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Hi Ladies,

We’ve been exploring the thought processes, excuses and traps of the enemy designed to tempt God’s precious single ladies into justifying disobedience.  Although we’re focused on the activity of premarital sex, any of the temptations we face every day can point us toward error.  The adversary is always ready to attempt to ensnare Believers, especially one who has ventured into the arena of premarital intimacy.

The first trap, “Good Works”, is an effort to justify or alleviate wrong behavior by covering it over with “spiritual” activities, instead of genuine remorse and forsaking the act.  Good works are designed to make us feel better by luring us into believing that our mask of spirituality has altered the consequences of our sin.  Fortunately, this lure is easily avoided by sincere prayer, repentance and by allowing Holy Spirit to guide our actions.

However, the second snare is far harder to overcome, because it only occurs after we’ve failed at recovering from Trap #1.

TRAP #2 – HARDENING OUR HEART

There is serious cause for concern when this trap begins.  The hardening of a person’s heart starts when they choose to debate spiritual matters, relying on humanistic philosophy, or attempting to justify their actions by means other than acceptance of God’s instruction.  This is someone who’s in the process of surrendering to the degenerate nature now arising from deep within their soul.  They’ve become genuinely confused, feeling that their position or ideas are right and that others are wrong, and that Scripture is open to their own interpretation.  If confronted by a fellow Believer about ungodly behaviors, they will respond with hostility and heated debate.  They’ll now fight for their right to sin, rather than change.

This condition of willful disobedience and non-submission to the Lord is described in Mark 8:17, 18, where Jesus admonishes His disciples for their doubt… “Do you not yet see or understand?  Do you have a hardened heart?  Having eyes, do you not see?  And having ears, do you not hear?  And do you not remember?”

When a lady who has experienced redemption through Christ, would now rather argue with her Creator than obey Him, she has become ensnared by the corrupt aspects of her human nature.   This is a spiritual condition that scripture translations call the “reprobate”, “depraved” or “debased” mind:

  • Romans 1:28 – “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”
  • 2 Timothy 3:8 – “So these men also oppose the truth: men of depraved minds, rejected in regard to the faith.”
  • Titus 1:16 – “They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
  • Romans 1:24, 25 – “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”

God will not always strive against our rebellion.  Psalm 103:9 – “He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.”  There is no worse position to be in than when He gives a person up, withdrawing His hand of mercy, leaving them to suffer the consequences of their willful transgression.  There’s nothing the Lord won’t forgive if we are sincerely repentant.  But to develop a stony heart of disobedience is to forsake our Father’s mercy and help.

Reprobation, a situation that Dictionary.com defines as being “morally depraved, unprincipled, wicked” is a condition of the heart which signifies true blasphemy, “an act of cursing or reviling God”.  This condition is described in Mark 3:28, 29 – “Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.”  This is the ultimate result of the trap of the “Hardened Heart.”

There’s yet another trap to be aware of…more next week.  Joy and Shalom!

Jo Lynne Pool