Daily Devotional, Year 2 – April 3 (The City of Morality, Part 4: Satan’s Detours)

By admin On January 26th, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2- APRIL 3

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The City of Morality,

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Part 4:

“Satan’s Detours”

To read Part 1, click here… “January 5th (The City of Morality)”

 

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In John Bunyan’s earth-shaking tale, Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character, Christian, was on his way to the Celestial City, to get that great Burden off his back (the burden of sin).

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/John_Bunyan's_Pilgrim's_ProgressBut on that way, he met up with a fellow named Worldly Wiseman, who informed Christian that such an arduous journey was not necessary.

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He told Christian that all he needed was to go to the Village of Morality! 

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Christian in Pilgrim’s_Progress wiki pub dom.

Worldly Wiseman – Pilgrim’s Progress, p34 – Mr Worldly Wiseman – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE VILLAGE IS NOW A HUGE CITY!

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And so it is today! Only this Village called Morality is now a full-grown city!

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Yes, a great portion of today’s Christendom has become just that, the City of Morality! Yes, there are many Christians who, like Bunyan’s pilgrim, have been duped by that old deceiver, Worldly Wiseman!

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Oh yes, wouldn’t you know it! Worldly Wiseman is still around!

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And still, he’s busily misdirecting simple-minded Christians into going to the City of Morality instead of continuing onward and upward to Zion, the City of God! 

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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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TRAVELING THE SAME DIRECTION

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Now having said all this, there is a concept which has been well-stated in the following saying… “If Satan isn’t coming against you, then perhaps you both are traveling in the same direction!”

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Now this is not a Bible verse, but still presents a very biblical truth!

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Yes, there are many church-goers, who have been deceived by today’s wildly popular prosperity-driven gospel, which teaches that the evidence of your Salvation is when your life is all, “peace and safety”!

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In other words, you know you’re on the right road to Heaven, because you are not currently experiencing troubles and trials.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org

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“BAG OF TRICKS”

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christianandapollyon.jpg

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But the fact is, when a Christian begins to travel that gently sloping upward pathway to the Celestial City, the Devil becomes enraged.

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And so he must try to derail that Christian, any way he can!  

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Now, Satan has his, “bags of tricks”. This bag consists of all the various ways of bringing back the Christian into the world: into his prison-house of sin and selfishness! 

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Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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PROSPERITY-DRIVEN GOSPELS

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Now the current prosperity-driven gospels, and seeking after earthly riches, is one great subdivision in the City of Morality.

.Christian Race In Todays World courtesy www.signsofheaven.org share-alike lcense

Yes, the Devil convinces many in the Christian world that God wants us to be financially affluent, through a life of hard work and devotion to the attainment of earthly prosperity!

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And so, he can thereby keep Christians so busy that they place their heart-purification on that proverbial, “back burner”!

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But God has counseled Christians… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33

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Christian Race In Todays World – courtesy www.signsofheaven.org – share-alike lcense

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THE SOCIAL GOSPEL

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S-vicente2-Prestige_oil_spill.jpg

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Another weapon in Satan’s arsenal concerns another great subdivision in the City of Morality, is that ideology commonly known as socialism, or humanitarianism.

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Now, for the people of the world, these things are just fine! They’re great!

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But Christians need to accomplish the will of God in a much different manner than the world tries to do good!

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Free_Food_Distribution_-_Gangasagar_Fair_Transit_Camp_-_Kolkata_2012-01-14_0691.JPG

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This is a very effective weapon in Satan’s, “bag of tricks”! Because, being a humanitarian has a, “form of godliness” attached to it. 

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And so, there have many church-goers who have been effectively derailed from, “that good part” of Christianity: to sit at the feet of Jesus, and hear His Word!

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:8TH_GRADE_STUDENTS_PICK_UP_LITTER._(FROM_THE_DOCUMERICA-1_EXHIBITION._FOR_OTHER_IMAGES_IN_THIS_ASSIGNMENT,_SEE_FICHE..._-_NARA_-_552951.jpg

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And humanitarianism is one of the most deceptive ideologies, because of its “form of godliness”.

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Now, there is nothing wrong with helping someone in need, or engaging in a humanitarian effort!

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But when we turn our focus away from heart-purification for any reason, even seemingly good reasons, the devil wins again! 

