Jesus Paid it All

When Lucifer rebelled in heaven, God cast him to the earth. He had no power or authority until Adam sinned and turned over the dominion of the earth to him. Thankfully, Jesus stripped Satan of all of his power when Jesus laid down His life on Calvary's cross and rose again from the dead (Matthew 28:18).

Satan's only tool now is deception. Weak-spirited people often fall for his wiles (1 Peter 5:8). Sadly, they think his thoughts are their own. They truly believe they are following their heart, but it is Satan's wishes they are serving. He wraps his thoughts in silver, but it ends up being tin foil. He embellishes his ideas with money and power, but they wind up as addictions, which ruin our life.

Once we come to Christ, we realize that we are now dead to addictions and alive to God (Romans 6:11). We lay our idols at Jesus' feet. We are crucified with Christ. We no longer live according to our ideals and goals, but in God's will by faith in Him who loved us enough to suffer the horrendous torture of Roman cruelty (Galatians 2:20). Jesus paid it all, and now we are free to walk in His new life (Romans 6:4).

Our focus changes to eternal values and we look forward to sitting at God's right hand with Jesus (Colossians 3:1). We read God's Word and see His ministry in the life of His Saints, who are just like us, mere mortals with a heart after God (Acts 13:22). Realizing that we do not need to earn God's love, we rejoice in His free gifts of salvation, redemption and sanctification (Ephesians 2:8; John 3:16-17).

With each new day we fall more in love with our Redeemer and our heart gushes with love and gratitude for all He did, is doing and plans to do for us (Hebrews 9:12). Intimate fellowship with Him fills every moment of our day and night, even in our dreams He speaks to us and we pour out our love to Him. Our favorite past time is praying, Bible reading and listening to His voice.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for taking the form of a man and allowing Jesus to open the way to the Most Holy Place for us to enter (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19). We do not avail our self of this privilege as often as we should, because we focus too much on this life. Remind us that You dwell in us by Your Holy Spirit, and that He is the wind in our sails, which moves us through life according to Your will (Ephesians 2:10: Psalm 139:13)

Thought for the Day:

Fulfillment only comes to our life when we surrender all to God and rely only on His Spirit within us.

The "god" of This World

 

Before God created the Universe, He created angels (Revelation 5:11-14; Hebrews 1:14). Lucifer rebelled against God, and God cast him and his followers to earth. Then, Adam's sin forfeited dominion over the earth to Satan (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10; Revelation 12:10). However, we live in a scientific age now, where technology reigns and thoughts of the devil seem more like a medieval fairytale.

Most people today doubt the existence of the devil. They even discount the Bible’s teachings about the devil and demons and demonic activity in spiritual places. The world pictures Satan as an impotent, little red demon with a pitchfork, a long tail, and horns coming out of his head. Most people who believe in God still do not believe in the devil.

One of Satan’s greatest triumphs is in causing people not to take him seriously. He deceives people by masquerading as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14; Isaiah 14:12). Satan will do anything he can, and use any means at his disposal to oppose and try to destroy the work of God and to take people to hell with him. Hell is a place that is prepared for Satan, his demons and unbelievers (Matthew 25:41; John 3:18).

Many people are actually ignorant and blind to Satan's strategy, power and plans. Our self-confidence overestimates our own abilities and underestimates the power of our spiritual enemies. Yet, other people see the devil and demons behind every rock and in every person. Some churches preach about Satan more than they exalt our Lord, Jesus Christ. They have more fear of the devil then they have faith in God.

Satan cannot do anything to us without God's permission. Then, God uses that trial for our ultimate good (Job 1:6-12; Romans 8:28). God advises us to put on His armor to withstand our spiritual enemies (Ephesians 6:10-18). He gives great spiritual power to those who believe (Ephesians 1:19). Ultimately, Christ in us is greater than any demon or person in the world (1 John 4:4).

Prayer:

Father God, the devil targets lost sheep, in order to keep them addicted to the world, the flesh and his wiles (Ephesians 2:1-3). He walks about the earth as a lion, seeking people to destroy (1 Peter 5:8). Help us to take Your warning seriously about Satan being a thief who comes to pilfer, wound and mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually annihilate anyone silly enough to follow his plan for their life (John 10:10).

Thought for the Day:

The Bible makes it clear that Satan is still alive and well on planet earth; and he successfully infiltrates the mind of unbelievers and deals a mighty blow to each successive generation.

Read: http://www.amazon.com/Satan-Alive-Well-Planet-Earth/dp/0310277914

Satan’s Names:

Abaddon (“destroyer”) (Revelation 9:11)

The god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Accuser (Revelation 12:10)

Great Dragon (Revelation 12:9)

Adversary (1 Peter 5:8)

Lawless One (2 Thessalonians 2:18)

Apollyon (“destroyer”) (Revelation 9:11)

Liar (John 8:44)

Beelzebul (Matthew 12:24)

Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12)

Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15)

Murderer (John 8:44)

Deceiver (Revelation 12:9)

Prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2)

Devil (Luke 4:13)

Ruler of this world (John 12:31)

Enemy (Matthew 13:28, 39)

Satan (Acts 26:18)

Evil One (Matthew 13:28, 39)

Serpent (Revelation 12:9)

Father of lies (John 8:44)

Tempter (1 Thessalonians 3:5)

Part 2 - The Devil is Alive and Well

 

A fallen angel named Lucifer was given authority over the earth, when Adam and Eve forfeited their dominion to him in Paradise. He is the god of this world, and his objective is to deceive people and to draw them away from God. This world glorifies Satan and his demons through music, movies and mediums. He even has holidays, such as Halloween, and TV movies and cartoons, which desensitize people into accepting him as the norm.

Fortunetellers and astrologers use satanic power to convince people that they have the wisdom of foreknowledge to help them plan their life. Satan convinces us that God is more interested in controlling our life than in blessing it. He wraps his lies in pretty packages, so that people will believe them and reject God’s truth as the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:11). Satan has authority over every life, until we surrender Lordship over our life to Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:2).

Satan loves to make us blame God for all of the ills in the world. He gives us foul names to call God and encourages us to disrespect Him and diminish Him in the eyes of others. He undermines God’s purpose in our lives. He keeps us in turmoil and causes us to be afraid of God. God never tempts us to sin; but Satan’s favorite pastime is tempting us to indulge in our favorite transgression (James 1:13-14). Satan is bent on ruining our life.

 

The devil lures us into joining him in hell, as we relinquish our beliefs in divine revelation and power (Ephesians 1:19). However, once we realize his deception, and walk away from his hole on us, we come to see the reality that only Christ has all authority in heaven and on the earth (Matthew 28:18). God helps to spoil Satan’s plans for us as He leads us into the fruitful life, which He planned for us before we were ever born (Ephesians 2:10). Come to Christ today and submit your will, goals, plans and aspirations to Him.

Prayer:
Father God, I completely surrender my life to You. Free me from Satan’s bondage on my life and forgive all of my sins. I believe that You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to die in my place. I thank You for reaching out to me and offering me Your mercy and grace. Lead me into Your Truth and give me your everlasting life (Psalm 139:23-24). Fill me with Your wisdom and grace and help me to walk in Your power over Satan and hell (Romans 6:6-7). In Jesus’ name and for Your glory. Amen and Amen.

Thought for the Day:

Even if Satan tries to devour us, Jesus prays for us; and then uses us to strengthen others from what we learn through the things, which we suffer. - Luke 22:31-34