Enduring Satanic Attacks
Every believer faces temptation. Take a moment to recall a particularly enticing situation involving something that would displease God. Did you realize you were involved in a satanic battle?
The Devil is real. Scripture reveals that he leads an army of fallen angels and is prideful enough to think he can gain victory over God. By definition, a satanic attack is a deliberate assault upon an individual, which is designed to cause spiritual, physical, material, or emotional harm. Satan desires to thwart the Lord's purpose in believers' lives, to rob them of joy and peace, and ultimately to deny God the worship He receives through yielded followers.
As in any war, knowing the enemy's plan helps us prepare for the attack. First, be aware that the battlefield takes place in our minds. To walk in a godly manner with Christ, we must first be sure that our thoughts are in submission to His Spirit. This takes daily surrender and time in God's Word. Second, Satan tempts us during vulnerable moments. Be cautious when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (This is often known as the H.A.L.T. warning). Third, he is deceptive; we won't recognize the trap as an evil scheme. Instead, it will seem good, and we'll likely wrestle with some sort of doubt.
As in any war, knowing the enemy's plan helps us prepare for the attack. First, be aware that the battlefield takes place in our minds. To walk in a godly manner with Christ, we must first be sure that our thoughts are in submission to His Spirit. This takes daily surrender and time in God's Word. Second, Satan tempts us during vulnerable moments. Be cautious when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (This is often known as the H.A.L.T. warning). Third, he is deceptive; we won't recognize the trap as an evil scheme. Instead, it will seem good, and we'll likely wrestle with some sort of doubt.
As Christians, we should walk closely with Jesus. Satan desires to lure us into destructive actions that rob us of God's plan for a good, full life. Stay connected to the Savior: read the Word, pray, and fellowship with other believers. These are weapons we use against the Devil in spiritual war.
~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~
_____________________________
These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work (1 Chron. 4:23).
Anywhere and everywhere we may dwell "with the king for his work." We may be in a very unlikely and unfavorable place for this; it may be in a literal country life, with little enough to be seen of the "goings" of the King around us; it may be among the hedges of all sorts, hindrances in all directions; it may be furthermore, with our hands full of all manner of pottery for our daily task.
No matter! The King who placed us "there" will come and dwell there with us; the hedges are right, or He would soon do away with them. And it does not follow that what seems to hinder our way may not be for its very protection; and as for the pottery, why, that is just exactly what He has seen fit to put into our hands, and therefore it is, for the present, "His work."
--Frances Ridley Havergal
--Frances Ridley Havergal
Go back to thy garden-plot, sweetheart!
Go back till the evening falls,
And bind thy lilies and train thy vines,
Till for thee the Master calls.
Go back till the evening falls,
And bind thy lilies and train thy vines,
Till for thee the Master calls.
Go make thy garden fair as thou canst,
Thou workest never alone;
Perhaps he whose plot is next to thine
Will see it and mend his own.
Thou workest never alone;
Perhaps he whose plot is next to thine
Will see it and mend his own.
The colored sunsets and starry heavens, the beautiful mountains and the shining seas, the fragrant woods and painted flowers, are not half so beautiful as a soul that is serving Jesus out of love, in the wear and tear of common, unpoetic life.
--Faber
--Faber
The most saintly spirits are often existing in those who have never distinguished themselves as authors, or left any memorial of themselves to be the theme of the world's talk; but who have led an interior angelic life, having borne their sweet blossoms unseen like the young lily in a sequestered vale on the bank of a limpid stream.
~L. B. Cowman~
____________________________
When Your Feet Are Slipping…
BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.” Psalm 73:1
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Asaph, the author of Psalm 73, started his psalm by talking about the purity of a person’s heart and the goodness of God. Then he says, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped” (Psalm 73:2).
He had the idea that when he got right with God, that he wouldn’t have any more troubles. Are you sure about that? Yes! Psalm 73:13-14 says, “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.”
