Perseverance

Posted: March 12, 2023 in Inspirational
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I was walking through our facility recently and noticed an employee really struggling with a machine he was trying to operate. This guy was working hard, sweating, and really under some pressure but what I found strange was that his boss was nowhere to be found. As I surveyed the area closely, my eye came across his supervisor far off in a corner…almost hidden. When I went to see what he was doing, he told me he had his eye on this guy from a distance and he wanted to see how this young man would handle this equipment problem on his own. 

I turned around and looked back at the employee again with his head underneath the machine trying desperately to get the equipment to run right and then I looked back at the supervisor…Clearly, he noticed the look on my face and he said, “this is the kind of problem that can produce perseverance in someone”. I said, “perseverance?” where did that come from?” He said, “I have been doing this a long time…

In my younger days, I would run right over right and help the newbies every time they needed help…but I learned over time, this method really didn’t help them…What they needed was to persevere through the problem until they figured out the solution on their own, then they became the kind of operator we wanted working here”. I said, “Very impressive…and I agree with you”. But of course, that got me thinking about his lesson to this young man. So I went to the dictionary and I found the word; perseverance:

The continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.

I know the word and I use the word but when I saw what it meant, I was kind of shocked. Perseverance was the word that was meant for this Iron Sharpens Iron blog audience…this is the foundation we are built upon because perseverance is exactly what God wants Christian men to have…

A little fortitude…a little toughness and a whole lot of perseverance.

Even more importantly, God has something to say on this subject and I found the scripture to back this up for us:

Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

So now it makes perfect sense right? Do you remember that poor guy at the beginning of my post that was struggling to get that piece of equipment to run? Well ultimately… he was successful and that success has made him a better employee…all because of the simple test his boss put him through…but I will point out one key point here…

HE DID NOT GIVE UP…He kept at it, even though it was hard…

And that is why God tells us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. He already knew before you were made all of the various predicaments you were going to find yourself in that ultimately would be opportunities to show that you can “get up off of the mat” when you are knocked down. So don’t just lay there…get up!

If you are a Christian, you will be tested. If you are tested, then hang in there because you just read a few lines ago that this same testing and adversity will produce a character quality that is huge for you…perseverance…

Because when you finally achieve the ability to “Keep on, keeping on”…in other words, perseverance. God will truly look down from heaven and smile at you…why?

Because He understands everything YOU went through to get there and He admires the person you became as a result…

Let me leave you with this verse:

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Until next time guys…

Is Ignorance Really Bliss…?

Posted: March 11, 2023 in Something to think about
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Did you know that God keeps a record of our sorrows and He records our tears? 

Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll, are they not in your record?  Psalm 56:8  

Did you know that God keeps a record of those who fear him and honor his name? 

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. Malachi 3:16 

Did you know that God judges our secrets?

On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2:16

Did you know that God knows the number of hairs on your head?

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

OK…so maybe I went a bit overboard with scriptures on this post but only because these verses hit home more than most because some of us are just going about our lives living in our own bliss right? 

If you actually think you can skate under God’s radar because you think you are a good guy and never really get into trouble… Then I have some bad news for you…More scripture…

For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all of his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. 

Proverbs 5: 21-23

Guys…Ignorance is not bliss… and just because you don’t spend time thinking about God doesn’t mean He isn’t thinking about you. He pays attention to everything you do, everything you think, and everything you say, and for anyone to think otherwise is foolish…

He made you in His image and because He is God, He is completely in touch and connected to everything about you…EVEN IF YOU DON’T THINK SO. 

Your secrets are NOT secrets to God. 

You are NOT the only one who knows your deep personal thoughts. God knows them too…

My point is this: because there is a God out there who actually cares to number the hairs on your head, or who pays attention to just you, or keeps a record of your tears…Honestly, that is the kind of God you should follow.

Where else on earth would anyone care like that? Short answer…nowhere. No one on this earth can know as much about YOU as He does…

Please don’t ignore what I am telling you today. 

My simple recommendation…instead of living in denial that He doesn’t know anything about you or that all of the verses I quoted above don’t apply to you…

Instead…try calling upon His name, Jesus Christ, in order to change your direction. 

Trust me on this.

In the end, Ignorance of God and His ways will NOT be bliss…

Until next time guys…

What is your 500-year plan?

Posted: March 6, 2023 in Something to think about
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This is a short post to bring a quick “something for you to think about”. I heard a very interesting perspective from the pulpit this past Sunday of my local church and I could not help but appreciate the reality this Pastor shared with us. 

