NOTE: These are the things that concern us all and Satan uses them to distract us from the things of God. Food, drink, finances, worries and cares, the difficulties of general living that can absorb all our lives. Be sure and make time for the Word of God, and follow what you discover there.
Q8 In what other ways does the devil attract us away from the things of God?
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 2:15-17
NOTE: The devil has a personal trap for each one of us. He can use the desire for the goods that we fancy, our appetites, our pride in ourselves, or our ambitions. These can fill our everyday lives till the things of God can seem quite dull. But the text says that this world, with all these things, will pass away. Only obeying God can give us a certain and satisfying future.
Q9 How does the Bible reveal the four essentials of overcoming all the snares of Satan, his deceptions and his temptations—giving, taking, watching and praying?
GIVE OUR ENTIRE LIFE TO GOD
Submit yourselves therefore to God. James 4:7
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; Psalm 37:5
To love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 22:5
TAKE WHAT GOD WANTS TO GIVE US
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28,29.
Take fast hold of instruction; Proverbs 4:13
According as His divine power has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
2 Peter 1:3
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4
NOTE: To give our all to God, to be guided by Him to live in His pattern means our home, our finances, our appearance, all our daily activities. He has only given them to us on loan! To take all, His power, His help and support, His counsel and His love, means that we shall have purpose and solidity in life, with great satisfaction and refreshing. In this there is safety and security from the deceptions of evil.
God also asks us to watch and pray—to recognise and look for the signs that Jesus told us to look for. These are like mile-boards on the way Home. We are to pray for courage to endure to the end of this road of evil, for the subtleties of deception will not get less.
WATCH
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:42
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:44
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
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