LORD, why do the Wicked Prosper?

 
Lord, you always give me justice
    when I bring a case before you.
So let me bring you this complaint:
Why are the wicked so prosperous?
    Why are evil people so happy?
 You have planted them,
    and they have taken root and prospered.
Your name is on their lips,
    but you are far from their hearts.
But as for me, Lord, you know my heart.
    You see me and test my thoughts.
Drag these people away like sheep to be butchered!
    Set them aside to be slaughtered! Jeremiah 12

                   Lord,why do the wicked prosper? Why do they seem to have power? Why have the godly been silenced in their presence- or at least made to feel like they are not allowed to speak up?  I’ve been asking the Lord this in my prayers for the last few months as I see the wicked prosper and those around me falling into all the world has to offer….but  I can Praise God! Because He always answers me.  Every time I have asked the Lord this question, I have immediately (without knowing) opened up to Psalm 37 or another verse (listed below) that answers my questions, gives me hope and tells me “Do not worry”. Apparently I’m not the only one who asks the Lord this question. David, Jeremiah,Psalmist Asaph (ps 73) and Habukkuk felt the same way.  Almost every day I have found new scripture that answers me and each time the Lord reminds me not to worry about it, nor fret.

THIS EARTHY KINGDOM IS FUELED BY……………

 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.  John 18:36

 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;12 (note also Ezekiel 28 the King of Tyre is a spiritual being that is addressed, where tyre itself and it’s prince is addressed as a people)

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness 1 John 5:19 

( 4 Terrifying Lion Dreams  Warfare ) You see, satan is prowling around- they don’t see it and they are not worried- but there is terror ahead, in fact, closer than they could image.  Why should he attack them now? That would ruin his plans, because the wicked recruit others for him.  The wickedness grows greater and greater and they are blind to the consequences of their sin. Do I want the wicked to die? NO, but I do want wickedness to stop. I love this verse:

Let the wicked change their ways  and banish the very thought of doing wrong.  Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.   Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. Is 55:7

“Among my people are wicked men
    who lie in wait for victims like a hunter hiding in a blind.
They continually set traps
    to catch people.
²⁷ Like a cage filled with birds,
    their homes are filled with evil plots.
    And now they are great and rich.
²⁸ They are fat and sleek,
    and there is no limit to their wicked deeds.
They refuse to provide justice to orphans
    and deny the rights of the poor.
²⁹ Should I not punish them for this?” says the Lord.
    “Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?
³⁰ A horrible and shocking thing
    has happened in this land—
³¹ the prophets give false prophecies,
    and the priests rule with an iron hand.
Worse yet, my people like it that way! Jer 5:27-

    Many want to turn but they don’t know how. If only they knew- that turning back to God is as easy as turning around. The devil wants them to think they could never change and that their lifestyle is impossible to leave, but no so!  I saw the Lord’s hands reached out to those who had fallen from the path- come back! Turn around! He calls… But in despair and hopelessness many don’t turn back to God- they continue to hear the lies of Satan telling them of their unworthiness.  He tells them they can never leave and whispers blasphemy  in their minds causing them to despise the living God.  Pray for those who have been misled and the next generation- May  righteousness reign and may the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong.

          Romans 1  tells us that although the wicked seem to prosper from the world’s point of view- their minds are dark and confused. The Lord has God abandoned them and they suffered within themselves … what a horrible place to be! (Romans 1:18-28)

Enough of my talk! Here’s some scripture the Lord showed me after I asked Him this question. Great promises and a lot to think about. I’d like to discuss further, but that could take all day.  So I leave you with the scripture, the living word of God- may it bless you today.

 Dont Worry about it! Don’t Fret  (I keep singing the don’t worry be happy song)

Ps 37:1-2 Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away.  Like spring flowers, they soon wither.  Trust in the Lord and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Ps 37 Soon the wicked will disappear.  Though you look for them, they will be gone. The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed  or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial

 Jeremiah 5:28 They are fat and sleek and there is no limit to their wicked deeds. They refuse to provide justice to orphans  and deny the rights of the poor.         

