Engaging the Enemy
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Tag Archives: Satan
Our Authority Over the Enemy
Secrets to Satan’s Strategy
Satan’s Plan for My Destruction
Satan’s Government
Who is Our Enemy?
The Six Goals of Satan
Gaining Perspective
Plagued with grief over sins, I determine to push on; for I am assured of cleansing—of continual cleansing from the ever-flowing blood of my Savior and God. He will sustain me through the evil world—a world crippled by sin and sorrows, and yet strengthened in evil by demonic vitamins. Yes, Satan has his own supply of poison nourishment, which both strengthens his evil, but in the end will bring a cruel death.
This world and many nations are on the verge of war and destruction. It will be war between good and evil. Evil will be the dominant force, but ultimately every evil army and every evil being will work against itself to its own destruction. In the end, the returning Conqueror will bring a mighty destruction against all evil, to the praise of His glory.
So, with renewed perspective, I press on. A walk in the park, a smile and a “hello,” a few pages of good reading, and a sip of Chai tea—all blessings from God, will keep me going for another day. God is good.
A Reprobate Mind
Lately I have been wondering what is going on in some people’s minds—because of the things they do to themselves or the way they act (improperly). I think we may have a clue as to what brings on this kind of a mind by where it is talked about. Paul uses this word in Romans 1:28 and again in 2 Timothy 3:8. In both places he is addressing sin, out of control sin. And in Romans he addresses, in particular, homosexuality.
The Greek word, which is sometimes translated “depraved,” means “not passing the test.” It describes a mind that is useless or worthless and something that is discarded, like worthless metal. According to Wycliffe, it refers to a mind that is unapproved by God. It is a mind that will produce only that which is improper (things that are listed in Romans 1:29-31).
In the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, it is suggested that when men thought fit to cast out the knowledge of God in their mind, God gave them over to an outcast or worthless mind. John MacArthur suggests, similarly, that when men abandon God, He will abandon them.
I think that this situation will occur mostly in people who have corrupted themselves with sexual sin, because it is sexual sin that destroys a person at the deepest level like no other sin. It takes control of the whole person. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:18, this sin goes against our own body. Satan loves to attack people and nations with sexual sin, and homosexual sin, because it will destroy from within.
As far as God giving up on people or giving them over to a reprobate mind, it may seem cruel and unloving to God; however, we have to remember that God will not force anyone to obey Him. He gives us all free will. He has warned us of sin and its corrupting nature. And He wants us to come to Him and trust Him; but He will not force us.
Again, a warning has come to us of the corrupting nature of sin, and especially sexual sin. And though God uses the word reprobate only in the context of out-of-control sin (like in Romans one), I think in the end all those who do not choose salvation by the Savior, will they not all be reprobates? For God will indeed say to them “I never knew you.” And He will say to them, “You rejected Me so I have rejected you.”
Being Glad in My Weaknesses
Paul had what he called “a thorn in his flesh.” He said that it was a messenger of Satan to keep him from exalting himself. We don’t know what it was. Some say it was his poor eye sight.
I’m sure you know your weakness. That thing that torments you, that keeps you from doing your best. But that weakness can be the very thing you can be glad about, because Christ will perfect His power through that weakness—so that we can be content with our weakness.
2 Cor 12:9-10
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Stephen Nielsen 