New Year, Old Defeated Enemy

New Year,

Old (Defeated) Enemy

Make no mistake about it, for every person born into this world there is already in place a formidable enemy who wars for their soul (John 10:10, “The thief comes to kill, steal, destroy…).  There is a real enemy (Satan), who exists in a real world, in real time, strategically plotting the eternal defeat of every man, woman, boy, and girl. 

 And yes, it is OK to talk about Satan as long as we understand that what God says about him is truth and live our lives from that perspective.  These four scriptures will give you a biblical knowledge of his existence, state, and future:   Isaiah 14:12-18 (Fallen), Ezekiel Chapter 28 (Fallen), and Luke 10:18-19 (Fallen), Revelation 20:10 (Lake of Fire, final place of torment).

Before you came into this world, the enemy of God Almighty (Creator, Elohim) who is Satan (created fallen angel) spotted you.  Satan carved out a plan, circled your little wagon and marked you for his camp.  This sounds horrific.  It is more horrifying than imaginable if he gets you to follow through with his plan for your life.

Satan has vicious plans for lives dressed up in acceptable clothing that reeks with temptation, accusation and deceit.  The most diabolical of his plans are those where the victim chooses, implements, and manages their own defeat process.  This is despicable and yet it goes on every day in real time.

The values held by this world’s system are in direct opposition to the message of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ brings love, forgiveness, obedience, humility, peace, and self-denial. The system of the world promotes materialism, arrogance, greed, self interest, and hatred.

I must quickly get to the second clause in John 10:10, “…but I am come that they may have life and have it more abundant”!  These are the words of Jesus.   Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit will show you the eternal plan and blessing that is yours.   By simply repenting, receiving, and living the life of Jesus Christ, your eternity arrives to the plan that God has for you.  This plan has existed from before the foundation of the world (Jeremiah 29:11). How does the plan that God has for you operate?  What does it look like when implemented?  And how do you stick with God’s plan rather than Satan’s plan?

First of all, you must find out what the plan is and follow it.  The plan is clearly presented in the Bible, the inspired word of God. We are instructed in the book of James (1:22) not only to know the plan but to do the plan.  God’s word must start to “work” its way into our lifestyle until we look exactly like Jesus.

Many years ago God gave me a key to understanding the place of material things in my life.  He said “I created in you a certain capacity that can be filled with enjoyment of material (created) things.  He created all things for us to enjoy in the earth, but they cannot fill our entire being because we were created for His (God’s) fellowship and glory. 

The deception that can easily be made with material goods (created things) is that you can increase your capacity to enjoy them if you get bigger, better, more elaborate, and  more costly things.  This is never true and leads to insatiable greed and emptiness.  Paul speaks to us of “Contentment” (Hebrews 13:5).  I view contentment as filling the capacity created by God in you to enjoy earthly things (created things) and not trying futilely to increase that capacity. 

Your soul is limited to experience, knowledge, imagination, and emotions.  The soul is self-conscious and if left unattended seeks its pleasure here and now.  Ten months after purchasing the item you thought was “all that”, it is now ready for the Goodwill truck.   The soul wants and demands more and more if you do not allow God’s word to govern it, (“…take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2^nd Corinthians 10:5).

Your human spirit, that communes with God has unlimited expansion, giving you awesome capacity to receive eternity right here on earth.  Continually:

Worship the Creator, not created things.

When self-will, self-attention, and self-importance are well on their way to dying to the need for created things, life gets easier.  By placing God the Creator and created things in their proper place the enemy has lost key tools to implement his plan for you. 

The focus then becomes what is God’s will, what is His way?  How do I live?  Good Questions!  Seek the presence of the Holy Spirit for guidance.  He is sent to do a job in your life.  Let Him guide, let Him lead, let Him impart truth and direction continually (John 14:16, Entire book of John).