This Is What Causes Us To Become Discouraged So Quickly. Because As Soon As God Gives Us A Word, Satan Goes To War! God Speaks Healing, And Here Comes Satan With Another Symptom; Satan Gets Busy Whenever God Has Made A Major Landing In Your Life.

This Is What Causes Us To Become Discouraged So Quickly. Because As Soon As God Gives Us A Word, Satan Goes To War! God Speaks Healing, And Here Comes Satan With Another Symptom; Satan Gets Busy Whenever God Has Made A Major Landing In Your Life.

Here's what happens: God's Word has landed in your heart. You're starting to gain some ground spiritually, so hell has been notified and your enemy is alarmed. He comes immediately to try to take away the ground you just gained through God's Word. This Is What Causes Us To Become Discouraged So Quickly. Because As Soon As God Gives Us A Word, Satan Goes To War! God Speaks Healing, And Here Comes Satan With Another Symptom; God Speaks Wealth, And Here Comes Satan With An Unexpected Bill; God speaks promotion, and here comes Satan with a layoff; God speaks a new home, and here comes Satan with a leaky roof; God speaks opportunity, and here comes Satan with obstacles; God speaks calm, and here comes Satan with chaos; God speaks anniversary, and here comes Satan with divorce papers! And he doesn’t drag his feet either, the Bible says, "at once, by force, right away, immediately, no sooner than, quickly, and as soon as" the Word is Sown, here comes Satan with his Shovel!

Mark 4:15, “These [in the first group] are the ones along the road where the Word is sown; but when they hear, SATAN IMMEDIATELY comes and takes away the Word which has been sown in them.” (AMP)

It's important to understand that Satan doesn’t want you to gain any more ground!

Satan, the commander of hell's forces, is determined to stop you from ever becoming what Jesus died for you to be! And like any smart general, he knows he must stop you before you grow and gain any more ground. His strategy is revealed in Mark 4:15. "Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. AS SOON AS they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them."

Listen to what Satan does WHEN YOU HEAR A WORD FROM THE LORD: “AT ONCE AND BY FORCE… RIGHT AWAY, SATAN COMES… SATAN SOON COMES… SATAN IMMEDIATELY COMES… SATAN COMES AT ONCE… NO SOONER DO THEY HEAR THE WORD THAN SATAN SNATCHES… SATAN QUICKLY COMES…”

Let’s look at this Scripture in a few translations:

“The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown [in their hearts], but when they hear, SATAN COMES AT ONCE AND [BY FORCE] takes away the message which is sown in them.” (AMPC);

“Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like the people who hear the teaching of God, but SATAN QUICKLY COMES and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.” (NCV)

Listen: If you don’t Guard the Word God has given you, Satan will come in IMMEDIATELY, and fight to steal it! And in the end, you will be the one fleeing, and surrendering everything, including those attached to you!

In other words, by no means is Satan playing games, in fact, he’s playing for keeps! “The thief’s PURPOSE is to STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY…” (John 10:10 NLT) Nothing about that sounds like child’s play! Which is why it’s so vital that you take the enemy seriously! He has a Purpose just as much as you do! And if you let him, he will fulfill his, leaving you to forfeit yours!

Which may help explain why things have suddenly gotten so tough for you, why things are going wrong, maybe why you don't have the spiritual enthusiasm you did before. Your logical reaction is, "I've been really trying to do what God wants, so what's wrong here?" The answer is, "'Nothing's wrong! It's because something's right!"

You have (‘a promise’; ‘a word from God’) and the enemy is worried and ready to attack because he can’t let you have that ground, then gain more! So suddenly he's interested in you. He didn't have to bother you when you weren't a threat. He didn’t bother you when you stopped fasting, became lazy in reading/studying the Word, started slacking in your prayer/devotion time with God, when you stopped going to Sunday School, and started making excuses for skipping Bible Study. The enemy didn’t think 2 cents about you. You didn’t even appear on his radar; in fact, he may have said something like this: “But the evil spirit retorted, “I know and recognize and acknowledge Jesus, and I know about Paul, BUT AS FOR YOU, WHO ARE YOU?” (Acts 19:15 AMP)

The enemy doesn’t bother those who don’t bother him! If you’re not reading the Word, in prayer, fasting, obeying the commandments, fellowshipping with your brothers and sisters in Christ, walking in the Spirit, being directed, and guided by the Holy Ghost, what does he want with you? After all, what can you do to attack his kingdom, when you aren’t armed with any of the weaponry of the Kingdom yourself!?

