🕯️EPHESIANS 6: 11-12
{Amplified Bible}
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood
{contending only with physical opponents}
✔️But Against the rRulers
✔️Against the Powers
✔️Against the world forces of this [present] darkness
✔️Against the Spiritual Forces of Wickedness in the HEAVENLY {supernatural} Realms’.”
✨5 Ways the devil Tries to Keep Us from Attending Church✨
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it Holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the Seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your GOD.
On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.
For in six days the LORD made the Heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.
✨ Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy”
{Exodus 20: 8-11}.
“I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them”
{Ezekiel 20: 12}.
The devils main objective as GODS enemy is to work against GOD.
It hates GOD, and It hates GODS people.
Nothing delights the devil more than when it successfully tempts believers to disobey GODS statutes.
✨The fourth commandment is no different.
The devil is keenly aware that our participation in Worship—Singing and hearing the Word of GOD preached—is integral to our spiritual growth and to the building up the Body.
It will stop at nothing to prevent that, including raising up obstacles and distractions, and even using our own selfish desires
Keeping the Sabbath Is Crucial
Keeping the Sabbath
{“Rest”}
HOLY
{“Set Apart”}
Means we treat this day—whether your denomination chooses Saturday or Sunday;
Separate from the rest of the work week.
The concept of rest is GODS gift to us, modelled after his own example of resting after creating the earth, vegetation, animals, and humans for six days
{Genesis 2:2-3}.
✨This one day is ours to use for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual refreshment
By keeping:
{“guarding, preserving, protecting”}
The Sabbath, we demonstrate our commitment and obedience to GOD and HIS Statutes.
The Sabbath is also the one day GOD asks us to set aside to intentionally express Reverence and Honour him through Worship.
Pastor John Piper says;
“The beautiful thing about the Sabbath is that GOD instituted it as a weekly reminder of two things.
✨One is that all true blessing comes from his Grace, not our Labor.
✨The other is that we hallow him and honour him and keep the day HOLY if we seek the fullness of HIS Blessing by giving our special attention to him on that day.”
✨For in six days the LORD made the Heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.
✨Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it HOLY”
{Exodus 20: 8-11}
“I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them”
{Ezekiel 20: 12}.
The devils main objective as GODS enemy is to work against GOD.
IT hates GOD, and It hates GODS people.
Nothing delights the devil more than when it successfully tempts believers to disobey GODS statutes.
✨The fourth commandment is no different.
The devil and its agents is keenly aware that our participation in Worship—singing and hearing the Word of GOD preached—is integral to our spiritual growth and to the building up the Body.
It will stop at nothing to prevent that, including raising up obstacles and distractions, and even using our own selfish desires.
✨✨The Sabbath as a Sign of Sanctity✨✨
🙌 The Israelites were surrounded by pagan nations who worshipped foreign gods. Sadly, the Israelites were prone to follow suit.
The Sabbath was to be different, though.
It was a day to honour the YAHWEH, “to the LORD our GOD.”
🙌 It was a Covenant sign between GOD and Israel, that among all the nations on earth, they alone were Chosen to be his “Treasured Possession”
{Deuteronomy 7: 6}
🙌 So sacred was this covenant that “Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death;
Those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people”
{Exodus 31: 14}
👍 While we needn’t fear being put to death, keeping the Sabbath for believers today demonstrates that we are a distinct people among all other religions on earth.
🙌 Reverential adherence to the Sabbath demonstrates that we are✔️✔️;
“A Chosen people✔️
A Royal priesthood✔️
A Holy Nation” because GOD “delivered us from the domain of darkness [sin] and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved SON”
AMEN
🕯️1 Peter 2: 9;
🕯️Colossians 1: 14
🙌 “The Sabbath is a way of remembering and expressing the truth that GOD is our creator and deliverer and sanctifier,” says Piper. “He has indeed designed that we work. But our work neither creates, nor saves, nor sanctifies. For these, we depend on the blessing of GOD.
✨All things are from him and through him and to him.”
And this angers the devil.
Having previously tried to usurp GODS place and authority in heaven and failing;
It is not above trying to do so on earth now by enticing GODS children to disobedience.
In the case of keeping the Sabbath HOLY, here’s how he tries to prevent believers from doing so.
✨✨✨Through Work & Busyness✨✨✨
Many people work on weekends, especially those in service industries.
✨It’s not uncommon for them to be scheduled for an early shift at a retail store, a sporting venue, or a restaurant on a Sunday morning.