Psalm 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.  They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.  They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Jeremiah 12:1: Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

Habakkuk 1:4  The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted

Jeremiah 11:20 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you make righteous judgments,  and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see your vengeance against them,  for I have committed my cause to you

Jeremiah 5:27-28  Like a cage filled with birds,  their homes are filled with evil plots.  And now they are great and rich.  They are fat and sleek,  and there is no limit to their wicked deeds. They refuse to provide justice to orphans  and deny the rights of the poor

Psalm 10
O Lord, why do you stand so far away?
Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor
Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
For they brag about their evil desires;
they praise the greedy and curse the Lord.
 The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.
Yet they succeed in everything they do. They do not see your punishment awaiting them.  They sneer at all their enemies.
They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us!
We will be free of trouble forever!”
Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats. Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.  They lurk in ambush in the villages,  waiting to murder innocent people.
They are always searching for helpless victims.
Like lions crouched in hiding, they wait to pounce on pounce on the helpless.
Like hunters they capture the helpless
and drag them away in nets.
Their helpless victims are crushed; they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.
The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us!   He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!”
Arise, O Lord!
Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless!
Why do the wicked get away with despising God?
They think, “God will never call us to account.”
But you see the trouble and grief they cause.  You take note of it and punish them .The helpless put their trust in you.

Ps37
Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away.  Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
Trust in the Lord and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper  or fret about their wicked schemes.
Stop being angry!  Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.
Soon the wicked will disappear.  Though you look for them, they will be gone.
The lowly will possess the land  and will live in peace and prosperity.
The wicked plot against the godly;  they snarl at them in defiance.
But the Lord just laughs,  for he sees their day of judgment coming.
The wicked draw their swords   and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed,  to slaughter those who do right.
But their swords will stab their own hearts,  and their bows will be broken.
It is better to be godly and have little  than to be evil and rich.For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,  but the Lord takes care of the godly.
Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
They will not be disgraced in hard times;   even in famine they will have more than enough.
but the wicked will die.  The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field— they will disappear like smoke.
The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,  but those he curses will die.
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,  for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Once I was young, and now I am old.  Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
The godly always give generous loans to others,  and their children are a blessing.
Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.
For the Lord loves justice,  and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,  but the children of the wicked will die.
The godly will possess the land and will live there forever.
The godly offer good counsel;  they teach right from wrong.
They have made God’s law their own,  so they will never slip from his path.
The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.
But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed
or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.
 Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.
I have seen wicked and ruthless people  flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
But when I looked again, they were gone!  Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
But the rebellious will be destroyed;  they have no future.
The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.
The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them, and they find shelter in him.

Ps 73
 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
As a dream when one awaketh  so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

Isaiah 57:
Are you afraid of these idols? Do they terrify you?
Is that why you have lied to me  and forgotten me and my words?
Is it because of my long silence  that you no longer fear me?
Now I will expose your so-called good deeds. None of them will help you.
Let’s see if your idols can save you when you cry to them for help.
God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.”  The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,  the Holy One, says this:
“I live in the high and holy place  with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I restore the crushed spirit of the humble  and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
For I will not fight against you forever;  I will not always be angry.
If I were, all people would pass away— all the souls I have made.
 I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way.
I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them.
I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips.
May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them.
“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still
but continually churns up mud and dirt.
There is no peace for the wicked,”  says my God

Gently Instruct those who oppose the truth

2 tim 2 23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.  A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

But BE CAREFUL! THESE PEOPLE ARE LIKE DANGEROUS REEFS THAT CAN SHIPWRECK YOU

Jude 1 12 When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you.[e] They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. 13 They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness. 17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. 18 They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. 20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,[g] 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

SHOW MERCY AND RESCUE THEM BY SNATCHING THEM FROM THE FLAMES OF JUDGEMENT

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Jude 22-23

But be careful who you walk with, who you stand with, and you sit with

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. PS 1

BECAUSE YOUR GREAT ENEMY IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.  All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

 