He asked a question that I wanted to ask you; What is your 500-year plan?

I wasn’t completely clear on what he meant. I’m the guy who is just trying to figure out how I am going to put my kids through college and hopefully still have enough left over to retire. That is my 10-20 year plan at best…let alone 500. Does that sound familiar to you? Now, I am sure many of you are far better than I am about saving for your future retirement, and kudos to you for creating a solid plan for your “what’s next”. But for the rest of us, the future is a genuine concern. How in the world can anyone save enough to make the next stage of our lives really work?

Then I heard this point; we get so focused on planning for our earthly futures which includes our Investments, Life Insurance, Home Equity, IRAs, 401Ks, and the list goes on that we forget the real reason why we are here. Which is…?

This is why I am asking you the same question again…

What is your 500-year plan? Do you know where you will be in 500 years? I know this sounds like a dumb question but the Bible is clear when it tells us to lay up our treasures in Heaven which moth cannot destroy.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Matthew 6:19-21

Life is short so Moses wrote in Psalms 90 the following verse:

The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.   Psalm 90:10

SO…AFTER FURTHER REVIEW…WHAT IS MY 500-YEAR PLAN?

To build a relationship with my Creator, navigate this earthly journey with Him all the while dealing with the adversity that comes with that so that when I ultimately pass on, I get to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. 

So, with that in mind… what have you done today to plan for your next 500 years? That is why I write this to you today. 

But…Before I end this post I want to ensure that you don’t misconstrue my message. I am NOT saying don’t plan for your future…not in the least. All I am saying is don’t be so myopic about your earthly future that you forget to plan for your heavenly one. Needless to say but I will say it anyway…one of these futures is going to be slightly longer than the other. You get to choose which one.

My encouragement for you today is to make real a deposit into your eternal account…as soon as you can.

Just something to think about-

Until next time guys-

Can I Really have all that I need?

Posted: March 5, 2023 in Inspirational
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The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need. Psalms 23:1

I have read the 23rd Psalm thousands of times throughout my life and can even recite it from memory. It is so burned into my brain from so many years of reading and hearing it over and over that, I almost don’t hear it anymore…if that makes sense.

Repetition and too much of any one thing can do that to you, right? Well, that isn’t supposed to happen to scripture. But it had until today…and all it took was a version change. A different perspective that seemed to change the angle just slightly…or…just enough to wack me over the head.

As I said, I have heard the words, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” my whole life. That is the verse. Period. Until today. When I heard it very loud and very clear, again for the first time.

How about this one; The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need.

I HAVE ALL THAT I NEED. 

I can honestly say I have never said that because I never believed those words applied to me. WHY? Because I don’t think I DO have all I need. Does anyone really ever have all they need? But that is precisely what David meant when he wrote those words. He truly had All that he needed. He was content.

So what did he mean?

Here is what I can tell you. David was not referring to his stuff. Things like cars, houses, and vacations. He was talking about his contentment with his God. Let me reword it again:

BECAUSE THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I DO NOT NEED ANYTHING

David recognized that in this state of humility with God, our God, it was and IS possible to not need anything. Can you imagine that? You see because we Christians are so immersed in a society where people believe they can never get enough…that honestly, it is very easy to drift over to that way of thinking. Over time, we become what we do not want to…which is believing we don’t HAVE what we THINK we need…or as reworded below:

EVEN THOUGH THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, HE CAN’T GET ME WHAT I NEED

It is important to recognize this condition above for what it is: That it is NOT from God but rather from the Enemy. Our job then is to resist and to work to become content in our circumstances no matter what they are. It is not easy. Frankly, it is crazy hard…especially if you are not happy with where you are in your life.

The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Let me put it another way:

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 1 Timothy 6:6

Although it is a very true statement, “You can’t take it with you” the Bible implores you and me to lay up our treasures in Heaven so that your time spent here on this earth can be more like what David said…where you have all you need.

Simply put, if you are focused on the “stuff” you don’t have, then you are not focused on Him.

My intent today with this short post is to remind you that if you seek Him, you will find Him which leads you to a place where you can be content in your life, right where you are. Then you can say with conviction…that you really do have all that you need.

