Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 17
Tuesday


CAPTAIN
THUNDERBOLT

READ:
2 Cor. 11:3-4, 12-15
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Satan himself
transforms himself
into an angel of light.
__2 Corinthians 11:14
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When an English robber called Captain Thunderbolt escaped the law and moved to the eastern US in 1818, he began practicing medicine. He took on the name Dr. John Wilson. Often he wore three suits of clothes to escape recognition by making himself look larger and covering up a deformed leg.

Just before the man died, he asked his friends to bury him without removing his clothes. But to prepare his body for proper burial, that request could not be honored. The mortician was surprised to find scars from wounds and a withered leg. A search of "Dr. Wilson's" house revealed a stash of watches, jewelry, and diamonds. The sheriff learned that the doctor was in fact Thunderbolt, a thief in disguise. They had been fooled!

Satan and his followers have disguises too. It says in 2 Corinthians 11:15, "[Satan's] ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness." But how? One way is through false doctrine. Ever since Paul's day, false teachers have taught that good deeds can earn salvation.

Paul warned us not to be deceived by the devil's craftiness (v.3). The truth is: "By grace you have been saved through faith...; it is the gift of God, not of works" (Eph. 2:8-9).
Don't be fooled. __Anne Cetas
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````````````The powers of darkness have blinded the race,``````````
```````````````Closing our eyes to the glories of grace;`````````````
`````````````But faith in the Savior brings healing and sight__````````
```````````He floods our soul with His truth and His light. __DJD```````
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Satan has many tools,
but deception is the handle that fits them all.

**********Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 12-15*******

3 But I fear, lest somehow,
as the serpent deceived Eve
by his craftiness, so your
minds may be corrupted
from the simplicity that is
in Christ. 4 For if he who
comes preaches another
Jesus whom we have not
preached, or if you receive
a different spirit which you
have not received, or a
different gospel which you
have not accepted__you
may well put up with it!...

12 But what I do, I will
also continue to do, that I
may cut off the opportunity
from those who desire an
opportunity to be regarded
just as we are in the things
of which they boast. 13 For
such are false apostles,
deceitful workers,
transforming themselves
into apostles of Christ.

14 And no wonder! For
satan himself transforms
himself into an angel of
light. 15 Therefore it is no
great thing if his minsters
also transform themselves
into ministers of
righteousness, whose end
will be according to their
works.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Isaiah 14:12-15 describes Satan's pride that led to his downfall. It
is characterized by five "I will" aspirations to become like the Most
High. Surprisingly, in much of Satan's strategy, he actually seeks to
imitate God. But this "imitation" is nothing like what the believer is
exhorted to do in 1 Corinthians 11:1. Rather, it is a satanic attempt
at usurping God's rightful authority. As in the case of counterfeit
currency, the best way to distinguish the real from the false is by
knowing the genuine article. second Corinthians 11:3 alludes back
to the serpent and his deception of Eve by twisting God's own
words (Gen. 3:1-5). Being "girded" with the truth of God's Word
is an integral part of our defense against the devil (Eph. 6:11-17).
__Dennis Fisher