There are two areas that I have been so ignorant of the past several years. (I suspect there are many more, these are just two biggies the Lord has shown me of late. I reserve the right to add to this list as they come up! ;)
One being the fact that we have an enemy who seeks to kill, steal and destroy! And two, the importance of repentance.
Today I will focus on the first one. We had previously sat under teaching that felt like you were looking for a 'devil in every corner' or were rebuking demons at every turn. Having moved on from there, we sort of swung way to the other side. I think we became oblivious to the 'wiles(trickery) of the enemy'. Everything sort of turned to a more "God is sovereign, everything comes from His hand" type of mindset.
I had thoughts like, 'we just give Satan more power when we talk about him. Ummm, no, he actually already has power. Some of us have just been oblivious of it.
Brilliant move on the enemy's part, really. If we are ignorant of his schemes and wiles, how can we obey the scriptures that tell us to resist him? Ignorance is NOT bliss, trust me.
I'm not suggesting an all out '36 week study' on the enemy, but we would do well to recognize that we do have an enemy and he does seek to STEAL, KILL, DESTROY! Do you get that?
A friend recently very passionately shared with me this revelation she recently had.
She said, "the enemy comes to STEAL our children, KILL our children, DESTROY our children. He comes to STEAL our health . . . finances . . . peace . . . life, KILL our health . . . finances . . . peace . . . life, DESTROY our health . . . finances . . . peace . . . life. He comes to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY our marriages!"
It was quite sobering to hear her go through each one of those statements. Ladies, we are NOT to be ignorant of the devils wiles and schemes. (2 Cor. 2:11) Do you know he has wiles and schemes? Shouldn't we at least acknowledge that he is a force to be reckoned with? Shouldn't we be resisting him?
Ephesians 6:11 says to "put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
In 1 Timothy 3 and 4 it says it is possible to fall into the reproach and the snare of the devil, and that there are actually doctrines of devils being preached.
2 Timothy 2:26 mentions again the possibility of being caught in the snare of the devil and being taken captive to do his will. These letters are written to the church! It is possible for a believer to get caught in the snare of the devil!
James tells us to RESIST the enemy. Seems to me it might be relevant to know what I am resisting if I am going to obey this scripture.
We have been given power over the enemy (Luke 10:19) Why would Jesus give us power over the enemy if we didn't need to use it?
We are to be sober and vigilant because we have an adversary that walks around seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) This at least implies that there is a possibility of being devoured by the enemy.
I don't think for one second that we are to FEAR the enemy, but we do need to be aware of him and recognize his activity in our lives. This by no means is an exhaustive teaching on Satan and his kingdom. My desire is to share where I have been ignorant and exhort you to not be ignorant to the wiles of the enemy.
4 comments:
sobering for sure. someone (very wise) once shared with me during my first pregnancy, "no on will fight your children like you will."
*I choose to fight for my children: to see them know Jesus and grow in an ever deepening relationship with Him.
* I choose to be vigilant in my marriage.
* I choose to repent/forgive and get set free...to face those things that are a part of me that are not from God...to renounce them and walk in Him freedom..not becoming enslaved to them again.
* I choose not to be ignorant. =0)
Preach it Michelle!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Everything you shared is so true. I appreciate you speaking out on this subject, and exposing S*tan for who he is. (we need that)
I am always so encouraged when I am around you, and love to hear of God's faithfulness in your life.
Thanks again,
Joshua
Amen! So many great points you shared, and I agree whole heartily.
Blessings!
thanks for that. I've been feeling particularly attacked (sought out) by satan this week. It's been rough. he (I refuse to capitalize any word referring to him) has sought to steal my joy, kill my joy and destroy my joy. And there have been moments I have allowed it. But we also had some teachable moments (I had opportunity to talk to my children about rebuking satan because we are children of God and he (satan) has no rights to us or our lives.
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