Have you ever felt Fatigue, Anxious, stressed, Tempted, felt Fear, felt Despair, Lied to, Revenge, and Anger? These are some of the devil’s favorite schemes to eat away at our faith. The enemy wants us to believe that we’re stuck, that there's no situation for our problems that everything is hopeless, and that defeat is our destiny. If we’re not careful of these deceptions will set us on a slippery slope to spiritual defeat.
Satan, The Father of all Lies
The devil enters in the most dangerous unobservant incident, which seems to be nothing, yet it opens a door to great temptations. The best way to block off our hearts from Satan’s enticements is to know the Bible, it teaches us how to withstand the enemy's ploys by giving us a glimpse of his character, tactics, and purpose.
3 Characteristics of satan
A Murder - Jesus told a group of unbelieving Jews that they were like their father the devil.
John 8:44 (NKJ)
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
A Liar - continuing in John 8:44 - When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. Jesus describes Satan’s deception as he does not stand in truth, because there is no truth.
A Predator - 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Knowing these facts about our enemy, why do we still fall into his traps? Often, we give in to our distractions. Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch, the daughter of a watchmaker who along with her family harbored hundreds of Jews amid the Nazi Holocaust to protect them from arrest during World War II. Corrie said, “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.” Satan creates all sorts of distractions to keep us from studying our Bible, attending church, and praying. He will do anything to keep us from realizing that Jesus had already defeated him on the cross.
Colossians 2:15 (NKJV)
Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
You see, satan’s battle is in the spiritual realm, he waits for that moment of weakness then he tells you that you are alone in your struggles. That's when he tries to fill your hearts with doubts, he’ll make us wonder how we will be able to restore our marriage or a relationship, or be able to pay our bills, or be restored to health. Fear and anxiety grow to the point that they seem like unavoidable realities, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Psalm 121: 3, 7 & 8 (NKJV) describes God as a helper, a keeper, and the preserver of our soul. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber., The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
God will never leaves us alone and helpless!
Look for parts 2 and 3 of this message.
God Bless, Israel
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