Until next time guys-

The Story of Satan – part 6

Posted: February 6, 2022 in Something to think about
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So we have finally reached the last episode of The Story of Satan. Several weeks ago, we started this series together with the intent to learn more about our enemy who is the fallen angel Lucifer who is now referred to as Satan. Lucifer was God’s greatest masterpiece, whose creation brought glory to his creator so God placed him in a high rank in Heaven. This gave Lucifer access to the throne of God that the majority of angels would never have. But, as we learned, he became so enamored with his own beauty that evil grew inside him. 

So, Lucifer made his choice that would not only impact him but all the angels that followed him along with the humans that chose or still choose to follow him. The ultimate result of that selfish, sinful choice is what we are going to talk about in this last episode; Satan’s Future.

Can you recall a situation in your own life where you made a decision that had long-lasting effects on you…like for the rest of your life? Now that could be a good decision too, right? Your life or your faith? But then there are the ones that are not so good that have far-reaching effects on your life. 

This is why when you learn more about Satan, you see that his, “thinking he could be better than God” thoughts were just so short-sighted. Against all rational probability, Lucifer waged his will against that of God. This also meant that even through all of his efforts; his scheming, lying, and deception would ultimately still give God the glory. 

YES…this is exactly the opposite of what Satan intended to take place.

Honestly, the most bizarre part about our enemy was his myopic view of what he thought actually would happen. Because the reality for him was the very moment he said, “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God…. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Isa 14:13-14, he was doomed to hell. 

And thus we have exposed evil for what it is: 

The desire to oppose God even with the full knowledge that in the end, the Almighty will triumph.

So now, if we take a step back and look around us, I think we can see that there is an accelerated intensity of evil on this earth. I do not know what the plans of God are but what I do know is that when God no longer needs Satan for HIS purposes, the end will come. 

All of that said, before Christ returns to this earth, things are going to get much worse for humans as Satan and his dark angels continue to step up all of their nasty business.

ALL OF THIS activity will act as the beginning of Satan’s final ruin and this will happen in 3 separate stages:

First, Satan is cast out of Heaven-

Now, there are scholars that believe Satan does NOT still have access to Heaven but I am not one of them. I believe that Satan still has access to Heaven even now and that is evidenced by the final war in Heaven where he battles against the mighty archangel Michael and is defeated. Satan is in heaven already but that defeat meant there was no longer any place for him in Heaven and he was cast out. 

Think about this for a second…Satan, who was created by God long before the world was created, and who had only ever known in his existence in both Heaven and earth…and now he was cast out of this place, permanently. God’s judgment is always final.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Rev 12:7-8 ESV

(By the way, if you didn’t notice, the dragon mentioned above is Satan, and “his angels” are the ones that followed him when he decided he had a better plan for his life than God did)

Second, Satan is bound for 1000 years-

At the end of the age, Satan is to be confined into the Abyss for a thousand years.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while. Rev 20:1-3 ESV

Third, Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire

After his release he will make a final attempt to overthrow God; this act will result in Satan’s final defeat and his being thrown into the Lake of Fire.

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  Rev 20:7-10 ESV 

I heard someone say once that God never learns anything new, and if you think about that for a second, you realize that no matter what Satan thought or did…GOD already knew it would happen. The irony for this fallen angel is that he left Heaven thinking he could rule and be like God himself but instead, he continued to exist FOR the glory of God just as he had always done. 

I also love the hypothetical idea someone said about when Satan successfully tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit that there were no emergency meetings in Heaven as to how to respond and what the next steps were. Why? Because again…none of this activity was new to God. 

If you are a Christian, that is one HUGE relief because, in the Bible, you constantly read about how God has a plan for you and me…and again, ironically, for Satan as well. Remember what Paul said in Romans 8:28,

And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

GUYS – You can bank on this fact: No matter WHAT happens to you in this life, it is NOT by accident…either good or bad…God knew it beforehand. Sometimes that fact will be a very hard pill to swallow depending on your circumstances but I assure you, as the verse states clearly above; God will weave it for good.

Finally, guys, thank you for staying with me on this long series because I have never done one with so many parts before. Also please note that I still had to skip a great deal of information about Satan’s story because my intent was only to summarize who he is, what he does, and where he is going. Frankly, I hope you take the baton from me and study more just for you. 

Honestly, I would call this series a success if it lit a small flame of interest in you to learn more about this topic. If the answer is yes, then I would highly recommend you read this book below as this was a great help and encouragement to me in this study. I don’t normally recommend books, but this one gave me a HUGE new perspective about this topic that I found particularly strengthening so check it out.

