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The devil has been having a field day with Believers for quite some
time now. But soon his time will run out.
Have any of you been feeling, depressed, oppressed, discouraged,
worried, fearful, restless? Having trouble sleeping perhaps?
Concentrating? Praying?
Reading your Bible?
Well guess what?
Every Christian has an enemy!
Although unseen by the natural eye, this adversary is not imaginary
nor a mythological character. Satan, the Devil, is a real person... a
spirit being, with intelligence, tangible characteristics, and whose
incessant goal and ambition is to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John
10:10).
Around the clock the enemy is on the prowl, seeking to cause mayhem
and destruction to all believers and the work of Jesus Christ
throughout the world. With military-like strategy and ruthless
hostility, the devil aggressively searches for weakness in our faith
and spiritual life, hoping to devour us with deception, temptation, or
oppression. He is the personification of all that is evil and is the
author of every despicable work.
Regardless of whether you realize it, Satan has targeted you as a
victim. He knows your name and address, your strengths and weaknesses.
Somewhere in the shadows, he and his forces lurk, waiting, planning for
the moment they will strike when you're caught off-guard. He
desperately hopes that you will, as many Christians, remain ignorant
of his reality so that you'll blame his assaults on somebody or
something else.
His method of operation is almost always "undercover." Subtly, he
manipulates hindering circumstances and inspires evil thoughts or
temptations, disguising his activities behind the shroud of people or
things. He will always seek to divert attention and blame for his
actions upon others. But make no mistake, he is the REAL enemy. Not
your husband, wife, employer, GOVERNMENT or Christian brethren! "For
we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places"
(Ephesians 6:12).
The good news is that, although the Devil is described "like" a
"roaring lion," in reality he has no actual authority over believers.
He is not really a lion, but roars "like" a lion would to bluff his
victims into fear and intimidation. Satan is A LIAR... and deceiver
and uses deception as his weapon to gain advantage over those who are
ignorant of the limitations of his power.
When Jesus gave his life on the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of
the world, He also redeemed us from Satan's power and dominion over
us. "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public
spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it" (Col. 2:15). "...For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the
works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). Praise God! Satan is already a
defeated enemy! His legal authority was neutralized by the finished
work of Christ on the cross.
Every Believer has Authority over Satan. So if Satan is already
defeated, why then is he still able to cause trouble? Because, even
though Christ broke Satan's legal power, the Lord has left it up to us
to "enforce" the Devil's defeated condition. It's our responsibility
to use the authority that Christ has given us to put Satan in his
place.
As a believer, you need not fear Satan, but realize and exercise the
authority which God has given you over the Devil. Every person whose
name has been recorded in the "Lamb's Book of Life" (all those who are
saved) have been given authority over the power of the Devil. "Behold,
I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and
over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt
you" (Luke 10:19).
You have the right to use the authority of the name of Jesus to repel
and drive Satan out of your territory and to break his grip over
spiritual strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). When you recognize Satan's
activity and covert operations, take authority over him in the name of
Jesus! Just as Jesus and the early apostles did, command Satan to
leave (Mark 16:17).
The Devil hates the name of Jesus and detests an atmosphere of praise
and worship which exalts the name of Jesus. Christ said, "For where
two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst
of them" (Matt. 18:20). Be assured, the presence of Christ will expel
the presence of Satan. Lifting up Jesus in praise will send the Devil
running!
Slam the Door on the Devil!
The name of Jesus will drive Satan away. But it would be futile to
order Satan's departure if we leave the door wide open for him to
flourish. The Bible tells us to not "give place" for the Devil (Eph.
4:27). That is, provide no area of your life where Satan can be
comfortable or establish strongholds.
The enemy can always be found working in those who entertain sin,
disobedience, rebellion or a self-willed nature. Unforgiveness toward
others is another area which Satan flourishes (2 Cor. 2:11).
Furthermore, any area of your life which is not submitted to God is
considered open territory to the Devil, and he has the right to bring
his expanding influence to those areas. If you stop praying and stop
spending time in THE WORD OF GOD, you are open for attack. He'll
attack your mind, control your thoughts, and rob you of the joy of
your salvation, and the peace that surpasses all understanding. Thus,
fear, depression, hopelessness, etc. can begin to control you.
This is why the scripture says, "...submit to God. Resist the devil
and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). The only way to actually
resist Satan is to submit yourself fully to God.
This was what Jesus was referring to when He said, "...the ruler of
this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me" (John 14:30). Jesus
had submitted himself to God, and although the Devil would try Him,
there was nothing for the Devil to use to gain an advantage.
Rejoice Christian! God is in you, and YOU have been given power over
the Devil! By submitting to God, and exercising your authority in the
name of Jesus, you are more powerful than the enemy. "...He who is in
you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
We Christians are living in the last days and should not be shocked
with all that is going on in this world right now. Yes, we are vexed
as righteous Lot was vexed. So much sin surrounds us. Israel is being
bullied. Abortion, homosexual rights, foreclosures, homelessness,
joblessness, socialism destroying our Freedom, etc. But Jesus told us
these things had to happen before He could come back.
Don't be controlled and overcome by what you see and hear. We walk by
faith, not by sight. Jesus Christ is coming back soon and the devil
knows his time is short. Once Christ removes His remnant from this sin
filled world, the devil will never bother us again! Hallelujah! Until
then, stay in His Word, cling to His promises for His Own, pray often!
And TRUST HIM! So you may finally enter into His rest.
Maranatha! God bless you!
The Devil Is A Liar - By CC
http://www.poemsbycc.com/TheDevilIsALiar.html
Be sure & check out the Poems (the link above)
Graphics provided by Your sissy,
[email protected]
(pass this along *grin*)
salvation
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Twitter: http://twitter.com/Birdsongs68
Skype: musicmaker68
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