Untouched by the wicked
“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” - 1 John 5:18
John gave two vital directives to evade the Wicked One’s effort to ‘touch’ (eth) or attach himself to God’s people. One point is a supernatural endowment; the condition of being born of God. The other point is a conscious, deliberate effort put forth to ‘keep’ (eth) ourselves. The word ‘keepeth’ is derived from the Greek word tereo meaning to guard or protect by being mindful of any and all harmful circumstance. John said in essence: “Those born of God walking in the power of their Spiritual re-birth will rise above sin and the devil will have no authority over them.”
Casual observation of I John 5:18 might offer a false impression some that born-again people are no longer capable of sinning any more. That’s not what John was saying. The focus is not the ‘whosoever’ (Christians) but rather the condition of the ‘whosoever’ which is their being born of God. The Born of God, are in other words, spiritually recreated people having within themselves a power able to supercede their original human nature.
How does one become born of God? Jesus said being born of the water (baptism in Jesus’ name) and being born of the Spirit (filled with the Holy Ghost, confirmed by speaking in tongues) accomplished the New Birth experience. The Bible also says those born of God engage in righteousness (1 John 2:29), they understand the Sonship of Jesus Christ (1 John 5:1) and they love others (1 John 4:7).
If we are to remain untouched by the Wicked one (Satan), the means he utilizes to try us will have to be severed. His agenda calls for the testing and observation of us in many different areas to see if entrance into our lives is possible. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of one who was untouchable by Satan’s wickedness.
John recounted how Jesus looked at His disciples once and said: “…the prince of this world (Satan).... hath nothing in me.” (John 14:30). Jesus said in essence that though Satan was the prince of this world with corresponding authority, he still did not possess authority or power over Him. The Lord proved this when He refused the offer of the kingdoms of the world if He would just worship Satan. Satan also tested Jesus in relation to His ministry personally and abuse of the power thereof. But Jesus did not turn stones into bread or cast Himself down from the pinnacle.
Satan’s appeals were made to the Son of man, the human, physical nature of Jesus and He refused. He proved that He could not be bought. The Divinity of Jesus was not tested; the Son of God upheld the awareness that Satan only had authority over those who personally surrender it. (“…whosoever is born of God sinneth not… (but) keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not.”)
Remaining ‘untouched’ means there can be no secret life styles or sins willfully kept in our lives. We already understand that God knows if we are doing wrong. But the devil also will notice eventually and will seize his opportunity. Carnal priorities cannot supercede God’s will or govern our lives. Whatever you esteem higher than God, the devil will use to bring you down. As an ox may eventually find the weak part of the fence that keeps him corralled, Satan will also find where the fence of our protection is compromised and will enter therein.
If there ever was an hour that God’s people remove from the Wicked one’s vantage points to us, it is now. There’s never been a time that evil manifests in so many varied forms, methods, and circumstances than now. Today’s wickedness comes in ways inaccessible years ago, much less even known possible. The advancement of multimedia has far surpassed the days of the elders who preached against unwholesome radio programs or radio period.
Restrictive Internet usage and all TV/Video avoidance are good preventative measures; the right ones to take. But present day technology makes unwholesome multimedia reachable right on your cellular phone. The solution is not asceticism or run to the mountains and become hermits. It’s been said that temptations from without have no power unless there be corresponding desire within.
James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” A submission of will, soul, heart, and mind to God and a resistance of susceptibility to the devil’s influence will cause him to leave you. He’ll see he is unable to attach himself to you and he will go somewhere else. Peter said sobriety (responsibility) and vigilance (awareness, cognizance) serve as safeguards against the devil. He also said to firmly resist him in the faith and doctrine. (1 Peter 5:8,9) Then there is Paul’s easily memorized and often quoted verse in Ephesians 4:27 “Neither give place (opportunity, chance) to the devil”
We must endeavor to protect our thoughts, our words, our actions, what we hear and where we go; it is in these things that the devil will try to touch us. And if we are to flee from temptation, we can’t leave a forwarding address. I know all these words are distasteful to a world that is driven by unrestrained desire. It’s just too preachy. Yet those who resist Scriptural truths oppose themselves and are taken captive by the devil at his will (2 Timothy 2:25-26). The power to become the son’s of God is received when we are filled with the Holy Ghost; we are the begotten of God!