Then there are those who work long hours through the week—sometimes as much as 60-plus hours—and justify skipping church Thusly:
“Sunday’s my one day to sleep in.”
🙌They also see Sundays as their day to catch up on the things they couldn’t do during the week—grocery shopping, paying bills, cleaning the house, and yardwork.
Regardless of the reason, they sacrifice SACRED time with GOD, HIS people, and their spiritual growth.
For what?
Extra money
An extra hour of sleep, that errand or chore that just couldn’t wait.
✨✨Is it worth it? ✨✨
In my case the Authoritarian Use Of The Church By UnGODLY Powers.
{Something They Wouldn’t Dare Practice In A Mosque}
🛑 I HAVE ALSO LEARNED TO FORGIVE AND LOVE MY OPPRESSORS ‼️
I NOW LEARN TO IGNORE EVERY DISTRACTION, I GO TO CHURCH AND IGNORE THE CLABBERING DISTRACTION.
Pastor Mike Mazzalongo says;
“If we put ‘KINGDOM matters’ Tithes Etc;
{like faithful attendance for example}
if we put things like this first, GOD will find a way to provide for us all the things we are so busy trying to provide for ourselves, and in doing so putting our souls at risk.”
✨✨Through Religious Self-Sufficiency✨✨
Ever heard this before:
“I don’t need organized religion to be with GOD.
I can just go outside and be in nature.
That’s my ‘church’.”
While it’s true that GOD is;
✨OMNIPRESENT ✔️
✨OMNIPOTENT ✔️
&
✨OMNISCIENT ✔️
And we can be with him at any time, indoors or outdoors;
The devil has convinced many that church—what they refer to as “organized religion”— Is a crutch and isn’t necessary.
✨There is also the lie the devil sows, particularly with still-mobile senior saints, about “having heard it all before.”
✨It says to them;
✨“You’ve been in church since birth.
✨You know the Bible backward and forwards.
✨You know every hymn by heart.
✨You don’t need church anymore.
✨You can do church on your own at home.”
✨✨Both lies are deceptive. ✨✨
🙌 They convince people that they can “Do Church” on their own and in isolation.
{I Used To Have This Mind-Set}
✨They deliberately distort the fact that GOD created us as communal creatures.
🙌We need each other.
🙌We need fellowship.
🙌We need accountability.
🙌We need LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, and ENCOURAGEMENT, which comes with being in Community with other Believers.
For these reasons, we are admonished not to “Give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing”
🕯️HEBREWSw 10: 25.
✨✨✨Through Livestreaming✨✨✨
This might be one that we can blame on COVID-19. With the world basically shuttered during that time, churches scrambled to provide ways to keep their congregations connected.
Live-streaming services and Zoom Bible studies became the go-to.
People still heard the Word of GOD preached and still enjoyed some semblance of fellowship, albeit through technology.
Yet, when the world reopened, some people were anxious about returning to worship in person—and many had good reasons;
✨I Once resisted going to Church because the Authorities began using GODS Sacred House To Conduct What The United Nations Call, You Would Think It’s The One Place They Would Resist Abusing Their “RIPA ACT” POWERS.
🙌 I thank my GOD For Its Now A TESTIMONY.
🇺🇳 RE United Nations 🇺🇳 :
“STRUCTURAL INSTITUTIONAL AND SYSTEMIC RACISM”;👇
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/27/uk-government-failing-to-address-systemic-racism-against-black-people-un-working-group-of-experts-on-people-of-african-descent
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/09/un-report-records-piecemeal-progress-combating-systemic-racism-against
people of African Descent.
✨But Then I Rescinded What The devil Wanted To Achieve;
I GO TO CHURCH TO LISTEN TO GODS WORD NOT TO WITNESS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ‘INHUMAN’ DEPLOYMENTS BY MAN.
✨ They Wanted To Stop Me Going To Church By WEAPONISING GODS SACRED CHURCH.
🙌 THE devil IS A LIAR 🙌
✨But there were those {and still some today} that found livestreaming easy, convenient, and relaxed.
✨A habit had been formed, and it was not so willingly relinquished.
So, many remained at home, continuing to livestream from the comfort of their couches.
✨ But they miss out on so much, **NOTES**.
✨ “Only through authentic relationships with other believers can we live out the FAITH we profess and become all that GOD has destined us to be—when we do not give up meeting together with other CHRISTIANS.”
✨✨Through Painful Past Experiences✨✨
The church is filled with flawed
{Though Redeemed}
People, and they often say and do things that offend, whether Intentionally or Unintentionally.
