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Stay Alert! There's More Than Eyes Can See
by Pastor Peter Okaka
"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. So that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.(1 Peter 5:8, 2 Cor 2:11)nlt
While some people believe that satan is a figment of some people's imagination, the All knowing God warns us to stay alert and watch out for satan our adversary who walks about like a roaring lion in search of a prey. Unfortunately, not many believers have taken this warning seriously. So many Christians sleep and walk about unguarded as if devil does not exist.
Wondering why this divine warning to stay alert is falling on deaf ears? I'll tell you why. It is because most people walk by sight rather than by faith. Most of us are programmed to be pragmatic -judging only by what our natural eyes can see. As far as we are concerned, 'seeing is believing'; whatever we cannot see, feel and touch does not exist. As a result, we respond to things of this nature pragmatically by looking out for a physical lion (like those in the zoo or in the wild) and when we do not see any, we conclude there is none. Really? How sad!
Friend, stay alert, there is more than eyes can see. It is a gross mistake to take life purely on the surface. Everything we see and everyone we meet has a lot more going on behind the scenes than we can possibly imagine. Abraham welcomed and entertained three everyday strangers into his house and they turned out to be angels. Sampson met and fell in love with a friendly Delilah and it turned out that Delilah was a secret agent of Sampson's enemies. Truth is, Satan does not come out as satan. Most times, he disguises as nice and harmless everyday people. He knows well that if he can get people thinking that he does not exist he has trapped them as preys. But we do not have to be ignorant of his tricks.
Behind the pleasant and unpleasant scenes and surprises in our lives are hidden forces pulling their triggers. Just because we can't see it, imagine it or believe it does not mean it does not exist. What eyes can see is a tiny part of what is behind the scene. Therefore, we must stay alert and be very vigilant.
Did you know that contrary to popular opinion, we do not live in a free world? We live in a wicked world. If you are a normal human being (and particularly if you have made Jesus the Lord of of your life) you have an enemy who is looking for you as prey even right now. No, you won't see satan walking about on your street as a roaring lion but he is regardless. His mission is to steal, kill and destroy.
What then? Should we walk about frightened like helpless little creatures under attack? No, no, no! God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love power and sound mind. Jesus came so that we will have a rich and satisfying life. God has provided us with powerful amour to put on. We do not have to walk in fear; rather we walk in the righteousness of Christ. The righteous one is as bold as a lion.
Yes, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is our brother and we have his nature in us. This Lion is king; He does not turn away from any. Therefore, the One is in us is far greater than any devil that is roaring in the world. Though he roars like a lion, satan is not a lion; he only acts like a lion and that makes him a trick star. We must realize that Satan's only weapon is deception because he knows that he has no more power. Jesus defeated him on the cross. We must see to it then that we put on the whole amour of God (Ephesians 6:1-18). We must stay alert and be ready to resist the devil with the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. We must "walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil".
The best part of the gist is this: "In Christ we are more than victorious". We are not ordinary people. We are a people of power and these are the days of the demonstration of God's power. Those who know their God shall be strong and they will do great things. Our victory is not by physical strength but by the Spirit. God is working in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. We watch in prayer. We love righteousness and hate wickedness. We give glory to God in all things and at all times. Glory to God in the highest! Hallelujah!
Scripture Reference
1 Peter 5:8,
2 Corinthians 2:11
Hebrews 2:11,
Revelation 5:5
Genesis 18:2
Genesis 18:2
Ephesians 5:15-21; 6:10-18
Judges 6:10-13
Philippians 2:13
1 John 2:13-14
2 Timothy 1:7
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