Posts Tagged ‘Satan’

I can take anything Satan can dish out. Oh, really?

Saturday, June 8th, 2013

The Narrow Gate, June 8

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You have taught us that temptation is a tool of Satan. He uses various approaches to see if we are able to resist. If we do not overcome the temptation, we lose, he wins. Here You assure us that temptations are common to all persons. No one is immune to temptation; no one is shielded from temptation.

We wonder, at times, why You allow temptation to come to us; why have You given Satan access to us? Couldn’t You have just protected all Your children from temptation? Of course You could have done so but then we would not have had to exercise our faith, we would not have had to make choices.

You teach us Father that You permit the “test” but you never present the temptation. You allow it but You did not contrive a circumstance where we are tempted. Here You promise us a marvelous thing. You will, with every temptation, provide a way to escape that allows us to bear it and to come out strengthened. You never permit Satan to win when we turn our hearts to You in the midst of a trial.

Jesus, You were tempted in every way, and You showed us how to respond. You experienced the power of temptation and You sympathize with us during our difficult trials. Help us today, to lean upon You and Your understanding and deliver us we pray from falling prey to Satan’s attempts to bring us down. We pray this in the power of Your Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, Holy Spirit, Religion | 16 Comments »

Eavesdrop on Satan’s chat with God!

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

Satan, May 29

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Job 1:6-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know how this story from the Book of Job turned out.  Job, (after many trials, was greatly blessed) but here we learn some very important facts about Satan, prior to him being cast out of heaven. Satan, a blessed, but eternally fallen angel, became Your enemy and the enemy of all those who love You.

Here we see that Satan has powers to tempt us (to sin), granted by the Father. Father, this excerpt makes a powerful point. Satan is claiming that some men love You who are blessed by You and that if their blessings are taken away, apparently for no good reason, they will abandon their faith in You.

Father, we too face the same temptation. When we lose our resources (home, money, jobs, a loved one, etc.) we are greatly saddened and the test ensues. What will be our response?  We know Job’s response was one of continued faith and patience, even when Satan was allowed to attack his physical health in a final attempt to break his spirit.

Father, life is a cherished reality and when the quality of this life is threatened, we are severely tested. It is at that time that we pray You will show us the wonders of Your presence and creation and the enduring strength of Your Holy Spirit in us. We know that to be absent from the body is to be present with You, provided we have committed our spirit to be joined with Your Spirit. We do not wish to leave as long as You have things You want us to do.

Help us O’God to focus on Your eternal love when the temporary things, which will not survive anyway, are taken away. Bless us and strengthen us this day. In Jesus’ name we pray.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Angels, Christianity, Humility, Perseverance, Providence of God, Religion, Satan | 12 Comments »

Will tempatations ever stop? Not in this life…

Monday, May 6th, 2013

Peace, May 6

Flee… youthful lusts… pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

2 Timothy 2:22, Hebrews 12:14, www.solascriptura.com

Father, some of us are far too old to still be pursuing youthful lusts. Will Satan ever stop tempting us? We know the answer. Not only will he persist and we also know that You permit the temptations to come. But, at the same time You promise to get us through the temptations of life, if we will but turn to You and trust You. Father, help us memorize this verse: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way to escape, that you may be able to bear it (I Corinthians 10:13).

There will come a day when Satan is restrained and Your joy will reign in the hearts of men (The Millennium) and there will be an even better day when Satan and his allies are destroyed forever. Then, in heaven, we will find out what is like to enjoy Your peace, happiness and joy eternal.

We seek Your Holiness here, today, knowing that if we persist in ungodliness, we will never stand in Your presence. Lord, bestow upon us Your gifts today that we may be like You, now and forever. We pray in Jesus’ Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin, TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Courage, End Times, Perseverance, Religion, peace | 12 Comments »

Don’t we all feel inadequate at times? There is hope!

Friday, April 12th, 2013

Courage, April 12

… though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:6-10, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Paul was a lot like us. He wanted to boast of his good works in Your name but he knew that was not Your will. You allowed him to experience many difficulties and You told him it was for his own good.

We too do not always have smooth sailing in our Christian walk. The difference between us and Paul is immense, in terms of outreach and effectiveness, but he too experienced physical weakness and pain. It is his Spiritual strength that captures our attention.

You, at the same time, gave him challenges and successes and taught him and now us, that his successes, even in a weakened physical condition, are proof that You can use anyone, no matter how weak they are as long as they trust in You.

Jesus, we are weak, in so many ways. Here we learn that it is in our recognition of our inadequacies, that You empower us to serve. It is in Your strength that we go forward. How else could it be without our pride becoming a burden? Take away any trace of arrogance in our lives, we pray in Your Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Courage, God's Children, Holy Spirit, faith, peace, salvation | No Comments »

Depraved, disappointed, disconnected; that is not God’s will.

Sunday, October 21st, 2012

God’s Gifts, October 21

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
 
John 10:10, www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, You know that when I made a decision to commit my life to loving You and serving You that these words, spoken by You, captured my full attention. I pray these words will be indelibly impressed on the heart of each one of us.

Jesus, we sometimes, in our immaturity, fear committing our lives to following You because we think we are giving up degrees of control, we are yielding our will and our agenda to Your will and Your agenda.

That is not an easy thing for a strong-willed person to do or for any person that fears yielding control. Jesus, when we feel that way, we have clearly misunderstood Your will for us. You declare here that You did not come to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, which is Satan’s agenda. You came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

When we yield our hearts to You, the abundant life is guaranteed to follow. We know, Jesus, that abundance here does not mean material things, although You bless us in so many ways. The abundance You provide is both eternal and right now. Your presence is our comfort, our assurance of Your love.

You fill us with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and we become equipped to yield the fruit that leads to eternal happiness. This same fruit makes life worth living, here and now. You promise us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

When we come to You, we give up nothing of enduring value (and escape from a life leading to eternal suffering) and we gain Your perfection as we experience Your presence. Bless us richly that we might be a blessing to others, we pray in Your name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, God's Children, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Hope, Providence of God | 12 Comments »

A slave to sin…that would be a bad choice

Monday, July 9th, 2012

God’s Children, July 9

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:11, Galatians 4:6-7,  www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, we know the children are Yours but we also see that they, at some point, must stop thinking as a child. What is it, Jesus, to put away childish things? We can guess; we begin to choose, to seek the truth, to cope with sin and to make decisions about our relationship with You. We stop being hand fed and we begin to invest our lives in bearing fruit in the lives of others.

We know this earth is Satan’s domain and that You have given him great latitude to bring us and our children down. We are born into sin with hearts of flesh but Father, thank You for sending Jesus to us and teaching us that we can stop being a slave to sin. We are able to become Your children, heirs of Your kingdom. Help us not to waiver in our choice and to wholeheartedly seek a perfect, mature relationship with You, this day. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, God's Children, Inspirtation, Perseverance, Religion, Satan | 1 Comment »