KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, November 10, 2016
Chapters: Luke 22, John 13
Message: The Power Of Satan
Hello My Friend,
Satan, wicked, corrupt, and evil, conniving, deceiving, and scandalous, he has many names and devices that tempt one to sin. He is the culprit behind all evil, and while he cannot force us to do anything, just like God cannot force us to do anything, he can influence us, just like Jesus can, but it is a lot more easier than Jesus can. Satan feeds off our emotions, things like pride, guilt, loneliness, anger, and envy. Think about it, at every given day we are around temptation all the time, but it never comes to mind, except when we are vulnerable, and that is what Satan feeds off. This is why we need the power of Jesus to defeat the power of Satan, if we feed off His power, Satan will lose his. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:10-12.
“stand against the wiles of the devil.” Wiles, to trick for deception. If anyone knows how to trick us into doing something that goes against God it is the devil. You know, it is often disbelief that can cause one be controlled by the power of the devil, and it does not matter if we know Christ. Judah Iscariot, he walked with Jesus every single day for three and a half years, yet he never believed Him to one, be the Messiah, and two, the only begotten Son of God. The power of Satan not only influenced Judah, he down right got inside of him, being the one who would betray Jesus. “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.” – Luke 22:3-6.
“how he might betray him unto them.” To be honest, anyone who thinks of ways to betray someone is under the influence of the devil, anger, greed, envy, pride, bitterness, covetousness, all these things are the fuel that gives Satan his power and ultimately harden the heart to the point that it will not believe. This is why we need the power of Jesus, He is the only one who can, one, keep Satan from getting our soul, and two, put him in his place when he starts to influence us. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” – I Peter 5:8-9.
Do you think that Jesus does not already know who will betray Him? Of course, He does. The only reason I can think of as to why God allows a person who is under the power of Satan to be among the saved is so that some can get scared enough to turn to Jesus. After the disciples ate, Jesus did something that no one would have expected, He takes a basin, fills it with water, kneels before each disciple, and starts washing their feet.
“And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” – John 13:2-5,14-16.
“For I have given you an example,” Jesus was saying that no one was exempt from the influences of the devil, even He was tempted by him, and if Satan could have gotten Jesus to go against the Scriptures by a fraction he would have done what he intended to do, destroy the Son of God’s testimony. We all get tempted and tried, and many, many will become controlled by the power of Satan, but God is greater and more powerful than anything the devil can do to us, if we believe in and receive Christ. Jesus told the disciples that He knew one of them was about to betray Him, of course, they began looking at each other wondering who was capable of such a thing, John rested his head on Jesus’ chest and simply asked Him who it was.
“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.” – John 13:23-28.
“And after the sop Satan entered into him.” Satan knows exactly the right time to control someone into doing what he wants, he used his wiles to grab Judas’ attention when he sought the opportunity to betray Jesus and now it was time for him to execute his plan. You know, more often than we realize, the people we love and hang out with become controlled by Satan in order to get us to stop doing what God intended for us to do. When I look back on some things I could see the subtle hints that the Holy Spirit gave me to warn me about someone, but at the time I was oblivious to it. Keep in mind that Satan cannot enter a saved soul, He can afflict us, which is something God actually allows, but we belong to Jesus therefore, he cannot take possession of our soul. Jesus explains this further when all the disciples began proclaiming that they would not be offended by Jesus.
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” – Luke 22:31-34.
“and when thou art converted,” You see, many of the disciples were not saved yet themselves. Yes, they were believers, but believing is not enough, we must receive Him also. God allows Satan to influence us, to sift us like wheat so He can see that either we love or hate His Son. I recall before I dedicated my life to Christ how angry, hurt, and in pain I was, I knew where my life was headed and did not like what I was seeing, but I also knew God did not like what He was seeing either. Fear, and quite frankly, guilt are the very things that get us on our knees to be converted. Keep in mind that Satan does not always use his power to get us to commit sin, he often just hinders us from proclaiming Christ, and that is all he needs to do to keep one from seeing the power of Christ. Nevertheless, God’s grace will pick us back up, and make us more like Jesus as we walk by He example. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” – I Peter 5:10.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” – John 13:8.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for watching over me, protecting me, and giving me Your power to resist the wiles of the devil. I understand that circumstances and my emotions are fuel that Satan often uses to hinder me from living by faith and even doing Your work, and while I know he cannot overtake my soul, he can do a great job at influencing me to stop doing what You intend for me to do. Lord, I know I missed out on opportunities because I got under the wiles of the devil, he tried to destroy me, but You restored me, and I will be forever grateful for that. Give me Your power, mercy, and grace, strengthen me, guide me, and put Your hedge of protection around me so that I can be powerful against every deception that Satan tries to influence me with. You alone are my power, In know I can do and endure all things through You. In Jesus’ name…Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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