Gods Devil, by Erwin Lutzer, and published by Moody Publishers, and of course, it is available on Amazon.

Until next time guys-

The Story of Satan – part 5

Posted: January 27, 2022 in Something to think about
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So a quick recap from part 4 is that we learned what Satan is doing right now. And trust me, he is NOT sitting on his hands. He is an active general conducting a war with you and me…Please don’t forget that. Moreover, we learned what you and I should be doing to protect ourselves while we are going through this journey. Most importantly though, we cannot be complacent about this unseen war Satan is conducting and we certainly can’t pretend it isn’t happening. So let’s jump right back into this again.

Let me start with this statement…

Jesus Christ came to earth to destroy the works of Satan. Did you catch that? Not mediate, compromise or even legislate what Satan is doing…but destroy. As I previously mentioned, Satan prowls around this earth with the sole intent of devouring you and me. Jesus’ plan is simply the opposite; Instead of destruction, He wants you to have eternal life with Him and what stands in both our ways are the plans of the enemy.

Jesus Christ is the adversary of Satan.

Read this;

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.  1John 3:8 ESV 

Christ also came to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God and most importantly, deliver us, you and me, from the dominion of Satan. In case you missed this from previous blog episodes, while we are here on earth, all of us are enslaved to Satan unless we accept the offer of Christ so we can be redeemed…but I am getting ahead of myself.

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Mat 12:28 ESV – Christ Speaking

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed – Luk 4:18 ESV – Christ speaking

And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Luke 13:16 ESV – Christ Speaking

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Act 26:18 ESV

For those of you who did not already know, when Jesus came to this earth, it was an invasion into Satan’s Kingdom and it rocked his world. So…right before Jesus began His earthly ministry, Satan confronted him in the desert with a series of temptations and he offered Jesus anything he wanted ON THIS EARTH…the only thing Christ had to do was bow down to him. 

(Matthew 4:1-11) Here are a few of these scriptures below:

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'” Mat 4:8-10 ESV 

When you read these verses, you will notice that Jesus systematically refused Satan’s temptations by only using scripture as a response to his questions. Why? Because according to the Bible, the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword and that was all that was sufficient to defeat the prince of this world.

Let me remind you of Martin Luther’s words from many years ago when he said,

The devil is God’s devil. We have forgotten that only when we know who God is can we know who the devil is. Blessed are those who are convinced that the prince of this world has become a slave to the Prince of Peace.

SIDE NOTE: It is HUGELY important that you understand this quote. Satan, although he is the prince of this world, is still under the control of Christ which means YOU can tap into that power and be victorious over this enemy. It is very important that you read this and know you have access to this. You are not alone.

We pick up this next section by telling you that when Christ was crucified on the cross…and then died, ALL of Satan’s Kingdom rejoiced. They TRULY believed they had won the war because Jesus was dead. But God had a very different plan in mind and if you know your Bible, you will know that is why we celebrate Easter…because Jesus rose from the dead.

Read this quote from Erwin Lutzer in his book, God’s Devil, who says;

Though he could never have predicted it, at the cross Lucifer would be defeated spiritually, for there Christ was guaranteeing that at least part of fallen humanity would be purchased out from the kingdom of darkness to share in the Kingdom of Light.

You can imagine, the demon hordes went from celebrating to all-out panic. Literally from one extreme to another. The resurrection of Christ initiated the defeat of Satan and thereby ensured God’s ultimate victory over him. 

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil  Heb 2:14 ESV

So, guys, we have reached a very important mile marker in this 6 part series about Satan. Why? because in the next episode, we talk about Satan’s future. I think it is critical to share with you what happens to him and I want you to know what the Bible tells us about the end of our enemy.

This is NOT an easy topic to tackle but we cannot look at the whole story of Satan without looking at the end, scripturally. My goal is to present this detail in a readable and hopefully understandable way so it makes sense to you.

Part 6 is next and it is the last one…

Until next time guys-

The Story of Satan – part 4

Posted: January 22, 2022 in Something to think about
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We have learned in the first 3 parts of this story that Satan has been very busy since he was cast out of heaven. He was there at the beginning disguised as the serpent that caused Adam and Eve or really, the entire human race, to fall into sin. We also learned that he is the god of this age which gives him authority over certain things like his fallen angels as well as the unrepentant human population. 

