1 Peter 5:8 (NIV); “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I have read this verse hundreds of times in my lifetime and I always get something new from it. I was talking with Jesus this morning and here is the message that I believe He gave me today. As we do the very best that we can daily to get closer to our Jesus, we are fighting a spiritual battle. To his credit (and it is the ONLY time I will give him credit) Lucifer knows his enemy. He directs his minions to attack each Christian where they are most vulnerable. He orders his imps and demons to hit the God fearing where the most casualties can be had. He will twist our very own scriptures to mean something they don’t and convince us that it is God’s will. He is a spiritual terrorist and his tactics are time tested and they work. Think of how many awesome men and women of God have been cut down due to errors in thinking. Our enemy is no different than the Islamic radicals of today or the Christians of the crusades. He tries to impose his will in every situation so that he can direct the outcome and that outcome, for him, is our spiritual death for eternity. Seems pretty hopeless doesn’t it. How can we possibly win a battle when we can’t see the enemy coming? The answer is in the above scripture. We must be self-controlled and alert at all times. We do that by building a personal relationship with Jesus. We learn the tactics of our enemy by reading the war strategy laid down in the Word of God. We don’t rely on others to tell us how a Christian is supposed to act or what we are supposed to look like. Just as the enemy takes on the camouflage of an angel of light, we can hide ourselves in plain sight as well. We can arm ourselves with knowledge and wisdom and folks, that is the last thing that Lucifer wants us to do. With knowledge comes understanding. With understanding comes wisdom. With wisdom comes discernment. With discernment comes the ability to see the enemy coming. When we can see the army of darkness coming, it takes away their most effective weapon…the element of surprise. When they can no longer sneak up on us, they have no heart for the fight. Does this mean that once we’ve won the battle that they won’t return? Let’s answer that question with the word of God. In the fourth chapter of Luke we read about how Lucifer took Jesus in the wilderness and tempted Him. Lucifer tried to use the word of God against Jesus by twisting its meaning during that time which is the same thing he tries to do to us. After Jesus had finally resisted Lucifer, in verse 13 the word says, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him until an opportune time.” If the enemy will come back and battle our Lord and Savior who is God Himself in the flesh when a better opportunity arises, then do we really think he won’t do the same to us? This is the reason for being alert at all times. Stand your ground, soldier and be the warrior God called you to be! Pray and seek knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Above all else, Live a JOYOUS life in Christ. God Bless.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 12:30:22 +0000
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