Tag: devil
The one who conquers!
Scripture reading for December 2nd: Esther 4-6, Revelation 2
Revelation 2: 8-11 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The Words of the First and the Last, Who died and came to life. “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you in prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Jesus Christ, the glorified Savior and Head of the Church, His Bride, spoke messages to John for each of the seven churches of Asia that John had oversight for. In each instance, Jesus gave commendation to them and then proceeded to instruct or warn them of their need to be overcomers–ones who conquered! Their battle was with Satan, the prince of darkness and he would seek to imprison, kill and destroy God’s people. They must do battle by standing firm in Christ’s Words and the victory of the cross. Those who remain faithful, even unto death, reap amazing rewards. Authority over nations, the crown of life, eating of the tree of life in paradise, hidden manna, a new name and the morning star are just a few!
Revelation 2:26-27 “The one who conquers and who keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from My Father.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Jesus Christ as our Savior and the promise of His return to reward each believer with amazing gifts of Your grace. Strengthen me today to stand firm in Christ’s victory over death and hell. I want to keep Your Word and do Your works until the end. I want my family, friends and neighbors to all know You and conquer the evil one through faith in Your Son.
Esther 4:14 “”For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?””
Whose father is yours?
Scripture reading for November 2nd: Ezekiel 22-24, Psalm 134, John 8
John 8: 39-44 “They answered Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to Him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father–even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of My own accord, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My Word. Your are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
The Jews came to Jesus and Jesus told them that if they would abide in His Word, they would know the truth and the truth would make them free. This offended them and they claimed that they were never slaves and did not need to be free. Jesus stated that everyone who sinned was a slave of sin. Freedom from sin could only come through Him. This really offended them and they were seeking to find a way to kill Jesus. Jesus carefully explained that if they were truly Abraham’s children, and God was their Father, they would love Him and believe His Word. But since they sought to kill Jesus and rejected the truth, they were under their true father, the devil. The fruit of this fatherhood is murder and lies! The fruit of true children of God is love, joy, peace and humble obedience and intercession for God’s people.
Ezekiel 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.”
Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for revealing Your love and heart to me through Jesus Christ, Your Son. I respond to Your love by loving You and seeking humbly to obey. I stand against the evil one, Satan, and his lies and murdering ways. Forgive those who are under that spirit and use me to share Your love and the Gospel that they might be saved and bless Your Name forever and ever.”
Psalm 134: 1-2 “Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!”
The accuser is conquered!
Scripture reading for December 17th: Revelation 12
Key Scriptures: Revelation 12:7-11 “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
The great tribulation, following the rapture of the saints, will be a time of great war in heaven. Michael, the arch-angel and protector of Israel will lead the fight against the dragon, Satan along with the fallen angels. The outcome of this war is certain–the dragon is defeated and his angels! He is cast out of heaven, no longer able to accuse the brothers of Jesus but knows he has only a short time to deceive, if possible the elect. He is thrown down to earth and the Jews of the tribulation who have now put their trust in Jesus Christ and His shed blood are martyred for their testimony and faithful stand. They overcome the devil, death, and hell through their unwavering faith! Praise our Lord for His great grace!
Revelation 12:12 “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, I am thankful that You have everything in heaven and on earth under Your almighty authority and Your will is being done with no one or nothing to hinder it. Thank You for Your grace for all who put their trust in the blood of Jesus Christ and give testimony to their faith. Help me to overcome the devil and his flood of evil, my flesh, and this world today by these amazing weapons of righteousness.
Revelation 12:16-17 “But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.”
Are you of God? Or Satan?
Scripture reading for November 24th: Zechariah 2-5; Psalm 93; 1 John 3
Key Scriptures: 1st John 3:7-10 “Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s Seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this is it evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”
John was concerned about deception in the church. False teachers came and spread the lie that it did not matter how you lived, receiving Christ in your spirit was all that was needed. John set the record straight by repeating the same thing several times and ways. If you practice sin, you are of the devil. If you practice righteousness and love your brothers and sisters, you are born of God and His “Seed” abides in you. We are not saved by works, but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. God’s “Seed”, His Word and Spirit, come to live in us and transform us into Christ’s image. Our fruit shows which one we belong to: either the devil or God.
Psalm 93:5: “Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits Your house, O Lord, forevermore.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I don’t ever want to be deceived. Thank You for the Holy Spirit and Your “Seed”, the Word given as grace gifts to form Christ’s holy character in me.
Zechariah 4:6 “Then he said to me, “This is the Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.””
The Perfect Sacrifice!
Scripture reading for February 18th: Leviticus 1-3, Psalm 27, Hebrews 2
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 2:9-10, 14-15 “But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” . . .”Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
The writer of Hebrews was sharing about how God sent Jesus to earth as the perfect and final sacrifice for our sins and to deliver us from the fear of death. Sin brings death and fear of punishment. Jesus came in a human body to experience death for us and destroy the devil who is enslaving us. But death did not hold Jesus, now crowned with glory and honor, at God’s right hand as our High Priest, made perfect through suffering.
Faith Confession and prayer: Thank You Jesus for sending Jesus as the perfect sacrifice. Help me to share the good news of Jesus suffering and death that all men might be delivered from the fear of death.
Leviticus 3:7-8 “If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord, lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it in front of the tent of meeting; and Aaron’s sons shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.”
Psalm 27:13 “I believe that I shall look on the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Resist your true enemy!
Scripture reading for November 14th: 1st Peter 5
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st Peter 5:8-11 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Peter understood spiritual warfare and the true nature of the enemy. Satan, the devil, is always looking for openings to attack believers. Over-comers are always on the alert for spiritual attacks and know how to stand firm in their faith. They know that this war is going on everywhere that God’s people reside. Suffering is usually temporary and will soon pass. God restores us and strengthens us as we trust Him.
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers live in a state of alert, ready to stand in truth for their faith. “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. . . He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.” (Psalm 112:1,7-8)