CAMOUFLAGE: BEWARE OF THE TROJAN HORSES
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) 2 TO 3 PART LESSON.
THE YELLOW LIGHT ON VAN… came on last week, not 42 psi, but 31 on the right front tire. We added air. A few days later, the yellow light came on again, this time 30 psi. We added air. Today the yellow light was on again, 31 psi. I went to where I bought the tires. I explained the one tire was down to 30 again. They offered to put more air in the tire. I explained the same tire kept going down, would they please check the tire not just add air. They pulled the van in and found a very small nail in the tire. They fixed the tire. Sometimes we need to find the problem more than just keep adding air?
RED FLAGS: When a ship is flying a red flag it is a signal that the ship is in danger of sinking, a warning, a warning of danger. Angry outburst can be a red flag can reveal something about a person’s temperament.
RED FLAGS COULD INDICATE UNHEALTHY, MANIPULATIVE BEHAVIOR.
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE IN WHITE WASH AND WASHING WHIT?
Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Matthew 23:26 (MSG) Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something. 27 "You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You're like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it's all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. 28 People look at you and think you're saints, but beneath the skin you're total frauds.
WHITEWASH: Chalky, glossing over, to paint over, to cover-up, which is normally a quick fix that is temporary in nature. MIXTURE OF LIME AND WATER… TO DELIBERATELY CONCEAL
WASH WHITE: more permanent, to get to the root of the problem, bleach,
OFTEN WE AVOID GOD BECAUSE WE SAY WE WILL WORK OUT OUR PROBLEMS AND THEN COME TO GOD. That is not how God’s plan works. WE MUST COME TO GOD THE WAY WE ARE AND HE WILL HELP US HELP US WORK OUT THE PROBLEMS.
FOR 10 YEARS THE GREEKS TRIED TO DEFEAT TO CAPTURE THE CITY OF TROY.
There is a story from Greek mythology about a city that could not be defeated. Troy was a strong city with a large wall that had a mighty defense. KING AGAMEMNON led the Greek attack against TROY. This siege lasted 10 years with no avail. The Greeks developed a plan. The Greeks could never get inside TROY to defeat them. They built a HUGE WOODEN HORSE. They approach the city with a PEACE OFFERING TO THE GOD OF TROY. They withdrew their ships, (out of sight). The army went over the mountain out of sight. How could they get TROY TO OPEN THE GATES? Someone of the Greeks had an idea. They built this huge wooden horse as the offering. In the night the Greeks move the wooden horse on wheels and left it just outside the gate the gate and they left. SO TROY SAW THE HORSE AND NO ENEMY. THEY BROUGHT THE HUGE HORSE INSIDE THE GATE. The people celebrated and big party all day with the WOODEN HORSE
That the enemy had withdrawn. During the night 40 of the most skilled crawled out of the hollow belly and they were within the city. While the enemy sept through the night, the Greeks warrior fought with little resistance and the Greek armies and ships returned and utterly destroyed the city.
TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL? CAMOUFLAGED? TODAY WE HAVE COMPUTERS THAT ARE ATTACK BY A TROJAN HORSE VIRUS.
The Trojan horse MALWARE DOWN LOADS ON TO A COMPUTER DISGUISED AS A LEGITIMATE PROGRAM. This computer program uses MALICIOUS CODES hidden within good software. It spreads by attaching to the program and it spreads to destroy the computer content. CAMOUFLAGE: The disguising of military personnel, equipment and weapon by painting them or covering them to make them blend in and hid the enemy’s intent.
WARNING? WARNING! OUR ENEMY’S DEPICTION AS A RED VICIOUS, HORNED AND POINTED TAIL IS A TACTIC OF CAMOUFLAGE.
CAMOUFLAGE: The disguising of military personnel, equipment and weapon by painting them or covering them to make them blend in and hid the enemies intent.
Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
OUR SPIRITUAL ENEMY IS NOT CREATIVE, HE USES THE SAME TRICKS ON HUMANITY AS HE DID IN THE BEGINNING. BUT OUR ENEMY IS SUBTLE.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
*SUBTLE: CLEVER, unfair, underhanded, secret, dishonest, not immediately obvious, so difficult to analyze or describe, hidden understanding, tricky, sneaky.
THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL THAT LOVED TO WALK TO HER GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE AND VISIT.
There were dangers walking around by the road. For years the family had walked until there was a good path between the houses. The fall had been abnormally warm. One day there was a sudden unexpected dip in the temperature. The girl pulled her coat tight and was walking home down the trail. About half way home the girl heard a voice calling her. She stopped and listened real closely. She notice this big rattle snake freezing to death. So the girl stopped and was talking to the rattler. The snake said I was caught unprepared by this cold weather and I am dying. The girl said my dad warned me about snakes like you. I know you are dangerous. The snake replied people always talk bad about us but we are really nice, that is all propaganda. Trust me, we are really nice. The snake said all I need is you to open up your coat and let me crawl up your sleeve until I get warm. I am going to die if you leave me here in this freezing cold. I promise I don’t bite.
