During Jesus' last hours on earth He warned His beloved friends and followers to "watch and pray". With Easter morning drawing near and its' obvious proclamation of truth about Jesus' resurrection from the dead and subsequent re-exaltation after His condescension to earth, the devil must not be happy at all! He's lost forever and he knows it!
However, even though Jesus knew exactly what He was about to accomplish in redeeming us from sin, the fear of death, and the dominion of the devil, told them to "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Peter, a man who told Jesus "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You" did hours later deny he ever knew Him. Scripture tells us, Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!"
Following the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Peter, had the Holy Spirit now living inside of Him (The Spirit of Jesus Christ), and a whole new life and boldness from the sorrowful lesson learned earlier, and he is found saying "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." How true!
Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ says it this way, "...for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."
In approaching the morning in which many who do NOT regularly attend church will be in church with the saints, and their eternal souls stand in the mix waiting their judgment and eternity, perhaps between the blink of an eye or heartbeat, and a "wide door for effective service" is "opened to me", and also the chance for souls to worship, repent, believe, and or be saved, there will be many adversaries!
Now I here the words of Christ to "keep watching and praying" and of Peter, "to be of sober spirit", and "to be on the alert", because our adversary the devil is also seeking to devour some souls and ruin any "wide door for effective service...opened to me". May the Lord Jesus Christ rebuke him, keep him powerless as he is before the King of kings and Lord of lords Jesus Christ! May the power, the resurrection power which is Christ's be glorified in my varied weaknesses and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Amen. Amen.
He is Risen!
Risen indeed!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please let us know how God as affected your life through this ministry, or through the teaching in a particular message.
When you post a comment, you will be asked to type in the letters of a word that appears on the screen. This is simply a security step to avoid miscelaneous messages from showing up on the blog.
Please use this forum to build one another up in love and give Glory to God in all you do and say.