Dancing With The Devil (Part 2)

We tend to wonder why—young girls become drunks or alcoholics—never understanding what led to their behavior. Someone invited the devil to the dance and he led the dance, to his tune.

We tend to judge the behavior of others without really knowing or understanding how a person got to the place where they are. We didn’t or don’t know—the circumstances under which they were encouraged to dance—the devil’s dance—and saw no way out.

It’s time we either show others how to allow Jesus to cut into the dance or encourage them to leave the dance hall. When Jesus enters into the dance, the devil has to flee, but we don’t have to follow Jesus’ lead. He allows us to choose the rhythm and beat to which we’ll dance and if we choose to follow the devil’s lead, He’ll let us.

In order to stop the music the devil has implanted in our minds, we must submit to God—totally yield our thoughts and will to Him—resist the devil’s influence by walking off the floor and then watch him run, when the beat moves into holiness—a tune he cannot stand.

So while we enjoy watching others dance to the tunes they hear, we must be careful that we don’t allow the tune the devil plays to influence us by allowing him to lead in the dance. Don’t be fooled. The devil only knows one two-step: deception and manipulation—he’ll deceive with his charisma and manipulate you into thinking he actually knows how to dance. He will convince with each turn and dip—his ability to be smooth, when every step he takes—leading you—is a lie and he’s leading you astray. He’ll persuade you to—live like you want to live—it’s your life and nobody else’s business. He’ll tell you that, “trying drugs won’t hurt you;” he’ll justify being a thief, a liar, an abuser, a sex addict, or anything else that keeps you from being blessed by God. Are you still allowing him to lead?

Need another dance tune? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that all who believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.” The devil hates that tune as much as he hates you—so don’t dance with him—give your life to The Lord and allow Him to lead you in the dance of life—positioning you to be blessed in all things!

Dancing With The Devil!

Surprised are you? About the title I mean. We’ve all been caught up with dance crazes from long ago and many people frowned upon the types of dances from back then the same way we do now. However much I love dancing, this is really not about a new dance craze; it’s about the dance craze that most people do until they come to the realization that this dance—is one we should all sit out—becoming a wall-flower in the dance-hall of life.

James tells us to, “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from us,” (4:7). So, if that’s true, why do so many people think that they can entertain the devil and escape the consequences that are bound to result from being around him?

Perhaps, I’m being too subtle. We engage in a dance with the devil when—we think we can “try” drugs and escape addiction. We think we can be “sexually promiscuous” and escape the consequences of our actions—unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, damaged self-esteem, and negative labelling by others. We think we can “listen to peers” especially children and disrespect parents and other adults without dealing with the consequences that could end up in locked out of a home and locked into a system that does nothing to promote well-being. We think we can “hang out” with the dope dealers and not get burned when they do. We think we can “steal our way” out of poverty only to discover that theft is not the way when we get caught and go to jail. We think we can “outsmart” parents and the law until we see our faces plastered on social networks or the news—on the most wanted criminal postings.

Anytime, we think we can do wrong and get away it—we’re dancing with the devil leading us into darkness and possible death. We must remember that the devil—that master of deception and father of liars—gets his kicks from seeing us getting into hot water with no way out of it. He laughs at the follies of his followers, cheering them on from the sidelines—showing them how to get swallowed up into the pit in which they have fallen.

Think about the people who believe that gambling is a way out of debt. The devil is leading this dance all the way to the poor house or suicide. He encourages the loser to try, “just more time” and then sits giggling hysterically when they lose even more. He loves to watch how they scramble trying to manipulate others into letting them have more money to lose and some resort to stealing because they believe—they need just more try.

Think about the people who live in abusive situations in which the devil manipulates the abuser and the abused. He convinces the abuser to keep abusing in order to control others, but then he also convinces the abused to believe the abuser when they apologize, beg for forgiveness and then they stay—for more abuse. 

Think about those people—specifically parents—who allow others to babysit for them and they abuse their children. Without a certain knowledge of those who have been trusted, we open the door for the dance and then when he leads, we get frustrated and angry. When we should have been looking into the backgrounds of those we choose to trust, we don’t. When we should trust our children to tell us the truth we don’t and allow the abuse to continue when we keep getting the same people to babysit.

Stay tuned for Part 2--coming tomorrow and while you wait--toss that dance card aside, never to be used again. 

Israel--Always Part of God's Plan

"But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1 NLT--Read entire chapter)

No matter what has happened, historically--God's plan for Israel has always been revealed--in His Word and in what He does.

We tend to forget--in the Western World-- (not sure that others ever knew) that God has never uttered a word that He did not intend to be established in the heavens and never changed by man--even though we try.

Since I cannot condone hatred of anyone, by anyone, I must admonish those who think they can destroy what God has already planned--for His glory.

Hatred of people--simply because of envy of God's chosen people--is never acceptable nor is the plan for mass murder of people who simply do not think the way others think, worship how they worship, or even pray how they pray. Every individual on God's earth has a right to worship Him--however they choose--without interference or decimation by others. Who do people think they are to "think for God?"

God is not impressed with stupidity or the thought that "virgins" will be a reward in heaven. There will be no need for "sexual encounters" in heaven because we will be "pure spirit-beings" and will function as such. No need for food, water or any other "human-fleshly" need.

How anyone could possibly think that the dead will need anything is beyond me--but then--that's because I believe what God has already said," the dead know nothing" (Eccelessiastes). The saddest part of watching the crisis in the Middle East is that it will continue until Jesus returns and then--only then--will we all know the truth, but it will be too late for those who have been led to believe a lie.

Father, in the name of Jesus, guide us into understanding of Your Word through the words of the prophets of old and Holy Spirit speaking now. Help all to understand that You have always had a plan for Your children--both naturally and spiritually--and Your plan will prevail in the face of all adversity for no weapon formed against us shall by any means prosper. We thank You for hearing and answering prayer and guiding those in leadership with wisdom from above--so all will know--You are God!