Thursday, August 9, 2012 - One Year Bible

Morning Devotion

2 Kings 13:1-14:29
June 28 Reading


Lunch: P90x Plyometrics

2 Kings 13-14:29

New International Version (NIV)

Jehoahaz King of Israel

13 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. ² He did evil in the eyes of the Lord by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them. ³ So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.

⁴ Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. ⁵ The Lord provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. ⁶ But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole^[a] remained standing in Samaria.
⁷ Nothing had been left of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust at threshing time.
⁸ As for the other events of the reign of Jehoahaz, all he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ⁹ Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoash^[b] his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoash King of Israel

¹⁰ In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. ¹¹ He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them.
¹² As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ¹³ Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
¹⁴ Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
¹⁵ Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. ¹⁶ “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.
¹⁷ “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”
¹⁸ Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. ¹⁹ The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”
²⁰ Elisha died and was buried.
Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. ²¹ Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.
²² Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. ²³ But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.
²⁴ Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad his son succeeded him as king. ²⁵ Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered the Israelite towns.

Amaziah King of Judah

14 In the second year of Jehoash^[c] son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. ⁴ The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

⁵ After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. ⁶ Yet he did not put the children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the Lord commanded: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”^[d]
7 He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.
⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”
⁹ But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”
¹¹ Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. ¹² Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. ¹³ Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate —a section about four hundred cubits long.^{[e] 14} He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.
¹⁵ As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ¹⁶ Jehoash rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king.
¹⁷ Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. ¹⁸ As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
¹⁹ They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. ²⁰ He was brought back by horse and was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors, in the City of David.
²¹ Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,^[f] who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²² He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.

Jeroboam II King of Israel

²³ In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. ²⁴ He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. ²⁵ He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea,^[g] in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.
²⁶ The Lord had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering;^[h] there was no one to help them. ²⁷ And since the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.
²⁸ As for the other events of Jeroboam’s reign, all he did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ²⁹ Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.

RECAP OF THE KINGS:

Israel split into two Kingdoms : Israel vs Judah

Edom	Moab	ISRAEL	JUDAH	Aram
		JEROBOAM	REHOBOAM
		JEROBOAM (18TH YEAR AS KING)	ABIJAM
		JEROBOAM (20th year as king)	ASA – did was was right beforeGod (1 King 15:8) – Good King J
		NADAB	ASA (2nd Year as King)
		BAASHA	ASA (3RD YEAR AS KING)
		ELAH	ASA (26TH YEAR)
		ZIMRI	ASA (27th year)
		OMRI	ASA (31ST YEAR)
		AHAB (ruled over Israel 22 yrs)	ASA (38th YEAR)	**King Ben-hadad of Aram
		Ahab (1 King 15) – 4th yr	King Jehoshaphat (1 King 15:24; when Asa died)	King Benhadad of Aram
		God told Elijah to anoint Jehu (grandson of Nimshi) to be king of Israel (1 King 19)	King Jehoshaphat  (of Judah)	God told Elijah to anoint Hazel to be king of Aram (1 King 19)
		Ahaziah (Ahab’s son) Kings 22:40 – Ahab died	Jehoshaphat –(17th year)	King Benhadad of Aram
	King of Mesha of Moab rebelled against King of Israel	Joram (Ahaziah’sbrother) –Ahaziah died 2 King 1:17 -  Kings 1 [2 Kings 3 (Joram* reign in Samaria 12 yrs, he was evil in God’s sight)]	Jehoshaphat – (18th year)	King Benhadad of Aram (2  King 6) Besieges Samaria
		King Joram (5th year)	King Jehoram (is king now) 2 King 8:16 - evil
			Jehoram (1 King 22) (2nd year)
		King Joram (12th year) in Israel Note: Jehu son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi formed a conspiracy against King Joram	2 Kings 8 (King Ahaziah son of Jehoram) rule over Judah	King Hazel (of Aram)
		Jehu kills King Joram(2 Kings 9)	Jehu kills King Jehoram(2 Kings 9)
		Jehu died – son Jehoahaz  became King (2 Kings 10)	Queen Athaliah rules Judah (mother of King Ahaziah) – she set out to destroy the royal family -
		Jehu ruled 27 years when (King Joash becomes King)	Athaliah is killed – Ahaziah’s infant son (Joash is 7 years old when he becomes King) is the new King – 2 Kings 10 – Good King J	King Hazael of Aram wars against Gath and captures it.
		King Jehoahaz became king (Jehu’s son – after Jehu died) | evil King L	23 yr of King Joash
		King Jehoahaz – did was evil..then prayed..God heard him bless him, Israel prosper..then sin again..so King Hazael of Aram crushed Israel (2 King 13)	King Joash
		King Jehoash (son of Jehoahaz is king after his dad died) – evil king L	37th yr of King Joash
		King Jehoash (2nd Year)(King Amaziah of Judah became King)	King Amaziah (Joash’s son became King after he was assassinated by his trusted advisors) – Good King J
		King Jehoash died –King Jeroboam II became next King – evil king L	King Amaziah (Judah) died 15 years after King Jehoash (Israel)	King Ben-hadad (is next King when his dad King Hazael of Aram died)
		King Zechariah is next king after his dad King Jeroboam died	16yrs old King Uzziah is new king and rebuilt the town of Elath