So the girl lowered her arm and he rattle snake slithered up her arm. As he lay there warming he told the girl, see I told you I am not bad like people warned you. They got to the house and the girl said mom and dad are in town and I will let you out now. The snake cried no, please, no. I am just getting real warm. Why can’t I go in with you and lay next to the warming morning stove. Now you see I am not dangerous. So the girl opened the door and the rattler crawl u near the wood burning stove and went to sleep on the pile of wood. The girl lay down near the stove and she took a nap. Later she noticed the fire was dying down and she needed to put more wood on the fire. She walked over to the stove and bent over to grab some wood for the stove. She picked up some wood and the rattle snake was startled. The snake latched on to her hand and injected the bitter poison into the girl’s veins. The girl put the wood in the stove. She started feeling funny. She fell near the snake. She looked in the snake’s eyes and told him. You promised me. You promised you was a good snake and you would not bite me. The girl’s last words were: I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO MY DAD.
The rattle snake laughed as he slithered under the house and said: IT IS MY SNAKE NATURE TO BITE AND KILL PEOPLE WHEN WE COME IN CONTACT HUMANS. IT IS NOT MY FAULT! When the parents came home they found their precious little daughter dead near the stove. They saw the bite of the snake. The dad told his wife, HOW MANY TIMES? HOW MANY TIMES DID I WARN HER ABOUT RATTLE SNAKES?
ONE OF THE CAMOUFLAGE TRICKS OF THE ENEMY IF THE HUMAN NATURE TO DENY FACTS AND OVERRIDE THE YELLOW AND RED FLAGS.
*DENY: refuse truth, rejection, to disassociate, disown, renounce, refuse.
DENIAL IS A COPING MECHANISM TO RID SELF OF STRESS.
Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
DENIAL HAS GREAT POWER. IN PSYCHOLOGY DENIAL IS A DEFENSE MECHANISM WHERE WE EXCUSE OURSELF OR BLAME OTHERS…AND REFUSE TO CONFRONT THE REAL PROBLEM.
ADAM AND EVE SUGGEST THE IMPLICATION OF ACCUSATION TO EACH OTHER AND PASS THE BLAME IS ACTUALLY GOD’S FAULT. THE TROJAN HORSE IS NO ONE ACCEPTS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR. Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
WE WILL NEVER CORRECT WHAT WE DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. We deny unpleasant issues. We deny health issues. We deny negative family issues that will become a trap. I KNOW WHEN WE WILL CORRECT BAD ATTITUDES, WHEN THE PERSON WALKS OUT OF THE DOOR!
THE IS A TROJAN HORSE ABOUT HOW WE HANDLE THE TIME WE HAVE. ONE OF MAN’S GREATEST SINS IS WASTING TIME… PROCRASTINATION IN THE BIBLE IS SPIRITUAL CAMOUFLAGE. WE ARE STEALING SOMETHING VERY VALUABLE. REDEEM THE TIME.
Lost time means lost opportunities. Spilled milk? Water over the dam?
Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
REDEEM THE TIME HIGHLY SUGGEST TO TAKE BACK…PROCRASTINATION CAN BECOME A DEFENSIVE MECHANISM.
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Colossians 4:5 (NIV) Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians 4:5 (MSG) Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity.
Come with me and let us buy back time. God wants to help us recover, regain, recoup and retrieve lost time. We can’t recover we just have to adapt and change. We must release that the TROJAN HORSE OF POOR DISCIPLINE OF TIME USAGE CAN BE DEADLY.
THE TROJAN HORSE OF GIVING… DON’T OPEN THE DOOR! CIRRHOSIS OF THE GIVER: DOES GOD ALWAYS MAKE SENSE TO HUMAN REASONING? FAITH AND TRUSTING GOD MIGHT SURPRISE YOU. TEAM WORK! YOU CAN DO MORE WITH 90% AND GOD ON YOUR SIDE THAN YOU CAN DO WITH THE 100%. (See a previous lesson I prepared on CIRRHOSIS OF THE GIVER.)
Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
** GOD FILES A GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE CHURCH. PEOPLE DENY THE ACCUSATIONS THAT THEIR AFFECTIONS ARE SET ON MONEY AND MATERIALISM.
WE OFTEN HEAR THE COMPLAINT: DO I HAVE TO GIVE TO GOD? RESEARCH RECORDS THE MAJORITY OF SO CALLED CHRISTIANS, DEPENDING ON THE CHURCH: 75% TO 90% OF ANY CHURCH MEMBERS DO NOT PAY TITHES. BY BEING STINGY AND NOT GIVING WE OPEN THE DOORS OF OUR ETERNAL ENEMY.
