Thursday, May 24, 2018

The Devil wants demoralize you and swallow you up!

Copy right Steve Bloem, 2016. Some of this blog is in the book, The Pastoral Handbook of Mental Illness, A Guide for Training and Review  and is copyright by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids,. Michigan,2018.

Have you ever felt like giving up the Christian life? I mean, have you gotten so discouraged and so much in despair that you feel swallowed up by doubts, depression and fear? You can be sure that the devil is trying to have you for dinner and that you need the armor of God. Now, obviously, an extensive study of the subject of spiritual 0warfare and the armor of God would take too many blogs.  So I will say a few words about the "devil wanting to eat you for dinner." As you probably guessed, I am using a metaphor to describe the devil's attack on your life. .





 But the Bible uses the same metaphor, and that is where we will find the answer to detecting and defeating the evil one's powerful schemes.When I say he wants you for dinner I mean, Satan wants to overwhelm you with sorrow. This is one of his foremost goals. I am not saying that the devil wants to actually eat you. But since the beginning of time, he has been devouring those who have believed in God and Messiah- Jesus. In order to develop a biblical theology of the devil and his aims and methods we must go to the Bible.




Image result for eve with serpent in the garden

Genesis 3:16 - God's provision for defeating death is spoken of very early in Biblical Revelation. The verse is also known by theologians as the proto-evangelium- ,

 It was on the cross that the seed of woman, the Son of David, the God-man, Jesus Christ by died in our place and for our sins. He destroyed the devil's power over death and because of this mankind can have victory over death. Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14).

Satan and his demons are very active throughout today's world. Ephesians 6:10-12, demonstrates this activity; finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.The Greek word for schemes is methodia. 
He uses methods which involve: cunning arts, deceit, craft,  and trickery. Satan is a highly intelligent being and actually, like a commander, he and his army (demons), formulate many different strategies to cause God's people to sin. And his fighting is up-close and personal. He wants you to be swallowed up by fear and panic so that you will give up on living the Christian life the way it should be lived. You have to put on the full armor of God (Please see image above.. You must read your Bible prayerfully. You must take up the shield of faith. If you are not aware of his schemes then he has already defeated you.

If you would like to view a short description by Kregel  Publications of the new book, which Steve
has done please go to the link belowhttp://www.kregel.com/ministry/the-pastoral-handbook-of-mental-illness/

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