“Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour. Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure. And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up. And he has all the power needed to do this —forever! Amen.”
1 Peter 5:8-11 TPT
Who have you been hanging out with? Who currently influences the decisions you make on a daily basis? Who’s your mentor in the faith? Have you slackened your spiritual armor through distractions in this life? Have you fallen into the sluggardness of forsaking the assembly of God’s house? Have you stopped supporting His work by withholding His tithes and offerings? Have you fallen back into the old patterns of your previous lifestyle before Christ? Has your prayer life become a chore? If your answer is yes to any or all of these questions, you are in danger of losing your position to the enemy.
I wrote a while back that it isn’t you that Satan has set his sights on, but it’s rather the Christ in you. He’s after your witness for Christ. But in the process of ruining your testimony he wants and desires to destroy your physical life. The only way that you can lose your position is by willing surrender or ignorance of the warnings God by His Spirit has posted along the way through the reading of His Word. Satan is not your friend. I recall a few years ago a young woman in my Bible study saying she felt sorry for Satan. Her reason, he doesn’t have an opportunity to repent. That’s pure ignorance of who her enemy is. No wonder she’s constantly struggling in her loyalty to Christ. Always falling into past sinful behavior. He’s gunning for her position and she’s powerless to overcome him because she won’t pick a side.
The apostle James gives us the following on how to secure our position in Christ.
“But he continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, “God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble.” So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will flee in agony. Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.”
James (Jacob) 4:6-8 TPT
Satan is not to be pitied, he's to be resisted! He’s not a poor devil, he’s a mass murderer a liar and a thief! He’s after your position. He’s moving in for the kill. That’s why we’re told by the apostle Paul to put on the whole armor, not just a part. We have to be completely covered. The only part that isn’t is our rear, why? Because we don’t retreat ever! Our position in Christ is one of forward moving only.
“Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious. Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace. In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 TPT
Following these instructions will help secure your position in Christ Jesus. Studying the scriptures daily will equip you to know your enemy. Get around strong believers and stay faithful in prayer. Stay faithful to attending a good Bible believing church. Return to your first Love. If you have indeed tasted His goodness. He will never leave you or forsake you. That’s why He’s using this message to warn you of the enemy’s plan to derail your life. We are in the countdown for Jesus’ return. We cannot afford distractions or complacency, time is too short. It’s time to get our spiritual houses in order. You’ve come too far to give into the subtleties of Satan. He may be after your position but we have the tools to defeat him.
Check your gears, don’t be caught ill prepared in a spiritual emergency. Be sure that everything you need to be victorious is in your arsenal. Check and check again. Samson thought he was prepared for anything, but when he awoke from the enemy’s lap his strength was gone. Peter before Pentecost thought he was prepared to die for Jesus, then the rooster crowed. Satan wants your position. Don’t allow pride to stand in the way of acknowledging that you need to re-evaluate your commitment to Christ. This is your opportunity to take a stand by submitting to the authority of Christ once and for all. Satan thrives on indecision, complacency, procrastination, pride, envy, jealousy, anger, malice, dissatisfaction and complaining. Give no place to him.
“But don’t let the passion of your emotions lead you to sin! Don’t let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not for even a day. Don’t give the slanderous accuser, the Devil, an opportunity to manipulate you!”
Ephesians 4:26-27 TPT
Satan may be after your position but he’s powerless to take it, it must be delivered to him as we learned from his bragging during his testing of Jesus in Luke 4. Adam gave his position away to Satan, Jesus took it back for us. Don’t give it away again. He seeks to weaken and embarrass us in our witness for Christ, don’t let him!
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
May 14, 2022
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