Friday, October 26, 2012

QUENCHING THE FIERY DARTS


QUENCHING THE FIERY DARTS                                           10/26/2012

"This dragon spits fire full of indignation against God and every one of His saints.
Apart from Christ, Satan has successfully deceived every man who ever lived. It was Christ's prerogative to be tempted but not to be led into temptation. And Job, a chief in God's army of saints, whom the Father calls "perfect and upright" Job 1:1, is himself seriously injured by Satan's arrows. Yet in His time God is faithful to pluck him out of the devil's grip and bring healing and restoration to His servant.
Satan's warlike provision includes not just arrows but "fiery darts." Some scholars believe the term "fiery" denotes a particular type of temptation, such as blasphemy or despair; but since faith is a shield for all temptations, we see that every one of Satan's arrows is fiery. But why does Scripture call these darts "fiery"?
First, Satan shoots them in fiery wrath. This dragon spits fire full of indignation against God and every one of His saints. Saul breathes out "threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord" Acts 9:1. As one who is inwardly inflamed, his breath is hot-- a fiery stream of persecuting rage comes out of him like a burning furnace. Such temptation is the breath of the devil's fury.
Further, these darts are called fiery because they lead to hell-fire if they are not quenched. There is a spark of hell in every temptation; and all the sparks fly to their own element. So then all temptations are bound for hell and damnation, according to Satan's intent and purpose.
Finally and most important, the devil's darts are said to be fiery because of the malignant effect they have on men's spirits, kindling a fire in their hearts and consciences. The apostle alludes to the custom of cruel enemies who used to dip the heads of their arrows in poison, making them even more deadly. They not only wounded the part where they penetrated the victim, but infected the whole body, a condition, which made healing almost impossible.”
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617"This dragon spits fire full of indignation against God and every one of His saints.
Apart from Christ, Satan has successfully deceived every man who ever lived. It was Christ's prerogative to be tempted but not to be led into temptation. And Job, a chief in God's army of saints, whom the Father calls "perfect and upright" Job 1:1, is himself seriously injured by Satan's arrows. Yet in His time God is faithful to pluck him out of the devil's grip and bring healing and restoration to His servant.
Satan's warlike provision includes not just arrows but "fiery darts." Some scholars believe the term "fiery" denotes a particular type of temptation, such as blasphemy or despair; but since faith is a shield for all temptations, we see that every one of Satan's arrows is fiery. But why does Scripture call these darts "fiery"?
First, Satan shoots them in fiery wrath. This dragon spits fire full of indignation against God and every one of His saints. Saul breathes out "threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord" Acts 9:1. As one who is inwardly inflamed, his breath is hot-- a fiery stream of persecuting rage comes out of him like a burning furnace. Such temptation is the breath of the devil's fury.
Further, these darts are called fiery because they lead to hell-fire if they are not quenched. There is a spark of hell in every temptation; and all the sparks fly to their own element. So then all temptations are bound for hell and damnation, according to Satan's intent and purpose.
Finally and most important, the devil's darts are said to be fiery because of the malignant effect they have on men's spirits, kindling a fire in their hearts and consciences. The apostle alludes to the custom of cruel enemies who used to dip the heads of their arrows in poison, making them even more deadly. They not only wounded the part where they penetrated the victim, but infected the whole body, a condition, which made healing almost impossible.”
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

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