Help Wanted

Old_wood_help_wanted_sign_2

Today’s Reading – Ezra 1 – 2 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers Read – Romans 9 – 12; Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 27)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32

Read the “0527 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Read a previous post from this morning’s passage – “A Fresh Start

Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.   (Ezra 1:2-3)

After Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem, God commanded Cyrus, king of Persia, to rebuild the Temple. Everyone did their part. Some helped with the actual rebuilding and others gave toward the project.

Today, we also need everyone to support the building of churches.  Millions of Americans are in the greatest struggles of their lives. Financially we are facing rising unemployment, fears of a national recession – or even a depression. The dramatic stock market losses have taken huge amounts out of retirement accounts.  This is our new way of life: The “Lean Times.”

“Lean times” also may apply to some other areas of life. Relationships can be hard times, grief can leave a person in emotional ruins, and disease can attack. Faith challenged. If you face “lean times,” you’ll need a good foundation Jesus Christ.

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” (Ephesians 2:20)

King Cyrus would not be impressed with our version of hard times.  He would tell us, you can choose either defeat, or a victory. His was victory.

Let’s band together and continue the work so the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be heard around the world.


Posted in Thoughts from Ezra by with 2 comments.

JUST FOR LADIES – By Camille Stahl

pinky-swear

Keep Your Word

Today’s Passage – Judges 11 – 13 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – 1 John 1 – 5; Proverbs 24; Psalms 116 – 120)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 51

Read the “0324 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” (Judges 11:30-31)

This story in our scripture reading always amazed me.  There are so many truths you can glean from it but today I would like to focus on keeping your word, a vow.

Here we have the account of Jephthah, the son of a harlot. The Bible says his mother married Gilead and they had other sons. Now, like in many blended marriages, children will fight over the inheritance left by parents, and this was true of Jephthah’s brothers. So they sent him away. But when times got rough, they sent for him to lead them in battle. Now in verse 30, Jephthah makes a vow (deal or promise) to God, and God kept His end of the deal. Israel defeated the children of Ammon. In verse 31, we read the vow, ‘Whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me … I will offer it up for a burnt offering.’ After the war, he returned home and his only child, his daughter, came dancing in through the door of his home. At the end of Judges 11, we read that Jephthah kept his word that he vowed to the Lord and sacrificed his only beloved daughter to the Lord.

Keeping our word is a lost trait. Nowadays a hand shake just won’t do it. People just don’t keep their word. The Bible calls them fools.

“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” (Ecclesiastes  5:4-5)

How often are our children disappointed because of a promise we made to them, and then broke it? I think it’s similar to when we pray to God and He doesn’t answer the way we want Him to. Have you ever lent someone money and they promised to pay you back and didn’t? Maybe you did a job and didn’t get paid what you were supposed to. Keeping our word honors God. After all, He always keeps His.

Let’s try to do our best to keep our word and to show others the love of Christ.

Thank You

John 3:16

 

 


Posted in Devotions by with no comments yet.

JUST FOR LADIES – By Camille Stahl

Count Your Blessings

Today’s Passage – Deuteronomy 29 – 31 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Philippians 1 – 4; Proverbs 10; Psalm 46 – 50)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32

Read the “0310 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.” (Deuteronomy 29:3-4)

We see Israel before they crossed over the Jordan into Canaan, the Promised Land. Moses was reminding them of all the things that had happened to them on their journey from Egypt. They watched as the Red Sea destroyed their enemies. They saw water coming out of a rock and manna falling from the sky. They never had to buy shoes, and they saw the Lord do many other amazing miracles. They were to be lead away from sin, so that they could worship God freely. But, they kept failing – something would happen and the children of Israel would mummer and complain. They desired to return to their former life in Egypt.  Then, they would repent and God would bless; and the cycle would start all over again. That’s why Moses was reminding them of their blessings.

But let’s not be so hard on the children of Israel. Are we not just as guilty? Let’s take a look.

We come to a very low point in our lives where we turn to the Lord (Israel’s 400 years in bondage). We accept what Jesus did on the cross and He becomes our Saviour (Israel flees from Egypt). You start going to church, read and learn God’s word, and make other changes in your life (Israel sacrificed in the wilderness). We follow the first teaching and get baptized, (the crossing of the red sea). Then, the honeymoon is over and the trials of everyday life happen (they had no water and they also got tired of the manna God supplied). We think, ‘I had it better before’, and we want to go back to the old ways. Our heart is set to return to the land of sin and the corruption, then we fail which brings destruction instead of life (Israel wanting to go back to Egypt). We are so quick to forget what God has done for us. With living the life that God has for us, we should bring others into the Promised Land forsaking our former life.