Place Your Life before the Lord as an Offering - Romans 12:2

Place Your Life Before God

 ^1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

StrongHolds (cont). - Part III - Renouncing Spiritual StrongHolds

Andrea's Disclaimer:
Please note: This study and most of this information was researched and organized by First Lady Gail Twymon of The Blessed Hope Missionary Baptist Church

I by no means am taking any credit for this information:  I am simply blogging it so I and others can have access to it via an online medium:

RENOUNCING SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLDS

Nearly all of us struggle to some degree with spiritual strongholds.  But God does not want us to continue to be ruled by them or to impose them upon anyone else.  If you recognize that you are operating under the influence of a stronghold, renounce it in prayer, repent for what you've done, ask God's forgiveness and the forgiveness of others, and resist the return of the spirit or stronghold.  Receive God's power to forsake it and ask Him to make you sensitive to the times when you are tempted to act in a wrong spirit.  Move into freedom by asking God to fill you afresh with the power of His Holy Spirit.

When you encounter a person who is influenced by a stronghold, let your first response be prayer.  Ask God for wisdom and love and for Him to set the person free.  If the person has offended you, forgive him or her and don't let that person's actions or attitudes keep a grip on you.  Let your life be based on a genuine faith rooted in Jesus' life and example.

Most of all, continually become transformed by the renewing of your mind, as we are told to do in Romans 12:2.  This is your best insurance against any spiritual influences that do not come from God.  As you develope a strong relationship with God through the power of His Spirit, not only will you become empowered to bring the Kingdom to those around you at work, but also you will be able to resist Satan's sabotage.

PRAYER OF REPENTANCE TO RENOUNCE STRONGHOLDS

We must gain freedom by renouncing and repenting of the influence of strongholds.

Father in heaven, I come before you in the Name of Jesus.  I recognized the power You have given me by the shed blood of Jesus to demolish spiritual strongholds in my life.  I confess that I have given a foothold to the sin(s) of ____ (list them).  I renounced the stronghold of _________ by the authority of the Name of Jesus Christ according to Your Word.  I take back through Your power that ground that I surrendered to the enemy.  I pray that You will fill me with trust-grounded obedience to Your Holy Spirit so that this area of my life will be in conformity to the image of Christ.  Amen

STRONGHOLDS (Cont.) Part II - Generational StrongHolds

Andrea's Disclaimer:
Please note: This study and most of this information was researched and organized by First Lady Gail Twymon of The Blessed Hope Missionary Baptist Church

I by no means am taking any credit for this information:  I am simplying blogging it so I and others can have access to via an online medium:

NEXT SET OF THOUGHTS /TOPICS TO THINK ABOUT: - GENERATIONAL STRONGHOLDS

God created us with seven needs:

1.      DIGNITY

2.      AUTHORITY

3.      BLESSINGS AND PROVISIONS

4.      SECURITY

5.      PURPOSE AND MEANING

6.      FREEDOM AND BOUNDARIES

7.      LOVE AND COMPANIONSHIP

The apostle Paul enlists the word “stronghold” to define the spiritual fortresses where Satan and his legions go for protection.  These fortresses exist in the thought-patterns and ideas that govern individuals in their homes, workplaces and churches, as well as in communities and nations.  Before victory can be claimed, these strongholds must be pulled down.  Only then can the mighty weapons of the Word and the Spirit effectively plunder Satan’s house   As Paul States

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christians (2 Cor. 10:4-5).