Dave Ramsey the financial adviser recommends all people pay tithes. Dave’s daughter RACHEL CRUZE teaches tithing helps bring godly contentment to families. Dave tells the story of how he lost everything before he learned this GREAT LESSON. They say TITHING IS NOT FOR GOD’S BENEFIT. God does not need our money. The lesson is clear: OUR SACRIFICE REMINDS US THAT WE DEPEND ON GOD. We put God first and He will take care of us.
TITHING IS A WAY TO DEMONSTRATE AND PROVE WE LOVE GOD AND TRUST HIS PLAN. Dave goes on to say: GIVING ENCOURAGES A THANKFUL, GRATEFUL, GENEROUS SPIRIT.
The average church’s budget and mission program is operated by the giving of 20% of the people. People spend more on pet food and the computer wifi and TV than on giving to the Lord! The 25% of people that pay tithes are acknowledging that they are not the owners. GOD OWNS EVERYTHING. GOD WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ARE THE CREATOR.
THERE IS A TROJAN HORSE OF HOLDING GRUDGES AND THE LACK OF FORGIVENESS. I DON’T GET MAD, I GET EVEN….
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Is revenge sweet? THERE IS SOMETHING JUST AS DAMAGING AS THE TROJAN HORSE IT IS: GOD SAYS REVENGE IS MINE?
ANGER DRIVEN, FUELED BY BITTERNESS AND ANGER, DRIVEN BY DESIRE OF EMOTIONAL RELEASE, THIS WILL MAKE ME FEEL BETTER? Revenge comes with a price.
Deuteronomy 32:35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Proverbs 20:22 (MSG) Don't ever say, "I'll get you for that!" Wait for GOD; he'll settle the score.
God says: I CAN HANDLE THIS! I don’t need your help! Never take revenge, trust God!
*VENGEANCE: punishment to exact injury for an injury, to kill, harm, punitive, repayment, NEGATIVE, RESENTMENT, erosion, anger, wrath, rage.
*REVENGE: to punish, to return hurt, to punish someone for hurting you, to inflict hurt or harm for an injury or wrong suffering, retribution.
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9 (MSG) That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS! THERE IS A TERRIBLE TROJAN HORSE: WHAT MAKES US THINK THAT WE KNOW BETTER HOW TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM THAN GOD DOES? FAITH TRUST GOD’S PLAN.
STEP ASIDE AND TRUST? WE THINK WE CAN STEAL FROM GOD AND CHANGE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES? WHAT ARE WE LEARNING? WHAT ARE WE TEACHING? TO TRY TO FIX OUR PROBLEMS COULD MEAN WE DON’T WANT TO TRUST GOD, SO WE WILL STEAL AND TAKE CONTROL. THIS MEANS THE THORNS HAVE COME BACK. THE MOABITES, THE AMMONITES AND THE EDOMITES.
BE WARNED JEHOSHAPHAT THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS… DO NOT STEAL!
2 Chronicles 20:12 (MSG) O dear God, won't you take care of them? We're helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don't know what to do; we're looking to you."
Why should we worry and be afraid? We could praise God and worship him. Put the PRAISERS IN FRONT.
2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
2 Chronicles 20:15 (MSG) He said, "Attention everyone—all of you from out of town, all you from Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat—GOD's word: Don't be afraid; don't pay any mind to this vandal horde. This is God's war, not yours.
2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
DAVID LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON WITH THE BEAR, THE LION AND GOLIATH! DAVID LEARNED GOD IS IN CONTROL AND WE MUST TRUST GOD’S PREPOSITIONAL PLAN! TRUST GOD!
1 Samuel 17:47 (MSG) And everyone gathered here will learn that GOD doesn't save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to GOD—he's handing you to us on a platter!"
Exodus 14:14 (KJV) 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14 (MSG) "GOD will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!"
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
CONCLUSION: FOR A SEASON? BEWARE OF THE SUBTLE TRICKS OF THE TROJAN HORSE.
Our enemy comes and goes. He will withdraw to trick us.
Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
COME LET US TRUST GOD! LET US NOT FALL FOR THE TRICKERY OF THE ENEMY! BEWARE OF SELFISH GREED! LET US NOT INVITE REVENGE AND ANGER TO COME IN! LET US KNOW THAT THE ENEMY WANTS US TO LEAN TO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, I CAN FIX THIS? THE BATTLE. GOD HAS NEVER LOST! JESUS PROMISED WE ARE MORE THAN OVER COMERS! THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB HAS NEVER LOST ITS POWER! I HAVE READ THE END OF THE BOOK. I KNOW ONE ANGEL SHALL HANDCUFF THE ENEMY. WHAT MAKES US THINK WE CAN OPEN THE DOOR AND NOT PAY THE PRICE. SIN IS CONTAGIOUS. SIN HAS TOLERANCE, IT TAKES MORE AND MORE TO SATISFY. CLOSE THE GATE. SIN, WE CAN’T GET AWAY GET AWAY PLAYING WITH SIN?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (2 or 3 part lesson)
(Would love to hear a brief note from you!)