But, we also learned that he also has some very specific limitations on him as well. This includes the FACT that he is NOT omnipotent, which means he cannot read your mind. All of this plays right into the 4th installment of this series which talks about what Satan is up to currently. In other words…what is Satans strategy?

What is Satan doing right now?

In a nutshell, Satan is at war. He is presently at war against God and His people and just so we are clear, God’s people are you and me. His main purpose; is to try and draw you away from your loyalty to Christ. Literally, that is the main focus right now…how many people can he lead astray? And let me assure you…he is really good at his job which is why there is so much scripture to remind you to be on your guard.

But for those of you who are skeptical that Satan is at war…read this verse please:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12 ESV

Have you ever heard of a guy named Job (pronounced jōb)? He has a very long book in the old testament inside the Bible that tells an interesting story about how Satan went and challenged God about Job by telling him that the only reason Job served Him was that he was blessed and had everything. As a result, God took on that challenge and allowed Satan to take away all of Jobs’s earthy possessions including his health, his family, his wealth…and yet ultimately, throughout the entire epic,  no matter what happened to him, Job would not curse God. It even drove Job to proclaim in 13:15…Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…

Guys, realistically, not everyone is like Job with his unwavering commitment to his God through his adversity…which is why I write this to you.

Satan is your enemy and his strategy is that he wants you to fail and fall. That is why the Bible focuses so much scripture to inform us to protect our minds and NOT be led astray.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Co 11:3 ESV

(For more information on this idea that you need to guard your thoughts, please read a previous blog on Ironman-Strength called, Guard your Mind, published in February of last year. This will better explain why Satan focuses his attack on your thoughts)

What is Satan’s goal for his non-stop attack on you and me?

His # 1 goal is, and always has been, to draw you and me into a sin and bondage relationship with him and this present world system. (Emphasis on the present). He wants to squash you like a bug. By the way, as the leader of your home, if you fall, so might your wife and family. That is why you must resist.

For some have already strayed after Satan. 1Ti 5:15 ESV

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life–to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 1Jo 5:16 ESV

What are we supposed to do to thwart this constant attack?

  1. As believers, we MUST RESIST and pray constantly for deliverance from Satan

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matt 6:13 ESV

Guys, in this instance, I cannot emphasize the importance of the word, “constantly”. This has never been a “one-and-done” type of defense against the enemy. It is a daily response (meaning a conscious effort using prayer) from you and what your intent is for that day to defend yourself and your family. Don’t forget that.

  1. YOU must be on the alert concerning his schemes and temptations

Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 

Eph 6:11 ESV

If you recall, the very first paragraph mentioned to you in part one of The Story of Satan was about knowing your enemy. Be prepared and resist, because the attack is coming…you just need to know how you can defend yourself.

  1. Resist him through spiritual warfare

Guys…here are the famous verses that talk about putting on the armor of God. Although this looks like symbolism, it truly means putting on armor each day. If you don’t take this part seriously, you give the enemy a foot in the door so I recommend that you take just a second to read them.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Eph 13-18 ESV

  1. Remain firm in the faith

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1Pe 5:8-9 ESV

Guys, the book of Hebrews puts it this way:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb 11:1

I do hope that after reading part 4 you recognize you can’t do this yourself. There have been many who have tried and ALL have failed. And by the way, there is no such thing as trying to ride the fence and be in BOTH worlds at the same time. Jesus calls that being “lukewarm” and He says, ” I will spew you out of my mouth”.

Finally, guys, you and I have very specific resources in this fight against Satan and all of them only will work when we are plugged into Christ as repentant Christians. Without repentance, you are just another dude proclaiming you are a good person…which won’t get you into heaven.

We are getting close to the end…Part 5 is next-

Until next time guys

The Story of Satan – part 3

Posted: January 15, 2022 in Something to think about
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Satans Kingdom 

Let’s jump right back into this as we pick up from part 2 of the story of Satan. If you recall, we learned that Satan is the god of this age on earth and is the one responsible for bringing sin to the human race when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree. In part three, we are going to learn more about the Kingdom of Satan. Yes…you heard me, Satan has a Kingdom and that is highly organized and functional towards its purpose.

And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

Matthew 12:26 (Christ speaking)

To begin, it is EXTREMELY important that you recognize that Satan runs a highly systemized empire of evil. He is not a poor leader without a plan but rather…he has a focused destructive purpose and he is directing his entire empire towards his goal of winning against both God almighty…and you.

