Thursday, June 22, 2023.
DO NOT ENGAGE THE DEVIL
Read: Genesis 3:1-6
[1]Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
[2]And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
[3]But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
[4]And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
[5]For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
[6]And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
MEMORISE: Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).
EXPOSITION
To engage is to carry out, or participate in an activity. It requires much time, resources and efforts to engage in something. The Bible makes it clear that we should resist the devil, by God's grace, and Satan would flee. Rather than resisting the subtle devil, Eve engaged him, which led her to give the fruit a second look. She had the option of ignoring/resisting the snake's question, but she sheepishly played into the devil's tactics. What a terrible thing! Today, many have been led away by the devil because of their inability to resist his subtle tactics. That ungodly affair you are into is a deadly engagement with the devil. Beware! Don't be sheepishly caught unguarded by the devil as he did to Eve. Some youths were once vibrant for the Lord, shunning worldly passions and disobedience to their parents, but now living godless and hypocritical lives. This is most likely due to unholy engagements.
He who engages the devil when he should resist him is heaping burning coals in his bosom. Some are unequally yoked with unbelievers, even in marital relationships (cf. 2 Cor. 6:14). What about children from Christian homes hanging out in clubs, to enjoy' themselves? Some became so wayward after their admission into tertiary institutions. No one engages the devil and goes scot-free. The likes of Eve, Dinah, Judas, Ananias and Sapphirah did it, and paid dearly for it. Don't be deceived by the devil to take a bite of the forbidden fruit. Resist him, and he will flee.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY: CAC GHB 537
1. Do no sinful action
Speak no angry word;
Ye belong to Jesus,
Children of the Lord.
2. Christ is kind and gentle,
Christ is pure and true;
And His little children
Must be holy too.
3. There's a wicked spirit
Watching round you still,
And he tries to tempt you
To all harm and ill.
4. But ye must not hear him,
Though 'tis hard for you
To resist the evil,
And the good to do.
5. For ye promised truly,
In your infant days
To renounce him wholly,
And forsake his ways.
6. Ye are Christian soldiers,
Ye must learn to fight
With the bad within you,
And to do the right.
7. Christ is your own Master
He is good and true,
And His little children
Must be holy too.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father Lord, please help me to disembark from every relationship that is sent to distract and destroy me, in Jesus' name.
2. Lord Jesus, help me to maintain my integrity.
3. Pray for the Authority of Christ Apostolic Church, Our Father in the Lord, the President and his lieutenants, and the staff of CAC Secretariat as led by the Spirit of God.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Psalms 57:4-60:12
