THE SATANIC TRAP
Satan is an adept at setting traps. He sets deadly traps in order to cage ministers who desire to serve the lord. Since he knows that men and women of God will do everything to avoid disobeying the lord, he makes use of hidden traps in order to lure ministers into danger. In this chapter we shall explore two weapons often used by the devil. Pride and worldliness are used as booby traps by the enemy.
Deliverance From Pride
God hates pride in the lives of ministers as much as he hates the vice in the lives of ordinary members of the church. Many ministers have lost their ministries and calling through pride. The shortest distance between you and the pit of destruction is pride. Lucifer was specially endowed with unusual gifts. He was given a special name “Son of the morning star” but fell through pride.
History is replete with stories of men of God who achieved, monumental greatness but fell or crashed embarrassingly due to pride. God hates proud people but gives grace to the humble.
Many ministers generally forget their humble beginnings when they begin to achieve little success. At the end of the day they forget their source. The elders say that any river that forgets its source will soon dry up. Pride will always lead to monumental ministerial fall. You must repent of pride if you want to continue to receive the grace of God.
Grace has nothing to do with pride. Eloquence of speech, the ability, to raise the dead and unusual proficiency in ministry can easily make a
minister to be puffed up and to behave as if he is self-made. Most of our ministers today need to go through deliverance and be purged of all tendencies towards being proud.
The Peril Of Pride
What is pride?
It is self-exaltation. To be proud is to rate yourself higher than you really are. Proud ministers betray their calling. When you manifest pride, you are parading yourself, as a child of the devil. One of the glaring marks of being a true minister is complete humility.
If you are truly a minister of God, your speech, comportment and total carriage must be characterized by humility. Even if you are a General Overseer, you have no excuse for displaying arrogance. Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, was meek and lowly in heart. Although the Bible calls Him the King of kings and Lord of lords, He manifested genuine humility. Don’t ever price yourself above your level. Pride is the first sin the universe. God hates pride with perfect hatred.
The Proud NUN
I read a story, several. years ago. In a convent near Rome, there was a nun who seemed to have gifts of inspiration and prophecy, and her abbess had reported to the pope wonderful stories of her power.
Philip Neri, a man Of rare discernment, visited the pope, and hearing about the nun, volunteered to find out the truth of the reports. He threw himself on his mule, and hastened through the mud and mire to the distant convent. He told the abbess the wishes of His Holiness, and begged her to summon the nun without delay. The nun was sent for, and as soon as she came into the apartment, Philip stretched out his leg, all bespattered with mud and desired her to draw off his boots.
The young nun, who had become the object of much attention and respect, drew back with anger, and refused the office.
Philip ran out of doors, mounted his mule and returned instantly to the pope: “Give yourself no uneasiness, Holy Father; here is no miracle for there is no humility.”
AMAZING!
The day a minister of God begins to say “Don’t you know who I am or can’t you respect my anointing”, pride is evident. Many ministers have thrown humility over-board.
I once witnessed a mild drama between a minister and a female member. The woman simply said, “Sir, this pastor is not born again” The Pastor’s reply shook me to the marrow. Instead of demonstrating the virtues of a minister, he yelled back at the woman. “Your father is not born again.”
Jesus is our perfect example. He remains an embodiment of humility. By the time those who were supposed to arrest Him came for Him, they found it difficult to distinguish Jesus from the rest of the disciples, Jesus was dressed in a common manner and it required a Judas to identify him. Today, many pastors accumulate debt Just to conform with latest trends in fashion. Unfortunately, the power of God has nothing to do with
.flamboyant dressing. If flamboyant dressing is the hallmark of spiritual anointing, Elijah would have been a nonentity as he wore the same dress for 3½ years.
If as a Pastor you put on the most expensive clothes in your church, you are running your ministerial race on the wrong track. Shun pride. Embrace humility.
Deliverance From Worldliness
If there is any area where ministers need deliverance, it is deliverance from the world. The world system is characterized by the nature of the chameleon. Worldliness will hinder you from fulfilling your calling.