However, for those who have made the decision to get rid of their bad habits, attitudes, and addictions; those who have decided to reignite the fire in their gifts, prayer, and devotion time; those spending more time with God, the saints, and in the sanctuary; those hearing from God and following the directives of the Holy Ghost, the enemy is screaming from hell, “READY, AIM, FIRE!”

And by no means should that terrify you, in fact, it ought to excite you, that you’re finally on the enemies hit list! It’s not because of what you’ve done wrong; it’s because you’ve finally got it right!

So now he's got to get himself in position to make it hard for you! He's got to stop your forward progress fast or there's no telling how much ground he's going to lose! He must stop you before you start interceding for folks, laying hands on people, speaking in tongues, binding the works of the flesh. He’s got to stop you before you start pleading the blood of Jesus over your family; before you start anointing your children. He’s got to stop you before you start speaking those things that be not as though they were. He’s got to stop you before your hope is renewed and your faith is revived. He’s got to stop you before you start believing that God meant just what He said concerning you.

He’s got to stop you before you start dreaming again. He’s got to stop you before you stop living in the past and start seeing yourself in a great future. He’s got to stop you from walking with God before you gain more ground!

Satan gets busy whenever God has made a major landing in your life. Maybe you've recently made a new surrender of your life to Jesus, or you've said yes to His call on your life. You've stepped up to leadership. Could it be that you've begun a new work for the Lord? Made a new commitment to be the marriage partner or the parent you should be, to give more to the Lord's work, to live by new priorities? Guess what? Alarm bells are going off in hell!

But don't get discouraged. Don't go back to the old ways. This is just your old enemy trying to stop this progress while it's new and fragile. If you keep going this way, your enemy's going to lose big time and he knows it. So, step up and launch a Biblical counterattack. In the words of James 4:7, "Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you."

Psalm 91: “You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, You’re my refuge. I trust in You and I’M SAFE!” That’s right—He rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge, outstretched arms protect you—under them you’re PERFECTLY SAFE; His arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand UNTOUCHED, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. HE ORDERED HIS ANGELS TO GUARD YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk UNHARMED among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path. “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the BEST OF CARE if you’ll only get to know and trust Me. Call Me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!” (MSG)

That’s the security you have when you come near to God, and He comes near to you! Not only is He your refuge keeping you safe, but He’s also Ordered (not asked) His angels to guard you wherever you go! Remember this the next time God gives you a Word. Protect it by remaining in the Presence of God. Knowing that His angels are with you, guarding you, keeping you safe, wherever you go. That’s how you protect your beachhead (‘your promise/your Word from God’). Don’t just let the devil take your property! Fight for it, guard it, and stay as close to God as you can!

Don’t get all excited about the Word from God and forget to Guard it! Remember the enemy is ready to steal, kill and destroy, and that includes you and the Word of Promise given to you. Don’t let him get it! He’s ready and alert, now make sure you are too!

1 Peter 5:8-11, “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So, keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are! —will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” (MSG) Stay Alert, The Devil Is Poised To Pounce! The Danger for us as believers in becoming lazy, is that the devil never is! He’s Poised to Pounce! He’s in Position to Attack, are you?!

Charles Spurgeon said, "The greatest sign of God's will and God's power is the Devil's growl." If you're hearing the "growl" you're probably on the right track! You're on your way to some of the greatest victories of your life! Protect Your Word, Protect Your Promise! He’s Only Getting Worse Because You’re Getting Better! It will be a fight to the finish, but one you will finish and win! Keep your armor on and fight the good fight of faith!

You’ll Gain More Ground If You Keep the Devil Under Your Feet!

1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses." (AMP)

Therefore, Soldiers in the Lord's Army, Put Your Warfare Clothes On, Go to Battle and Guard the Word God Gave You!

