January 12 - The Tempter Is Real - Evangelical Caucus/Devotional

By Free Republic | Created at 2025-01-12 10:17:05 | Updated at 2025-01-12 12:37:13 2 hours ago

January 12 - The Tempter Is Real - Evangelical Caucus/Devotional
Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John McArthur, Grace Community Church

Posted on 01/12/2025 1:44:45 AM PST by metmom

“And the tempter came and said to Him . . .” (Matthew 4:3).

It is not popular today to believe in a literal, personal devil, even among professing Christians. The devil is increasingly seen as being somewhere between a figment of our imagination and a useful device to coerce obedience.

Yet in addition to the name used here (“tempter”), the New Testament gives Satan many other names: “ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11); “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2); “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4); “Abaddon” and “Apollyon,” both of which mean “destroyer” (Rev. 9:11); and “the serpent of old” (Rev. 12:9).

With these and many other references to the devil in God’s infallible Scripture—all of which assume a real, supernatural person—it’s clear that Satan does exist. And he never made himself more personally manifest than when he confronted Jesus in the wilderness. The Lord’s opponent was an actual, personal foe in every sense of that expression.

Since the Fall, Satan has directed his full attention and fury against God and His kingdom work. While Christ was on earth, that opposition was particularly intense against the Son and His redemptive mission, beginning at the very outset of His ministry. Yet all the forces of hell continue to present us with real challenges as we endeavor to advance God’s kingdom. Thus all believers must remain ever vigilant and prayerful against a genuine spiritual foe.

Ask Yourself

Have you grown lax in guarding yourself from the “roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8) who actively seeks to devour you? He is not to be feared, for your God is triumphant, but he is definitely in need of accounting for. Ask the Lord to make you wise and wary of the enemy’s presence.

TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: gty

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1 posted on 01/12/2025 1:44:45 AM PST by metmom

To: Alex Murphy; boatbums; CynicalBear; daniel1212; ealgeone; Elsie; Gamecock; HossB86; Iscool; ...

2 posted on 01/12/2025 1:45:12 AM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus)

To: metmom

When referring to things that are spiritual, The Bible often times uses metaphor, since for a large part we don’t have the language or the wisdom to understand it any other way. In the case of angels and fallen angels, however, I take it as literal. Otherwise, what is the point of Jesus’ statement: “When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven”. We’re not going to be resurrected as metaphors. There are also real-world occurrences that can be attributed to literal angels, and demons as well.

To: metmom

To: Telepathic Intruder

Don’t blame me, I only clicked that once.

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