1 Kings 20:32
So they put on burlap and ropes, and they went to the king of Israel and begged, "Your servant Ben-hadad says, 'Please let me live!'" The king of Israel responded, "Is he still alive? He is my brother!"
NLT
Further study: 1 Kings 20: 1-43
Ben-hadad came initially violently but could not win the war against Israel, so he came as a friend, and eventually won. When the devil attacks violently and loses, he comes as an ally. If we take a look at history, we can see the truth in this revelation. All the Apostles were martyred except John the beloved. The early church faced great attack from the devil through Nero, the then emperor of Rome but yet the church was still growing sporadically. The devil tried to destroy the church forcefully but failed. In the early 4th century, the devil changed his strategy by befriending the church after the conversion of Constantine, the emperor of Rome at the time. He became the sole spiritual head of the church, the simplicity in Christianity was replaced by complex rituals borrowed from paganism and the church lost her power, a loss that she has not yet fully recovered from.
It is important we remain sober and vigilant, because our adversary the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. (see 1st Peter 5:8). As Christians, we should always put on the whole armor of God, to the intent that in the final analysis, we will defeat the enemy and still be standing. (see Ephesians 6:13-18.)
Always remember you are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ and He that is in you is greater than the devil.
Prayer: Dear lord, I pray you keep me in your fold all my life. I ask that I will never deviate from your will and purposes in Jesus name. Amen
By Otuokon, Ubokudom O.
YEARLY BIBLE READING: Genesis 20-23OR LISTEN (click to read or listen)
TODAY’S AUDIO VERSION LINK:
http://optionadynamics.com/download/devotional%20audio188.mp3
No comments:
Post a Comment