July 24, 2006 - Psalms 35-36 and Acts 25
We all deal with enemies all the time. Most of the time we are tempted to think that people are the enemies. However, the enemy is Satan, and he uses people to attack us or to tempt us. We must keep our focus on Satan and his demons as the enemies, instead of focusing on people. That is why Jesus tells us to love our enemies. He does not mean for us to love Satan, but He is saying that we are not to hate people, but to love them. We can do that when we realize that they are being used by Satan, and if they would turn to the Lord, they would not be against us any more.
In Psalms 35 and 36 David has a lot to say about enemies. He is praying for God to deliver him from his enemies. However, I want to point out one main insight for us today. We all need to pray for God to confuse the enemies, that is, to confuse Satan and his demons in their plans to manipulate people for their purposes and to confuse the people who are being led by Satan. (35:4) Satan is very smart, but he does not know everything like God does. Satan can't be everywhere at the same time, like God can. Therefore, he has to rely on a system of communicating with his demons and with people to coordinate his plans. One of the main ways that his plans can be defeated is by confusion. On the other hand, we as believers need the light of God to lead us clearly and without confusion. (36:9) The great thing for us to remember is that God is light. When we abide in Him, we are able to see clearly what He wants us to do and how to do it. Many Christians are defeated in life, because they are wandering in their own darkness, They are not abiding in the Word of God and in His light. Then, Satan comes against them, and he can easily overcome them, because they can't see what he is doing. I pray for all of us to walk in the Light, and to pray for God to confuse our enemies.
Acts 25 is a good example of this. Paul had a choice to make in his trial. He was asked if he wanted to go back to Jerusalem. He knew they would be waiting to kill him, because God had shown him their plot. Therefore, he used his Roman citizenship to appeal to Caesar. In this way, he would receive a free trip to Rome, and he would be saved from an attack from his enemies. Isn't that what the angel had told him? He said he would go to Rome to be a witness. God gave Paul the light to see His way to accomplish this, and Paul walked in that light. He was saved from his enemies, and eventually, he made it to Rome. It is so wonderful, when we do things God's way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 37-39 and Acts 26.
In Psalms 35 and 36 David has a lot to say about enemies. He is praying for God to deliver him from his enemies. However, I want to point out one main insight for us today. We all need to pray for God to confuse the enemies, that is, to confuse Satan and his demons in their plans to manipulate people for their purposes and to confuse the people who are being led by Satan. (35:4) Satan is very smart, but he does not know everything like God does. Satan can't be everywhere at the same time, like God can. Therefore, he has to rely on a system of communicating with his demons and with people to coordinate his plans. One of the main ways that his plans can be defeated is by confusion. On the other hand, we as believers need the light of God to lead us clearly and without confusion. (36:9) The great thing for us to remember is that God is light. When we abide in Him, we are able to see clearly what He wants us to do and how to do it. Many Christians are defeated in life, because they are wandering in their own darkness, They are not abiding in the Word of God and in His light. Then, Satan comes against them, and he can easily overcome them, because they can't see what he is doing. I pray for all of us to walk in the Light, and to pray for God to confuse our enemies.
Acts 25 is a good example of this. Paul had a choice to make in his trial. He was asked if he wanted to go back to Jerusalem. He knew they would be waiting to kill him, because God had shown him their plot. Therefore, he used his Roman citizenship to appeal to Caesar. In this way, he would receive a free trip to Rome, and he would be saved from an attack from his enemies. Isn't that what the angel had told him? He said he would go to Rome to be a witness. God gave Paul the light to see His way to accomplish this, and Paul walked in that light. He was saved from his enemies, and eventually, he made it to Rome. It is so wonderful, when we do things God's way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 37-39 and Acts 26.