NOT TODAY SATAN
Stay alert and be aware that you have an enemy out there and he will be relentless in attacking you (daily). He wants to derail you from the plans God has for you because your enemy does not want the Kingdom work to be advanced in this world [read John 10:10]. That enemy is Satan who has a hatred for God’s people because we serve God not him (Satan). He and his minions are busy at work every day to trip us up through deception and temptation with the sole purpose to nullify the effect of the Word of God in our heart [read 1 Peter 5:8-9]. His tactics are designed to distract us from the Word of God in our heart so that we will stop doing Kingdom work (living the Word, sharing the Word, and depending on the Word). Understand that Satan is a two trick pony who does deceptive work on God’s people (Jesus followers - believers) to take our focus of God in our moment by moment living and he blinds the intellect of those who do not believe so that they cannot understand the Gospel [read 2 Corinthians 4:4]. Satan is real but he is not the all-powerful being we tend to believe he is. Like so many things in life, we are in a better place to deal with our challenges and our opposition when we look at the facts as datapoints for our mind rather than the thoughts stirred by our emotions (fears, doubt, anxiety, etc). The (bible) facts about Satan:
- He has many limitations and he is not equal to God [read Ezekiel 28:15].
- He is a created personal being with a mind, emotions, and a will [read Job 1 and Matthew 4:1-12].
- He does not live in hell and he and his minions roam the earth to do his work of deception to blind, confuse and distract people [read Job 1:6-7]. Their ultimate destination is Hell (as an eternal prison) which was created by God as punishment for Satan, his demons, and unbelievers for judgement day [read Matthew 25:41 & Revelation 21:8].
- The devil can only do what God allows [read Job 1:12].
- Satan is not omnipresent (present everywhere) and uses a network of demons to carry out his work of deception and lies [read Ephesians 6:12].
- He is cunning and he will outsmart you if you are not firmly anchored to God and His Word [read Genesis 3:1].
- You invite the devil in your conversation when you are anxious, worried, angry, prideful, demanding, selfish, negative, and fearful.
Satan’s biggest two weapons for his warfare are negativity (negative thoughts) and selfishness (edging God out of our heart) [read John 8:44]. We are to be aware and alert of the devil but not afraid. Remember, God controls what the devil can do and Jesus defeated Satan’s ultimate goal, sin, on the cross so that all who accept Jesus get the benefit of this victory [read 1 John 5:4 & Romans 8:1-39]]. It is when we step outside of God’s will that we end up in that place where the devil has his way. It is therefore important that we seek God in all that we do, think, and say. It is the way that God protect us from Satan’s wily ways and it keeps us close to God where our calling on our life is revealed and carried out [read 2 Thessalonians 3:3]. We need to take the existence of Satan serious but only in light of the existence and truth of our heavenly Father - God. Therefore, put on the clothes and armor that God provides us so that we can do our daily work for the Kingdom in our vocation and community and family time [read Ephesians 6:10-18].