Ephesians 6:10-18, “And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So, take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his demons. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting, you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” (MSG)

Blessings

J.P. Olson

https://www.thewordwithjpolson.com

Today, Someone Is In Need Of A Desperate Prayer. Desperate People Pray Desperate Prayers, And God Responds! Listen: When You're In A Bad Situation, Sometimes You Have To Break Out To Break-Through! Desperate People Are Determined People & God Listens

We are often perplexed when we don't understand what God is doing and why His ways can seem confusing to us. The times when ungodly people seem to triumph over the righteous make us scratch our heads and wonder why the Lord doesn't intervene. But the truth is, He often uses the wicked to accomplish His purpose. The wicked may triumph for a season, but the final, eternal victory belongs to Christ and His righteous followers.

Joseph faced one hard-hearted individual after another during his years in exile. His brothers shipped him off to Egypt. His boss's wife accused him of an unspeakable crime. And even those he helped, like Pharaoh's cupbearer, forgot about him (Gen. 40:23). God's actions (or seeming inactions) make little sense at this point.

Once the story of Joseph's life was written in completion, it was clear that everyone who harmed or neglected the young man contributed to God's plan. The Lord used numerous people over several years to bring a humbled young Hebrew unexpectedly to power at the right moment to spare his family--who was the Messiah's ancestors--from the effects of famine. We see Joseph prosper from the pit to the prison to the palace. No one could take the favor of God on Joseph's life away from him.

In our circumstances, we can see God's actions only from the limited vantage point of our humanness. We experience the events He has allowed or caused but can't discern what He is thinking. So often, the Lord's goals and purposes are hidden from us until His plans come to fruition.

We become so engrossed in what we see, feel, and hear that we operate within our natural senses rather than our spiritual ones! However, the Bible instructs us: "THROUGH YOUR FAITH, God is protecting you by His power" (1 Peter 1:5 NLT). Therefore, you need to keep in mind that your "FAITH" is what activates the Power of God!

Look at it this way: Before a stone becomes a diamond, it's just carbon put under tons of pressure! This helps us understand better what the Bible means when it says, "These TRIALS will show that your FAITH is genuine" (vs. 7 NLT).

You don't know much about your faith when your bills are paid, your body is healthy, your children are acting right, and your marriage is intact!  But, WHEN ALL HELL IS BREAKING LOOSE, AND YOU TRUST GOD TO BRING YOU THROUGH IT, YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT GENUINE FAITH!

I've learned from personal experience that when you get DESPERATE enough, you won't care who God uses to fuel your faith; you'll be willing to receive any help He sends your way! Just ask Naaman! Naaman the leper, a five-star general in the Syrian army, humbled himself and eventually became willing to listen to a girl who washed dishes and made beds in his house! Naaman was even ready to dip seven times in the dirtiest river around, to come up clean (2 Kings 5:1-19). So, WHY LIVE WITH A DISEASE WHEN YOU CAN BELIEVE GOD, TRUST WHAT HE SAYS, AND PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK?!

Luke records: "As He passed through Samaria there met Him ten lepers, who lifted their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So, when He saw them, He said…' Go show yourselves to the priests.' And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed" (vs. 11-14 NKJV). Lepers were social outcasts, So They Lived Together In A Colony!  But The Problem Is, You Can't Get Well Hanging Around People Who Are Just As Messed Up As You Are!  That's why you need to bring the problem to JESUS!  Notice the words, "He Passed Through"…Jesus didn't go to the leper colony. He was passing through. What do you do when you're losing your life, family, joy, finances, etc., and Jesus doesn't even seem to be looking in your direction? You can get frustrated when it feels like He's blessing everybody but you and wonder, "Lord, when is my turn coming? I've served You faithfully, yet it seems like everybody else is the object of Your attention."

Right There, It's Time To Cry Out, "Jesus, Have Mercy On Me!" Desperate People Pray Desperate Prayers, And God Responds! Listen: When You're In A Bad Situation, Sometimes You Have To Break Out To Break-Through!

You've got to do what David did "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill" (Psalm 3:4 NKJV).   Desperate People Are Determined People! And When You Have Nothing Else To Lose, You Go All The Way In!

Let's look again at the ten lepers Jesus healed. In the Final Stages of their disease, The Flesh Began Dropping Off Their Bodies! But notice, Jesus didn't lay hands on them or pray for them. He didn't even address their leprosy. How odd. To some of us, it might even seem ridiculous. But Often, Before God, Does The Miraculous, Sometimes He'll Ask You To Do The Ridiculous!

