Matthew 16: Recognizing Evil’s Source
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (NKJV)
Lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)
As any seasoned soldier would affirm, you must KNOW a villain to DEFEAT him. Because if you don't recognize his ways (a.k.a. the enemy's devices)...
He'll keep hitting you with surprise attacks. Therefore, defending yourself doesn’t work, assisting others is ineffective, and winning the war seems impossible!
Think of it this way:
The devil “dresses up” quite handsomely! He's not only mesmerized our culture, he's pinned it through a media chokehold.
As 'The prince of the power of the air' (Ephesians 2:2), Satan has brilliant battle strategies (but never, ever, as BRILLIANT as God)!
As God’s soldiers, consider Satan’s goals:
To win lonely prey (yes, prey!) to his side with a stream of entertaining exploits: to dazzle, frazzle, and dumb people down… until they follow his cons as groupies. He chains them with varying addictions– many of which seem common and harmless, but clueless to most, they can be fatal.
To permeate the church with worldliness– because baby faith doesn't know enough, and pretend faith is all about winning… rather than practicing humility. Big prizes, possessions, and positions can make us look like Earth’s king– not Jesus. Many churches have crumbled from their weight.
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
When Peter spoke of his worldly concerns (concerns that seemed to be reasonable), Jesus quickly identified their source: Satan, the King of Con and worldliness.
Therefore, when you’re (reasonably) angry with someone speaking something just plain WRONG, remember the actual enemy.
Learn the tactics of spiritual war.* While Christ won the ultimate victory, man-to-demon warfare must still be fought.
Your Captain gave you the strength and savvy to push evil forces back and away… until He returns to finish the job.
Matthew 16: Recognizing Evil’s Source (Part 20)
* After God, my favorite Christian author on Spiritual Warfare, Derek Prince: http://www.derekprince.org
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God– to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!