Related articles

• Put on the Shoes of Peace. Ephesians 6:13 : Weapons of warfare (prepareforthelamb.wordpress.com)
• Gatekeepers! Watchmen! You are to speak out (The Lord has called you out to be Bold today) (prepareforthelamb.wordpress.com)
• The Lord Delivers the Afflicted (loopyloo305.com)
• Father’s Day Series: “Relationships & Success” Part 1 (calltoprayerministries.wordpress.com)
• Why do the wicked prosper by Ramblingpastorman.wordpress.comGrace Bible Church Why do the Wicked Prosper

Put on the Shoes of Peace. Ephesians 6:13 : Weapons of warfare

Put on your shoes of Peace –Your armor….And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.Eph 6:15

 Protect yourself against the schemes, traps and wiles of the enemy

    Before I show you what the Lord showed me about our armor, I have a message for some of you : You have been anointed, now act like it…if this speaks to you, here is more: The enemy is after you and has laid out many traps ahead.  Stay focused on the Lord and cling to Him, do not depart.

 Okay, on to the shoes of peace. To be honest, when I studied this armor stuff I didn’t quite understand it, okay the basic teaching maybe, but I had a lot of questions, and I asked..continually.and one by one the Lord began to teach me. I’d say–shoes? How does that relate to the preparation of the gospel? I thought this had something to do with this verse:

 Isaiah 52:7  How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace (amplified)

    So I kind of disregarded the shoes, I figured, I’m not on a mountain, and I’m not a missionary – so maybe it’s not for me…. until one day in church, the Holy Spirit spoke to me.  I was standing next to someone who really annoyed me. I remember standing there mad as those around me sang their praise, I stood and told the Lord how annoyed I was (and it was because I wasn’t getting my own way). I immediately heard “put on your shoes of peace”. I knew instantly that I was to make peace, control myself, change my attitude and be quiet. I just knew, however, I really didn’t want to do that, I would have much rather done something else.  I obeyed, and I regret that I didn’t obey with a good attitude. The Lord supernaturally blessed me that day with many blessings as I walked in obedience. I understood that the shoes of peace are so much more than we can imagine. 

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns”  Maybe I now understand that my life is my testimony and the way I behave sends out a message of the good news of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise Prov 11:30

     I am so excited about this new key to protection I have discovered as I studied our armor and warfare… it seems so simple, yet it is so powerful. And this is what I have discovered: Peace is a protector, Peace protects us, (and this peace if from the Lord) it closes a door to the enemy. There is a supernatural link and key between peace and righteousness (right living) that protects those who fear the Lord.

  If you want protection from your enemy and his traps, you must live your life in obedience. Always searching and working hard to maintain a peaceful life in all circumstances and living a life of righteousness and right living. This peace is a gift and a blessing given to you from the Lord God and His Son Jesus.

     ( fyi: There are many messages with truth about the shoes- however, I am specifically focusing on the power and protection of the blessing of the shoes of Peace the Lord gives. AND there is a difference between the peace the world offers and peace the Lord gives us.  Living in peace that the Lord Jesus has given us doesn’t give us an excuse not to stand up for truth or fight for righteousness- this we must do. Speak up for justice and righteousness,  in love. Peace the Lord gives is real and true peace, it is our protection and much more.)

 Righteousness + Peace = Supernatural Protection
Right living in obedience + being a peacemaker = God’s supernatural protection  for us from enemy attacks

      Its true! Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other:   Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. Ps 85:10-13

  Do you see the connection between peace and right living –and it’s all intertwined like a puzzle as we study our armor. Peace (shoes) and Righteousness (breastplate) need to be worn at all times, we can’t have one without the other. Notice the righteousness in the verse above goes before him AND SHALL SET US IN THE WAY OF HIS STEPS. Righteousness and peace protect us, keep us on God’s path and set us in the way of His steps. Okay, can you tell I’m so excited about this!  For right now, I want to dive deeper into peace and then righteousness another time because there is much to learn about this peace- our shoes we put on with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

What happens when we listen to His commands? We will have peace and righteousness!  Isaiah 48:18Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.

How can we reap a harvest of righteousness? By being peacemakers James 3:18And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness

What does righteousness bring?  Isaiah 32:17And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.

