09/11/2024
9/11/24 Wednesday’s Scripture: Isaiah35:3,4 “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance, with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
(Fear is one of the most powerful forces in the devil’s arsenal, and it began in the Garden when he introduced fear to Eve with the subtle thought that she could be like God – if she would be disobedient and eat of the tree that God had warned not to eat. If she did not follow the devil’s advice, she would lose the power he promised her! He is just as subtle today as his first desire is still to see all of God’s innocent creation following his wicked ways, leading into his evil kingdom. But if our hearts are open to God’s word, we will hear him say: ”If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them, you must not listen to the words of that prophet ore dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Isa. 13:1-3). We face a battle of faith over fear! Will we trust God as he pours his love and mercy into us, or will we follow the lures of the devil to end up worshiping the other gods of the world? Jesus tells us with words without doubt that the devil is the Father of lies, known as Satan. But the love of a Savior who gave himself for us for our well-being and for the glory which will be known in eternity, destroyed the devil’s power over us, except what we give back to him through believing his lies. When we expose him, we break his power! Since his primary weapon is the lie, our defense is God’s truth. His word is our greatest weapon! “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:12,13). When Jesus wandered in the desert for 40 days and nights and Satan tempted him, he fought back by quoting God’s word three times – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,” “It is written; Do not put the Lord our God to the test, and “Away from me Satan! And “For it is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only!” (Matt. 4:1-11). Remember Satan is working overtime for our destruction, through our weakness. He has no compassion, he doesn’t care how hard life may be, or all the things we have gone through. He rejoices in our difficulties and wants to add to them, but we must remember the power we received from the cross – “Be strong and do not fear, your God will come with vengeance and divine retribution to save you!” Only in weakness can fear overcome us, and we have been given strength!)
