BE MINDFUL OF SATAN’S STRATAGEMS
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Every Christian who is effective in soul winning and the spread of the Gospel around the world is marked by God for blessings. Satan also targets such saints. If you're a good giver in the house of God, for example, just as Heaven and the angels mark you for blessings, Satan also marks you for attacks.
What does Satan attack? What does he go for? It's not just your job; he knows you're not sponsoring the Gospel just because you have a good job. It's not your money
either, for he knows if he attacks your finances, you can always get more. What he goes for is the Word of God in your life. He knows that that’s your secret; he knows the Word is your inspiration and strength.
You weren’t committed to the things of God and to giving financially in the house of God until you heard the Word that changed your life and made you commit your
life and resources to the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, it’s about the Word! The devil will try to take the Word away from you or discourage you. He’ll try to keep you away from the church or cause trouble between you and whoever teaches you the Word.
As the opening verse says, “Be sober, be vigilant…” (1 Peter 5:8). Guard the Word in your heart. Always drive it deep into your spirit through meditation. Continue evermore in the fellowship where the Word is being taught you, rejoicing in the Lord always.
The more committed you are to the things of God and in the house of God, the more vigilant you ought to be in the spirit, walking in love and humility. Keep increasing in
the knowledge of God’s Word, and speak in tongues often. Be filled with the Spirit, and your spiritual alertness and sensitivity will always be at its peak.
DON’T CONSULT MEDIUMS
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? (ISAIAH 8:19)
Someone once asked if it’s okay for Christians to consult mediums and psychics. That’s absurd! You have the Holy Spirit; therefore, you don’t need any of that. Moreover, psychics, soothsayers, diviners or astrologers can’t tell you the truth about the future, or your future, because they don’t know it. Only the Holy Spirit knows the future and the truth about you and your future.
Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, sent by God to guide you into ALL truth, and show you the future—things to come: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).
Therefore, depend on the Holy Spirit for answers. Trust Him for the guidance and direction you need. Consult with Him about anything and everything for which you require accurate guidance. A total lack of understanding of our opening verse is the reason some are still confused about whether or not it’s okay to seek mediums. It’s not okay.
When you look at all that God said about wizards, He often talked about their idea of trying to look into the spirit world and use mediums that are totally against the Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. So, be wise; never pay attention to such predictions. Consult with, and receive guidance from the Holy Spirit only, and always.
AUTHORITY OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19).
The word, “power” is referenced twice in the verse above. But they don’t exactly mean the same thing. In the first reference where it says, “Behold I give unto you power,” it’s translated from the Greek, “exousia”, which means authority. The second one is from “dunamis” (Greek), which means power, ability, or "working." Jesus gave us absolute authority over the power, ability or workings of the adversary.
There's a difference between authority and ability. Let’s take the president of your country as an example. In his personal capacity, he can’t withstand the army of
his country. But he’s got the authority of the state behind him! When he exercises supreme command and control over his armed force or the military, they have to comply!
With all their weapons of war, the entire armed forces are at the president’s bidding; when he gives an instruction, they’re obligated to obey. They have power, weight or
substance; but the president has authority. Authority changes everything.
It doesn't matter how much power or force the enemy wields or can gather; you’ve been given authority over him in Jesus’ Name. The Bible says His Name is “high
above all other government and authority and power and dominion, and every title of sovereignty used either in this Age or in the Age to come" (Ephesians 1:21 WNT). Hallelujah!
When this same Jesus tells you, “nothing shall by any means hurt you,” you better believe and act on it. Read what He tells us in 1 John 4:4: “Ye are of God, little
children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Glorious news!
No wonder the Psalmist affirmed, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). You have nothing to fear in this life. Reign and rule in the Name of Jesus every day. Hallelujah!
HIS NAME HAS POWER IN ALL THREE WORLDS
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (PHILIPPIANS 2:9-10)
If Jesus truly gave us the legal right, that is, the power of attorney to use His Name, what results should we expect when we use His Name? What's so important about the Name of Jesus? What does His Name represent and why should we have so much confidence in the Name of Jesus?
We have the answer in our opening scripture. Notice the construction; it's absolute. It says, "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow"; that's a sovereign decree, a law in the realm of the spirit. Hallelujah! This sovereign decree is in force in heaven, in the earth, and under the earth (in hell). His Name has power in all three worlds; that power applies to the "things," that is, whatever exists in all three worlds; whether they be thrones, governments, galaxies, principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world or in high places; they're all subject to His Name.
This is remarkable! It explains why you should never be influenced by anything in life. It makes no difference what Satan and his cohorts of hell are concocting; you can neutralize their efforts and overturn their works in the Name of Jesus. Recall part of what we read in Philippians 2:9-10: "of things under the earth"; it means beings, things or anything that exists in hell.
No wonder Jesus told us to: "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils" (Matthew 10:8). Even if a man went to hell, you could call him back, because the Name of Jesus Christ has power in heaven, on earth, and in hell. Hallelujah!