THE REALITY OF A REAL DEVIL

Posted on January 8, 2009

Most people believe the devil  is really just symbolic of evil, not a real fallen angel who's the sum of all that heinous and hellish. They think of him as an imaginary, little freakish-looking guy with a fork.

If we believe the Bible is God's sure and true Word, then we have to believe in the reality of a true Satan whose fury is relentless to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).  The Bible makes no doubt about this reality.

It isn't hard to observe a real devil in our devastated world.  He's behind the following:

Bodies blown to pieces by a terrorist bomb.
A child ravaged by famine.
The rape of a small child.
People without hope.
Divorce and suicide that leave emotions scarred and in shambles.
The urge to spend, spend, spend and borrow, borrow, borrow.
Busy-ness in the non-essentials of life.
Over-stimulation of the mind by weapons of mass distraction (media, amusements).
Skinny, beautiful models that focus on only outward beauty.
Little time for cherished time with God and family.


The devil desires to get our minds off God.  His mega concern is a loss of power over us.  So, he tries to pre-occupy us with busy-ness and destructive thoughts about ourselves -- how we're nothing but a worthless piece of monkey spit.

God fortunately has given us an offensive weapon against him. We can quash his ploys in this all-out war against him and his many fellow fallen angels.  

A most effective weapon is to be constantly in God's Word (Ephesians 6:17).  When we're immersed in the Word, we realize that when we are weak, we become strong through God's power (2 Cor 12:9).  
 
The Word instills in us that He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world -1 John 4:4.  (Read my 1/08/09 blog The Devil Trying to Kick my Butt)  
 
The devil wants to exploit our weakness to get control over us, but we can cheer up!  God can strengthen us beyond Satan's grasp (1 John 5:18).  Our strategy is to consistently humble ourselves before Him. We don't have to allow the devil to kick us in the butt.  We instead kick his!
www.menwhowin.com - for Gary's eight minute radio shows on this subject and others.

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The Devil Trying to Kick My Butt
by Gary Chester

The devil's temptations aimed at me in lust have been so strong at times that it's been as if I've literally being down in the floor wrestling with him.  For a period of time, his assaults came in waves a half dozen times every day.  He unfortunately kicked my butt too many times.
 
(Sorry, but I don't have time to finish this blog.  I'll do so by 1/15/09)
 
TO THE UNSAVED:  As I write this, I realize that if you've never received the gift of new life through the Holy Spirit, this blog most likely sounds like foolishness (I Cor 18-20) to you.  But if you're a wholehearted lover of God, you also have experienced intense battles in some kind of temptation (i.e. pride, anger, drugs, booze, materialism, shopping, etc). I'd like to know your story.  If I use your story in a newsletter or blog, your identity will remain anonymous.  gary@menwhowin.com

 


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