, or a very important religious leader, but inside their heart they are wolves who want to destroy the sheep.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The devil wants to control others, and will use all kinds of deceitful tactics to get people to follow after them. Remember that the devil is a liar, who wants to lead the sheep astray from the teachings of the one true faith.
2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Like hungry lions, they want to devour the sheep, feeding on their souls with the use of duplicity and deceit. Some of us have been raised with very strong convictions, being capable of discerning right from wrong, and the more we are educated in the teachings of scripture, the stronger in battle we will become. This is why you need to keep your eyes wide open, and be on your guard, because the devil wants to lead people away from their convictions. But as I have taught for many years, devils don’t like to come after those who are strong in their faith, they will usually go after the children instead, because they are weaker and easier prey. Like seducing a child with candy, they will try to convince them to go against their beliefs, and lead them away from the will of God, just like the devil did to Eve in the garden of Eden.
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
When a military base goes on alert, they are very watchful and prompt to meet danger or emergency, the same quality that we must possess in the church. This is one of the most wicked times in history, because we are surrounded by a sea of false prophets, who look like a Christian, they sound like a Christian, but they are not Christian in their heart. They are complete frauds, who resist the teachings of Holy Scripture.
Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The devil is a snake who wants to slither into the church and lead people astray from the will of God. Like Lot’s wife turning around to return to Sodom, the devils want you to follow them right back into the world with them, using whatever deceitful manipulation they can in order to do it.
2 Peter 2:12-22 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Remember that the Apostle Paul warned the church about these types of wicked people.
Acts 20:28-31 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
The devil wants to steal the sheep of God, and lead them away from the conservative faith that has been established in them. We must always be watchful, we must constantly be wary, and make sure to keep all of our,…..
…….Heads On a Swivel
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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