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Oil Spill cleanup – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

Free Food Distribution – Gangasagar Fair Transit Camp – Kolkataw – cropped image – Wikimedia – Free Documentation License 

Litter patrol – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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PROPHECY & HEALTH SEMINARS

.Bible prophecy chart - Wikipedia - US Public Domain

Satan is not so bothered to see Christians get derailed from the true path, via Revelation seminars which make little mention of Jesus and little mention of heart-purification.

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Yes, these seminars are greatly focused on history books and newspapers, instead of, “Sola Scriptura”, that is, “the Bible only”.

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And if Satan can get the Christian to turn his (or her) attention away from studying the Bible’s, “precious promises”, and instead focus on these other things, such as politics, health seminars, or Creation Science, the Devil has won! After all, Satan doesn’t mind seeing healthy people going to Hell!

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_090425-F-1333S-001_t._Derek_Sakris_teaches_nurses_from_Project_Hope_and_other_local_health_care_professionals_in_the_Dominican_Republic_proper_water_sanitation_procedures.jpg

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Now, to study the Book of Revelation, in the light of “the Bible only”, is not a bad thing. It’s a very necessary thing! And to know about the Creation/Evolution debate can be helpful. And to know what kinds of foods are healthy to eat, and how to care for our bodies, is a very good thing.

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But when we allow even good things to get in the way of hiding the precious words of Jesus in our heart, then the Devil wins! 

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Bible prophecy chart – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

Health Seminar – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE DAY OF THE LORD

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O Pilgrim, the Devil knows just how close we are to Armageddon! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MARTIN_John_Great_Day_of_His_Wrath.jpg

Listen… “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with…cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on…the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things…” Luke 21:34-36 (condensed for brevity)

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This above passage stands as a warning to all of us who are now standing on the brink of that, “Great and the terrible Day of the Lord”! (Joel 2:31)

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Painting-Great Day of His Wrath by J. Martin-Wikipedia-Public Domain-Click her for link.

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THE RIGHT PATHWAY

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But those who are wise, will always endeavor to, “keep the main thing, the main thing!”

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-06831.jpg.

No matter what fiery dart that the Wicked One shoots at the Believer, that Christian pilgrim will tenaciously cling to the right and true pathway: the purification of the heart!

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Listen… “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3

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Yes, to hide God’s Word and His precious promises in our heart, and to separate from all forms of selfish-worldly influences must be the primary focus of each and every Christian!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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BEWARE OF THIS FELLOW!

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/John_Bunyan's_Pilgrim's_ProgressAnd so, dear Pilgrim, don’t let that old rascal, Worldly Wiseman, detour you into the City of Morality, away from the true focus of your relationship with Jesus!

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And truth-be-told, that old deceiver may come to you in the form of a pastor, or a parishioner, or a close friend, or even a family member!

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Whoever attempts to get you or me derailed from the true Pilgrim’s Pathway of overcoming the world! BEWARE!

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Worldly Wiseman – Pilgrim’s Progress p34 – Mr Worldly Wiseman – Wikimedia – public domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rezando.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be deceived, discouraged, or detoured into the wrong direction, onto a counterfeit, look-alike pathway. Keep me on the true Heavenward Pathway

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Martha, the “Doer” & Mary, the “Hearer””, or you can also read… November 21 (Planet Earth, Devil’s Island, Part 12: “Planet Earth: The Devil’s Slaughter-house!”) 

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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THE FIVE WISE VIRGINS STARS

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“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

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Five Wise, Five Foolish Virgins Stars

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And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

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Matthew 25:1-4

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WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART

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This constellation was identified on May 22nd, 2014. It is simply five stars, two from the Serpens Constellation, and three from the Hercules Constellation.

Wikipedia Star-Chart - Corona Borealis

Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis

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What gives this constellation impetus and significance is that it appears as five evenly positioned stars, in a slight oval pattern, as if they were sitting in a meeting, listening, or perhaps watching someone.

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Second, they appear to be gathered in front of The Crown of Revelation 12 Constellation. (just below Corona Borealis in this Wikipedia star-chart, in which the editor of this site sketched in these two constellations)

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer constellation – Five Wise Virgins Stars & The Glorious Crown – Corona Borealis – signsofheaven.org – Not for profit uses! – Wikipedia Star chart with constellations drawn in by this website.

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Five Wise Virgins Stars”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Desert_road_UAE.JPG

TOMORROW…

“APRIL 4 (Highway To Heaven! Part 2: Clearing Away Debris!)”

Desert Road Highway – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

 

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #457 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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