Satan

October 28th – Psalm 11:1

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Psalm 11:1

Relationships take work. Whether it’s our relationship with God or others, they need a foundation of trust, honesty, love, and repentance to stand strong. Satan is in the business of tearing down, not building up. And he loves nothing more than to form cracks in those foundations through harsh words, misunderstandings, and unforgiving spirits. So when we flee from our problems instead of dealing with them head on, it opens the door for the Enemy to do his worst. When Nehemiah was facing an assignation threat, his friends advised him to hide out in the temple. But he replied, “Should a man like me flee?” (Neh. 6:11) David and Nehemiah both understood that as believers, instead of sinning against God by running away, we should always face every problem head on. Standing firm in the faith that the Lord abundantly upholds the righteous. And believing He will give us the power to confront each difficult time and person with courage and wisdom.

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September 8th – Romans 12:2

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Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

We are at war with a powerful Enemy. And even the mightiest Christian can fall prey to his lies and sin against God. So we need to use every weapon in our arsenal to stop him at every turn. That’s why the apostle Paul councils us to fight against the pull of sin by transforming our minds and renewing our thought patterns. Because Paul knew the power of a Christlike mind and heart. We live in a world that both glorifies and encourages sinful desires and behaviors. Yet as followers of Jesus, we are called to resist conformity to these worldly standards. Instead, we are urged to seek a deeper understanding of God’s will and purpose. And we do this through His Word and prayer. By immersing ourselves in God’s truth and aligning our thoughts with His, we gain the strength to discern right from wrong. And the ability to make choices that honor Him. This transformation enables us to resist the pull of sin and to live in a way that reflects the righteousness and holiness of God.

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August 28th – Colossians 1:9

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Colossians 1:9

“since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.”

Right now the world is in crisis. And that’s why more than ever, we are called to be mighty prayer warriors! Soldiers on our knees filling the heavens with our petitions. Prayers for ourselves and each other. The apostle Paul teaches there are four types of prayers we’re to use when praying both privately and publicly.  Deēseis, proseuchas, enteuxeis, and eucharistias. Translated into English, these are supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings. Supplications are those fervent pleas we make to God for immediate response. Prayers refer to all of our general petitions made to the Lord. Intercessions are those prayers from the heart where we lift up before God the needs of others. And thanksgivings are those prayers of praise for all God is, does, and blesses us with each and every day. Each type of prayer is a mighty weapon against the Enemy we should be using frequently. For nothing stops Satan faster in his tracks than when the voice of God’s people are lifted in unity to the heavens above!

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August 21st – Colossians 2:7

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Colossians 2:7

“rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

One of my favorite trees is the mighty oak. Beautiful and strong, it outlasts almost every living thing on the earth. And no matter the strength of the storm, because it’s roots grow wide and deep, it’s branches can withstand the blowing winds. When we have roots that run wide and deep in Christ, we too can withstand anything Satan and his evil world can throw at us. To be rooted in Christ means to anchor our lives in His teachings, character, and love. It involves cultivating a strong and enduring relationship with Him by spending time in His presence, through prayer, and by studying  His Word. Just as a healthy tree bears fruit, being rooted in Christ leads to spiritual growth and transformation. And as we draw from His wisdom and grace, we become more resilient against the challenges of life and more fruitful in our actions and relationships. Our great encourager, Paul urges us to strive for a faith that is not superficial, but deeply grounded in the truths of Christ. Thereby allowing us to stand firm, and to flourish amidst the changing tides of the world.

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July 3rd – Proverbs 23:17

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Proverbs 23:17

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always. Surely there is a future.”

In the world we live wealth, fame, and power are celebrated above all else. Our televisions, magazines, and Internet are all inundated with images and stories of the rich and famous. We see their seemingly perfect lives and think they have it all. And we’re filled with envy. We wonder why that can’t be us. Easily we buy into Satan’s lie that God is holding out on us. Keeping us from all the wonderful things the world offers. And we think that if we only had what they had our lives would be easier and we’d be happier. But Satan is the father of lies. Material things may fill our lives but can never fill our hearts, nor provide the comfort of resting in the eternal promises of Jesus. That’s why we can trust God. He sees from beginning to end. And He knows that although things may look and feel good to us, in actuality they lead us to perish. God is the One who truly loves us, and so He calls us away things He knows aren’t good for us. For only in Him alone can all worthy things be found, and abiding in Him is where the true treasure lies.