“To pray against temptation and yet rush into occasion is to thrust your fingers into the fire and then pray they might not be burnt” -Thomas Secker (1693-1768)
John gave two vital directives to evade the Wicked One’s effort to ‘touch’ (eth) or attach himself to God’s people. One point is a supernatural endowment; the condition of being born of God. The other point is a conscious, deliberate effort put forth to ‘keep’ (eth) ourselves. The word ‘keepeth’ is derived from the Greek word tereo meaning to guard or protect by being mindful of any and all harmful circumstance. John said in essence: “Those born of God walking in the power of their Spiritual re-birth will rise above sin and the devil will have no authority over them.”
Casual observation of I John 5:18 might offer a false impression some that born-again people are no longer capable of sinning any more. That’s not what John was saying. The focus is not the ‘whosoever’ (Christians) but rather the condition of the ‘whosoever’ which is their being born of God. The Born of God, are in other words, spiritually recreated people having within themselves a power able to supercede their original human nature.
How does one become born of God? Jesus said being born of the water (baptism in Jesus’ name) and being born of the Spirit (filled with the Holy Ghost, confirmed by speaking in tongues) accomplished the New Birth experience. The Bible also says those born of God engage in righteousness (1 John 2:29), they understand the Sonship of Jesus Christ (1 John 5:1) and they love others (1 John 4:7).
If we are to remain untouched by the Wicked one (Satan), the means he utilizes to try us will have to be severed. His agenda calls for the testing and observation of us in many different areas to see if entrance into our lives is possible. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of one who was untouchable by Satan’s wickedness.
John recounted how Jesus looked at His disciples once and said: “…the prince of this world (Satan).... hath nothing in me.” (John 14:30). Jesus said in essence that though Satan was the prince of this world with corresponding authority, he still did not possess authority or power over Him. The Lord proved this when He refused the offer of the kingdoms of the world if He would just worship Satan. Satan also tested Jesus in relation to His ministry personally and abuse of the power thereof. But Jesus did not turn stones into bread or cast Himself down from the pinnacle.
Satan’s appeals were made to the Son of man, the human, physical nature of Jesus and He refused. He proved that He could not be bought. The Divinity of Jesus was not tested; the Son of God upheld the awareness that Satan only had authority over those who personally surrender it. (“…whosoever is born of God sinneth not… (but) keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not.”)
Remaining ‘untouched’ means there can be no secret life styles or sins willfully kept in our lives. We already understand that God knows if we are doing wrong. But the devil also will notice eventually and will seize his opportunity. Carnal priorities cannot supercede God’s will or govern our lives. Whatever you esteem higher than God, the devil will use to bring you down. As an ox may eventually find the weak part of the fence that keeps him corralled, Satan will also find where the fence of our protection is compromised and will enter therein.
If there ever was an hour that God’s people remove from the Wicked one’s vantage points to us, it is now. There’s never been a time that evil manifests in so many varied forms, methods, and circumstances than now. Today’s wickedness comes in ways inaccessible years ago, much less even known possible. The advancement of multimedia has far surpassed the days of the elders who preached against unwholesome radio programs or radio period.
Restrictive Internet usage and all TV/Video avoidance are good preventative measures; the right ones to take. But present day technology makes unwholesome multimedia reachable right on your cellular phone. The solution is not asceticism or run to the mountains and become hermits. It’s been said that temptations from without have no power unless there be corresponding desire within.
James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” A submission of will, soul, heart, and mind to God and a resistance of susceptibility to the devil’s influence will cause him to leave you. He’ll see he is unable to attach himself to you and he will go somewhere else. Peter said sobriety (responsibility) and vigilance (awareness, cognizance) serve as safeguards against the devil. He also said to firmly resist him in the faith and doctrine. (1 Peter 5:8,9) Then there is Paul’s easily memorized and often quoted verse in Ephesians 4:27 “Neither give place (opportunity, chance) to the devil”
We must endeavor to protect our thoughts, our words, our actions, what we hear and where we go; it is in these things that the devil will try to touch us. And if we are to flee from temptation, we can’t leave a forwarding address. I know all these words are distasteful to a world that is driven by unrestrained desire. It’s just too preachy. Yet those who resist Scriptural truths oppose themselves and are taken captive by the devil at his will (2 Timothy 2:25-26). The power to become the son’s of God is received when we are filled with the Holy Ghost; we are the begotten of God!
“To pray against temptation and yet rush into occasion is to thrust your fingers into the fire and then pray they might not be burnt” -Thomas Secker (1693-1768)
posted by Pastor Cortes at 11:48 AM
1 Comments:
This sermon is really for this day and time. Satan knows he does not have a lot of time left, so he is really "coming down" on those who try to live a holy life.
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