More on Peace and Righteousness:  For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.  He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever Heb 7:1-3

Am I making sense? You see, if we live right, obey God and work hard for peace- this gives us protection. Think about it this way. Imagine you are really upset or angry with someone. If you obey God’s word and work at peace and forgive as the Lord has told us to, the enemy has no open door to come in and bother you. However, if you lose control and say things you don’t want to – watch out because sin is waiting at the door for an opportunity to take over and master you.  Obedience pays off, the Lord’s words don’t fail, surely we reap what we sow.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Message version of Eph 6:13-18

Rewards of Peace:
Proof! Peace protects us.

1. Protection and Peace come from the Lord Jeremiah 16:5
2. Following God’s commands gives you the ability to endure the pressures and go in peace Exodus 18:23
3. God’s peace protects us on every side 1 Kings 5:4
4. Submit to God and you will have peace, then things will go well for you Job 22:21 (Submit to God and the enemy will flee)
5. He brings me to His rest, it is not on my own power Psalm 23:2
6. Want peace?  Search for it and work to maintain it. Keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Ps 29
7. Peace is a blessing from the Lord.The Lord watches over all who do right and he hears their cries  Psalm 29:11The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace. Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!
8.  Peace takes effort on your part- you have to search for it and maintain it . Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.²² But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
9. A wonderful future awaits those who love Peace. Psalm 37:37 Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,  for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,  so our land will be filled with his glory. Ps 85
10. Fear of the Lord + Right living + Peace = Supernatural protection Ps 85
11. Righteousness + Peace = staying on God’s path Ps 85
12. Unfailing love and truth have met together.  Righteousness and peace have kissed! Ps 85
13. Peace is given to those who love the Lord’s instructions and it will keep them from stumbling. Psalm 119:165
14. Planning peace fills a heart with joy, plotting evil fills a heart with deceit Pr 12:20
15. Peace brings health: Proverbs 14:30A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
16. You can have peace with your enemies when you live your life to please the Lord:Proverbs 16:7When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.
17. The Lord’s teaching brings Peace upon our childrenIsaiah 54:13I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.
18. If you work for peace and do your best to maintain peace, the Lord will bless you and you will be called children of God.Matthew 5:9
19. Jesus has left us with this gift:John 14:27“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
20. Peace protects our mind and heart and keeps us from being troubled or afraid.
21. You can have peace in storms and sorrowsJohn 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
22. Peace with the Fear of the Lord is a powerful combinationActs 9:31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
23. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace rom 8:6
24. We are to live a life of peace and Joy in the Holy spirit Romans 14:17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
25. Only God can fill us with peace because we trust in Him and this joy and peace will produce and overflow of confident hope the power of the Holy Spirit.Romans 15:13
26. Gal 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
27. Discipline results in a peaceful harvest of right living Hebrews 12:11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
28. Peacemakers reap a harvest of righteousness!James 3:18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
29. His peace guards us: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Phil 4:6-7
30. Being a peacemaker takes work and you have to maintain this peace. Search for it. 1 Peter3 10-13
31. Peace (grace and mercy) comes from God the Father and from Jesus the Son of the Father 1 J 1:3
32. The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness is -quietness and assurance forever! Is 32:17-20

  Shoes protect us and so does peace. When I don’t wear shoes and walk outside I’m always concerned about what I might step on-broken glass, hot asphalt, thorns, red ants, wasp stingers,etc… but if I wear my shoes I don’t have to worry about anything I might step on. I can walk on burning sidewalks, over broken glass and nothing will hurt me. So it is with the sh0es of peace- you can walk through stormy waters and burning coals, but nothing can touch you- because you are covered and protected by the Peace of the Lord Jesus.

 
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other”  But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.  “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Romans 14:17, Luke 12:51, Luke 19

What can I learn?

Peace protects us, fills us with joy, keeps us healthy, guarantees us a wonderful future, keeps us from stumbling, brings blessings, protects our mind and heart and keeps us from being troubled or afraid, brings righteousness, fills your heart with joy.

