Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Has the Enemy really been defeated?

I read a friends Facebook Statuses today "Throwing in the towel...... I give up!"  and the second "I'm, beginning to wonder if the Enemy really has been defeated."  Seeing those comments caused an immediate reaction in me... Not anger, or frustration but I dropped everything to "Rise up a Standard" (Isaiah 59:19) and here it is:

I get it, I'm not naive of bad days, hard times, family issues, relationship problems, death, illness, fear, rejection, hurt, attacks, undesired and unexplained tragedies, church splits and fights (bet you thought the church would be perfect... Well no, it's filled with imperfect people who are striving to be more like the perfect God.) I know about and have experienced every one of the above experiences and more... I know where they come from and how hard it is to understand why God allows bad things to happen, it's hard not to get angry and question... But questions aren't wrong (just stay away from accusing.)

Revelation 12:10-11 "Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God,and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony..."  I know you've probably jumped to the end of that passage "And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony..." but don't miss "For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth the one who accuses them before our God day and night." It seems I'm being a pessimist by focusing on that part of the scripture but I'm not, I'm just trying to explain we need to be realistic, while "the accuser" is on Earth he is going to wreak as much havoc as he can... But he has to go to God and accuse before he can touch us! Job 1:7-12 "One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them. God singled out Satan and said, "What have you been up to?" Satan answered God, "Going here and there, checking things out on earth." God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil."  Satan retorted, "So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can't lose!  "But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He'd curse you right to your face, that's what."  God replied, "We'll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don't hurt him." Then Satan left the presence of God. " We are protected by the Divine, we CANNOT be defeated if he hold onto him! Paul said in Philippians 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." and David in Psalm 118:6 "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?"  and God himself in Isiah 41:13 "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee!"

The fact that Satan is around bothering and attacking people actually just proves his defeat!  He was defeated when Jesus on the cross and rose again on the third day!  If Satan wasn't defeated already he wouldn't be wasting time on the children (us) he would still be trying to fight and kill the Father (Jesus)!  Satan is just in capture at the moment, Earth is a holding cell and there is no hope for bail!  When Jesus defeated Satan he was cast down to Earth for a time until Jesus comes back and has him thrown into Hell!  Jesus knows and approves every person he comes into contact with like a visitor registry in a penitentiary. The little Devil talks a big game but if you look down you will see he is to an eternity of torture. Silly Satan, once again proving his own defeat and the power of God!  Really, it must suck to continually prove the one thing you have dedicated your entire existence to refuting!

I'm not saying it's an easy road, even Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:23 that to follow Him you have to take up your cross... And Cross carrying is no easy business!  What I am saying is HOLD ON! You won't be taken out by whatever has come your way as long as you stay with Jesus!  It may look bleak but remember, the situation sent by Satan in itself proves the defeat and it's just going to be a little while until Jesus transfers Satan onto the eternal solitary confinement of death row!

1 comment:

Faithy's Thots said...

Very good stuff , Sue Anne ! Well written and said !! enjoyed