Re-read Mark chapter 9 when Jesus cast out a demon. And go to Living Hope Church if you want to recap what was said in the message by Pastor Paul on Sunday.
I can’t recall a single conversation in person, on TV or over the internet in which a person denied the existence of evil. All it takes is a very elemental look at the world to see that evil is real and a very present danger. Yet, often we live our lives as if it does not exist. We tend to care less about it, will let it in our own lives and often will pay money to be entertained by it! Until that evil comes for us.
It is then we discover the true nature of evil. That it is not a side-show actor or a great life coach, but a destructive force that lays waste to everything it comes into contact with.
Satan is the leader of evil, he is evil and all his desires lend evil. He is a liar, deceiver, destroyer of all things good and Godly. It is his desire to devour you in anyway you will let him. Now don’t get too high on yourself thinking that you are the conquering prize satan is after, you are just a means to an end.
Satan’s real desire is to hurt God Himself. Yet he knows there is nothing in his power he can do to hurt God. Our God is too powerful and Holy to overcome, it’s impossible for satan to beat God. So what does he do?
He gets back at God through you! See, the only way that satan can hurt God, break His heart and try win a spiritual battle is through you and me! If satan and his demonic forces can cripple us emotionally, spiritually and even physically then he can hurt God. God loves us so much that it breaks His heart when we hurt. It wrenches His emotions when we disobey and feel the full impact of the evil we let into our lives. It causes God to take risks.
Did you ever think about that? That God took a risk? Yes He did. He sent is only Son on this earth to die for Sin. To go toe to toe with evil and conquer it all so that you and I can decide which side we will follow. It’s a risk, because even though God has done everything required to open the door to holiness and wholeness we still have to choose to walk through it and to continue to walk with Him. It’s risky when you don’t force someone to do something.
So it is right there, in the mind of man, that satan and evil actually has a chance to win. It’s there in the risk that evil has an even shot at victory. It will never take down God, but evil will destroy many people in the process. I encourage you to never be a willing partner to evil, don’t let it take you down. Resist it from your life and cast it out. Now that’s a miracle!!!
“…then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15)
“For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” (Psalm 56:13)
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