The Enemy

Jesus made a clear distinction between those who trusted His teaching and those who rejected His teaching.  It is important for everyone to understand that there are only two sides.  Either you are a follower of Jesus who was sent by God to save humans from their sinful nature, or you are caught up in the devil’s net.  During the ministry of Jesus, the Jewish leaders known as the Pharisees rejected the obvious truth that Jesus is indeed the Son of God.  The Pharisees claimed God to be their father but Jesus let them know that could not be the case.

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.”  John 8:42 (NIV)

Make no mistake about it, we are in the midst of a great battle between good and evil.  Jesus has come to save us.  The devil is out to destroy us.  God your Creator is real.  The devil is also real and is the master manipulator.  The devil was able to so twist the vision of the Pharisees they were unable to see God standing in their presence.  The Pharisees had been captured by the devil and were now his possession.  Jesus let them know the truth.

“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.”  John 8:44 (NIV)

Only a man sent by God could live a life completely without sin.  Jesus was such a man.  The fact that the Pharisees were unable to see this obvious fact is because they lost their relationship to God when they became the victim to the devil’s deception.

“Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”  John 8:46-47 (NIV)

If you have trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and dedicated your life to following His teaching, you are a child of God.  Those who have rejected the teachings of Jesus have been trapped in the devil’s snare.  The only way to escape the devil is to trust Jesus.  Those who sincerely call on Jesus will be welcomed with loving arms.  While the battle between good and evil rages on in our world, Jesus has already claimed victory in the heavenly realms.  The enemy will one day be completely destroyed.  Until that day, stay close to Jesus, and you too will find victory.

Questions for You to Prayerfully Consider

Answer each question as though you were speaking privately to Jesus.  Don’t just answer yes or no, explain your answer completely to yourself and to the Lord. 

Make no mistake about it, we are in the midst of a great battle between good and evil.  Jesus has come to save us.  The devil is out to destroy us. 

Are you aware of the distinction between good and evil?

Do you recognize that there are many who have been deceived by the enemy?

Have you accepted the understanding that the devil is as real as God?

What are you doing to avoid the deception of the enemy?

What are you doing to help others avoid the deception of the enemy?

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Greed