He said, “I got right with God and I still have problems!” He had a false expectation that the Bible doesn’t necessarily give. Christians are not due preferential treatment.
ACTION POINT:
Seek the Lord through His Word and in prayer. You will find the presence of God is enough, even in the midst of our trials.
“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.” Psalm 73:1
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Asaph, the author of Psalm 73, started his psalm by talking about the purity of a person’s heart and the goodness of God. Then he says, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped” (Psalm 73:2).
He had the idea that when he got right with God, that he wouldn’t have any more troubles. Are you sure about that? Yes! Psalm 73:13-14 says, “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.”
He said, “I got right with God and I still have problems!” He had a false expectation that the Bible doesn’t necessarily give. Christians are not due preferential treatment.
ACTION POINT:
Seek the Lord through His Word and in prayer. You will find the presence of God is enough, even in the midst of our trials.
~Adrian Rogers~
__________________________
Access
In talking about the Holy of Holies…that second part of the tabernacle behind the veil where the presence of God dwelt under the old covenant… Hebrews 9:7 says,
But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance.
Only the high priest could go into this part of the tabernacle, into God's presence. And he could go only one time each year to offer the blood of an animal to cover the sins of the people.
Then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.
You have access into the very presence of God. In fact, Hebrews4:16 says, Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
You do not have to go through a priest. You do not have to go through Pastor Bayless. You have immediate, constant access. In fact, God not only welcomes you, He desires you to come into His presence.
You know, my kids just barge into my office all the time. I can be in there having a meeting when the door just opens, "Hi, Dad! Got anything in your refrigerator?" They just come in like they belong there…and they do. I'm their father.
Your heavenly Father is the same way. He is not going to put you off and say, "You know what? You have to come through an angel. I'm sorry, but you cannot talk directly to Me."
Nope. You have direct access!
~Bayless Conley~
_________________________
Thou hast kept the good wind until now - John 2:10
The world gives its best first. As youth and beauty are ushered into the banqueting-room of life, the world spreads the table with its best. The zest of enjoyment is keen in those young days, but it is soon satiated; the delicacies with which the table is spread pall, and the appetite, unduly stimulated at the first, demands coarser and more passionate delights to stimulate. At last the table is served with provision, from which, in the first days, the banqueters would have turned away disgusted.
But if you let the King lead you into His banqueting house, beneath His banner of love you will find yourself feeding on dainties which never satiate nor pall - which whet the appetite and give the taste a more delicate appreciation of the vintages of heaven.
You may say this of the Word of God. - At the beginning of Christian life it is full of meaning and inspiration; but as the years pass, and we realize ever more of its helpfulness, we repeat the refrain, "Thou hast kept the best until now!"
You may say this of Christian love. - Let two love in Christ, and instead of their affection waning, as so often happens in the world, they will discover that the fellowship, which began in comradeship, will end in a sacramental meal; truest, purest, deepest enjoyment being kept for Paradise.
You may say it of heaven. - Neither hath eye seen nor heart conceived the things, even now and here, that God has prepared for those that love Him. But so soon as the redeemed spirit shall awaken in the uncreated glory of God's presence, it will exclaim, "The half was never told; Thou hast kept the best until now." At every moment and always God is giving His best.
~F. B. Meyer~
___________________________
God is angry with Ahab's continued sinful ways, and sends Elijah to confront Ahab about Naboth's murder and the subsequent taking of his property. But Ahab didn't act alone. 1 Kings 21:25 tells us that Jezebel "incited" Ahab to do wrong, and that's exactly what we've observed the past week or so as we've spent time in 1 Kings. Jezebel was a strong-willed and influential accomplice, who reinforced and magnified Ahab's sinful thinking and actions by her support, urging and help.
What do Ahab and Jezebel show us about the importance of aligning ourselves with godly minded people? Who are the people in your life that influence your thinking and actions? Are you being a positive influence to those around you?
~Tami~
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.