“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2Corinthians 2:11 KJV). Paul warns the Corinthians from failing to restore a penitent backslider, lest they be “swallowed up with overmuch sorrow” (2:7). Satan’s devices are many: (1) our failure to acknowledge him as a continual, arch “adversary” (1Peter 5:8), (2) our lack of understanding him as a master “tempter” (Matthew 4:3; 1Thessalonians 3:5), (3) our not properly crediting him as the ruler of the “darkness of this world” (Ephesians 6:12), (4) our not acknowledging that earthly kingdoms belong to the “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), and (5) above all, our failure to properly acknowledge the devil’s necessity of gaining permission from the Almighty to do anything — “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). LORD, may You be magnified by the enemy fleeing from us. Amen.
Adversary the Devil
Meet Me in Heaven
Shouldn’t we all be able to say, “Meet me in Heaven”? Scripture gives us the certainty of our heavenly destination from our daily walk. “3 And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. 6 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (1John 2:3-6 KJV). But, the art of obedience should not be underrated — just ask Adam and Eve. God has gone through a lot of trouble to give us the gift of His Spirit to ensure our obedience. “And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). When was the Spirit given? Officially, when Peter gave the invitation at Pentecost. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Subsequently, has anyone received the Spirit before baptism? Yes, ask Cornelius (Acts 10). Then, why insist on baptism to receive the Holy Spirit? Because through baptism our loyalty is pledged, and it must be demonstrated for all to see and know, we stand with Jesus. “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32). Even though God knows our heart, He places a high value on everyone else knowing we stand with Him — especially making the point to His adversary the devil — He insists we become baptized before we lay claim to His Spirit. LORD, You have given us everything — physical life, Your Son, eternal life, but especially Your Spirit. May we walk in gratitude and power that we would be able to meet as many as You our God will call, one day in Heaven. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Peace in the Middle East
When will they ever learn? If the enemies of Israel dedicate their existence to the destruction of Israel, then Israel does not have the ability to coexist with her enemies. A stalemate exists without a natural resolution. Only a supernatural solution would work. Supernatural is the Unseen Realm of Almighty God; but also, it is the realm of the adversary the devil and whomsoever is empowered by that wicked one. Peace in the Middle East will initially come through the Antichrist, who is the “prince that shall come” (Daniel 9:26 KJV). Satan or the “dragon gave him his power” (Revelation 13:2). He will usher in a period of peace to begin the Seventieth Week of Daniel. “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27). Only time will tell, when the Almighty chooses this solution for Israel’s problems. Father God, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Racing With the Lord
They say you are known by the friends you keep. Jesus said, “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14 KJV). Moses asked the Israelites, “Who is on the LORD’S side?” (Exodus 32:26). If we run with the LORD, then we side against the devil. If we are part of the Body of Christ’s Church, then we are on Christ’s Team against a common adversary, the devil. “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, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). We need carefully to determine our allies or teammates — “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2Corinthians 6:14) — then, make sure they consider us teammates, as well. We need to strive together for the best interests of Christ’s Team. Christian families need their spouses and children to strive together as a team against the devil. Churches need to pull together as a team against the devil, or we will certainly pull ourselves apart. “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Romans 15:30). LORD, when You return for us, may our hand be on the plow working the fields and building Your kingdom. Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 