Set Free By Friends

This is one amazing illustration of the Christian life.

At the end I have a link to a video that is powerful yet needs to be watched understanding it is graphic in nature but powerful in message.

The Bible clearly teaches that the devil is like a lion seeking to devour us.

1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. NIV

As we live out our life we are often just going about our business and not really on “alert” or demonstrating “self-control”. This is a dangerous place. Not only does the “devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. He will seek to take out the weakest.

Now, sometimes we all experience the attack of the devil. We are to be there for each other when that happens.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. NIV

We really do need each other. We need each other to break us free when we cannot even help ourselves.

Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. NIV

Watch this video and learn this biblical lesson better than ever. You might cry when it is over. It is an amazing truth that Scripture teaches lived out before a video camera. Over 52,300,000 have viewed this on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM (this is the original raw footage)

Decisions and the Devil

Just yesterday I had a person come up to me and say they had finally been able to forgive a person for something they had done. This person had been offended personally without a doubt. It was a huge step forward in life to be able to come to this point. My last word to this person was to remember that the devil would do everything possible to bring it back up in his mind. I saw this same person just a couple of hours later and it was amazing how quickly the devil acted. When this person got home they received a call. The person on the other end of the phone was unknown but wanted to let this person know that they knew who had offended and that it really did happen. Now, how does a person who does not even know a person call and bring something like this up in a conversation? The adversary is at work. Scripture tells us “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12, ESV). The devil wants to but barriers in your way when you make a decision for Christ. This decision can be for salvation, restoration, reconciliation, forgiveness or any direction God leads you. You must know that you will be faced with opposition in these areas of your life. We must remember “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom 8:37, ESV).

Warren Wiersbe gave a great study of the Strategies of Satan in his book by the same title. The devil is going to:

1. Lie to you to make you ignorant of God’s will (Eve).

2. Attack your body to make you impatient with God’s will (Job)

3. Lift your pride to make you independent of God’s will (David)

4. Accuse you to make you indicted by God’s will (Joshua the high priest).

Your defense is:

1. The Word of God

2. The Grace of God

3. The Spirit of God

4. The Son of God.

This is why we must wear the armor of God (Eph 6). It is not to look like a Christian. It is to be ready for battle. Are you ready?