Here is an example of getting a better understanding of the operation of spiritual strongholds.  Look at the symptoms: Does this fit you?

·         A need of recognition from performance (civic projects, sports, business success)

·         An emphasis on building financial security (i.e.work-aholics)

·         A lack of emotional intimacy

·         A works-based relationship toward God

·         A tendency to over-control people and circumstances

Strongholds  work at the subconscious levels and are not easily recognized until a major crisis in a person’s life forces him or her to look deeper at the root causes of the problem.  I learned that one root of the religious spirit is control.  Man does not want to give up control over this life, so he creates controlled systems designed to make him feel acceptable by God.  Again, this is a works-based attempt to gain God’s favor, which invalidates the work of the cross.  The sequence of how these strongholds develop in an individual is as follows;

1.       Satanic-inspired thoughts are introduced into the person’s mind.

2.      The individual entertains these thoughts, which bring out emotions.

3.      Giving in to these emotions eventually leads the person to take some sort of action.

4.      Continual participation in the action causes the individual to develop a habit.

5.      As the habit develops, a stronghold is built.

Imagine being born with a pair of sunglasses on.  You would grow up looking at the world through those sunglasses.  You never would know that you could see better without the sunglasses unless someone revealed this to you.  Now imagine taking those glasses off for the first time and seeing the inside of a room much brighter and clearer.  Strongholds operate this way.  They masquerade as if they are part of our personality, and we accept them for our whole life.  However, the truth is that Jesus wants to totally renew our minds and hearts.  Strongholds keep us from getting restored.

What happens when your feelings are hurt and you want to be mean?

August 2, 2012 When I Want to be Mean Lysa TerKeurst

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." - Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV 1984)

I looked at the text message in complete disbelief. Why couldn't this person see how insensitive and hurtful they were being?

I don't know who made up the saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can't ever hurt me." Either they had nerves of steel or they lived on a deserted island with no other people. Because not only do words hurt me, but they make me want to fight back and be mean, too.

Have you ever had a little situation with someone where you just knew you were right and they were wrong? Or at least you could make a really good case for your side of things?

Oh how I have this burning need to state my case in these kinds of situations. It's like an inner attorney rises up desperate to defend my rights and get the other person to see things my way. This is pretty normal, right?

Yes. But normal doesn't always mean good. Especially in light of today's key verse.

Colossians 2:6-7 reminds me, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (NIV 1984)

I should live rooted in Jesus' teaching and overflow with thankfulness. The opposite of this is when I'm rooted in self-centered opinions and overflowing with grumbling. I need to let God show me how to see things from this other person's side and gain a different perspective. In doing so, I will be strengthened and taught.

Colossians 3:12-14 reminds me, "... as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (NIV 1984)

My job isn't to fix this person or make them see my side of things. My job is to obey God by offering an extension of the forgiveness I've been given. But I can also stay healthy in this situation by remembering forgiveness doesn't mean giving this person access in my life that sets me up for destructive patterns.

Finally, Colossians 3:17 reminds me, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (NIV 1984)

Everything I do and say tells a story of who I serve. If I act out of anger and spite, I give in to the ways of the enemy, spreading his darkness. If I honor the Lord with my actions, I serve to further the Name of Jesus and spread His light.

At the end of the day, honoring God leads to good things. Anything else leads to confusion, emotional exhaustion and a lack of good things.

I processed the text message mentioned above with my husband. He said something that brought much clarity. "Lysa, you know when you've taken the high road, God blesses you. You've seen these blessings over and over as you've made choices that honor God. So chose a blessing today and save yourself the emotional turmoil of trying to prove you're right."

He's a smart man.

I know this isn't easy stuff. I'm having to live it in the midst of feeling hurt. But I'm also feeling more at peace being able to see another perspective—a healthier perspective—a biblical perspective. And I'm really excited about the blessings that are surely coming my way.

