November 1, 2016 - "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. " (1 Peter 5:8)
God's creations were pure, never having been corrupted until Satan entered the Garden of Eden, masquerading as a serpent.
His first act that we are aware of here on earth was to enter the garden and deceive Eve by telling half-truths and outright lies.
He first created doubt in her mind as to what God had actually said about the fruit of the garden. He appealed to her ego by telling her that she would be "like God" knowing good from evil if she would only eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
He uses the same doubts and denials today to deceive people and draw them away from God.
God allowed him to torment Job, even taking his family and all his possessions, but Job never gave in to his deceptions.
Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness, but He overcame every temptation by using God's Word; as He would quote scripture to rebuke Satan's lies.
Today we must be sober and vigilant for we are at war; not with the flesh, but with the spirit. Satan is called; the prince and power of the air and he does rule this world. Our fight is against this evilness in all forms.
As Christians our duty is to answer the call to arms against evil and fight against it wherever and whenever we encounter it.
Thankfully, we have the most powerful weapon on earth, God's Holy Word, as our offense and defense against this evil. We may be weak, but the Holy Spirit that resides within every Christian is stronger than any power of earth.
We know Satan goes about the earth seeking whom he may devour. The lost are already shackled to him so he turns his efforts upon those he does not have, the children of God.
Satan enters the church today, not to worship, but to accuse and discredit others.
How do we recognize his efforts; if anything causes the peace, tranquility and unity of the church to be broken or interrupted, it is from Satan. The person who is facilitating this distraction may have no idea that it being done through he or she, no matter, it has it's origins in Satan.
He would create even greater havoc if the Holy Spirit did not restrain him for he seeks to devour the life, testimony, witness, fellowship, love, joy, and peace of every believer.
Unlike Eve, we must learn to recognize and overcome the lies and deceptions of Satan and his Minions. We must do as Jesus instructs us; "Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." (John 15:4)
We must choose to live close to Jesus if we are to win this battle, it is His battle to fight for us, for we are too weak by ourselves.
May the Lord God bless and keep you this day.
