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June - 2000 WEB-SITE RELEASE fromMAYBOLE BAPTIST CHURCH Rev Richard MARTIN - Minister OUR ENEMYI wonder if you have an enemy - or, even enemies? One or more people who seem to be opposed to your every move - except when you say or do the odd thing that happens to suit them? The Apostle Peter called the devil ‘your enemy’. If you believe in the devil at all, you probably take ‘him’ to be a mysterious force or an abstract principle of evil. Not so, according to Peter. Not so according to Jesus. For want of a better description, Peter says the devil is like a roaring lion on the prowl for people to devour (1 Peter 5.8-9). And Jesus said: I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (Luke 10.18). He was there when the pride of this heavenly being resulted in his being put out (thrown out) for trying to usurp God’s place in heaven. Jesus also says of him: He was a murderer from the beginning . . . When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and thefather of lies. (John 8:44-45).Satan is a spiritual being. Although his powers are limited, he is always looking for opportunities to oppose God, by turning man away from his Creator. He succeeded in the garden of Eden, with Adam and Eve and has continued through the centuries to the here & now. Why should he not try it on you and me? But this Enemy (Adversary) is defeated, even though he still holds certain power. He didn’t hesitate in attempts to turn Jesus Christ from His mission. Nor did he think he had won, once Jesus hung on the cross. Rather, he persuaded the men who had demanded Christ’s crucifixion to call out: (Matthew 27. 42) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. That would have been success for Satan - the Enemy would have won.But he didn’t - JESUS WON!!And by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, suffering death on the cross, our every defeat by Satan - our every sin - can be forgiven. We must come to God in repentance, confessing our sin, and asking His forgiveness in Jesus Name. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Please feel free to contact us via our Minister on Rma7734041@AOL.comtelephone: (UK) 01655 88 22 05 |
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