The Bible is, very plain:
1 John 2:15-17: Love not the world, neither the things that arc in the world. If any man love the World, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for over.
MATERIALS FOR FIRE
It is crystal clear that the things of the world are transient; they are at best raw materials for fire. Many ministers have resorted to the use of’ worldly styles to administer the church. The system of the world is subtle. The world has an uncanny ability for trapping those who are least expected to fall prey: men and women of God.
Do you know that the things of this world are raw materials for fire? They shall all be consumed within a split second. The glory, the allurement and high value placed on them shall be reduced to ashes and rubbles at the end of time.
It is unfortunate, grossly so, that pastors are now in the vanguard of the quest for Worldliness. There is no way we can be used by God to save the world when we ourselves are submerged by the power of worldliness. “He who would be a mover of the world must not be moved by the world,” says a writer.
Latest fashion styles, modern trends, worldly patterns, carnal showmanship and fleshly vainglory are found among those who are called men of God. Majority of ministers behave as if the divine commandment against worldliness is meant for ordinary believers. Ministers are not only becoming grossly worldly, they are also guilty of trying to lead God’s flock by using worldly systems.
THE SATANIC STRATEGY
Although ministers are aware of the fact that the Bible has reminded us that we are peculiar people, many are still rushing into the wide net of
worldliness without considering the danger of being caught in the web fabricated by the spirit behind worldliness.
Worldliness is so subtle that anyone can be trapped in it The devil is smart game player. He captures his victim by employing the weapon of subtlety. Worldliness can exert pressure on the mind of ministers of the gospel through the use of cunning methods. When ministers of the gospel continue to embrace worldly styles and patterns, a little at a time, satan, the god of this world, is on the prowl. He is at work every hour of the day seeking whom to devour instalmental.
THE CARELESS FROG
The instalmental strategy is the major weapon which the devil uses in the area of worldliness. He lulls ministers to sleep. How does he plan and accomplish his evil goal? The illustration below aptly portrays the satanic game plan.
Some live frogs were caught and taken to a scientific laboratory. Each of the frogs was thrown into a beaker containing hot water. They all jumped out. The scientist caught another set of frogs. The scientific method used this time was slightly different in order to ascertain certain things. Each of the newly caught frog was placed in a beaker containing cold water. Since the temperature of the water was normal, the frogs decided to adjust to the new environment.
However, the scientist placed a source of heat under each beaker. Each beaker ‘was heated gradually. At the beginning the frogs enjoyed the warmth of the water. As the fire continued to burn the frogs kept on adapting to the environment. Even when the water was becoming unbearably hot the frogs did not come up with a complaining kick. The water gradually snowballed to boiling point. Before the frogs could fathom what was happening they had all been cooked to death. That was how the frogs were lured to death through the gradual increase of the temperature of the water.
The set of frogs thrown inside hot water jumped out to safety because they sensed the danger of the deadly environment. However, when
another set of frogs were gradually introduced to a deadly environment they were boiled to death since the danger of Installment death was concealed.
Worldliness is subtle. It does not capture its victim suddenly. Many ministers of the gospel who were once vibrant and aglow spiritually are dying instalmentally. Worldliness is on the prowl. This satanic serpent has bared its fangs In readiness to Inject its deadly poison into the lives of men and women of God. A little sting here and another there; the satanic temperature will be gradually increased until the ministers are boiled, spiritually to death.
INSTALMENTAL SUICIDE
Are you a victim of install mental killing? Are you enjoying the warmth of the water of worldliness? Are you swimming in the water of worldliness not knowing that ministerial death is imminent? Why embrace worldliness and allow the enemy to terminate your ministerial assignment? Will you allow the pebbles of worldliness to slay your ministerial calling? Why not seek deliverance from worldliness today?
If your ministerial destiny must be fulfilled, you must avoid the lure of worldliness. If you are not presently caught in its web, beware. Seek deliverance promptly if you are a victim or a casualty of the power of worldliness. When you are fully delivered you will be empowered to fulfill your ministerial destiny.
