LIVING ABOVE THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL (PART 1 OF 2)

31st AUGUST 2022

^“ Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.  This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister – 1 John 3: 7-10

One basic question that believers have asked when going through adversity, is,” why me”? Or “How come I am suffering this despite my prayers and supplications”? Job asked similar questions during his travails, but God did not answer him. It was in the New Testament that Jesus gave the answer to Job’s questions. In John 10:10, the Master says; “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”. The greatest thief is the devil; he robs people of their prospects and fortune. But Jesus says He is the one who gives life and makes us experience a life of abundance.

As believers, we ought to experience the newness of life in Christ; we should experience the abundant life promised by Jesus! Why then are we often caught in the web of life-threatening adversities? This is a complex question for believers. The scripture says: ^“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him (1 John 3: 4 – 6) this means that even though Jesus had taken away our sins, we must learn to live without sins, in order that we may remain perpetually in Christ and He in us. It is only when we are truly in Christ, forsaking sins that we are truly free from the effects of sins which is death.  This is why Paul says; “therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

When you are in Christ, you are free from condemnation from sins, but you must learn and strive to do away with your sinful nature – endeavour to discontinue your sinful disposition. Today’s scripture warns us against being led astray on these matters, Sin puts you in the realm of the devil, whose only job is to steal and to kill.  The Devil brings about a decline in fortune and prospects. The Devil brings evil and death.

 Beloved, it is time to make a change; a great turnaround in your belief about the true mission of Christ; Having delivered us from sin and the devil, the scriptures warn that we must not remain in sin in order not to fall prey to the devil’s evil machinations which at the end, only snuffs out life and cart away prospects.

PRAYER

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, today I open my heart to receive your word and I declare your word finds fertile ground in my heart and it’s growing right now. Its fruits shall feed the hungry, clothe the poor and heal the sick. Let your grace abound in Jesus name. AMEN

FURTHER READING: 1 John 3: 16 – 18