Satan and his Cohorts - Itty-bitty Imps.

 

Satan, also known as Lucifer, (Lucifer: the shining one, the light bearer, the day star) comes to kill, steal and destroy. His sole power is deception. If he can talk you into believing your problem really exists, then your problem will be made manifest in your life.

If I could convince you, Satan is nothing more than a paper mâché piñata, which with one good swipe of a bat would crumble and fall apart, you’d no longer be deceived.

His cohorts (little devils) too, are nought but itty-bitty imps with big mouths, according to American evangelist Andrew Wommack, who also states; “imps are smaller than an ant.” If we but knew how insignificant they are, we would be shocked. If we could see one in the flesh, we would most likely utter: Is this it! Is this all I’ve been afraid of?

Remember FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real. That’s all Satan can do, twist and lie about the evidence, causing you to think it’s real.

God’s word says in Psalm 91: He will deliver you. He will be with you in trouble. He will rescue you. He will honour you, with a long and satisfying life. If you believe that, you will come out the other side of your adversity, stronger, wiser, and with a deeper conviction of faith.  

Man (and woman) were given all authority to rule on Earth. When we choose to use that authority, to believe in and act on the word of God, we can overcome Satan’s devilish schemes.

God doesn’t control how we live. He gave us choice and free will. Yes, there’s an element of uncertainty in life, however we control what we do, when life throws us curveballs.

God gave us freedom of choice. He also gave us all authority. It’s up to us to stand, to use our authority, if we wish to see good success in our lives. It’s up to us, not to follow the wiles of the devil, but to be renewed in mind and body. To renew the mind and body, is to stand on the promises of God, apply what those promises tell us to do and to overcome all that stands in our way. Whatever negative looms big in your life, God’s word promises to defeat it.

Sometimes God allows us a season with the devil, to humble us, to wake us up and get our attention. God wants to use you and to bring you to a place of full faith. We can develop strong faith through adversity, if we put our trust in God. An easy life, brings with it, weak faith. If you’re not tested, you don’t grow. You don’t know what you’re made of, until you're tested. If you don’t quit during the battle, you will see victory at the end of the conflict.

The devil only has deceit. He can do nothing, without your coming into agreement with his lies. Once you put God in perspective, once you remind yourself how great your God is, you will see how insignificant is this little gnat of hatred that’s working against you.

God threw Satan out of Heaven and told him, on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust (Gen 3:14). And that’s all he is today, a snake in the grass. He’s nothing but a liar. All you need to do, is not believe the lies.

If you find yourself in fear, know that it’s Satan, slithering around your feet. God’s word says you will tread on the lion and the serpent, you will trample them under foot. Turn to God and stand on the promises of God’s word. Read Psalm 91 for yourself and defeat the devil in your life.

Remember God will deliver you. He will be with you in trouble. He will rescue you and honour you with a long and satisfying life. You will move past this point and you will be victorious, because God promises it and God’s word is truth.

 

Alexandra Grose - A photojournalist and author for over twenty years. Writing is her passion and her dream and helping others achieve their dreams, through her written work, is Alexandra's greatest aspiration.

 

 

#Integrity; truthfulness, honesty and reliability, in all things.

I believe one should....be truthful in everything you say and do. Keep all relationships open and honest. Be reliable, punctual and organised and if you say you'll do it - do it.

If you want to soar like an eagle, make an effort, not an excuse.

 

alexandragrose@amazon.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thrice Denied

Peter denied Jesus three times. He wept bitterly when the cock crowed and Jesus looked at him pointedly, just before being taken away for crucifixion. At some point, Peter was with John on the road to Emmaus, when he first gazed upon Jesus after Jesus was crucified. Peter, impetuous Peter, who denied Jesus during His greatest hour, saw Jesus again after the resurrection, whilst fishing on the Sea of Galilee.

Peter was so excited to set his eyes on Jesus, he jumped out of the boat and swam to the beach, where Jesus was preparing breakfast in the early morning light, for the seven disciples. After the crucifixion, seven of the disciples had gone back to what they knew…fishing. Though they’d been out all night they’d caught nothing, until Jesus called to them and told them to let their nets down on the other side of the boat and then they caught a boat load of fish. Do you know, with Jesus on board, nothing is impossible?

Peter jumped from the boat, when He heard Jesus call out. You see, Peter knew the voice of Jesus. Peter had spent three years with Jesus and knew, even from the distance of the ocean to the sands, that it was Jesus calling to them.

By the time Peter had swum to shore, Jesus was working over a coal fire, cooking life giving fish and bread. Where did Jesus get the fish and the bread? The bible doesn’t tell us. What the bible does say is Jesus was cooking over coals. Why a coal fire and not a fire of sticks, or even dried camel dung (for no matter how insignificant something is, it all has a purpose in God’s creation.)?

Burning coal is mentioned several times in scripture: It symbolises judgement and spiritual purification. It allows righteousness and justice, in the hope of bringing repentance. Coal is represented in the bible as cleansing, as in the burning of the lips by coal, to take away iniquity and purge of sin (Isaiah 6:6-7).

Peter had denied Jesus thrice and thrice Jesus asked Peter; “Do you love me?” Jesus not only asked that, but He reverted back to using Peter’s original name of Simon. Jesus had changed Simon’s name to “Peter” saying, “and on this rock I will build My church…” (Matt 16:18), when Peter decided to join the disciples early on in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus knew Peter would deny him, right from the start, but Jesus accepted Peter into the fold just the same, as He does with all of us.

In reverting back to the name Simon, Jesus was subtly bringing up the denials Peter used when the Roman soldiers came to capture Jesus in the dark of night. Three denials in the subsequent hours, followed later by the three questions of do you love me.  

In using the name Simon, while working over the hot coals, Jesus was cleansing the sin of each denial from Peter. He was asking Peter, do you love me, so Peter would acknowledge Jesus and turn back to Him.

After Peter confirmed he loved Jesus, Jesus never again called Peter Simon. Peter’s repentance was used by God to show us, it doesn’t matter how far we fall, Jesus can meet us there and bring us back and He will never again bring up the sin, which caused us to pull away.

When the Israelites left Egypt, not one of them were sick. There would have been elderly, frail, maimed, blind and poor amongst the Israelites, but when they left, there were none. All were in good health. All left in financial abundance.

At the time of Passover, God told the Israelites to kill a spotless lamb, cook and eat it, then with hyssop, apply the blood of the lamb to the door posts and to be ready with unleavened bread. Blood over the door, was to distinguish between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The eating of the lamb represented the strength and power of the Lord, the strength and power needed to bring the frail and unwell into fullness of health. The unleavened bread, which Jesus also cooked over the coals, are to separate a person; to cut them off from Israel (from carnality). The blood also represented the authority given, as well as the salvation offered.

Today we take of the body and drink of the blood, for salvation and authority, in remembrance of Him. We ingest the power and the authority, bringing upon ourselves the healing, the strength, the wholeness, the prosperity, and the salvation; all the promises of God. Just as Peter had to go through the hot coals of the fire, under the questioning of Jesus and turn back and repent, we too at this time can turn back and repent, accept the body and the blood and be forgiven.

If you’re living in a place of brokenness, turn to Jesus. Don’t go into condemnation, for this denies His work on the cross as being good enough. Condemnation tells Jesus, dying on the cross wasn’t enough; all that pain and suffering wasn’t enough, the darkness of separation from the Father wasn’t enough. We have all been through places of trial and brokenness and we will move forward from this, as long as we don’t go to condemnation, but turn to Jesus for forgiveness and repentance, by taking the bread and wine often, in remembrance of Him, as stated in 1 Cor 11:23-25.