Our Enemy

Now I'll tell you a story. Before God created the world and people, He had already created many angels. But one of the angels that God had made was greater than all the other angels. This angel lived very pleased (contented) because he was so beautiful and wise. He began to boast because he was greater than all the other angels, and wanted to be one with God. It was in this way that he came into sin, because he was always proud. He soon became the chief of the bad spirits, and was called Satan. Then other angels of God also came along with Satan in sin, and become evil spirits (demons). All these are servants of Satan. So God cast them out of heaven, because He does not allow sin to exist there.

Now Satan and the demons wander all over the earth. They try to fool us so that we will sin and suffer. People who do not believe in the Word of God, poor things, for them there is no way to escape the clutches of Satan. The devil (Satan) taught the people to worship gods that are not real. And these consented because the Bible says, "They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, (as well as birds, animals, and reptiles)." Their gods are those that have been made with their own hands. "They have mouths, but do not speak, eyes but do not see... ears but do not hear... noses but do not smell ... hands, but do not handle... feet, but do not walk or move." The devil also makes the people drink strong drink, strong drink spoils their heads, and are poor (spending all their money on booze), fight, and lose all they have, and they are walking on the path that goes to hell. They think that drinking is a good habit, but it is not. And people who sin are the servants of Satan; they are not children of God.

One day, God will plunge Satan and his demons, along with all who are his servants who do not obey the one true God, into hell. These people are the children of the devil, says the Bible. But God wants to free us from the clutches of the devil. It is true that we do not have the power to forsake the sins in which Satan enslaves us, but Jesus died to take away our sins and deliver us from Satan. If we believe in Him, He will give us the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is God who comes to us and makes His dwelling in us. He is the power that enables us to overcome sin.

Pray to Him now, and tell Him that you want to be freed from the hands of Satan, and become a child of God. Then He will cleanse your heart for you, and the desire to do the things He does not like will be taken away from you. His Word says, "If anyone believes in Jesus, he becomes a new creature." All he did earlier has passed away, and now he is a new person. The devil will no longer be able to conquer him, because he walks with Jesus, and the Holy Spirit dwells in him.

Rom. 1:23; Ps. 115:5-7; I John 3:10; II Cor. 5:17

Then, each time the devil tempts you to do bad, you can say, "Father God, You dwell in my heart, and are much stronger than the devil. God, Thou art the Conqueror, and I pray that You do not let the devil conquer me with this temptation he's giving me. Take my heart and control it so that I do not sin, but I remain more faithful to You. I am your child, so give me Thy peace.”

Let's show God that we are thankful to Him, praising Him because He will end the devil and all his works. One day He will take us to live with Him in heaven, and we will be eternally happy.