A Hurting Word...
"Trick-or-treat!" Familiar words for this time of the year, and unfortunately, what used to be a fun celebration in the family and neighborhood has turned into a frightful one--one which many Christians are choosing to avoid. We are keenly aware of the evil around us during this season--but evil is not seasonal--it lurks around us ALL year long, whether we see it or not!
I was impressed deeply by this fact as we attended a fabulous Christian musical drama, "The Promise," in Branson, Missouri. There Christian performers skillfully, and with Holy Spirit anointing, present the life of Christ in music and drama; night after night the audience is spellbound. One of the leading role-playing characters in this drama is Satan, bedecked in black cape, masked, and stealthily swirling around behind every scene, lurking in the background...watching...waiting...working...and that's what this devotional is all about! Come to the Well - this is not a fun trick-or-treat - this is reality at its darkest - let's find out who our enemy really is!
A Helping Word...or Two!
The Lurker is Watching!..Satan has many assistants, who, on demand, are sent on assignment, I am sure, to tempt, harrass, and ultimately devour the weakest AND the strongest Christian in the community. He watches carefully--a small break in the Christian armor is his target to shoot his deadly arrows into the hearts and souls of the Christians he hates. We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ; we proclaim the Light of the World, and darkness cannot tolerate it...And so he watches you--and me--to trick us, to trip us up, to make us fall.
What to do? Don't just STAND there--DO something! Human tactics won't do it--you can have eyes in the back of your head, ears on your elbows, and bells on your toes--and you'll still not be adequately prepared. Arm yourself with the Word of God; be spiritually aware and alert to his tactics, and your vulnerability to them; then put on the whole Armor of God. Most of all, KNOW that someone greater than any lurker of evil is watching too...He is the omniscient One, the LORD OF HOSTS...the mighty conqueror. In His strength and power, you CAN overcome every onslaught of the enemy. Believe it and live in the power of His Name!
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations...(2 Peter 2:9 KJV)."
The Lurker is Waiting!...No one likes to wait for anything--but Satan does. He delights to hang around your home, your family, your church, just waiting for the appropriate, most weakest moment to attack...and it's usually when things are going well! He sees your diligence to God and His service; he sees your love and devotion for the Lord; and he bids his time...for while he watches, he waits for the perfect moment to foul you up, to tempt you, to destroy your testimony, your life, and your soul.
What to do? Don't just STAND there--DO something! Live daily in the presence of the LORD OF HOSTS; be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's nudges--don't do this; stay away from that; be careful here and there. Obey those inner promptings of the Lord--they are for your own good; fences and boundaries He has placed to keep you from evil. Let the devil wait--let him wait a LONG time--for you can live each day under the Blood of Christ in victory and strength. Most of all, KNOW that someone greater than any lurker of evil is waiting too...He waits for you to submit yourself to Him--only then He can empower you with His Spirit against Satan's evil attacks. And so He waits to see you develop into a strong, mature, obedient Christian--one who, with His help, CAN overcome any waiting demon lurking in a life! And conquer you will--believe it and live in the power of His Name!
"Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you...(James 4:7,8 KJV)."
The Lurker is Working!...We all lead busy lives--but there's one whose work never ceases--Satan Himself works overtime to destroy the Kingdom of God. He will use every tactic in the book--he comes but to "kill, rob, and destroy," and he will do just that if you let him. You have choices to make--to allow him the slightest entry into your life is danger...He may work all around you to harrass, tempt, annoy, threaten you--and oppress he will, but remember, possess he cannot! There are limits to his working abilities, and he cannot enter the heart and soul of a born-again believer. But he can raise havoc in your life and the lives of those around you. He lurks behind every scene and every activity of your life--he watches, he waits, and then he works--viciously and determinately to bring your soul to hell.
What to do? Resist him in the Name of the LORD OF HOSTS...the One who works mightily on YOUR behalf to bring you safely through every onslaught and temptation, every dark plot of Satan. Jesus Christ is Victor...He defeated this evil foe on Calvary; His resurrection proves that He has almighty power to defeat him in your life as well. Know that this LURKER of evil is not the boss--there is One greater than He who has won the victory for all mankind AND for you this day! Now believe it - and live in the power of His Name!
""Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith...1 Peter 5:8,9 KJV)."
Maybe the lurker has been watching, waiting and working OVERTIME in your life...maybe he's won a few skirmishes here and there...Do you lay down your sword and your armor and give up? No way! You stand up, dust yourself off, and move forward in the Name of the Lord--you seek forgiveness and grace from the LORD OF HOSTS...and it's there--because all the time HE too has been watching, waiting, and working on YOUR behalf. He loves you, whether you stand in victory or fall in defeat. Just GET up and get moving again--leave the Lurker behind in the dust, and press onward with the all-conquering One. You are victorious today in His Name!