Peace is attained through the Lord by our obedience, our searching for it, Peace is given to those who love the Lord’s instructions and Fear Him.

So here’s the final question: What part of your life do you need to work on in order for God’s peace to reign? How can you be a peacemaker and please the Lord your God and Maker?

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on Keep your heart with all diligence,For out of it spring the issues of life. 
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
 Do not turn to the right or the left;Remove your foot from evil.
May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
Amen.

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• KNOW YOUR ENEMY Ephesians 6 -Be wise to his schemes (prepareforthelamb.wordpress.com)

KNOW YOUR ENEMY Ephesians 6 – AND HIS SCHEMES

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

   Did you notice that we are only given one weapon and everything else is for protection.  The word of God is your most powerful weapon- the Sword- it is all we need, yet we are told to be fully protected and ready for strikes at any time, anywhere.
You are the devil’s enemy. We must always be ready, alert and prepared for battle. Be Strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might.  Through scripture, we are given information on our enemy, his tactics, his wiles, schemes, plans, motives, weapons.  The devil knows he has little time left and Revelation 12:12 says “he has come down to you in great anger”, but Praise God! For the Lord has made it possible that we can be more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

YOU HAVE AN ENEMY

1 Peter 5:8 Tells us to STAY ALERT!  Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to kill steal and destroy. He hates you and wants you cut off completely from God forever.

4 kinds of spirit rebels:

1. Principalities – Chief rulers
2. Authorities and powers- execute will of the chief rulers
3. Rulers of darkness, spirit world rulers (Daniel 10:13-25- Prince of the kingdom of Persia)
4. Spiritual wickedness in high places

Enemies tactics:

1. He Deceives people- he turns wrong into right and right into wrong
2. Wears us down (http://thewarrioranointing.com/2012/06/08/wearing-out-the-saints-of-the-most-high/) -Daniel 7:25
3. Fills believers with doubt and discouragement
4. Manipulates God’s word in our mind to deceive us- whispering false ideas into the minds of people, tells us to reinterpret scripture, mixing truth and error
5. Chokes out the word of God (literally)
6.  Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. 2 Cor 4 he is the reason they don’t understand the message, the Good News of Christ. satan corrupts their minds, blocks mental capacity and darkens their mind
7. Steals the word of God and His Promises from our heart with worldly desires of wealth, fame, and materials
8. They must obey Jesus  Mark 1:27  Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”
   he is the accuser of the brethren (Job)
9. He is a thief and his purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. The Lord’s purpose is to give you a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10
10. He is the prince of demons luke11 :15
11. Tries to put the fire of the Holy Spirit that is within us through battles and trials we face daily, trying to wear us out. Daniel 7:25. We don’t see it, but the there are invisible demonic attacks that we often think or blame on people or circumstances. These demons try to destroy your faith and distract you from praying and remembering God’s promises and love for you
12. The spirit behind all who refuse to  acknowledge Jesus
13. Tries to hinder our prayers (Daniel 10:13-25)
14. he works through people and circumstances in your life (see #9)
15. Keeps people in bondage and captivity Luke 13:16 so they can ultimately cut them off from God. This is symbolic of the demonic hands of captivity. “the evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them,the cords of their sin hold them fast Prov 5:22 Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness with cart ropes, Isaiah 5:18
16. Try to master  and control us : ^” If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  Our enemy tries to control us , he waits for an open door of opportunity.
17. Satan is called the ruler of this world
18. he requests to shift us: he asked to shift Peter or cause him chaos, just like he did with Job.
19. He has servants that pretend to be servants of righteousness “Masters of righteousness”, secretly teaching withing their words the doctrines of devils : 2 Cor 11:15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve
20. he also entered into Judas Iscariot to betrayed Jesus. (Notice Satan entered Judas when he had eaten the bread- remember to keep the holy communion holy-“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.  That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” – maybe this was the open door for Satan to enter Judas with evil intent and ideas, not treating the bread holy, as it was – John 13:27, 1 Cor 11:27)
21. He is the father of all lies, Acts 5:3- Don’t let the evil one deceive you into lying, apparently this allows satan to enter your heart- you can’t lie to the holy spirit and how can two walk together who don’t agree?
22. He tempts you so you fall astray 1 cor 7:5
23. He is full of plans, schemes and wiles. Don’t let him outsmart you.  Put your armor, stay focused. Be as wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove.2 Cor 4:4
24. He disguises himself as an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14 The means he deceives, he comes to people as an angel of light with deceiving messages and false doctrines. He uses God’s word to fool people mixing truth and error to pull people off God’s path.
25. He has messengers that are sent out to hurt people- thorns in the flesh. Some people have spiritual thorns in their flesh. (it is similar to voodoo dolls)  Actually many times, these are spiritual, but cause physical pain 2 Corinthians 12:7“even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.”  Remember Jesus came to set you free, if you feel you have thorns, claim the mighty name of Jesus and be set free. He will free you and He will heal you. He will bandage up your wounds and you will soon recover. *****However, and at the same time, there are other thorns that God allows to be there. Consider Paul had a thorn in his flesh in  2 Corinthians 12: 17 and even though Paul prayed, the thorn remained and scripture says it was there almost as a source to keep him humble. Is that always the case? I don’t know, but in this instance, if you have prayed, I would keep praying and always stand firm with endurance in all things. I like to think of Jeremiah 17:7-8, calling on God’s valiant warriors to stand unshakable no matter what comes your way. God see’s and God knows your pain, so in this there is hope and hope is a precious anchor for our souls. Stand firm!
26. He does everything he can to prevent the teaching of the Good News. He tried to stop Paul many times (wind/storms) 1 thes 2:8. I noticed in scripture when Jesus was in the boat with the disciples and the terrible wind storm came, Jesus said “I rebuke you, Peace!” I remembered the old testament verse that says he makes his servants like fire and the angels like wind. I wonder if this wind storm were satan’s angels trying to kill Jesus and his disciples? Luke 8 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
27. He has the power to produce counterfeit signs and miracle and works through false teachers to perform this 2 Thessalonians 2:9:This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
28. He is the ruler of this age and world and he has his throne here on earth : Revelation 2:13“I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.
29. The author of false teachings and doctrines: Revelation 2:24 “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you
30. The deceiver.  He is the great dragon, the devil,the serpent, the one deceiving the whole world. Revelation 12:9: This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the- earth with all his angels.
31. He deceives entire nations. Revelation 19-20
32. Ephesians 3:10 :God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
33. Ephesians 6:12: For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
34. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. Ephesians 2:2 : You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
35. They live in some people. 43 “When an evil[f] spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”
36. Evil spirits have been known to bring sickness, disease, death, muteness, convulsions and trying to kill the people they live in by throwing them into fires and waters to drown them
37. They know Jesus and know they must obey Him, they are subject to the authority of Jesus Mark 5:9-13
38. They can possess children Mark 7:25