Indeed, when He tells you to do something, it may not seem like it's even related to what you're praying about at all. When that happens, you have a decision to make doubt Him or obey Him! My Suggestion: Instead of discussing the issue endlessly, DO WHAT HE'S TOLD YOU TO DO!

Genuine Faith In Action Needs No Explanation To Act!

God is sovereign over all the earth. We may wonder at the strange or terrifying turns our lives take, but we can be confident that He is in control and at work.

Whether we like it or not, every Christian must come to terms with the fact that there is a real enemy. Known by many names, including Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, and the devil, he clarifies from his first encounter with humanity in Genesis 3 that he has nothing but malicious intent for God's creation. So much so that Jesus says this regarding his character, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44)

In other words, there is no truth, no good, no love, and no hope that can come from the devil. When we allow the enemy's words to have power in our lives, we agree with things that directly oppose God's Word. He desires to "kill, steal, and destroy" anything that brings God glory, including bringing destruction to humankind themselves. 

Here are six things Satan wants more than anything else:

1. To Make You Doubt God's Word

Satan shows his greatest trick during the first encounter with humanity in Genesis 3.

"Now the serpent was craftier than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God say, "You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden"?'

Yes! Since the beginning of time, Satan has convinced people to doubt God's Word. To this day, the enemy has convinced people to question the inerrancy of the Bible and even the promises in His Word. Many have become skeptics and spend more time proving God wrong than accepting God's love for them. By doubting even one Word of what God has spoken, we start to second guess all other things that have been said and that will be said. Just like faith can move mountains, one seed of doubt can spread like an infection across entire families, causing many to stumble, just like we see in the Garden of Eden. Above all else, we must remember that God does not lie. 

"God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Number 23:19)

2. To Paralyze You with Fear

Fear is another tactic of the enemy. If our lives have become riddled with fear, we will find that we are consumed with the "what ifs." Life becomes focused on what we can and cannot control versus putting complete faith in God. Fear will keep us from taking a step of faith into a new career, praying for a friend who may reject us, and even being able to rest. God does not give us fear. Instead, His Word brings peace, wisdom, love, and a sound mind. 

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." (1 John 14:18)

3. To Silence You from Sharing the Gospel

A Christian who hoards the Gospel to themselves is ineffective. One of our primary roles as followers of Christ is to make more followers of Christ. Matthew 28:19 would deem it to be our most extraordinary mission. Yet, one trick of the enemy is to silence Christians. We see this in modern social media as many Christians feel nervous about sharing God's Word for fear of being virtually attacked or not wanting to be associated with the "church."

We can see how many Christians prefer to worship quietly, not to cause anyone to be offended. Yet, followers of Christ should take every moment to spread the Gospel. When we shrink back from doing so, the enemy wins! If we aren't influencers for Christ, the enemy will undoubtedly find opportunities to influence those around us. Therefore, let us no longer be ashamed to share the Gospel by any means necessary.

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)

4. To Cause You to Live in Shame

Reminding you of your past indiscretions or current insecurities is another enemy scheme. If the enemy can convince you that your past has disqualified you from receiving God's love or grace, you will never come to accept the Word of God fully. Instead, you will remain defeated and frustrated in this manner, only receiving some of God's Word. Shame keeps our eyes focused on ourselves, reminding us repeatedly of what we did wrong or how we don't measure up.

Truthfully, the enemy has no issue reminding you of these things and making you feel like you aren't worthy to worship God, do something He has called you to do, or receive His promises. Even more so, this shame will keep you from praying to God and sharing the Gospel with others. If the enemy can keep you in self-pity, you will never walk in God's peace. Remember, we are not a sum of our past behaviors. Instead, when we choose to turn away from sinful desires and walk towards God's love, He will show us how to live a rewarding life and where we can be free from condemnation.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)

5. For You to Worship an Idol

An idol can be anything that we place before the Lord. This was clear in the Old Testament as they worshipped literal objects. Although most Christians don't have a golden calf or statue of Jesus that they praise, many idols still have taken their place in our hearts.