While he is the prince of this earth, Satan has authority over the following: 

Kingdom of the Air – in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Eph 2:2 NIV]

The “air” in this verse refers to the invisible realm above the earth where Satan and his demons move and exist and this space is the location of the earth’s atmosphere or “air.” He can move anywhere he wants in and through this earth…The entire world is his domain…remember that.

Fallen Angels – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [Mat 25:41 NIV]

-Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. Rev 12:7 NIV

Guys…when Satan fell from grace out of heaven, I mentioned in part 1 that he brought a whole slew of fallen angels with him. Those angels are his demons and completely under his control. Without a doubt, they are a HUGE part of fulfilling his destructive purpose on earth. Remember that too.

Unrepentant Humanity  – Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. [Jhn 12:31 NIV]

…the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Eph 2:2 NIV]

The people who absolutely resist God in all ways and will not repent. Those folks, whether consciously or not, are ruled and report to Satan.

The World –  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [2Co 4:4 ESV] 

As mentioned before, Satan has limited control over the earth at this time.

Things to know about Satan in his Kingdom

Satan has power: And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Luk 4:6 NIV

Satan has a throne: I know where you live–where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city–where Satan lives. Rev 2:13 NIV

Guys, the WORST mistake you could ever make with knowing this is to underestimate this opponent. He does have certain powers but is completely limited by God. It is like he is a COO of a huge corporation with the only issue being…his ONLY business is yours and my destruction…and that is pretty much all he wants. 

Another set of important points to recognize is that Satan is NOT:

Omni-present – present everywhere at the same time.

Omnipotent –  having unlimited power; able to do anything

Omniscient – Knowing everything

What does this mean? Our biggest adversary cannot read your mind…Only God knows your thoughts.

Does that change anything knowing that particular point about our enemy?

Moreover, because Satan is limited in his power, much of his earthly activity is delegated to his demon horde who also have power. He has to use his team to tempt and defeat you as evidenced by the verses below-

-And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. Matt: 8:28 

-For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. Rev 16:14

Guys, let me leave you with this…If you think you have nothing to fear from this enemy, then he has you. 

He is extremely powerful and again, not to be underestimated. One more point to consider is that even though Satan knows the word of God (scripture) better than anyone on this earth, he still refuses to recognize that God wins in the end. He is 100% in denial about his own destruction.

Part 4 is next –

Until next time guys-

The Story of Satan – part 2

Posted: January 7, 2022 in Something to think about
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The Serpent

Ok, guys, we pick up this story from part 1 where we discussed who Satan is and where he came from. It always is such a crazy thing to realize how amazing an angel he was previously and yet, how far his pride caused him to fall…but we will get to that later.

If you didn’t know this already, Satan, who is also called the Serpent, was the one who caused the fall of the human race. Yes… the same guy…See the brief story below from the book of Genesis.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 

3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'” 

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.  [Gen 3:1-6 ESV] 

From that day on, lying, deception, and sin entered this world and the human race has never been the same. Can you imagine if Adam and Eve had resisted the temptation of the serpent? And what this world MIGHT have been like? That is a whole topic unto its own and one that will not be addressed by me.

What is Satan’s role right now?

We know that we are the children of God and that the whole world is in control of the evil one. 

1 John 5:19

Guys, we will NEVER adequately understand the New Testament unless we recognize its underlying conviction that Satan is the god of this world right now. Think about that for a second. Satan is the evil one and it is his power that controls this present evil age (EMPHASIS on the present). Now, I hope this is not the first time you are hearing this but if it is and you are skeptical, please read these verses I have stacked up below because the Bible does mention this JUST so we are all clear.

2 Co 4:4 – In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Gal 1:3-4 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Eph 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Heb 2:14 – ​​Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

1Pe 5:8 –  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

PLEASE understand that scripture does NOT teach that God is right now…in direct control of the ungodly world. 

I will clarify that the ungodly world I am speaking of would be sinful people, evil, cruelty, and injustice…all things we see around us every day. More importantly, it is imperative I stress the fact that in no way does God desire or cause all of the sufferings in this world, nor is everything that happens His perfect will.  Please think about that also.

What I can tell you is that the Bible does tell us that at this present time (Again…EMPHASIS on the present), the world is NOT under God’s dominion, but is currently in rebellion against God’s rule and is enslaved to Satan. God, for the time being, has limited His supreme power over this world…but I assure you, this is only temporary. This is what you and I see happening right now.

