“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6: 18).
Followers of “Day by Day with Jesus” will recall we pointed out yesterday that Believers in Christ are ever at war against a determined enemy! Satan whose mission is fast and clear- “to kill and destroy” ( John 10:10). Important in all this is the advice for Believers to be alert at all times.
There was once an incident where Paul was preaching late at night. “Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead” (Acts 20:9). Alarmed that the young man was dead, “Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”.. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted” (vv 10-12). See the troubles sleep can cause!
Jesus once shared the parable of the virgins and the consequences of falling asleep on the job. “Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps” (Mathew 25:2-4). Late at night they heard the bridegroom had arrived, “The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out” ( vv 8). Denied, they run out to buy oil only to return and find the bridegroom had left and the door shut. Jesus concludes, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (vv 13).
Nehemiah had a formidable task to build up the fallen wall of Jerusalem. Along the way he met considerable opposition of those who were determined to frustrate him. He was a wise man. Once the wall got up in order to hinder the enemy he decided on this. “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat..” ( Nehemiah 4:9). Nehemiah knew the severity of the attack and was not ready to take chances.
As Believers in Christ we are expected to exercise diligence. When The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” ( Job 2:7). And, friends, this is not a picnic walk. Therefore do not relax in your fight against the enemy- be ever alert and on guard!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, knowing that the enemy is constantly on attack I pray that I am ever alert and eager to engage him in a victorious battle, to your glory, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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18/05/2024 - 19/05/2024 All day“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
Perhaps one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible with enduring lessons is where Moses pleads to Pharaoh to let the Jews go. Instead Pharaoh dared Moses if he had the power as that of a king. Challenged to “perform a miracle” Moses turned to Aaron who threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7: 9-12).
What we see here is the presence of occult powers in high places, as is true even today. A common mistake by some is to deny the existence of the occult behind certain thrones or power centers, especially in instances where we find those putting on a genteel manner of social respectability. There are also those who through their education and confined exposure to the spirit realm of things, doubt the existence of occult powers. The reality is that in the world we live in the enemy is much at work. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In this passage we see that while Pharaoh did release his snakes the staff God had placed in the hands of his messenger, Moses, was far greater and swallowed all. Here is the point. As believers we do have a far greater and mighty power to protect us from any attacks of the enemy. It is the blood of the lamb. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
Today whatever snakes you may encounter from anywhere be assured that you have a far greater power than of the enemy. It is the blood of Jesus. As His word says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy by the blood of the lamb, this I pray in Jesus’name.
