Good morning, good morning, good morning….I hope you’re feeling fine! Sometimes that song plays in my head and I just have to get it out. 😊 So anyway, let’s get into some words of encouragement and see if we need to get into any rocket science to figure this one out – really this is not rocket science.
You’ve heard someone say before, “This is not rocket science.” Let’s see if we can apply that to the following.
1 Peter 5:8b AMP
That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.
He Was Full of Himself
There is no doubt that we have an angry enemy, the devil. In a simple story, he was full of himself (beautiful, talented and smart), He decided he was better than God (pride comes before the fall). God had to put him in his place – kicked him out of the heavens. He can’t get back at God, so he tries to take you down (the one created in God’s image) to get back at Him.
John 10:10a niv
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
Yep, the enemy is trying to steal from you, trying to kill you, and trying to destroy your life. But here’s the low-down on the devil and his minions:
James 2:19 niv
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Your Enemy is More Afraid of You!
It’s true – the enemy is more afraid of God and of you as you walk with Jesus, than you are of him. You just don’t know that, or you wouldn’t be afraid. The demons shudder at the name of Jesus! Most thieves would think twice about attacking Chuck Norris or Hulk Hogan, right? Haha, just think about your enemy when it comes to Jesus.
Your Enemy’s Only Power is Fear and Deception
You are familiar with the fairytale, the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs. And how the wolf is just a bag of wind, full of hot air. Yep, that’s the devil. The tricks of his trade are lies and fear. There is no truth in him. If he can make you afraid of the lies he tells you – he’s got you. And that’s all he’s got! Notice in 1 Peter that Peter says, “like a lion.” So he’s not a lion. He’s actually a toothless kitty cat trying to get you to think he is a roaring lion.
God’s people, forty years wondering in the desert. What kept them out of the land of Milk and Honey that God promised? Fear. Their fear of the enemy was greater than the truth of God. The enemy used his little trick and it worked.
Picture This:
The enemy inhabits the land promised to God’s people. He sees God’s people coming. The enemy is “shuddering” and greatly afraid. And the enemy has heard the stories of God and His people, the signs, the wonders, and the presence of God. They HAVE great fear.
Whose Fear is Greater?
The problem is, God’s people don’t know that. God’s people have believed the bad reports about how the land and its people will devour them (huff and puff and blow their house down). So they continue wondering the desert, grumbling and complaining. 😐 Somehow our fear has become great in the fear of the enemy.
This is Not Rocket Science
It’s not how we sprinkle holy water or sway the incense in the air or having the perfect bible verse to quote in order to scare the enemy away. Nope, it’s not rocket science. It’s pretty simple actually – it’s the name of Jesus. Not just knowing of the man named Jesus – plenty of folks already know about Him. But it’s about knowing the man named Jesus, God in the flesh.
This Science is Our Every-day-walkin’-around-kind-of-life with Jesus
And if there is a science in it, it’s in the steps we take in our daily life with Him. Knowing He walks with us, beside us, and that we talk with Him and hang with Him in our everyday-walking-around-kind-of-life, at work, at school, at home, at church…wherever we go. His name will make the devil run.
Challenge of the day: What promised land are you being kept out of because of your fear? Fear does NOT exist in the presence of Jesus – not possible as the two cannot coexist. Go take your promised land today. Make the devil run. So be it!