From worshipping our favorite celebrity, politicians, spending hours on social media, and living a life that is highly focused on self, we can make anything an idol. This enemy trick is much cleverer as it may not be realized immediately. We can spend years worshipping things that seem good on the outside but suddenly become obsessed with where "it" becomes our primary focus in life. Thus, what started as a positive thing, such as going to the gym daily, going on vacations, making money, or finding a spouse, can become our primary source of hope and happiness.

Before long, we can start to look to those things more than we look to God. This can be dangerous, as when these things fade, we are left with a sense of hopelessness. Although God wants us to have good things, we can never worship them more than the one who gives them to us. Therefore, we must be willing to lay down whatever the Lord leads us to if it stands in the way of life submitted to the Lord.

"You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven above, in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:3-6)

6. For You to Be Deceived

It has never been more important for Christians to stand on the Word of God. But unfortunately, in today's culture, we see many accommodating the Word to fit their lifestyle instead of adapting it to match the Word. This trickery is Satan's attempt to make Christians choose which Bible aspects make them feel good.

Instead of seeking a life that follows the Spirit, we look to our flesh and concept of morality to find the truth. In many ways, we become like Eve, who only wants to accept portions of God's Word but prefers our will over His. If the enemy can keep Christians lukewarm and hypocritical in their faith, he can cause many not to want to follow the Lord.

We must remember that Satan will do anything to confuse, including using Christians with so many different beliefs that it appears to be dozens of other religions mixed into one. We must know that anything we believe contradicts God's Word is simply another enemy ploy. Let us not give the enemy more power over our minds and actions and walk fully in God's Word.

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears, they will accumulate teachers to suit their passions and turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Why Does Satan Hate You? Will you be Loyal to God or Satan?

Satan failed in his rebellion, but he remains in the office God gave him. So how is the right to Rule won between God & Satan? Many think it is by power, but it is not; there is one thing that we fail at, and Satan knows this.

The devil fights with lies; sometimes, his lies sound like truth, but only believers have God's truth, which can defeat the devil's lies. The devil often attacks the heart-the seat of our emotions, self-worth, and trust. God's righteousness is the body armor that protects our hearts and ensures His approval. He approves of us because He loves us and sent His Son to die for us.

 

The devil wants us to think that telling others the Good News is a worthless and hopeless task- the size of the job is too big, and the negative responses are too much to handle. But the shoes God gives us are the motivation to continue proclaiming the true peace available in God-news everyone needs to hear.

We see the devil's attacks as insults, setbacks, and temptations.  But the shield of faith protects us from the devil's fiery arrow.  We can see beyond our circumstances with God's perspective and know that the ultimate victory is ours.  The devil wants to make us doubt God, Jesus, and our salvation.  The helmet protects our minds from examining God's saving work for us. The sword is the only weapon of offense in this list of armor.  However, there are times when we need to take the offensive against the devil.  When we are tempted, we need to trust God's Word's truth.

Why does Satan hate you? Answer: You are forgiven; he is not. You will one day forget your fallen state; he is doomed to his fallen state forever. Psalms 85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people and covered all their sin. Selah. Ezekiel 18:21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All the transgressions he has committed shall not be mentioned unto him: He shall live in the righteousness that he has done.

Satan was created. This sets to rest several in-church urban legends. Satan is not omniscient, knowing all things, like God himself. Created beings cannot know things that are not revealed to them by some outside source. God is a self-contained source, so He knows all. This means that Satan does not know what you are thinking. God has reserved that for Himself:

"The Enemy Uses These Three Things, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, to entice us to sin." Scripture shows this process at work in both the Garden of Eden and Mount of Temptation. Therefore, 1 Peter 5:8 be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour:

How can Satan harm you? Satan can devour people. The Fellowship Between Satan and Humans Is Never Based On Love, Constructive Activity, or Redemptive Actions. It is all about hate, lust, and murder. He is the great devourer: Satan operates through humans in the flesh and the flesh. The five senses, taste, touch, smell, hearing, and seeing, all report to the carnal mind – which is the enemy of God. These senses are what Satan uses to tempt us! The lust of the flesh includes tasting, touching, smelling, and hearing. The desire of the eyes is seeing.

The pride of life is thinking you are unique because of who you are, what you have, what you know, or what you look like. It is all effortless. Satan cannot have his office in heaven back, and he cannot stop Jesus from doing His work: Matthew 16:18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So, all Satan has left to do is destroy people by tying them up so well in sin that they cannot reason and understand the Gospel. Then, if he loses someone to Christ, he attacks them to destroy their Christian victory.

