Thought Quotient

How many times have I made foolish decisions because I was ignorant of the promises God has given us in His word? Lord, help me to better understand Your Word so that I can live victoriously in You!

Make no mistake about it. The devil is a defeated foe! But as the enemy of our souls, he is still actively fighting against God’s people. He can ruin our effectiveness for Christ if we let him gain a foothold in our hearts. How tragic that would be.

But notice that I said “let.” As wily as the devil is and as big an arsenal of lies and tricks as he has to draw from, I want to remind you that Satan cannot gain even one iota of an inch of ground in our lives unless we give him permission.

For whenever the devil gets a foothold in our life, he seeks to build a stronghold - a way of thinking and acting that is contrary to God’s Word. Nothing but spiritual weapons such as prayer, reading God’s Word, and obedience to God can tear down Satan’s strongholds. Thus the Bible tells us, “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” (2 Cor. 10:3-4)

As children of God, you and I have at our fingertips every weapon we need to defeat Satan and put him on the run. Ephesians 6 describes our spiritual armor, and the Bible says that when we resist the devil, he has to flee (James 4:7)!

This is the urgent message the Lord would have me share with you today. We consider it a high priority in helping you understand God’s Word so you can live victoriously. So let’s not neglect the weapons God has given us to gain the victory!
- Bill Skelton, Love Worth Finding ministries

Question: How can we defeat the devil’s lies and tricks?
Answer: By knowing and obeying the truth of God’s word!

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

2 Kings 7:3
About the same time, four men with leprosy were just outside the gate of Samaria. They said to each other, “Why should we sit here, waiting to die?”

Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for the edification of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over you: and we would fain say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their position, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you must perish; if you go to Jesus you can but die. “Nothing venture, nothing win,” is the old proverb, and in your case the venture is no great one. If you sit still in sullen despair, no one can pity you when your ruin comes; but if you die with mercy sought, if such a thing were possible, you would be the object of universal sympathy. None escape who refuse to look to Jesus; but you know that, at any rate, some are saved who believe in Him, for certain of your own acquaintances have received mercy: then why not you? The Ninevites said, “Who can tell?” Act upon the same hope, and try the Lord’s mercy. To perish is so awful, that if there were but a straw to catch at, the instinct of self-preservation should lead you to stretch out your hand. We have thus been talking to you on your own unbelieving ground, we would now assure you, as from the Lord, that if you seek Him He will be found of you. Jesus casts out none who come unto Him. You shall not perish if you trust Him; on the contrary, you shall find treasure far richer than the poor lepers gathered in Syria’s deserted camp. May the Holy Spirit embolden you to go at once, and you shall not believe in vain. When you are saved yourself, publish the good news to others. Hold not your peace; tell the King’s household first, and unite with them in fellowship; let the porter of the city, the minister, be informed of your discovery, and then proclaim the good news in every place. The Lord save thee ere the sun goes down this day. - Charles Spurgeon

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