It is simply not in the consciousness of most
twenty-first century men to have an awareness of the reality that
the devil is after them. (1 Peter 5:8)
We have fleeting thoughts of Satan's being somehow
alive and wearing red long underwear, carrying a pitchfork. We
sometimes think, "Oh yes, the devil is lurking about today,
but he is not after ME. I have nothing he wants. I am nobody.
Why would the devil want ME?" he wants you because you are
a potential seed for producing harvest for God in this earth!
God, in speaking of the serpent that had seduced
Eve into sin, said that He was going to put enmity between the
SEED of the woman and the serpent. The word for seed, zera
in Hebrew, is also a word used for the literal sperm of man.
The seed of the woman, therefore, was to be a "man-child"
descendant of Eve.
This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, but
that fulfillment in and through Christ is made manifest in us
until Christ comes in the clouds to take the faithful home (Acts
1:9-11). The devil is a defeated foe in the context of eternity,
but he has not yet been put away in the context of earthly time,
simply because of the absolute justice of our Lord who could have
dispensed with him at any time, had he wished. Satan still has
access to men, women, boys, and girls to tempt them into sin.
he has an opportunity to lay claim on the souls of mankind.
Therefore, there is enmity between you - one of
the human seeds borne through the centuries from your great ancestor
Eve - and the devil. Paul wrote to the Romans: "And the God
of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." (Romans 16:20) The
hate of the devil is still raging against you.
Enmity is a state of ill-will or hostility. It
does not simply come and go. It remains the intent of the devil
to destroy you no matter what you do. his nature is the nature
of a violent murderer who is actively seeking his next victim
(1 Peter 5:8).
The devil is still stalking you. he hates you.
he is in a state of perpetual ill will, hostility, and conflict
with you whether or not you choose to acknowledge it. he is after
your self-esteem, your identity, your mind, your emotions, your
wife, your husband, your children, your job, your spirituality,
your well-being, your productivity, your health. he is after everything
you value and against everything you deem to be decent
and good. Ultimately, his goal is the destruction of your eternal
spirit.
Throughout the centuries, I know not why, and
this is purely a matter of opinion, the warfare of the devil has
been primarily aimed at the male child. When Pharaoh looked at
the Hebrews and determined that they were becoming too numerous
and too powerful, he did not authorize the kill of ALL the Hebrew
babies - no, only the male babies (Ex. 1:22). Herod, "When
he was mocked sent forth and slew all the male children that were
in Bethlehem, and in the borders thereof, from two years and under..."
(Matt.2:16). The devil does not mind your simply coming to worship;
he just does not want worship to come to you.
In traveling about the nation in years past, I
have seen great men and women in great works tested as never before
as they begin to do the work of the Lord. This activity disturbs
Satan. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness causes the
devil to be knocked reeling as in a heavy weight brawl. Being
in proper relationship with God, having rendered obedience to
the gospel of the Lord, is the only way to remain secure in the
face of the continual assault of the devil. How are you doing?
Take note that the name Satan and related names
and pronouns are not capitalized. I choose not to acknowledge
him, even to the point of violating grammatical rules. P.O. 985,
Moundsville, WV 26041.