God really wants us to have the good life, but we have to want it too.

If we are not thankful for what we have, then God may withhold other things from us. But, if we are truly thankful for all that we have then God seems to pour out His blessings abundantly upon us. Instead of grumbling over what we don’t have, we should be a living testimony of Christ by doing what He told us to do.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Remember that in God’s kingdom there is no pain or mourning or death. A pure heart does not just seek after material things, but seeks ways to serve and please God.

So when Satan is tempting you to turn aside from the ways of God and you are thinking of going back to Egypt, walk away from those people and situations that pull you down.

Thank You

1 John 5:13


Posted in Just for Ladies by with 1 comment.

JUST FOR LADIES – By Camille Stahl

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Have you ever had to go someplace and didn’t know how to get there? You would never just get in a car or enter a plane or other form of transportation without first getting the directions. You may ask someone for directions or look at a map or a GPS to help you start your journey. But the bottom line is you need directions.

Heaven is a place where one needs direction to get to. It’s not found on a map or in any GPS. Other places you’ve been before, have several ways to get there. Most faraway places are very costly.

Heaven’s way is only One Way.  In the Bible, there are many verses that can lead you to the Only Way.  Let’s look at the Romans Road Way.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

And just one more from 1 John:

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (1John 5:13)

God promises His children Heaven. He didn’t leave it to His children to figure out the way. He gave a ‘road map’ for the journey, the Bible. Need directions?

Thank You

John 3:16


Posted in Just for Ladies by with no comments yet.

JUST FOR LADIES – By Camille Stahl

DROP

 

                                                                

Today’s Passage – Exodus 22 – 24 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 9 – 10;  Proverbs 27Psalms 131 – 135)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Ephesians 4:32

Read the “0127 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Are You A Drip?

“A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.”  (Proverbs 27:15)

Contentious means brawling, (i.e. fighting).

Think with me for a moment.  It’s was a beautiful summer day.  It was a great day with fun and excitement.  You’re looking forward to another day of friends and family.  It’s going to rain this night but all is well because the weather prediction is sunshine by morning.    Your PJ’s are on, and as you rest your head on the pillow, you hear the start of the rain.  Life can’t get any better.  You start to doze off and you hear, “drip, drip, drip.”  At first you’re ok with it but after several hours of the dripping noise, you’re about to lose your mind.

Again, think with me ladies.  You’re husband just came home from a hard day of work.  His boss and co-workers have been giving him a hard time.  Other pressures of life have been on his mind throughout the day.  He’s tired and stressed out.  He’s looking forward to coming home to a haven of rest from the trials of this world.  Husband opens the door and you’re waiting there. For the rest of the night all you do is complain, nag, put him down or whatever and it all ends in a fight.  Not only that, you do the same with your children.  On the other hand men, you may be the one who hands out the harshness in your home.

I am sensitive to the thought that we all have hard days.  We all have pressures in life and are looking for a way out.  But taking out on others is not the answer.  We have a God who loves us and is always available to lay our burdens on.  He is the only one who can satisfy.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30)

“To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”  (Titus3:2)

Our task is not going to be easy but the end results has great rewards.

Are you a drip?

Thank You

1 John 5:13


Posted in Just for Ladies by with no comments yet.

JUST FOR LADIES – By Camille Stahl

Pharaoh's Daughter Finds Moses Exodus 2:3-6

 

Today’s Passage – Exodus 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 11 – 12Proverbs 20Psalms 96 – 100)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 121

Read the “0120 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

  Pharaoh’s Daughter

 “And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.   And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.  And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.  And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.  And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.  And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”   (Exodus 2:1-6)

Today, in the world’s eyes, being important and well known is everything. But, is it really?  Pharaoh’s daughter was educated, powerful, and well known in her time.  She had all that anyone could ever have: wealth, servants, beautiful clothing….  Her father was the ruler of Egypt.  He just commanded, that all Hebrew boys 2 years old and younger be drowned in the Nile River.  When she saw the baby, the Bible says she had compassion on him.  She was brave enough to disobey her father and kept the baby.  She would later raise Moses in the house of Pharaoh.  The education, and training, helped Moses in many areas of his life; and God used him in a mighty way.

Even with the important role she played, and what she did, no one knows her name.  The Bible doesn’t say if she came to know the God of the Hebrews, but God placed the right woman in the right place at the right time.

