Corruption, slander, and the devil . . .

. . . all come from the same word: diaballo.

Corruption (moral and physical decomposition) is what it's called in the Scriptures. In today's vernacular we call it decay. It's when things rot. In Greek it comes from the word "diaballo".

The word "slander" and the word "devil" also come from the same word in Greek: "diaballo".

All of those things: decay, slander, and the devil are inseparable and came in at the same time, at the Fall. Redemption from decay, slander, and the devil was provided by the Father in Christ.

This Post Is Not about Greek at All

The reason why 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 is between Chapters 12 & 14 just dropped out of the Sky today; it was crystal clear to me. Over time I have come to know this as the Voice of the Lord. This crisp "aha" moment that just explains everything.

I always thought Chapter 13 was so boring sandwiched inbetween those super exciting Chapters, 12 & 14. Chapters 12 & 14 deal with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, miracles, healings, tongues, prophecy, all the good stuff. I've been a participant in that excitement for years now; but sadly, I haven't seen it impact the lost. What's missing?

The Love! If we serve up the gifts on a vehicle of love, we will win every time! Who can refuse Love? Who will make fun of you after they feel the Love of God coming out of you towards them? Not too many people.

We will succeed in our attepts to evangelize the world when we use the Gifts of the Spirit in the Love of God. And that's why Chapter 13 sits between 12 &14. Love is the proper administrator of the supernatural and needs to sit between the Body and the Gifts as umpire.

Love you guys xxxooo

The Devil is the Source of all Pain

In the Greek the word for the evil one is "Poneiros"; it comes from the word "ponos" which is "pain". In the Greek the word for the devil is "the one who causes pain".

Literally, " the one who: presses and harasses by labours, annoyances, hardships, and pain." He is literally the source of all pain in all of its forms, psychological, spiritual and physical.

In contrast, Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light and that we must come to Him and learn of Him in order to benefit from God's deliverance (Matthew 11:28-30).

Though life brings hardships by default, God brings relief through seeking Him.

James 1:23, 24 implies that . . .

. . . when you look at your face in the mirror, you see God, indirectly. By examining three key words in the passage, we see this perspective;

"If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man that looked at God and forgot about Him." ! Let's look at the passage:

In KJV we read these words, " . . . if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was."

The key words to this passage:

Beholding is ka ta no e' o, which means perceiving something with understanding.

Natural is ge' ne sis, which means all the genetics that went into the making of you. A full profile of all that is you, naturally, from the beginning of humanity. Basically, that you are composed of a unique collection and combination of genetics, and that they are all exhibited on your face.

Face is pro' so po, which means the index of inward thoughts and feelings, a place where all your inward parts are exhibited.

When you look at your face, you're seeing all the proof you need for the existence of God. Furthermore, you get a glimpse of all that went into the making of your being from the beginning of creation.


Basically, we should all be looking at our faces and worshipping God.


But, when we look at our faces and walk away from that experience, not giving God the glory, we're walking blindly. We are created by God, for God, and we will be giving an account to God. This revelation is completely liberating - from the world that is.

This is both liberating and constraining for us in practice. Liberating from all the heavy yokes and meaningless mandates that this world puts upon us, and constraining in only one way: that we walk in the fear of God and in the obedience of His Word.

Shields and Doors

In the Greek, the word for shield (thyreos) comes from the word for door (thyra). Shields are doors and doors are shields. How can a door be a shield?

A door leads you down a path, and walking on a certain path keeps you (or shields you) from other paths. Walking down a path of darkness will deflect the light of God from entering into you, and walking down the path of God will deflect the darkness from entering into you.

The question is: which path are you walking and which path are you deflecting? This works for both sides of the battle, both kingdoms, light and darkness.

Ephesians 6:16 says, "Above all, taking the shield (or door) of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." So faith deflects the wicked one's agenda for your life.

The dark application: "with the shield of doubt you quench the word of God."

Doubt undoes what God is trying to say to you. The serpent threw doubt on what God had said in the Garden; did God really say that? Genesis 3:1. Man was undone, defeated by doubting God's word.

Faith is a door that helps you on your path with God. Doubt is a door that leads you away from God.

Faith in God's word deflects wicked. Doubt in God's word deflects God. Shields are doors and doors are shields on both sides of the battle.

Which shield are you taking up?