39. They cause muteness. Mark 9:17
40. These evil spirits can make a person unable to hear or speak . Mark 9:25: When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”
41. Mary Magdalene has 7 evil spirits in her and the Lord Jesus cast them out and she became one of His followers and loved the Lord with all her heart. (There’s hope!)
42. When they possess a person, they can give them super human strength. Luke 8:29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. Acts 19:16
43. When an evil spirit leaves a person, it tries to come back- with more demons Luke 11:24“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’  So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order.  Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”
44. From the verse above, we know that some spirits are more wicked than others.
45. One of his schemes is waiting and knowing when the right opportunity arises for attach- when he sees you  weak, tired, worn out or in a struggle. Consider when Jesus was tempted in the desert. He was weak and hungry and the devil was pestering him, tempting him and offering him all the world had to offer- ruling nations, wealth- but this was all a lie. Luke 4:13  When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
46. They cause people to scream when they were around Jesus and when they were cast out, it seems, as I read through the scripture that there were many times Jesus had to silence them. Other times they screamed when they were around Jesus and screamed when they came out of people. I wonder if this was to intimidate people so they wouldn’t cast them out in Jesus name also.
47. 1 Peter 1:5  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He roars… do you know why lions roar?  They roar to scare.  Think about that.  I saw the devil roar and trying to scare and instill fear, but there was a shield of faith , knowing he couldn’t touch God’s people, in Christ. He may roar, but the Lord is always with you.
48. The devil tries to take the message of the Good News and the gospel out of the hearts of people to prevent them from believing and being saved. He will do anything he can to keep people from believing.Luke 8
49. They don’t want to go to the bottomless pit and begged the Lord if they could go somewhere else. Luke 8“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit
50. The Lord called Judas a devil.  A person controlled by a demon is a devil? Judas was a person but Jesus knew that Satan would enter him when Judas ate the bread at the last supper…so does any spirit or any man controlled by Satan therefore a devil?  John 6:70 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
51. Ok, more :   Jesus called the religious Pharisees children of the devil.   John 8: 42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.  Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.  So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?  Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
52. The devil is a murderer, a hater of the truth and there is no truth in him.
53. He is the father of all lies
54. Anyone who doesn’t listen to the words of God does not belong to God and anyone who does not belong to God belongs to their father the devil , making them devils.
55. And more- people are called sons of the devil,  Acts 13 9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? 11 Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.
56. Sorcery and witchcraft is an open door for possession of evil spirits who are full of every sort of deceit and fraud and enemies of all that is good. They, according to the words of Paul –through the Holy Spirit are sons of the devil and children of the devil. But we are children of the Most High God who loved us so much He sent His only son to redeem us, save us and graft us into His holy Family. We are children of God.
57. They pervert the ways of the Lord
58. He prompts/nudges/ pushes/ entices/manipulates/ deceives people to sin. He’s crafty and ready at any opportunity, cunning and whispering lies, hatred and murder in the minds and hearts of man. John 13:2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
59. Fortune tellers are controlled by demons; Acts 16:16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters.
60.  No angel or demon or power of hell can separate you from God’s love.  That is yea and amen!  Romans 8:38
61. You belong to one or the other. All sacrifices to idols are offered to demons, not God.” What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too”.- (What is the 1^st commandment) this is interesting because it seems the people were mixing religions with God putting them together so they thought they were okay- sound familiar?)
62. Like I said, you belong to one or the other.2 Corinthians 614 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil[a]? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:“I will live in them and walk among them.I will be their God,and they will be my people.
63. An eternal fire is prepared for him.Matthew 25:41  “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels”
64. He continually chants lies over and over again. He tells you lies about others, lies about yourself and he tells you that you can’t do anything. you can’t you can’t he chants continually, be aware.
65. The devil is the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts  of those who refuse to obey God.  Let’s think about this- he is trying to control the world through his invisible army of demonic  angels. Anyone who lives in sin and refuses to obey the Lord has the devil at work in their heart.
66. The world obeys the devil, you are a new and different person, not of this World. Ephesians 2:2You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
67. He works in the heart- that ‘s where he goes to conquer people. When I lived in sin like the rest of the world, I was deceived and had no idea I was obeying the devil, but I was. When we live in sin, drunken parties and wickedness, we are allowing the devil to work in our hearts because they are obeying the devil- yet so deceived, they believe they are good and the devil continues to blind them from the truth
68. Anger is another open door to devil Eph 4:26 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Gen 4:7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”-  sin is crouching at the door- the devil has schemes and waits for an opportune time.  Don’t go to bed angry- and be angry and sin not.  If this is difficult to grasp- imagine the last time you got angry—did you control yourself and stay calm watching your words or did you fly into a frenzy with profanity coming out of the same mouth that sings praises to God? See, that’s where sin jumps in- the sin sitting at your door ready to control you, but you must control it.
