Message #31297

[Psalm 51:17]

^^

Yeah, the modern-day church is in great error for quite some time now b/c of just that...their perceptions of how the devil primarily operates by deceiving people to go to bars, to get into fornication, to go to see secular movies regularly, chew tobacco, etc. And in some cases, in particular my last church, they'll say that if you're being distracted by the pastor's sermons mentally, somehow it means the devil is harrassing you.

Now WHERE does it say ANY of this in Paul's, Peter's, Jude's, and Timothy's epistles? Yeah, it's as if they're telling you that even with Christians, the devil is still surrounding you(one time my previous church fellow members said we had to read scriptures out loud when we're in our own home, so that he would flee away - which is INCREDIBLY silly).

Just like Knox said(and scriptures say too), these are the LUSTS of the FLESH. And the same can be said in Old Testament times - remember when David gave into temptations with Bathsheba b/c he gave into the LUST OF HIS EYES? But somehow, the modern-day church and the History Channel try to make you believe it was the devil that tempted him.

2Sa 11:2  And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
2Sa 11:3  And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
2Sa 11:4  And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

And even Paul indicted himself...

Act 14:14  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
Act 14:15  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Ultimately, guess it's no surprise why the modern-day church is not only in so much bondage, but just has no discernment whatsoever. It's as if Satan can walk into one of these churches and announc his name being Lucifer to the entire congregation, they would still welcome him with open arms. Ultimately, Satan's agenda is to corrupt the word of God - he pretty much could careless about bars, strip clubs, the secular movie theaters, etc.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Yeah, it looks like the epistles in particular spent more time warning about enemies of God infiltrating the walls of the church than anything else. As for all the bars and strip clubs - they are of this world, nothing more, nothing less.