BEWARE

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation…” (Matthew 26:41)

The Word of God tells us that the devil “cometh not, but to for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). Satan would like you to do needless, unwise, untimely and ridiculous things. He wants to deceive you and make you believe that such promptings are from God. There is not one instance in the Bible where God led a person to do a strange thing. Summon these promptings before a court of examination! The Word of God tells us plainly “Try the spirits whether they be of God” (I John 4:1). But how do we do this?

WATCH YOUR FEELINGS

Many people follow their feelings instead of their convictions. Too many don’t do things because they do not feel like it. When you allow yourself to be led by your feelings, it is like allowing yourself to be judged by a child.

WATCH YOU IMAGINATIONS

We all possess the power of fancy. The devil loves to use it. He will stretch his illusion upon it. Here is a favorite illusion of the devil. A person will have an impression that he ought to have a certain desirable appointment. He is quite sure he deserves it; and that he is better qualified for it than anyone else; and that life will be worthless if he does not receive it.

Such a person will live in the excitement of their pending appointment until he drools with the suspense and the prospect of immediate advantages that he feels sure must be theirs. Then the bubble bursts. The letdown is almost a sickness. There is such uncontrollable grief that it verges on a nervous breakdown. Satan has played a cruel trick on you.

WATCH YOUR DREAMS

God has spoken to people through dreams. This was much more evident before the Holy Spirit was given. A dream may be of God, or it may be the result of an upset stomach. The Bible speaks of “false dreams” and “filthy dreamers,” and complains of those who cause the people to forget God by “their dreams”. (Jeremiah 23:27).

Do not hastily attribute things to God. Don’t easily suppose dreams, voices, impressions, visions, or revelations to be from God. They may be from Him. They may be from nature. They may be from the devil. Therefore believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are from God.”

WATCH YOUR IMPULSES

Remember this; God never hurries people to do doubtful things. The devil does. Wrong impulses have lead to many letdowns of disappointment, disgrace, wrong marriages, broken homes and shattered lives.  That is what happened to Peter when he drew his sword in the garden. Take your time! Test it! If you have a doubt about it, don’t do it.

WATCH YOUR PREJUDICES AND PRECONCEIVED IDEAS

This is a form of spiritual deafness. God had to speak very loudly to Peter. It was not easy to convince him that the gospel should be preached to the gentiles. God always has to deal with prejudice in our hearts. These two judges; prejudice and preconceived ideas, always interpret messages according to their own views. They are thieves. They hinder our lives. They hinder success. They have misled millions.

WATCH THE FLESH

The body often clamors for excessive and unlawful gratification. Appetite can run away with you. Your body will demand special treatment! (Galatians 5:17). The flesh must be “kept under control.” There is no other way. It is similar to weeds. It is a constant battle, but the harvest depends upon keeping the weeds under control.

WATCH SIGNS

Satan is a counterfeiter. I am amazed at the superstitions among people. They are still geared to bad or good luck rather than the providences of God. They are ready to blame everything. God wants to free us from these shackles.

WATCH CHANCE HAPPENINGS

We are often tempted to put certain decisions to erroneous tests to rest a decision, for instance, on whether the sun rises clear the next day or whether the day is cloudy. That is “religious gambling.” You might as well toss a coin, and reduce God to heads or tails. A judge who would toss a coin to decide a case, instead of weighing the evidence and determining the truth thereby, would be thought insane. Yet some people tamper with their lives in this foolish manner.

Remember! God’s tests, if questioned a thousand times, always respond with the same reply. You don’t take a chance when you go God’s way. When you gamble you dwarf reason, foster ignorance, offer incense to a false god, perplex the conscience, please the devil and grieve the Holy Spirit.

These are the devices used by “the world, the flesh and the devil” to mislead people and lure them to destruction. They are subtle pitfalls and not easily detected. We must make it through this life in spite of them. With God all things are possible. He has promised us victory, because He has given us power over the devil.