Are you likely to find the devil in church?  If Scripture says he or his demons are everywhere, then he must also be in the church.  He is there to cause trouble, divide Christians and make Christians powerless.  If you are not aware of the devil being in the church, you may not be involved enough.  Because of my job and being transferred I have been a member of 12 churches.  The devil is there!

Do you find it hard to find time to read and study your Bible?  Could it be possible that you have been influenced by the devil not to study?  II Corinthians 4:4 – “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” It is not just the unbelievers; he is out to deceive everyone.  II Corinthians 11:14 – “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.“  This is how he operates inside the church.   

Matthew 4:8 – 9 – “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Christ did not deny that the devil had this power.  How many would and have accepted worshipping the devil for riches and power?  Do you agree the devil is not only in the church but in politics, business and everywhere else?  Have you ever allowed the devil to deceive you?  If you answer no, you are not aware of the devil and his power.  His organization is made up of millions of demons.  Why would you think he would ignore you?  You were born under the power of Satan and remained there until you accepted Christ as your Savior.

Revelation 12:9 – “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”

Scripture tells Christians to protect ourselves from the devil.  When was the last time you prayed asking God to protect you from the devil?  The devil convinces most Christians that we don’t have to worry about the devil’s influence.  When we are making decisions we don’t need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us.  We just believe all of the consequences will be what Christ would want for us.  Then events turn out negatively.  We were deceived once again.  (II Timothy 2:26 – “and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will”)

Ephesians 6:10 – 18 – “11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Many of the miracles that Christ performed was healing of the sick and driving out the demons of those who were demon possessed.  Scripture indicated that many were possessed by demons.  Is it possible that many today are also possessed?  Do we have friends, partners or salespeople that could be possessed?

Matthew 12:24 – “But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

Are you aware that Christians are being attacked continually being told they do not have the Holy Spirit, they have not been forgiven and are unworthy?  How often do you hear negative influences telling you that you are a sinner and don’t deserve eternal life with God?

Revelation 12:10 – “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.”

Is it supposed to be easy living a Christian life?  Are you aware that you are being influenced continually to be disobedient to God, to accept the ways the world lives and give into your selfish, sinful desires?

I John 5:19 – “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

I hope you are aware that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.  Knowing this, would we not have been more careful in how we live?  Do you now realize how important it is to allow the Holy Spirit to constantly guide you in making decisions?  The devil will try anything to deceive us into rejecting what we know is the right thing to do.  However, if we are a Christian that has not studied the Bible it may be easy to be led astray.  Be aware: you will be attacked by evil almost daily.  Are you prepared to handle it?  Hopefully, you don’t see the devil in a red pajama with a long tail and pitchfork, harmless and not one to be feared.

Why is it important to be aware?  We are getting closer to the end of the world.  We are seeing signs that things are no longer normal.  We have increased earthquakes and storms. We have political and economic changes.  Christ said labor pains, as in childbirth, would get more frequent.  The devil doesn’t want us to recognize the end-time signs.  I believe it is Satan who is behind man-made global warming.  His purpose is to deceive us into believing everything is normal and o.k., so keep on rejecting God and continue living as the world lives.   If the unbeliever recognized that the end was near, they possibly would accept Christ.  This is not what Satan wants.  His goal is to get Christians to reject the Holy Spirit and deny God.  He is not too concerned about the nonbeliever as long as he continues to reject God.

Matthew 24:15 – 16 – “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

These are the last two signs.  President Obama and others want Israel to reach a peace treaty.  They want to put the temple mount under international control so Israel can build its temple north of the Islamic Mosque.  When a leader enters the temple and says he is in charge the Jews in the West Bank or Judea, approximately 550,000 are to run.  Those who do not will be massacred.  Part of the peace treaty will be for Palestine to receive the West Bank or Judea.  Years before God separated ten tribes to the north and two tribes to the south or Judea.  It is Judea that Palestine believes should be there’s.

Matthew 24:21 – “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.”  Be ready!  The end could be just months away.  Then Christ returns!