So, why does Satan hate you? Answer: You know more than he does regarding the more profound things of the Lord and his work. John 14:26 But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teaches you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Therefore, Satan will never again be with the Lord, but you will.

Satan hates that mortal beings like you can be forgiven (he cannot) and be like God in some way that we do not fully understand.

1 Pet. 5:8   Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. This was spoken to Christians! Unfortunately, our enemy also masquerades as an angel of light. We need to be aware that the enemy is deceitful and can work through people who act as though they follow Christ. It looks like they are, but by their false prophecies, preaching of a different gospel to all outward appearances. We can discover that they are demonized as false apostles by the fruit of their actions.

God will never leave us wanting; He will fulfill every need. Satan can touch your POSSESSIONS, but he can't take your PROMISE! There is NOTHING Satan can do for us. So, remember; You've got to do what David did "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill" (Psalm 3:4 NKJV). Desperate People Are Determined People! And When You Have Nothing Else To Lose, You Go All The Way In!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

https://www.thewordwithjpolson.com

 

Listen: If You Don’t Learn Anything Else, Learn To Accept What God Has Given YOU! Accept What God Has Made Available For Your Use. Accept The Road He’s Called You To Travel And The Path He’s Allowed You To Cross. Here's Why:

 Listen: If You Don’t Learn Anything Else, Learn To Accept What God Has Given YOU! Accept What God Has Made Available For Your Use. Accept The Road He’s Called You To Travel And The Path He’s Allowed You To Cross. Whether it’s your spouse, your children, your job, or your church, reach out your hand and take hold of what God has blessed you with!

The Bible says: “…He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men…’” (Judges 15:14-18 NKJV). 

I hope you’re getting this. Samson was successful because he used what was made available to HIM! He did not attempt to grab anyone else’s weapon in his warfare! And neither should you! What God Gave YOU Is Enough!

Learn to be content both with what God gave you, and with what He saw fit NOT to give you! If you truly trust Him, then you’ll rejoice over what He has approved AND what He has Denied!

Now, I already know Samson’s story, but might I ask YOU, “what has you tied up today?” Or better yet, “what have you ALLOWED to tie you up today?” “What/Who have you ALLOWED to bind you, tie you up and hold you back from the work assigned to your hands?” And before you answer, know that you can’t say you didn’t know that the enemies’ purpose was to hinder and harm you, because Jesus gave you a heads up: “The thief’s PURPOSE is to STEAL and KILL and DESTROY…” (John 10:10 NLT). So, since you knew, IN ADVANCE, but the enemy was able to bind you ANYWAY, that only means you entered battle WILLFULLY UNPREPARED! You did not obey the orders of your Commanding Officer:

“…God is strong, and he wants you strong. So, take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. BE PREPARED. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” (Ephesians 6:10-18 MSG).

You have Far Too Much Ammunition to Use to Your Advantage to continuously be bound, held captive, restrained, and detained from the work of the Lord! Stop putting up help wanted posters on your life for the enemy to answer! Remember the Word of God admonishes: “Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO HIM].” (Ephesians 4:27 AMP). Stop Allowing him to turn your life into his career opportunity! Stop offering him room for growth, advancement, increase in pay, vacation, sick, personal and comp time, stop giving him the stocks and bonds in your life that are making him rich and leaving your body, soul, and spirit bankrupt! And most of all stops handing him bonuses every time he’s successful at binding you! And all of this is what YOU allow when you keep showing up to battle ill-prepared with no armor or weaponry!

The devil is seeking the want ads for employment, stop hiring him! Stop giving him opportunities to keep working to defeat you! Stop extending ‘grace’ to the devil, we give him just as many chances as we ask God to give us! Which is why it’s so vital that you are never without your armor! The devil is always busy, and clearly always employed to wage war on us and win! God said to BE PREPARED, and the best way to BE prepared is to STAY prepared!

Understand that: “When the devil is called the god of this world, it is not because he made it, but because we serve him with our worldliness.” (Symeon). Remember you are in Spiritual Warfare; you can’t keep allowing your flesh to give the devil a foothold or you’ll never win the war!

The Bible says: “…He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men…’” (Judges 15:14-18 NKJV). 

