Tag: Luke 22
Satan entered Judas
Scripture reading for April 2: Luke 22
“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priest and the scribes were seeking how to put Him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of a crowd.” Luke 22:1-6
If our world view does not give any credence to the spirit world, we lack the discernment of spirits needed to avoid deception. In the natural world, many people believe in Satan and demons and understand that they cause evil. Some have experienced Satan entering them or someone they know and seen the tragic results. Believers in Jesus have God’s Word that explains the clash of the spiritual kingdom of darkness and death with the Spirit of God and Life. We are wrestling against these wicked spiritual entities as we preach the Gospel and are used in spiritual Gifts of healing and deliverance. We recognize that evil, sickness, disease, confusion, strife and hatred are indications of Satan’s work and possible indwelling.
As Jesus was preparing for the Passover with His disciples, Judas Iscariot left the company of disciples and invited Satan to indwell him. We are not told exactly how this happened in Scripture. Judas was the keeper of Jesus’ money bag and had been taking for himself. Judas had participated in the ministry by going out and healing and casting out devils. Judas was not implicated by other disciples when Jesus announced His betrayal at the meal. Judas betrayed his Master by going to the chief priests and bargaining for a price of betrayal. Judas would be directly confronted by Jesus at the Last Supper about his betrayal. (Luke 22:22-23) His tragic end was taking his own life without evident repentance.
How would you rate your understanding of the spirit world and Satan’s power to enter someone? Have you ever experienced Satan’s enticement to evil? What are some steps to preventing Satan from entering you or your family?
Prayer: Father God, I thank You that You are a good Father and a Life-giver and that You are love. Thank You for delivering me from Satan’s grip through the Gospel. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me daily in discernment of spirits and resisting the devil that he would flee from me and my family. Amen.
Standing with Jesus is rewarded!
Scripture reading for April 1st: Luke 22
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 22:28-31 “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as My Father conferred one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
The disciples had stood by Jesus in his many trials and He promised them great reward! They would receive a ‘kingdom’! They would join Jesus at His table in His kingdom, eating and drinking with Him as His trusted friends! But Simon also received a warning concerning an attack on his faith! Satan would come to sift him and wheat is sifted to separate the grain from the chaff. Jesus promised Simon (Peter) that He personally had prayed for him that his faith would not fail but would hold up in the sifting. He even told him that he would be restored and then he must strengthen his other brothers. This is what is called a ‘word of knowledge’ used by Jesus to strengthen their faith.
Observations for over-comers: Strong faith is required for over-comers. Jesus prays for His disciples and we must strengthen and encourage each other to lay hold of the kingdom! “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.” (Proverbs 12:24)
Get up and pray!
Scripture reading for April 2nd: Luke 22
The first followers of Jesus as His disciples were called by their master to watch and pray during an all-night prayer vigil following the last Passover meal. They had come to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. “On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:40-42)
Jesus knew that the temptation to run and deny Him would attack His followers. He knew that they needed the Father’s help, as He did, to stand against the temptation. He simply called them to watch and pray. He went further by Himself and prayed earnestly. The Scripture says that His sweat became like “drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) He desired to be released from the cup of suffering that had been given to Him, mirrored by the cup He had given His disciples a few hours earlier. It was a cup representing His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. Angels came and strengthened Jesus as He prayed!
“When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:45-46) Jesus, Himself, had pressed through in prayer, but the disciples had fallen asleep. We are really helpless to save ourselves by our own efforts. Jesus’ prayed for them that their faith would not fail as He now intercedes for us. We also must watch and pray as He taught us: “Lead us not into temptation, ” (Luke 11:4)