How many people do you know that may be unsaved that performs good deeds?  A coworker, a family member, your friends.  God can use the unsaved to fulfill his will in our lives.  God can use different people to fulfill His goals.  However, He never forces them to have faith in Him.

There are many daughters of Pharaoh living among us.  They are guided by God and doing His will but lost.    We see them and think all is well.  They have it all, as Pharaoh’s daughter, and yet they have nothing.

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”     (Matthew 16:26)

Will you reach out to one today?  Will you give them a tract or invite them to church?  We can all rejoice when they come to know Jesus too!

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”  (Matthew 9:37-38)

Thank You

1 John 5:13


Posted in Just for Ladies by with 1 comment.

JUST FOR LADIES – By Camille Stahl

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

Today’s Passage –Genesis 33 – 35 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read –Matthew 25 – 26Proverbs 13Psalms 61 – 65)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 55:17

Read the “0113 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from today’s reading – “Lead On Softly

STAY HOME

“And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.” (Genesis 34:1)

This sad story begins with a young girl Dinah, who comes to a new country and unwisely goes out to seek friends.  Just a side note, some say she was between the ages of 12 and 16.   This is an age where most young people try to leave the ‘nest’ to make their own life.  The friends she sought were not of her own people.  They were daughters of a pagan nation.  While away from home in the world, she was raped by Shechem, son of Hamor the Canaanite, a ruler.  Shechem then wanted to marry Dinah, but we learn that her brothers went on a killing spree.

It’s not much different today.  Our young children are bombarded with all kinds of temptations.  It’s everywhere.  They are encouraged to rebel against the wishes of their parents.  Parents get so frustrated that they give in as their children draw away from them and their family values.  These young children, barely teens, enter a world they know nothing about.

Our Bible is the source we can go to, to study out what it says about family, so we can have a successful plan.  It’s important to teach our children at a young age who to associate with.  Also that even a simple decision can impact a life forever.

Thank You

Proverbs 22:6


Posted in Just for Ladies by with 1 comment.

SATURDAY MORNING POST – By Camille Stahl

camels

Today’s Passage – Genesis 27 – 28 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read –Matthew 19 – 20; Proverbs 10; Psalm 46 – 50)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 48:1 & 2

Read the “0110 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from this passage – “The House of God” and “Savory Meat

Rebekah, From Triumph To Failure

“And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.   And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.   And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.   Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:  And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.   And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.   And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.   And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.   And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.   And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.”  (Genesis 24: 10-19)

“And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.   And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.   Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.   Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.”  (Genesis 27:5-10)

Rebekah was a hard worker with a kind spirit, excited about doing God’s will.  Her day started like most of ours.  She got up, got dressed, and went to work, but this day was different.  While at work she met a man.   She served him by giving him and his camel’s water.  Rebekah was friendly and invited him to meet her family.  There was no thought when she said yes to the question “Will you go with this man?”   This was a great step of faith.  She would leave her family to go into an unfamiliar land to marry someone she never met, but she was willing.  She loved and served Issac.  Isaac and Rebekah served the Lord together and later Esau and Jacob were born.

In chapter 27, the Bible tells us that Rebekah loved Jacob more than Esau.  This may have been because Isaac favored Esau.  I only had one child, so I don’t fully understand sharing love between two children, however, I’ve seen the results of parents showing favor towards one child.  This was Rebekah’s down fall.  What was it that turned the heart of Rebekah from a kind spirited servant of God, to a deceiver?  The Bible doesn’t say, but we all know who’s behind all evil.

Rebekah’s life is much like the Christian life.  We are out and about doing our daily routine, when we meet someone who asks the question “Will you go with this man (Jesus)?”  We willingly say yes and except the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and begin to serve Him.  We work by serving others in church and in the community and are excited about it.  We lose the old man and start allowing the “New Spirit” to take control.  We do things and go places where we’ve never been before.  We invite strangers into our lives to help them find their way to the Lord.  But as we get on in our Christian lives, like Rebekah, we allow satan to creep in.  We love the Lord (Esau) but we really like the way of the world (Jacob).  We are divided.  Be careful not to make bad decisions when stepping towards the world.

I pray that if you find yourself in Rebekah’s shoes, that you will turn your attention back towards the Lord.  Remember “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”     (1 John 1:9)

“My eyes are dry, my faith is old, my heart is hard, my prayers are cold.  And I know how I aught to be, alive to you and dead to me.  But what can be done, for an old heart like mine, to soften it up with oil and wine.  The oil is You, Your Spirit of love, please wash me a new, in the wine of your blood.” (A Song By: Keith Green)

Thank You

1 John 5:13 – 14


Posted in The Saturday Morning Post by with no comments yet.

