Beware of Mutilation

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of mutilation! Phillippians 3:2

Mutilation is a term often used to describe an act of inflicting violent and disfiguring injury on a person. Simply put, it means to maim, ruin, cripple, damage, destroy, desecrate, trash, make imperfect by removing or irreparable damaging parts. It has a wide array of dictionary meaning which also imply to deform, adulterate, batter, amputate, crush, distort, expurgate, lame, spoil, weaken, alter and to wreck -havoc on. It is needful and very important to know the gravity of this expression used by Paul the Apostle in his letter to the Phillippians. We need to know that he wouldn't have used the word of caution "beware" if  it was not possible for them to be mutilated. He strictly warned, "beware of mutilation" More than ever before we  need to heed this warning now because there is a serious rampage, and the host of darkness is at rage against the children of God. It is sad to note that the church of Christ is in trouble today because of the infestation of these mutilating forces who have secretly crept into the fold. The most vulnerable unfortunately are the carefree, frivolous and careless believers.

These demonic forces are at large with fundamental evil agenda to infiltrate, penetrate, pollute, contaminate, harass, infirm, mutilate, dominate, and destroy. These forces of deception, demotion and destruction target believers, they seek to interfere and compete with God in their lives, deflate them and ensure that they are sensual, carnal and superficial. The universal plan of their master "Satan" has not changed,  he is desperate to steal, kill and destroy. His utmost desire is to puncture and drains out every good thing that true children of God carry, for he passionately hates anything of God. He wants to steal our hearts away from God, kill spiritual vibrancy and eventually destroy gullible souls in hell (John 10:10). While the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to bring the sons and daughters of God to glory, on the other hand, Satan's ministry is to alter the divine design, pervert (mutilate) it, thus, rendering unfit the instrument of glory. Satan and his agents desire to tarnish the glory of God we bear and carry, so beware!

It is unfortunate though programs of mutilation are well organized and arrayed everywhere to contaminate and pollute the children of God in these last days. Demonic instruments, agents and agencies are strategically arranged and positioned to distort and thwart the plan of God on earth, yet, many Christians are not aware of it. In genetics, research studies reveal and confirms that acquired (somatic) mutation in human genes caused by environmental factors results into genetic disorder, and often disrupts development. When it occurs, it causes permanent alteration of the DNA sequence that makes up the gene. Invariably, as it happens in the human body (physically), so it does in the spiritual

because all the allurement of this polluted world aim at mutilating and altering the spiritual configuration of the children of God. Hence, as Christians, we must heed warning and take caution. God has spoken through Apostle Paul and He is still warning us today, Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of mutilation! (Phillippians 3:2).

Furthermore, Paul the Apostle, in his letter to the Ephesians admonished us to stand against the wiles of the devil (subtlety, manipulations, machinations and schemes) because the rulers of the darkness of this age are constantly in battle against the saints of God (Ephesians 6:11-13. Hence, the clarion call to consecrate ourselves, be holy, and untarnished by the defilements of this world. God commanded Moses to speak the Israelites, "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, "Yo shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). And for us to be assured that this is not just only an old testament issue, note that it was reiterated in the new testament  (1 Peter 1:16). God has spoken to us repeatedly demanding our separation from the world, "Ye shall be holy unto me for I the Lord am holy. And you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy for I am holy. For I will walk among you and I will be your God , and you shall be my people."

A Christian who cannot receive the comfort of the Holy Spirit in the time of trial, temptation and affliction is a bastard. Paul the Apostle in his epistle to the Hebrews exhorted, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins" (Hebrews 10:22 & 26). We, believers of these last days must be careful not to allow present discomfort and affliction to lure us to seek comfort and satisfaction from the camp of darkness. You dare not cross the line because anything received from Satan will bring you harm. Satan has no free gift! His seemingly good gifts and blessings are to maim, deform, defile, mutilate and ultimately bring destruction. Remember, nothing unclean will carry the glory of God and that's why James the Apostle said,"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their troubles, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).

To the saints beware of mutilation! "Therefore strengthen the hands which hangs down, and the feeble kneels, and make a straight path for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed (Hebrews 12:12-13). Our heart cry must henceforth be the prayer of the psalmist in psalm 86:11 "Teach me your way, O Lord I will walk in your truth: Unite my heart to fear your name." And to those who have surrendered their will to serve Satan, repent and forsake your evil ways before it is too late because judgement is coming!

There is a thin line between spirituality and carnality beware!