Notice Point #2: SAMSON NEEDED TO SEE WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO HIM: It was just the jawbone of a donkey, but with God’s help it was enough to win the day! Unfortunately, however, we spend far too much time focusing on what we DON’T have, that we lessen the value in what we DO possess! We focus on the gifting’s that others have, while downplaying the gifts the Holy Spirit has “willed” and “desired” for us to have. We continuously want what’s in someone else’s hand when what we need is placed right in our own!

If the truth be told, many marriages and ministries have been destroyed by the foolish assumption that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, when, if we simply took the time to nurture, weed and water our own lawn, it would supersede even the fantasy-image we have conjured up of someone else’s yard!

“Christian Contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.” (Jeremiah Burroughs).

Many of us may have looked at the jawbone of the donkey and thought, “what am I supposed to do with that?”; “God you didn’t have anything else you could give me?”; “God you gave Saul full armor, you couldn’t give me the same?”; “It’s just a jawbone of a donkey, are you trying to say that’s all I can handle?” Or can we really be honest and bring it home and say: “God I can sing just as good as her, why can’t I lead a song?”; “I worked with women longer than she has, why can’t I be over the women’s ministry?”; “I’m nicer than Sister Celery, why can’t I be on the usher board too?” And the list could go on and on forever because we love to complain about all that we don’t have, or better yet, all that we THINK we don’t have.

“Discontent is a sin that is its own punishment and makes men torment themselves; it makes the spirit sad, the body sick, and all the enjoyments sour; it is the heaviness of the heart and the rottenness of the bones. It is a sin that is its own parent. It arises not from the condition, but from the mind. As we find Paul contented in a prison, so Ahab discontent in a palace.”  (Matthew Henry).

“The very first temptation in the history of mankind was the temptation to be discontent…that is exactly what discontent(ment) is—a questioning of the goodness of God.”  (Jerry Bridges).

You see, too many of us who are in leadership roles would rather preach to 500 people, who don’t care to hear us in the first place, than sing to 5 people who receive fresh strength for the journey from one simple song. Why? Because the pulpit Appears more prestigious, than the podium on the floor, hidden in the corner, unnoticed by the organ! But as for me, I would rather use what God gave me to bless, strengthen and encourage 5 people than waste my time, energy and life doing something for 500 that produces absolutely no fruit! Whatever God has given you is enough! You don’t have to be like him, you don’t have to look like her, you don’t have to act like them, you don’t need to sit over there, you don’t need that title, you don’t require that position, leave their talents, gifts, and skill set alone. What God assigned to you is all you need to fulfill YOUR assignment! Stop comparing your equipment to others, and simply use what God has equipped YOU with!

“God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him.” (John Piper).

Samson’s “…jawbone of a donkey…” may seem little, insignificant, unnoticeable, irrelevant, unimportant, useless, and unimpressive. But the Bible states: “…He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, AND KILLED A THOUSAND MEN…” Pay close attention, what God provided for Samson appeared, little, insignificant, unnoticeable, irrelevant, unimportant, useless, and unimpressive, but “…HE REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND TOOK IT…”

Listen: If You Don’t Learn Anything Else, Learn To Accept What God Has Given YOU! Accept What God Has Made Available For Your Use. Accept The Road He’s Called You To Travel And The Path He’s Allowed You To Cross. Whether it’s your spouse, your children, your job, or your church, reach out your hand and take hold of what God has blessed you with!

I hope you’re getting this. Samson was successful because he used what was made available to HIM! He did not attempt to grab anyone else’s weapon in his warfare! And neither should you! What God Gave YOU Is Enough!

“The contented person experiences the sufficiency of God’s provision for his needs and the sufficiency of God’s grace for his circumstances. He believes God will indeed meet all his material needs and that He will work in all his circumstances for his good. That is why Paul could say, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” The godly person has found what the greedy or envious or discontented person always searches for but never finds. He has found satisfaction and rest in his soul.” (Jerry Bridges).

Reach out your hand and take hold of your spouse, children, job, and church and don’t try to change them, alter them, or compare them to what others have! His grace is sufficient, and so is all that He has given you (and all that He’s kept from you as well)! Stop complaining and comparing and learn to be content with what you have!