JUST FOR LADIES – By Camille Stahl

Sarah with Isaac

 

Today’s Passage – Genesis 17 – 19 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 11 – 12; Proverbs 6; Psalm 26 – 30

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 25

Read the “0106 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from this passage –”Don’t Look Back“, “Abraham Did a Little Walking With God, Too” and “The Prayer of a Friend

THE STUDY OF SARAH

 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. (Genesis 18:9-14)

Abraham and Sarah lived a secure life in Ur, with friends and family. One day God appeared to Abraham and told him to leave his land and go to a place which He would point out to him. Most women would find it hard to leave their home to face an unknown future, but Sarah got on board and stood behind her husband, obeyed God and went willingly. After moving over 600 miles away, God told Abraham to move again. All the while Sarah was waiting for the promise of God to bear a child.

Abraham and Sarah continued moving around, and because of a famine, they decided to move to Egypt. For the first time Sarah saw Abraham not take council from God. She must have really questioned her husband when he asked her to tell the people she was his sister. Here was a man who walked beside God now running ahead. Sarah honored her husband, and God honored Sarah by protecting her in Egypt. Sarah knew from experience that to live a life of faith she would need to be patient. Faith and patience go together. You can’t buy them, you have to experience them. But Sarah was growing older and now past her days of child bearing. She suggested to Abraham that he take a Hagar as his concubine. Although these things happened frequently back then, it was still wrong because of her lack of faith.

A year after God appeared to them again, Sarah conceived and gave birth to a child. Finally the promise from God.

Today, we have two nations from the loins of Abraham: the Arabs, the descendants of Ishmael; and the Jews, the descendants of Isaac. They are still at war with each other, all because Sarah ran ahead of God.

We too must follow by God’s side. Never running ahead or dragging behind. Move when God moves us, wait when He is working. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  If you ever walked in the woods at night with a flashlight, you know you must walk next to the one holding the light. Too far behind or ahead, you are in darkness. You might go down the wrong path, stumble or fall. So let’s take the Saviour’s hand and walk together by His side.

In conclusion, I do not want to leave Sarah on a sour note. Sarah’s had experienced many sacrifices. Her faith grew after the birth of her son Isaac.  She experienced hardships and disappointments all without complaints. She was flexible with the changes that were made in her life. By her obedience to Abraham, she allowed him to obey God. In Hebrews 11, she was honored for the faith she did have, not because of her failures.

Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy Blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God I come…

Thank You

1 John 5:13


Posted in Just for Ladies by with no comments yet.

JUST FOR LADIES – By Camille Stahl

JESUS AND SATAN

 

 

Yeaaaaah!

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)

This is my favor verses concerning the devil.  I thank God I read the back of the book.

Soon Christ will return for His bride, when the dead in Christ shall be raised and the living shall be changed.  The church and the Holy Spirit will be taken and the tribulation will begin.  Satan will give every effort to gain control of the earth.  He will give power to the Antichrist who will gather the armies to the battle of Armageddon.  At the end of the tribulation, Christ will return to the earth with the saints, riding on a white horse.  He will win the battle for His children at Armageddon.  Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years.a  The flesh that remains, both great and small, will be devoured by the ‘fowls of the air’.  Revelation 19b ends stating, “All the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

But that’s not Satan’s end.

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”(Rev 20:1-3)

After the awful condition of the tribulation and battle, Jesus will live and reigned on earth.   Satan will no longer have the power to  destroy, and disrupt.  But when the thousand years are over, Satan returns to stir up strife against the saints of the Lord.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

But be of good cheer, Satan may win many battles but he WILL lose the war!

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.   (Revelation 20:10)

Satan’s desire is to destroy and take every soul to Hell that he possibly can.  A saved soul is a testimony to God’s power therefore he desires to keep people from accepting Christ.

Satan hates Christians.  He causes people to murmur against God and to complain.  He leads them to worship false idols and gods.  Churches have often been torn apart.  He makes us feel unworthy to be called a child of God.  He loves to destroy families, he wants to destroy your life.  The only way we can conquer Satan and cause him to flee from us, is through the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So if it seems that Satan has a hold on your life and there’s no way out, remember this, some day Satan will bow before the Lord Jesus.

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:10-11)

Just as God destroyed the Egyptians, Satan will be cast out, no longer able to hold his power over you and never shall you be tempted by him or anyone again.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.  (Exodus 14:13-14)

So when the devil reminds you of your past [sins], remind him of his future.

Amen!


Posted in Devotions by with no comments yet.