When the Devil Knocks

When the Devil Knocks

You were created in the image of God and the devil hates you and everything about you. It's not a matter of if he will attack, but is when will he attack. He is a deceiver, an accuser, and a destroyer. He will twist scripture to deceive you just as he did with Eve in the garden and like he tried to do with Jesus after He had fasted.

Before you sin: He says things like, It’s no big deal. No one will find out. Everyone does it! You deserve it! It’s only this one time. You won’t even get caught!

After you sin: He says, You're nothing. How could God even love you? Your life is ruined. You're so Pathetic.

When the devil comes at you, he will bring up all your junk.

Hey Al, remember that time you stole that car? Oh yeah, and what about the time you said that word, you know the one that rhymes with duck? 

Maybe for you it's when you Lied, or Yelled at the kids, had an Affair, got Divorced, filed Bankruptcy, watched that Porn, got an Abortion. 

Whatever it is, you can be sure the Accuser hurls shame, You're Dirty and Unworthy.

Glory to God, He has given us an advocate.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 1 John 2:1 NLT

The devil hurls accusations, but Jesus is our defense.

God is blessing you with something you don’t deserve!

Not because you are good, but because this is how good God is!

If you've done something wrong, it's important to learn how to  distinguish between Satan’s accusations and the Spirit’s conviction.

• Accusations—Drive us away from God, Guilt, Shame
• Conviction—Leads us closer to God, Leads to repentance and hope!

Satan accuses, he wants you to feel guilty, experience regret.

Spirit convicts, draws you to the presence of God to experience grace.

Remember

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

We need to remember that what the Bible says in every situation!

³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Cor 10:3-5

Try to remember these when the devil starts throwing shade!

• You’re a failure—you should be ashamed!

I am the righteousness of God in Christ— A New creation

• God is punishing me.

My Father is a good God who gives good gifts. This is an attack from evil one. What devil meant for evil—God will use for good.

I consider it pure joy whenever I face conflict and accusations.

• God isn’t there. He’s disappointed. Doesn’t love you.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

My God will never leave me—My God will never forsake me!

My God is for me—Not against me.

I am not fighting for victory—I already have the victory!

No weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. Isa 54:17 NLT

• The devil knows you by your name but calls you by your sin.
• God knows your sin—but calls you by your name.