 

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June 26th – John 8:44

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John 8:44

“He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Two of the of the greatest weapons Satan has in his armory are guilt and shame. And he wields them generously. He whose name means Accuser does just that, whispering in our ears that we are unclean, unforgivable, unworthy, and unloved. He delights in reminding us of our past sins. Constantly he tries to inject our hearts with feelings of doubts about God’s truth and love. And when we give him even an inch of opening, he takes full advantage. He’ll turn that inch into a mile; taking up residence and building destructive strongholds in our minds. But He is a liar and not to be believed. And so we must cling to the truth of the Lord. Jesus while hanging on the Cross says with His final breath, “It is finished!” (John 19:39) Our Savior declared all of our sins, past, present, and future, paid in full; forgiven forever. Because of His shed blood we are deemed righteous, no matter what the Enemy tries to tell us.

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June 7th – 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

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2 Corinthians 2:10-11

“Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven, if there was anything to forgive, I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

The devil has many tricks in his bag of deception, and unforgiveness is one of them. Constantly he reminds us of the many ways a person has wronged us. And how they should be made to feel guilt and shame. But by casting aside the lies of the enemy and choosing to forgive, we prevent bitterness from taking hold and festering in our spirits. Bitterness only builds a wall between our hearts and God, and gives Satan a foothold in our lives.  And worst of all, it can cause us to exhibit behavior that might lead others away from God. In Hebrews 12:15 we are told, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it may be defiled.” As followers of Jesus we are to show the grace of God to all we meet. We are His ambassadors in the world. And our lives should be a testimony of the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus. One that it is a light to those who would receive it and a condemnation to those who would reject it.

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May 27th – Luke 10:19

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Luke 10:19

I love the quote, “Give the devil his due, but don’t over pay him. ”Spiritual warfare is a serious business. But what many Christian’s fail to realize is that although the devil has power, he has no authority. As followers of Jesus, we have both power and authority over the enemy. That means the only dominion Satan has in our lives is what we give him. Oh he may throw opposition, adversity, and spiritual forces our way that seek to hinder our faith and well-being. However with the authority given by Jesus, we can stand firm and resist every attack. Think of how hard the Enemy pursued Jesus. Yet not once did the Lord give Satan victory. Not once did Christ fall for his lies. And we don’t have to either. Know who you belong to and who you are in Christ. Through Him we can do all things. Because He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) And from the Lord’s greatness and authority, we can have peace, happiness, and joy, despite what the devil wants.

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April 28th – 1 John 2:15

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1 John 2:15

I used to struggle when I would read John telling believers to love God and each other, but not the things of the world. Because what about my loved ones? Is it a sin to want to both be with God and to stay in the world with them? But then I learned that when John was speaking of the world, he didn’t mean the people in it. But rather the sinful system of values and beliefs that are opposed to God’s will. If we are in love with a society that promote selfishness, pride, materialism, and other worldly values, we can’t be in love with the Lord. And we won’t be dedicated to living lives that glorify Him and seeing His will done. When it comes to worldly living, I love what evangelist John Wesley has to say. “The best means of resisting the devil is, to destroy whatever of the world remains in us, in order to raise for God, upon its ruins, a building all of love. Then shall we begin, in this fleeting life, to love God as we shall love him in eternity.”

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April 15th – James 4:4

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James 4:4

The Bible tells us that the Christian walk is made up of two paths. Daily we must make the choice of either following the path of godly living or the path of worldly living. For as James reminds us, we can’t walk with God and hold hands with the devil. We live in a society which encourages us to live for our individual glory. It tells us that it’s not wrong to pursue a life dedicated to pleasing the lust of the flesh. We are fed lies that say we are god in our lives and it is us who deserves worship. And if we don’t agree with the sinful and destructive ways of the world, we are laughed at, ridiculed, and in some parts of the world even tortured and killed. So how do we stand strong against the pressure from the world? “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will resist you.” (James 4:7) The enemy loves nothing more than to see God’s people weak both in mind and spirit. But we can withstand whatever he throws our way by submitting ourselves to the Lord and walking hand in hand with Him.

April 15th – James 4:4 Read More »