Saturday 5 November 2011

UNDERSTANDING THE STRATEGIES OF THE ENEMY – PART 3:

1 CROSS + 3 NAILS = 4GIVEN
One tactic of the enemy is to make people feel guilty and worthless. He specialises in reminding them of how bad they are and how they can never be forgiven. He majors in making people go around with a sin consciousness. Over the years, since he was unceremoniously evicted from heaven, the Devil has perfected this act. He is now so good at falsely accusing Christians that even when they have repented and God has forgiven them, some still find it difficult to forgive themselves. This is not surprising because, as the Bible tells us, the Devil is the accuser of the brethren. He is like the prosecutor in a criminal case, trying his utmost to make us feel condemned.
Thank God for Jesus, our advocate. He is the best lawyer any defence team can have on their side. He is sat down at the right hand of God the Father in Glory, interceding for us and pleading our case before God. His presence is a constant reminder to the Father of what He accomplished at Calvary for us. When God the Father looks at Jesus, He sees us as people redeemed from sin and translated into the Kingdom of God.
Paul the Apostle described this situation very beautifully when he said in Romans 8: 33–34:
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honour at God’s right hand, pleading for us. (New Living Translation)
As a child of God you should not commit sin deliberately, because God’s seed abides you. 1 John 3:9 tells us that “No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.” (Amplified Bible, emphasis supplied).
However a born again child of God can fall into sin for a variety of reasons, including:

1.      Because of ignorance. Ignorance or lack of knowledge is like a cancer which is ravaging the lives of God’s people.
2.      Through carelessness. The Devil takes advantage of our sloppiness. So we must watch and pray.
3.      By making a mistake. Mistakes do happen; that’s why pencils have erasers.
For those times, when a Christian falls into sin, God has made adequate provision to forgive his transgressions. So if you fall into sin, you need to repent immediately, so that your fellowship with God is not broken. You must realise that sin creates a chasm between us and God because God is unable to behold sin. However, if you repent your fellowship with God is restored. To repent is to confess your sin to God, ask Him for forgiveness and to make a complete U-turn.
If the Devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. Tell him about hell where he will spend eternity. Remind him of his fate in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.
Never forget this inspirational formula, which I recently came across:
1 Cross + 3 Nails = 4given
If you have received Jesus into your life as your personal Saviour and Lord, then Jesus has redeemed you. He has forgiven your past. In Him you become a new creation. There is therefore no condemnation for you, as long as you walk in the Spirit.
May the God of peace CRUSH the Devil under your feet!


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