Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 17
Monday


DEFEATED
ADVERSARY

READ:
Ephesians 6:10-18
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Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary
the devil walks about
like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may
devour. __1 Peter 5:8
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The roaring lion is the legendary "king of the jungle." But the only lions many of us see are the lethargic felines that reside in zoos. Their days are filled with lots of rest and their dinner is served to them without the lions having to lift a single paw.

In their natural habitat, however, lions aren't always living a laid-back life. Their hunger tells them to go hunting, and in doing so they see the young, weak, sick, or injured. Crouching in tall grasses, they slowly creep forward. Then with a sudden pounce, they clamp their jaws to the body of their victim.

Peter used '"a roaring lion" as a metaphor for Satan. He is a confident predator, looking for easy prey to devour (1 Peter 5:8). In dealing with this adversary, God's children must be vigilant at putting "on the whole armor of God" and thus they can "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10-11).

The good news is that Satan is a defeated adversary. While he is a powerful foe, those who are protected by salvation, prayer, and the Word of God need not be paralyzed in fear at this roaring lion. We are "kept by the power of God" (1 Peter 1:5). James 4:7 assures us: "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." __Cindy Hess Kasper

``````````````Lord, we know that our enemy seeks to devour us,``````````````````
`````````````Please protect us from him. We believe Your Word```````````````````
````````````````that He who is in us is greater than he who``````````````````````
`````````````````````````````is in the world.````````````````````````````````
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No evil can penetrate the armor of God.

***************************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 6:10-18****************************

10 Finally, my brethren, be
strong in the Lord and in
the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be
able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. 12 For
we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against
powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly
places. 13 Therefore take up
the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to
stand.

14 Stand therefore, having
girded your waist with
truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having shod your feet
with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; 16 above
all, taking the shield of faith
with which you will be able
to quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked one. 17 And
take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God;

18 praying always with all
prayer and supplication in
the Spirit, being watchful
to this end with all
perseverance and
supplication for all the
saints.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The church of Ephesus, to whom the letter of Ephesians was written,
was begun by the apostle Paul after he visited the city (acts 18:18-
21). Paul's work there was followed by that of Apollos (vv.24-26),
a man who had great passion but an incomplete understanding of
the way of Christ. This prompted two of Paul's colleagues, Aquila
and priscilla (v.26), to take Apollos under their wing and mentor
him. This collaboration in ministry reveals how the work of the early
church, so often focused on Paul's work, was a true team effort.