Category Archives: Satan

Bible, Defense, Devil, Faith, Protection, Satan, Scripture

OUR FORCE SHIELD

EPHESIANS 6:16

“in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” 

I grew up a Star Trek fan. I mean, come on, what child in the 60’s wasn’t! Each week we would tune in to see what other alien race Captain Kirk, Spok, Scottie and Bones would be battling. The Star Trek Enterprise was equipped with a protective force field which could be used to protect it against the missiles fired from enemy spaceships. Those missiles would bounce off or explode on impact. What a great defense!

As Christians, we have our own force shield called the “shield of faith.” This shield is standard equipped given to each believer at salvation. Unfortunately, too many of us literally let our guard down. Paul tells us why this is dangerous. He says with that shield we “will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” We should never “leave home without it.” Right? Those flaming arrows can come at any time.

APPLICATION

MacLaren’s Expositions talk about these “flaming arrows” and why they are so dangerous to the unshielded believer. “But there are things in us all to which the fiery darts do especially appeal: desires, appetites, passions; or-to use the word which refined people are so afraid of, although the Bible is not, ‘lusts-which war against the soul,’ and which need only a touch of fire to flare up like a tar-barrel, in thick foul smoke darkening the heavens. There are fiery darts that strike these animal natures of ours, and set them all aflame. But, there are other fiery darts than these. There are plenty of other desires in us: wishes, cowardices, weaknesses of all sorts, that, once touched with the devil’s dart, will burn fiercely enough. We all know that.”

Do you have any of those things within your heart? We all have some weakness which we have probably revealed to the evil one. That’s his target. That’s his bullseye. Our defense, however, is our shield of faith. Our faith in Jesus, in His shed blood, quenches any flaming arrow fired against us. We hold that shield up to protect us from this relentless adversary.

And, unlike the Starship Enterprise, our shield is everlasting. It is stronger than any foe. Why? Is it because of our faith? No, it is because of the Faith Giver. He gives us His never ending supply of faith. Paul said it well when he said in Romans 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.’”

Father God, thank You for giving me the shield of faith to protect myself from the devil’s flaming arrows and accusations.

Standard
Armor, Battles, Bible, Devil, Evil, Satan, Scripture

WITHSTAND

EPHESIANS 6:13

“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

Man, do I love bread! Just ask my wife. I could eat a dozen hot biscuits with honey. And those Red Lobster garlic biscuits are to die for. But I have to withstand temptation or bust my britches, lol. The temptation is great. I am easily led astray, I’ll admit it. But when I am successful and withstand the freshly baked bread, I feel better. I know I have made the right choice.

Now, Paul is not talking about sticking to your diet in today’s verse. But he is talking about fully resisting the evil one and all his lures. The Greek word for “resist” is “anthístēmi (from antí, ‘opposite/against’ and hístēmi, ‘to stand’) – to take a complete stand against, i.e. a ‘180 degree, contrary position’; to establish one’s position publicly by conspicuously ‘holding one’s ground,’ i.e. refusing to be moved (‘pushed back’). (HELPS Word studies)

APPLICATION

This word can also mean to “forcefully declare one’s personal conviction.” It was a military term meaning to strongly resist an opponent. I think you get the picture. You have to resist. You have to take a stand. You have to be prepared (thus the armor) for anything that comes your way.

Anthístēmi is also used in James 4:7 that says, “Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” It is also 1 Peter 5:9 where we read, “So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world.” Paul, James and Peter all knew the importance of resisting the devil. They had all personally experienced his attacks and knew how to resist him.

You have to equip yourself with the Word. Jesus used the Word to battle Satan in the wilderness. Why should we try anything else? Know the Word. Use the Word. Watch the Word repel the devil’s attacks. We have no reason to fear him. Withstand Warrior!

Lord, I am so thankful that You have equipped me to withstand the evil one in evil days.  

Standard
Bible, Devil, Enemies, Fighting, Satan, Scripture

OUR REAL STRUGGLE

EPHESIANS 6:12

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 

Some people just like to fight. I was talking to someone this week who is in a struggle with their neighbor. They live in a townhouse, so they share a wall and a sidewalk. The neighbor is not a believer and does not life a lifestyle conducive to peace. Conflicts are inevitable. He asked my advice on how to handle the problem. I simply said to ask their forgiveness for offending them (they obviously felt offended) and let it go at that. Then I shared this verse with them. How appropriate, right?

