This Month's Newsletter

Whether you know it or not you are the apple(pupil) of God's eye. We are the center of His attention. Proof enough of this is found in the feet that was willing to die for us on a cross. He was willing to lay down divine robes, and unclothe Himself of royal majesty to be born in the form of a servant. Jesus was the ultimate "Riches to Rags story." All for the sake of love. And the devil knows all this and hates us for it. He despises and hates anything that receives God's affection. He completely understands that God has divinely hedged us in with the fortress known as His "church." You could say that God has you covered. Look at Satan's response to Job's covering;

Job 1:10 (NKJV) ^l9Have 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.

Even in the New Testament we are frequently reminded that we have a very real spiritual enemy. That is very cunning, deceptive, manipulative, and a liar. In fact according to John 8:44 he is the father of all lies.

John 8:44 (NKJV) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. Look at these verses; Matthew 6:13 (NKJV) n And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one...

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV) ³But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) ⁵Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Knowing all these things about the enemy of God who is Satan should help us to plan our victories. That's right you must plan to win, and don't be like Job that offered Satan a breach in the hedge to attack him through. Job 3:25 (NKJV) ²ⁱFor the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me. There you have it Satan was allowed to attack Job through the fear that he offered him. Friends close every hole and give no place to the devil as the apostle Paul warns us. We must realize just who Satan is. He is a very powerful, high-ranking (some even say an ex-arch angel) that led a rebellion against God before time began as we know it. He somehow convinced one-third of God's angels to leave their natural state of being an angel become fallen angels and demons. The history of Satan's rebellion and demise can be read in; Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, Jude 6, Rev. 12. And several other passages in God's word as well. Then according to Luke 10:18 he now resides on this earth with complete access to the heavens as well as in the earth in a place known as hell. Dozens of different names reveal his strategies against us; accuser, liar, adversary, prince of the power of the air, murderer, wicked one, etc. But for the sake of this study we are going to look at his three main objective strategies. Next month we'll discuss his tactics in detail, but for now let's look at his objectives.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) ''whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

His next objective is to render believers ineffective; His main plan against the believer is to rob him of his joy in serving God. If you don't enjoy your salvation there's a good chance you'll abandon it for greener pastures. Friend his aim is to devour you. 1 Peter 5:9; The root meaning for the word devour means to swallow you up. He attempts to~ bring temptations (sometimes in the form of good things) to swallow you up with worldly concerns and self-centered living. Maybe even get you too busy for God.

Finally he wants to hinder God's effect on the world; This task is accomplished by hindering us. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonian's 2:18 that he wanted to come to them but Satan had hindered him from coming.
7 Thessalonian's 2:18 (NKJV)
^l8Therefore we wanted to come to you even I, Paul, time and again, but Satan hindered us.
Is Satan hindering you from completing the destiny that God has for your life? Friend there are powers in this world that we must fight on our knees if we are to complete God's best for our lives. And don't you ever forget it!

Continued Next Month