BE CARE! EVIL IS OUT THERE!

Evil is tricky. The devil is tricky. He comes in like an angel of light(See 2 Corinthians 11:14).Satan is a deceiver,a counterfeit,  a manipulator and a liar. He is sort of like the email that says 'do not open unless this is a trusted source'. Sometimes we think the email is trusted and open it only to find out it was a hacker or spam and it fries our hard drive and crashes the computer. Satan is like that. In the world there is good and there is bad. There is light and there is darkness. Light shines out and gets rid of the darkness. Satan is in the dark and tries to drag us down into the dark pit with him. But we are overcomers and do not have to cower to his lies and tricks.

John 16:33 says "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." We are from God and serve God. We do not serve Satan. He is the prince of the power of the air. He may try to torment us now but we know 'the end of the story' according to God's Holy Word. 1 John 4:4 says "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." Say that out loud. Say  "Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world." Say it over and over and believe it!

Some people say "God is their father" but they do not do what he says or follow him. It is easier to follow the world and its' ways than to be dedicated to living a life pleasing to God. John 8:42-44 says "Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.  Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Those who know God listen to his voice and try to please Him. Just as with earthly fathers we want to obey them and honor them.

Some folks make a mockery of the word 'evil' but it is a real thing and Satan is behind it. We all have sin in our life. It is necessary to confess our sin then to try to not repeat it. Isaiah 59:1-2 says "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.  But your iniquities have separated  you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you,  so that he will not hear." 

You can overcome evil by doing good. Let's say someone is being ugly and mean spirited to you. Instead of lashing back at them, which is a 'human response', try instead to pray for them and do something good for them. Romans 12:21 says "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

1 Peter 3:9 says "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." Through the strength of the Holy Spirit who indwells you if you have asked Jesus into your heart you have the power to walk out of darkness and into the marvelous light of Jesus. You can resist evil and it will flee. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that we are in a spiritual battle and it reads "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Pray for those who are being used as instruments to bring evil and injustice into the world and pray for the voice of God to never be silenced.

PRAYER: Lord God I want to do what is right in your eyes. Give me the strength to resist the attacks of the enemy who scripture says is 'prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may destroy.' I am a child of God and the enemy has to flee. In Jesus name. Amen.