They can also be JUDGMENTAL and CLIQUE-ISH.
Those on the receiving JUDGEMENT of any one of these INJURIES, however, often cite the hurt they experienced as their reason for not attending church.
THE CD continually reminds them that Christians can’t be trusted, that they are Hypocrites, and don’t practice what they preach.
Jake Fellows on Quora articulates how many feel about the church these days.
“They claim to preach love whilst simultaneously breeding hate.
⛔️ The Worst Behaviour Comes From Some Alleged Christian Nations Who Abuse Authoritarian Powers To Control Churches {A Place Of Sanctity & Refuge} and/Or Leaders Of Churches To Put A Strain On Members Being Persecuted Using;
“STRUCTURAL, INSTITUTIONAL & SYSTEMIC RACISM”;
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/01/1132912
✨Religion has been a major cause of conflict and social injustices over the years.
Homophobia? Promoted by religion.
Gender inequality?
Religion. Abortions? Yup.
Modern Slavery? Involves Using Same Colour {Black} To Justify A New Form Of Slavery.
🚩They did that one too‼️
Then there are the conflicts within the religions themselves:
Catholics vs. Protestants, Baptist
Sunnis vs. Shias.
Can’t we all just get along?”
✨Yes, people have been hurt by those in the church—of all denominations—and some grievously so. There have been reported cases of Molestation, Embezzlement, Lying, and Adultery.
✨We must Acknowledge these Injustices and Injuries and confess them.
Yet, the hurt done does not invalidate the TRUTHS of the Gospel and the Christian Faith.
They still stand firm, regardless of any damages done by the church and its people.
✨Anthony Ferrell gives an excellent analogy.
“When we go to the doctor’s office, for example, whether or not the doctor has a kind bedside manner does not change the facts of the test results that he shares or the medicine he prescribes.
His accurate analysis and prescription do not excuse bad bedside manners, but neither does his bad behavior invalidate his evaluation and report.”
✨✨CONCLUSION ✨✨✔️
The more we miss church and avoid getting invested with its people, the more we miss out spiritually.
In short, we sabotage our Faith, True Fellowship, and the Blessings GOD has for us.
By consistently avoiding church, we set ourselves up in isolation, which makes us extremely vulnerable to being “Devoured” by the devil
{1 Peter 5: 8}
We must be on our guard, then, “so that we [will] not be outwitted by the devil and its deceptive agents;
For we are not Ignorant of its Designs”
{2 Corinthians 2: 11}.
How? 👇
1. Through knowing the devils schemes.
It’s words:
Its Structural, Systemic and Institutional Abuses Of Powers and its whispers are contrary to GODS words of LOVE, GRACE & PEACE.
It tempts, threatens, and intimidates.
🛑It twists GODS Word to “Deceive”, “Coerce”, “Suppress” and Manipulate.
It challenges our identity as a beloved and forgiven child of GOD.
It offers tempting alternatives to get us to compromise our GODLY Values and Beliefs.
2) Through persistent prayer.
Ask GOD to protect you & your family from The devils schemes to distract and derail you with wrong priorities or to succumb to the pressures of this world.
3) Through uncompromising faithfulness.
There will come days of testing.
The devil and its agents has a plan for you, and it is to keep you from worshipping GOD within the safety of the Body of CHRIST.
But make a firm commitment, for yourself and your Family, to Faithfully attend church, whether Saturday night or Sunday morning.
By doing so, you won’t give the devil a foothold on your life or your Family Growth.
🙌 Remember the devil is like an AI’ It learns from our mistakes and uses those mistakes to Entrap and Set Traps For All using “InHuman-Agents”!!
🛑 It also targets those who ‘Love Money’ Lose Women Etc.
This is its PRESENT Mode Of Operation In My Life!!
The devil and its agents will Set “HoneyPot” Traps To Entrap & Use To Character Assassinate.
Trust Me When I Say I Have Been There;
Most Would Never Come Near Seeing The Money I Have Seen, &/Or, Handled In Their Life-Span:
IT NEVER MADE ME HAPPY‼️
🙌 BUT GOD MAKES THE REDEEMED SO HAPPY, JOYFUL, WITH “FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT” ADDED ‼️
AMEN
I Was Inspired By:
Denise at denisekohlmeyer.com.
🚩Inclusions and Additions are Mine 🚩
🛑 🙌 MAY THE LORD TAKE HIS GLORY;👇