Paul knows the Ephesians (and us) would be attacked by the evil one. Every struggle we face can be tied back to his influence in our life or the life of someone else. He just loves conflict. He thrives on it. Paul had lived this. He knew firsthand how the devil would wage war on the believer. In fact, Paul had allowed him to use him against the believers. Paul was relentless in his pursuit of the early believers. He was in fact a pawn of Satan for a season.

APPLICATION

My favorite commentator, Albert Barnes, has this to say about this battle we are up against every day. “It is a warfare on a large scale with the entire kingdom of darkness over the world. Yet in maintaining the warfare, the struggle will be with such portions of that kingdom as we come in contact with and will actually relate:

(1) to our own sinful propensities – which are a part of the kingdom of darkness;

(2) with the evil passions of others – their pride, ambition, and spirit of revenge – which are also a part of that kingdom;

(3) with the evil customs, laws, opinions, employments, pleasures of the world – which are also a part of that dark kingdom;

(4) with error, superstition, false doctrine – which are also a part of that kingdom; and,

(5) with the wickedness of the pagan world – the sins of benighted nations – also a part of that kingdom. Wherever we come in contact with evil – whether in our own hearts or elsewhere – there we are to make war.”

I know that was a rather lengthy quote. I hope you found it useful. Today, when someone gets in your business or someone cuts you off in traffic, remember that you are not battling them. You are battling these forces of darkness. Satan will use people who never know they are being used. Getting angry at them does no good and only ruins our reputation.

Notice the hierarchy of evilness in today’s verse – rulers, powers, world forces. We will rarely deal with Satan ourselves. He will normally send his little minions, the demonic spirits under his control, to harass or tempt us. If we are ready and prepared to fight Satan himself, we can certainly handle any demon we encounter. Remember, it is the power of God, not our power that defeats them.

Lord, thank You for empowering us with Your power to fight against these evil forces.

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Devil, Evil, Flesh, God's Will, Obedience, Satan, Scripture

UNDER EVIL INFLUENCE

EPHESIANS 2:2

“in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” 

There are so many verses in Scripture warning us about the evil influences of this world which are spurred on by the evil one, this “prince of the power of the air.” Unfortunately, too many Christians don’t believe in that. If you bring it up, they say you are talking about the boogie man or some guy dressed up in a red suit with a tail and a pitchfork. They have no idea the danger they are in.

If Satan wasn’t real and his influence was not a threat, do you think Paul would have wasted ink and parchment to warn the Ephesians and us? Paul knew this influence all too well. He himself had been under its power before his Damascus road experience. He was fooled into thinking he was doing God’s work by stomping out the Christians. Even Paul, a very smart man, was fooled by this spirit of disobedience.

APPLICATION

This is not rocket science, people. Stay away from evil influences. Follow God’s commands. James says it simply in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, therefore, to God; resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Sound too simple? Try it. Give yourself completely over to God and watch what happens. I have found when I am diligently seeking the Father, I do not have my mind on things of this world.

Romans 6:12-14 give us the secret. “12 Therefore sin is not to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace.” See? It’s not rocket science, but it does require dying to yourself.

There’s the problem! Most of us don’t want to give up those carnal desires. We say we do, but we won’t let them go. We keep them in that little, dark room we think God can’t see. He can, and He wants us to clean it out. Okay, get out your broom, dustpan and mop and go to work today. Clean it all out and submit to Him.

Thank You, Father, for cleaning me up.

Standard
Age, Belief, Bible, Blessing, Chosen, Devil, Eternal Life, Eternity, Foundation, God's Will, Redemption, Salvation, Satan, Scripture

BEFORE ANYTHING

EPHESIANS 1:4

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love…”

Can you remember your life before it began? Of course, you can’t. No one can. Our finite minds are limited to our degree of consciousness. We cannot comprehend a time before we could think or act. What is your first memory as a child? I remember growing up in Southwest Georgia and playing with my siblings in the yard. I remember this red, metal tractor that we used to pedal around the yard. My life before that is only remembered through photographs.

Paul refers to a time in today’s verse that existed before anything, “the foundation of the world.” When was that? Well, it was literally before anything. Why would Paul bring this up? To show us that God’s eternal plan of choosing us has always existed. There has never been a time when we weren’t on His mind. Can you imagine? Our life has had a purpose that long. So, how can we ever doubt His love for us.

