When we were last together I asked, "Did God leave us defenseless against these mighty wicked powers in the invisible ream? After He was baptized...Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil...and when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry...Matt. 4:1-2. Matthew goes on to explain how Jesus was tempted by Satan to follow the way of the flesh and worship him.
With every resistance to Satan's temptations, Jesus said...It is written! What is written? The reason that Jesus could successfully resist Satan's temptation to follow him was because He knew God's answer -- it was the immutable Word of God! When Jesus was hungry after the long fast, Satan said mockingly...If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.
Although Jesus had the power and authority to command the stones to become bread, He knew the wiles of the devil desired that He submit to the lust of the flesh. Jesus overcame Satan's temptation by saying...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God...Matt. 4:3-4. The allegiance of Jesus Christ was totally submitted to God -- not the world, the flesh or the devil! Jesus overcame the wiles of the devil for us - but we must overcome His way!
The final temptation was when Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, saying to Jesus...All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me...Matt 4:8-9. What did Jesus say? Away with you Satan! For it is written...You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve...Matt. 4:10.
Jesus, as a man, knew the Word of God, therefore, was able to defeat the temptations of Satan. Do you know the Word of God well enough to defeat the temptations Satan throws at you on a daily basis? Only God's Word can defeat the wiles of Satan. After Jesus shed His blood as a sacrifice for our sins, death and the fear of death was finally defeated. Satan was defanged spiritually, but still roamed the earth roaring like a lion seeking whom he may devour...I Pet. 5:8.
If the power and authority of Satan has been defeated by the blood of Jesus Christ, why is he allowed to roam the earth and roar -- creating chaos and destruction? Satan was defeated spiritually, but he is still god of this world and is allowed to tempt mankind until the end of the world. He has not faced his final judgment as yet.
When is his final judgment? At the end of the world, the earth and the works that are in it will burn up. At this same time, Satan will face his final judgment...the devil, who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are...and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever...Rev. 20:10.
In the meantime...the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds...II Cor. 10:4. The word strongholds means: Satan's arguments/deception against God/Jesus Christ. God has not left His followers defenseless against the mighty wicked powers in the invisible realm. But...we must use those spiritual weapons to defeat the wiles - deceptions/arguments - of the devil. If we do not use the spiritual weapons supplied to us by God -- we will be defeated!
What is the number one weapon that Satan uses against us? IGNORANCE! As a whole, the Church has neglected to emphasize to the followers of Jesus Christ that there are two real realms - worlds. The most important realm is the spiritual invisible realm. Why is it the most important realm? The spiritual invisible realm is eternal - was, is, and always will be. The earthly realm is physical and created by God -- it will burn up at the end of the age.
When we talk about something over and over again, it becomes real - clear in understanding. By the Church neglecting to discuss with the followers of Christ the importance of understanding the invisible realm, we have fallen prey to the world, the flesh and the devil. The Apostle Paul wrote...Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might...put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...Eph. 6:10-11. What is the armor of God?
The Apostle Paul said that after we have prepared ourselves according to God's instructions, we are to...stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness...and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one...and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...Eph. 6:14-18.
If Satan and his demons are not real why does the Bible have so much to say about protecting ourselves from these invisible entities. What are the fiery darts of the wicked one, which our shield of faith will quench? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
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