Dear Lord, You know the hurtful words and actions that have been pummeled my way. Please give me Your strength to not retaliate, but instead to react based on Your Truth. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Whether right or wrong, learning to control our reactions is sometimes difficult. In Lysa's new book, Unglued, she shares personal experience and scriptural wisdom to help us make healthy decisions with our reactions. Click here to order your copy today!

The accompanying Unglued Bible Study will help you understand what the Bible says about better ways to react. To order your copy, click here.

Are you ready to start learning to make wise choices in the midst of raw emotions but don't want to start it alone? On August 23rd at 8 p.m. EST we'll be hosting a FREE UngluedWebcast with a powerful message from Lysa TerKeurst to get you going. We'll also be featuring the radio personalities from K-Love! Please join us at www.klove.com. No makeup, shoes or preparation required. Sign up for the Unglued webcast email reminder here.

Reflect and Respond:
Are you struggling with an insensitive or down right mean person? Choose one inconvenient truth to pray and live out of.

At the end of the day, honoring God leads to good things. Anything else leads to confusion, emotional exhaustion and a lack of good things.

Power Verses:
James 1:19-20, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." (NIV)

StrongHolds: Part I - The Process of pulling down Strong Holds - Wenesday, August 8, 2012 -

The Process of Pulling Down Strong Holds

Morning Study / Song - Your Righteous Mind

Jogg / P90x Shoulder Arms

Andrea's Disclaimer:
Please note: This study and most of this information was researched and organized by First Lady Gail Twymon of The Blessed Hope Missionary Baptist Church

I by no means am taking any credit for this information:  I am simply blogging it so I and others can have access to it via an online medium:

The process of pulling down a strong hold is...
1.  Identify the stronghold
2.  Gather intelligence about the stronghold
3.  Sever and blockade the supply lines to the stronghold
4.  Establish a base camp of friends (warriors)
5.  Wage war against the stronghold
A.  Scripture
B.  Scripture of Memory
C.  Pray God's word
D.  Pray and fast

My Battle Plan is

1.  My strongholds are_____ (i.e. Pride, Insecurity, Sexual Impurity, etc)

 2.  Intelligence

A.  Where does the stronghold lie?
B.  How is the stronghold supplied?
C.  Do people in my life supply this stronghold?
D.  What in my environment is feeding and supplying the stronghold?
E.  Am I serious about pulling down the stronghold?
F.  Am I willing to make myself accountable to Christian Friends?

3.  Severe the Supply lines

4.  What do I know that can help me wage war?

5.  What verses apply to the stronghold?

**Strong Holds:
Internal fortresses of influence from which demonic spirits agitate, oppress and afflict the soul.  These spirits arouse and incline your mind, will, and emotions toward attitudes and actions that are contrary to the will of God.

 

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS GIVEN TO FOLLOWERS OF JESUS.  Because you ARE susceptible to demonic attack, these admonitions are essential for you to be aware of:

1 Peter 5:8

The Message (MSG)

He Gets the Last Word

 ^8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

Revelation 13:7

The Message (MSG)

 ^5-8The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months. It yelled blasphemies against God, blasphemed his Name, blasphemed his Church, especially those already dwelling with God in Heaven. It was permitted to make war on God's holy people and conquer them. It held absolute sway over all tribes and peoples, tongues and races. Everyone on earth whose name was not written from the world's foundation in the slaughtered Lamb's Book of Life will worship the Beast.

1 Timothy 4:1

The Message (MSG)

1 Timothy 4

Teach with Your Life

 ^1-5The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've lost their capacity for truth. They will tell you not to get married. They'll tell you not to eat this or that food—perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by believers who know better! Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. God's Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.

2 Timothy 2:25-26

The Message (MSG)

 ^22-26Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.

The Message (MSG)

2 Corinthians 11

Pseudo-Servants of God

 ^1-3Will you put up with a little foolish aside from me? Please, just for a moment. The thing that has me so upset is that I care about you so much—this is the passion of God burning inside me! I promised your hand in marriage to Christ, presented you as a pure virgin to her husband. And now I'm afraid that exactly as the Snake seduced Eve with his smooth patter, you are being lured away from the simple purity of your love for Christ.