Can you imagine if Samson picked up that jawbone and said, ‘I don’t want this, I want a big, shiny, new spear!’ And so, he throws away the very thing that was made available to him to win! Do not discard your ‘jawbone’! You see, jawbones are easy to dismiss, after all, who wants one? It’s the remains of something that died! It’s a bone with no life, no breathing, no organs! And since just about everything was dust and dirty then (not like our marbled streets, and paved roads) the jawbone would’ve been dusty and dirty too. Not to mention the bible says it was a ‘fresh jawbone of a donkey.’ So, it had rotting flesh and blood on it as well. Surely everybody wants to be given that right? Wrong! But regardless to what was left of it, regardless that it’s no longer what it used to be, regardless that it’s bloody, dirty, and dusty and a very little use, still it was what Samson needed to use to kill his enemies and win his battle! Likewise, your spouse is more than likely not as small or as young as they used to be. Wrinkles have formed, bags and sags are so disrespectful since they were not invited to be a part of our bodies. They are no longer 21 and ready to take on the world, no they’re 51 and ready to take on the bed for a nap! Yet, they are who God allowed you to marry and build a family and life with. They are who God allowed to be available to help you build that ministry, that church, that business, that school! And although they may not look like they did 20 or 40 years ago, don’t you dare discard your ‘jawbone’ now! They are a part of your life for the long haul! And since you haven’t fought your last battle with the devil, I suggest you hold on to who helped you win the last fight!

It’s so sad to say, but we’ve become a comfortable circumstantial church of convenience. If we don’t like the circumstances we quit; if it’s not comfortable and convenient, we quit. NO! Believers, that’s not our lot. We value and appreciate what/who God has made available to us to help us and make us better! So don’t be so quick to quit! Don’t throw away your ‘jawbone’, you need it to fight and win!  ‘don’t chase a shiny penny because you don’t like a crumbled dollar! No matter what either one looks like, their value is still the same.’ And that’s exactly what many of us are doing, casting aside our crumpled dollars for a shiny penny! But you do realize, crumpled or not, the dollar has 99 cents more value over the one shiny penny! Be careful in the decisions you make to discard people! You Have Everything You Need in YOUR Jawbone, Keep It!

“Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow. It is unawareness of the presence of beauty, unconcern for the needs of our fellowman, and unbelief in the promises of old. It is impatience with time, immaturity of thought, and impoliteness to God.” (William Ward).

Yes, it was just a “…jawbone of a donkey…” but it “…KILLED A THOUSAND MEN…”!

So, I admonish you today, be careful about underestimating, overlooking, undervaluing, and discrediting what God provided FOR YOU, IT JUST MAY BE THE WEAPON YOU NEED TO KILL YOUR ENEMY! Your spouse, children, job, and church may not be all that you thought they should be, or all that you wanted them to be, but if God provided them, YOU BETTER BE GRATEFUL, BECAUSE THEY’RE THE WEAPON YOU NEED TO KILL YOUR ENEMIES! Samson had to see what God ALREADY had provided for him, accept it, and use it, and so do you! Why? BECAUSE IT IS ENOUGH!

You see, Samson used his jawbone to kill a thousand men in chapter 15. But over in chapter 16, he killed more than three thousand! Judges 16:26-30, “Samson said to the young servant who was leading him by the hand, “Place my hands against the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to rest against them.” Now the temple was COMPLETELY FILLED WITH PEOPLE. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 MEN AND WOMEN on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them. Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So, he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.” (NLT)

Samson had to first use that jawbone to kill a thousand before he got to the slaughter of three thousand plus! and sometimes we forget to pay attention to using what has been made available to us in our first battle. You see, if they killed him before the jawbone, he would’ve never gotten the opportunity to slay all his enemies! Use what God has given you and use it when He gives it to you and how. There will be more and greater opportunities down the road, but if you don’t handle the little, don’t look for the much!

No more competing and comparing, no more envy and jealousy, no more trying to grab somebody else’s gift. What God has Given YOU is Enough for YOU! Don’t discard your small beginnings and please don’t discard your ‘jawbone’!

Be Warned: “The person with the discontented heart has the attitude that everything he does for God is too much, and everything God does for him is too little.” (Don Kistler).

Be Content With What and Who God Has Made Available for YOU! It is Enough!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

https://www.thewordwithjpolson.com