OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 19/05/2014 - WORKS OF THE DEVIL BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

WORKS OF THE DEVIL

MEMORISE

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8

READ

Deuteronomy 18:9-14

9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

MESSAGE

Joy means deep pleasure or great gladness. It is the opposite of sorrow. It will be stating the obvious to say that everyone on earth wishes to be joyful. Although God’s plan and desire is for us to live in joy, there is an actor in this world working frantically against this. There are two principal actors on the stage of history. These are Jesus Christ and the devil. The devil began to play his part in human history from Genesis 3 until the other actor, Jesus Christ, came with the gospel to destroy his works. Christ was able to overcome the devil through compassion, love and humility. The objectives of Jesus Christ are: to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), to save whosoever believes in Him and to present God as all in all. To overcome as Christ did, you must be ready to identify and to destroy all the works of Satan and his collaborators. Satan uses demons, human agents, forces of nature and even careless believers to do his works. He invades the spirit, soul and body of his victims and attempts to destroy them. Satan and his demons have the ultimate goal of torturing mankind, causing catastrophes, destroying lives and at last making humanity partake in the eternal fire which he and his cohorts are destined for.

The devil uses many means to capture human beings. He possesses, oppresses and afflicts his victims (Luke 22:3). He suppresses his victims, ensuring that they don’t manifest faith in God. Satan obsesses by filling the minds of his victims with fear and other things contrary to God’s word. Satan depresses his victims, making his victims discouraged and sad. Satan works through sicknesses and afflictions. Many incurable diseases and infirmities have demons behind them (Luke 13:11-13). Satan uses seduction, false doctrines, false religion and occultism. To be an overcomer, you should live right. Note that demons have no power over a child of God who is living right. You should therefore not open the way for Satan to invade your life. Renounce all previous involvement with the devil. Be informed: Satan is the brain behind magic, astrology, palmistry, Ouija boards, crystal ball-gazing, hypnotism, mesmerism, sorcery, hallucinogenic drugs, blood covenants, necromancy, body incisions and demonic initiations. Initiation into the demonic world is always done through the cunning craftiness of Satan and his demons. Persons that read unclean materials or watch devilish films and wrong programs on the television and also those who believe in what the stars foretell are easily possessed of devils. Demons must not be feared. Rather they must be discerned and rejected promptly.

ACTION POINT

Pray for the operation of the gifts of the Spirit to overcome demonic intrigues.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 40-41; Psalm 107:1-9