APPLICATION

In John 17:24, Jesus refers to this time before time. “‘Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.’” God loved His Son before the foundation of the world. He loved us before the foundation of the world. He has loved us as long as He has loved His own Son. Wow! How can we doubt His love?

1 Peter 1:20 tells us, “For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.” Jesus, who the Father loved before the foundation of the world and was known before the foundation of the world, had an eternal purpose before the foundation of the world. What was that? To come and die for us, to redeem us back to His Father.

Our salvation has always been the Father’s plan. There was never a Plan A and Plan B. There was only ONE plan – Jesus. Before you ever came into existence, God had you on His mind. Again, I ask you, how could we ever doubt His love for us. We only doubt because we listen to the evil one’s lies. Read this verse several times today. Better yet, memorize it and repeat it over and over. Never doubt His love. He loved us before anything!

Father, although I cannot imagine a time before anything, I believe You loved me that long.

Standard
Bible, Bondslaves, Freedom, Satan, Scripture, Slaves

A TALE OF TWO SONS

GALATIANS 4:22

“For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.” 

This verse reminds me of the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities. It begins with this quote:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…”

Do you see the analogies there? The opposites? Paul, in his own way is going to compare two opposites in the next several verses. One was Isaac, the son of Sarah, who was born free. The other was Ishmael, the son of Hagar, who was a slave of Abraham. Thus, Ishmael was born into slavery. This is the comparison we will see played out over the next several days.

APPLICATION

Now, hold it a minute, Carl. I am not a slave to anyone. Really? If you are not walking in the Spirit, you are slave to sin. Romans 6:16 says this, “Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

Slavery isn’t just chains and cells. Slavery is bowing to the will of the flesh. Paul is going to compare freedom in Christ and slavery under the law. Believe me, he understood the slavery of the law because he had personally bound people with it as a Pharisee. He knew the hopelessness of it. And we can put ourselves under legalistic rules and regulations and lose our freedom in Christ.

But let me encourage you today to be “free indeed.” Free yourself from the lure of sin. Free yourself for self-inflicted laws. Let Christ lead you into true freedom in Him. Shake off the shackles that the evil one wants to tie you down with. He has no power over you. But through Jesus, you have power over him. Hallelujah!

O God, my Father, I am so thankful I have been born into freedom through Your Son.

Standard
Access, Accountability, Battles, Bible, Devil, Opponents, Satan, Scripture, Security, Testimony

NOT FOR A SECOND

GALATIANS 2:5

“But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.”

There are some things in life which you just can’t allow for a second. You can’t allow a match to be struck in a room filled with propane. The result would be devastating. Neither would you allow a fox into your chicken coop. There would be feathers and blood everywhere. Some things just can’t be tolerated. Period.

Paul goes on in verse 5 of chapter 2 to explain his complete denial of any suggestions or influence from those wanting to impose the Mosaic law on the Gentiles, thus altering the Gospel he has been preaching. Albert Barnes says this about this verse. “We did not submit to this at all. We did not yield even for the shortest time. We did not waver in our opposition to their demands, or in the slightest degree become subject to their wishes.” In other words, we do not give them an inch for we know they would take a mile.

APPLICATION

This verse is so applicable to us today. You may not see it at first glance but look again at what Paul is saying. We cannot allow the world to influence the Gospel. We must influence the world with the Gospel. Paul did say in 1 Corinthians 9:22b, “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.” I would encourage you to read that verse in context (verses 19-23) to get the full picture of what Paul is saying. He is not saying to take on the behaviors of those people.

We must relate to people and our world without becoming them. I can share the Gospel with someone without lowering my standards or accepting their vices. Ephesians 5:8 tells us, “for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” We have to hold the torch of Christ high even though the world is doing everything it can to blow that flame out.

If the Lord has called you to someone or a group of people who do not hold to the truth of the Gospel, hold firm. Do not give in to their promptings to reduce the demands of the Gospel. Keep it simple and clear but hold the line. Don’t give in for a second. Satan loves to find those little cracks in the armor. Stand firm.

O Father, I will not give in with Your help. You sustain me and lift me up.

Standard
Allies, Battles, Deceit, Deception, Devil, Enemies, Falsehoods, Satan, Scripture

SPIES AMONG US

GALATIANS 2:4

“Yet it was a concern because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.”

I love a good spy movie. Now, there are two kinds of spy movies. You have one where the good guy is the spy trying to stop the evil intentions of someone. The other kind is when the spy is the enemy who has infiltrated the good guys with the intent to dismantle their efforts. Which one do you pull for? Of course, you said the good guy, right?