69. You have mighty protection against all this- and through the armor the Lord has given you , you can stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. –but you must put on your armor. Ephesians 6:11:Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
70. The Lawless one will come with powers, sings and wonders with all unrighteous deception—- and for those who did not receive the love of truth, God will send them a strong delusion that they shoud believe the lies… 2 Thes 2:9-
71. He is the prince of the powers of the air Eph 2:2
72. He throws fiery darts at you, you can’t see them, but they are flaming arrows of lies, blasphemy, wickedness and evil that are shot into your mind. The Lord showed me this one day after I had asked the Lord to help me understand. I could see arrows shot into my mind, but I stopped them immediately, some without even realizing it. The ultimate goal of the darts or lies was to go into your mind, into your thinking, into your thoughts, and eventually into your heart- giving another foothold to the devil. This is why it is so important, and told to us in scripture to fix our thoughts- think on things that are true, holy, praiseworthy, noble, etc. You don’t have to entertain every thought you think. Kay Arthur says to “frisk that thought when it comes in” and get rid of it if it is not holy, true, or worthy of praise. I pretend they are mosquitos and I smash them when they come in and refuse to let them enter. Not every thought you think is from you, there are some from your enemy-so use your shield of faith to put out all those lies that have no power of you- you child of the King.
73. If murder is like hatred and rebellion is like witchcraft, then both rebellion and hatred, as murder and sorcery open another door to evil to enter one’s life. Stay far away from hatred,  pray rebellion out of your children.
74. The devil is after the leaders in the church and works through pride- Pride is like a deceiving snake hidden so well even the elect don’t notice it. Check your heart daily for pride- I believe this is the enemies’ easiest tactic to bring down believers. 1 Timothy 3:6  An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.
75. He sets you up in traps- I wonder if that is what happened to Peter? 1 Timothy 3:7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.
76. They teach deceptive teachings: Demons are the ones behind every false teaching and deceptive trap. 1 Timothy 4:1  Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.
77. They cause people to turn away from the true faith.
78. Be careful of your words- they could cause you to fall into a trap.(The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Prov 12:18 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Prov 18:21)  Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.  This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.  They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.
79. The devil has traps- one is to deceive people so that they oppose the truth. These people have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. The devil completely controls them.
80. More traps- anything that stimulates youthful lusts, but we are instructed to pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. 2 Tim 2:22 and be careful of who you are friends with- see also ps 1
81. More traps- your companions, who you hang out with, your friends, can righteousness and wickedness walk together? I think not. 2 tim 22 and Ps 1 (see kids bible study)
82. He controls people and sets traps- keeps them from learning the truth. 2 Tim 23: -26  Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.  A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.  Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants
83. They tremble in fear at the name of Jesus James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
84. Jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. James 3:15
85.  He will flee from you when you resist him and submit yourself to God. James 4:So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
86. Your enemy prowls around looking for someone to devour. Notice he’s looking around. He’s looking for someone, not just anyone, but specifically Christian brothers and sisters. 1 Peter 5:7-97 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
87. He has been sinning since the beginning. 1 John 3:8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
88. 1 John 3:10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
89.  Be careful:  In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.)  But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. Jude 1:8
90. The has thrown people into prison ” Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.“Revelation 2:10
91. He deceives the whole world :Rev 12:7 7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels.  And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven.  This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.
92. The devil declares war on those who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony of Jesus
93. he is angry with God’s people. Rev 12:15  “Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth. But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon. And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.”
94. the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time Rev 12:12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!    And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”
95. they can do miracles  Revelation 16:14 They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.
96. DRUGS?  I’m putting this one in here on my own opinion- actually I’ve heard some preachers mention that this is mentioned in revelation by another word. I believe this is another open door for the enemy to enter the lives of people, along with alchohol, gambling and other addictions…but it’s my opinion
97. This is his fate: Revelation 20:10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
98. Evil spirits can cripple:  Luke 13:11he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight.
99. Beware of the spirit of Jezebel  Revelation 2:20 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.
100.  They can be cast out  Matthew 10:1  Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

May the peace and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. May you know the abundant love and grace He has for you. No weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue that rises up against you shall be shown to be in the wrong, for this is the heritage of the saints of the Lord.

Always be careful and alert. Put on your armor, praying always and have his praise continually on your lips. God is good! and his Mercy endures forever. Amen.

warrior annointing “If I were satan”

A voice in the wilderness

Be of good courage