May We Be Aware What Is At Stake
“And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth,
(The Revelation to John 12: 13 & 16-17 NASB)
he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.”
. . .
But the earth helped the woman,
and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river
which the dragon poured out of his mouth.
So the dragon was enraged with the woman,
and went off to make war with the rest of her children,
who keep the commandments of God
and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
Have you ever taken a walk in the forest and paused to look up, to see the towering oak tree reaching toward the heavens?
- Have you ever been running through a manic Monday, only to pause, to bow your head, to see the truth that there is so much more than just chasing after the demands of the day?
- Have you ever paused to pray: “Slow me down, Lord.” ?
- Have you ever paused to ask your Father: “Help my roots grow deep, Lord.” ?
Have you ever desired for the Lord to grow you deeper into His soil, so that you could grow stronger in His purpose for your life?
Satan, the dragon, the Father of lies, the deceiver, the enemy, and the devil—
We need to know who we face.
&
We need to be aware what is at stake & how Satan intends to destroy us.
“And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth,
(The Revelation to John 12: 13 & 17 NASB)
he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.”
. . .
So the dragon was enraged with the woman,
and went off to make war with the rest of her children,
who keep the commandments of God
and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
We are at war!
- We are the people of God (the woman).
- We are the children of God (the redeemed).
- We have been given spiritual armor for this spiritual war we battle each day we live.
Satan hates us and wants to destroy us!
We must recall how sly Satan uses covert tactics to erode us. How, we may ask, could the devil ever destroy us? Let us pause to see how.
- Satan wants to distract us with busyness.
Consider and look at our calendars for today. How much of what we need ‘to do’ is focused on the demands of our careers and the pleasures of our hearts? Then seriously ask: Have we even prayed this morning, asking God what he would have us do within His will, this day?
- Satan wants to tempt us with comfort.
We work hard; many do. Consider how we can slide into the mindset that we ‘deserve to live comfortably,’ because of all the hard work we do. Have we even prayed this morning, asking God to lead us to our neighbor who has a need we can meet with one of the comforts He (the Lord) has blessed us with this week?
- Satan wants to derail our faith.
We only have one shepherd. His name is Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He alone cares for our needs; He keeps us walking the narrow path; and His Holy Spirit leads us to sow seeds of faith.
“For thus says the Lord GOD,
(The Book of Ezekiel 34: 11 & 15-16 & 31 NASB)
“Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.”
. . .
“I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord GOD.
I will seek the lost,
bring back the scattered,
bind up the broken and
strengthen the sick;
but the fat and the strong I will destroy.
I will feed them with judgment.”
. . .
“As for you, My sheep,
the sheep of My pasture,
you are men, and I am your God,” declares the Lord GOD.”
- Satan wants to make us follow the idols of our culture.
Consider what is REALLY at stake. There is TRULY only one GOD who we are to follow! Even though we are surrounded with so many other ‘pleasing and appealing’ idols (little gods), we are to continually keep our eyes on Jesus and worship only God.
Consider our human nature, and know child of God, how Satan knows our weaknesses. We must never forget how we are ONLY STRONG in the LORD!
The Bible tells us to ‘put on our spiritual armor’ daily.
For sure, yes, we are at war!
For sure, this war is real, follower of Jesus, for this war we battle every day is a spiritual warfare.
- Satan will fight to the death, for he knows his time is short.
- Satan will battle against the one who follows God, for the devil knows our eternity is secure within God, our Father and LORD.
Follower of Jesus—MAY WE BE AWARE WHAT IS AT STAKE!
&
Child of God—MAY WE FOCUS ON FULFILLING OUR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE!
“Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;”
(The Psalms 37: 7 & 9 & 11 NASB)
[To “Rest in the LORD” does not mean we remain in idleness, doing nothing.]
[To “Wait patiently for Him” never means we are motionless, not striving to witness to the lost.]
“Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”
. . .
“For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.”
. . .
“But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”