Well, in today’s verse, Paul reveals there were spies among them. He called them “false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom.” Sounds pretty sinister to me. One definition of the Greek word used for “spy” is to “intently look at, especially to inflict harm (damage); to observe something secretly, i.e. with covered (evil) motives.” That word is only used here in Gal 2:4.

APPLICATION

Our takeaway from this verse should be that we need to be aware of those around us who are pretending to be something they are not. The disciple John warns us in 1 John 2:19 about this. “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us.”

The enemy loves to infiltrate the camp of God to try and sabotage His work. He will use anyone or anything to do that. He sets boobytraps and landmines. He explodes families. He especially loves to attack the lives of Christian leaders. 1 Peter 5:8 is another reminder of his intent. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

It’s enough to make you pull the covers up and stay in bed, right? No!!! We have to get up and strap on the armor of God each day. We have to listen for God’s orders and then go on the offensive. We have to take the fight to the enemy. There are literally billions of people on their way to the enemy’s camp of destruction. We have our orders. Let’s march.

Lord, help us drive out the spies among us and storm the strongholds.

Standard
Abiding, Allegiance, Battles, Bible, Consequences, Devil, Enemies, Fighting, God's Will, Judgment, Justice, Rebellion, Satan, Scripture

YOU HAVE TO PICK A SIDE

ZECHARIAH 14:12

“Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth.”

I have mentioned before my two experiences with stem cell transplants. Both times I had chemotherapy which is horrible. I was blessed in that I did not have to take it long term. But each time I went to have a treatment I would see other patients who were not so lucky. They were skeletons, having lost so much weight. They had no hair, and their eyes were sunk back into their heads. Each time I saw them I would say a prayer for their healing.

Why do I tell that story? Well, it’s the closest thing I have ever seen to the description in today’s verse. This plague put on the enemies of Jerusalem is consistent with the effects of a nuclear bomb on the human body. I am not saying that is what will happen. God doesn’t need a bomb. He has the power to inflict any damage He desires on His enemies. This is probably one of the worse judgment scenes in the Bible. What a horrible consequence of using their mouth to blaspheme and their eyes to lust after Israel.

APPLICATION

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Why would I quote this verse? Because while we were sinners, we were His enemies. We were enemies of the cross, as Paul says in Philippians 3:18. “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ,”

Whose side are you on? God’s or man’s? God’s or the devil’s? That is what it amounts to. In past wars on earth there have been nations that remained neutral, out of the fight. There will be no neutral ground in this final battle. You cannot remain neutral. You must choose a side.

I love the verse in Joshua that reads, “‘But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.’” (Joshua 24:15) How about you?

Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to be on Your side. I want to serve in Your army.

Standard
Accused, Bible, Captivity, Death, Devil, Evil, Forgiveness, Judgment, Redemption, Salvation, Satan, Scripture, Sin

A WHAT IN A WHAT?

ZECHARIAH 5:7

“And behold, a lead cover was lifted up. He continued, ‘And this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.’”

I have seen some strange things in my life. I remember once in Liberia; I saw a woman carrying a car engine on her head. That’s right, a car engine. I was told by a Liberian man that a Liberian woman could carry whatever two men could lift and put on her head. Now, that was strange. I wonder how she got it down.

I bet Zechariah was a little shocked when he saw what was inside that ephah. Under the lead cover was a woman. A what? A woman. What in the world? Albert Barnes explains it this way. The woman represented Israel’s sin. Her sitting symbolized their comfort in their sinful condition. And the lead cover showed the weight of their sin. Not a pretty picture. The largest measure (ephah) with the heaviest weight (lead) was what Zechariah was seeing.

APPLICATION

Do you realize the weight of your sin? Hebrews 12:1 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,…” You can’t run weighted down. Sin is heavy, much heavier than you think.

I love this quote. “Sin will cost you more than you ever thought you would pay. It will take you further than you ever thought you would stray. And it will keep you longer than you ever thought you would stay.” Zechariah saw the weight of Israel’s sins portrayed in his vision. We can see it all around us today.

Sin destroys families. It cost people their livelihoods. It wrecks relationships. And it keeps some people tangled in unhealthy lifestyles. You don’t believe in sin? Satan loves that. He loves you not believing in it because he knows he has you right where he wants you. But there is a way out. You can be set free from the chains that bind you. Just come to Jesus.

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood His mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace

Standard