I know this is not the best news you have received today and I get that, but know this, because of this worldly condition I spoke about above…that is why Christ came to die. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

…and why His plan was to reconcile the world to God 

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 

19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2Co 5:17-19 ESV

So the main points today are Satan was the serpent who deceived Adam and Eve, is the god of this age on earth, and is the one responsible for bringing sin to the human race when Adam and Eve sinned. There is more coming in future parts of this story on what Satan is doing presently.

More to come in Part 3-

Until next time guys-

The Story of Satan – part 1

Posted: January 3, 2022 in Something to think about
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Happy New Year Guys-

I know that I have mentioned in past blogs how important it is when preparing for a battle, to know your enemy. In the case of Satan, I believe that to be even more true because of how ruthless he is. I am sure many of you have heard of the famous Chinese General Sun Tzu who wrote the book, The Art of War. Well, in that famous book, Tzu had a quote where he said, “Know thy enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated.”

That makes real sense because if you know your enemy, you can predict what they might do. In this case, the simple translation is, if you ignore your enemy, they can overcome you, but if you study them and have knowledge of them, it certainly improves your chances at victory. So, guys, that is the reason I wanted to write this small, 6-part series on The Story of Satan. Because hopefully, after reading, you will have a better understanding of what the Bible says about the evil one and what YOU need to do to prepare versus just what the world tells you.

My intent is to provide you with as much detail in my shorter blog format including many of the scripture references so you can review and decide for yourself what you think. This may not be obvious, but this 6-part series is just the cliff notes version of what the Bible actually says. There is a great deal more for you to explore and I highly recommend doing so if you find this even the least bit interesting. 

Why is this so important?

Because the Bible tells us that while Satan is the prince of this earth, more bad guys are coming and their job is to change your mind about God…and I do not want you to do that. I want you to be strong in your faith. The Bible says these people will preach so effectively that even the very elect…the so-called experts, will be deceived. Read this scripture below.

​​For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  Matthew 24:4

So I do hope you will read and learn about our common enemy in this series so that you can better prepare yourself for the future. Let’s get started-

Who is Satan and where did he come from?

First of all, his name, Satan: (Hebrew Meaning – Accuser/ Adversary)

The Bible has many other names for him including, the prince of the power of the air and god of this world but the King James Version of the Bible calls him Lucifer, which has a very unique meaning shown below.

Satan was a great and powerful angel who was created by God to be perfect and good. To say he was amazing in his beginning is an understatement. From a human perspective, he would not be like anything you or I have ever seen. He was a blaze of light, very powerful and he was appointed to be minister at the throne of God which meant he was very important in the hierarchy of heaven. 

BUT, even before the world began, meaning before the earth was created, Satan rebelled against God and became the chief antagonist to Him and all of humanity. Read this explanation verse from Ezekial:

“Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “You [were] the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone [was] your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “You [were] the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You [were] perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.

[Eze 28:12-15 NKJV] 

I know there is some symbolism in the Bible which makes some of these scriptures difficult to read and understand but the above verses describe Satan when he was created and frankly, how amazing he was. He was created, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty…and he was established on the holy mountain of God…and all of that went away when iniquity was found in you. What is iniquity? The dictionary categorizes it as; ​​immoral or gross injustice or wickedness. A wicked act; sin

The bottom line is that even while he sat on the mountain top, he rebelled against God and was cast down out of heaven.

The name Lucifer means:

Old English, from Latin, ‘light-bringing, morning star’, from lux, luc- ‘light’ + -fer ‘bearing’. Lucifer (sense 1) is by association with the ‘son of the morning’ (Isa. 14:12)

Here is a verse from Isaiah that describes the fall of Satan from heaven:

 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [How] you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! [Isa 14:12 NKJV]

Important facts to understand:

In his rebellion against God, Satan drew with him a multitude of lesser angels, who are identified, after their fall, with both demons or evil spirits. Satan and many of these lesser were exiled to earth and the atmosphere around it, and operate within this sphere under the permissive will of God.

To be more specific, Satans initial rebellion as I mentioned above, took with him literally a third of heavens angels as evidenced by scripture below;

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.  [Rev 12:4 NKJV]

Again, more symbolism in the book of Revelation but this indicates that the stars are the angels that were banished to earth. Additionally, a part of this rebelling brood of angels are still bound in Hell while the rest of them are free to operative and exist under Satans dominion and control (more to come on this later)

Part 2 coming soon-

Read, Think, Pray.

That is all I am asking-

Until next time guys-

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