“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” – 1 Peter 5:9

Satan is the Christian’s unwearied foe, he is the enemy of all righteousness, and aims at our destruction. He is especially the enemy of our faith–comfort–prosperity–and usefulness.

He is our enemy before God, and he gets access to our hearts; he excites to sin, accuses of sin, and terrifies for sin. We are called upon to resist him, stedfastly believing God’s word, faithfulness and love. Stedfastly believing what Christ is to us, as Satan’s grand opponent.

Is Satan a deadly serpent?–Jesus is the brazen serpent which heals. Is Satan a roaring lion?–Jesus is the lion of the tribe of Judah who prevails. Is Satan an adversary?–Jesus is a Friend. Is Satan a wolf?–Jesus is the good Shepherd. Is Satan a tempter? – Jesus is a Deliverer. Is Satan a deceiver and a liar?–Jesus is the truth. Is Satan an accuser? – Jesus is an Advocate. Is Satan the prince of darkness?–Jesus is the light of life. Is Satan a murderer?–Jesus is the resurrection. Is Satan god of this world?–Jesus is God over all.

Resist the devil in the faith of this. Jesus is all you need.

All power is to our Jesus given;
O’er earth’s rebellious sons He reigns :
He mildly rules the hosts of heaven,
And holds the powers of hell in chains :
Jesus, the woman’s conquering seed,
Shall bruise for us the serpent’s head.  —James Smith, 1840

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee”   (Isaiah 43:2).

It has often been said, “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it”. Dear friend that is more than a trite little saying designed to brighten your day. It is based on the very Word of God, who cannot lie, and it is meant to give you blessed assurance– a peace that passeth all understanding! The old publication “Faith’s Checkbook” by Spurgeon put it like this—

“Bridge there is none: we must go through the waters and feel the rush of the rivers. The presence of God in the flood is better than a ferryboat. Tried we must be, but triumphant we shall be; for Jehovah Himself, who is mightier than many waters, shall be with us. Whenever else He may be away from His people, the LORD will surely be with them in difficulties and dangers. The sorrows of life may rise to an extraordinary height, but the LORD is equal to every occasion. The enemies of God can put in our way dangers of their own making, namely, persecutions and cruel mockings, which are like a burning, fiery furnace. What then? We shall walk through the fires. God being with us, we shall not be burned; nay, not even the smell of fire shall remain upon us. Oh, the wonderful security of the heaven-born and heaven-bound pilgrim! Floods cannot drown him, nor fires burn him. Thy presence, O LORD, is the protection of Thy saints from the varied perils of the road. Behold, in faith I commit myself unto Thee, and my spirit enters into rest.”

“By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses“– Acts 13:39

By him (Jesus Christ) all that believe are justified. To be justified means to be declared completely righteous, innocent before the law of God. It is as if you had never sinned at all.

The justification is by him. There is no other way to be found guiltless before a holy God. There is no way to live a good enough life to please a perfectly good God. Even a hundred good works cannot erase a single sin. But on the cross Christ took the sins of His people on himself, and gave them his righteousness. Therefore, his record is now their record, his perfection is their perfection.

As we are emphatically reminded, we could never be justified by the law of Moses; that perfect law only shows how imperfect we really are. But by Jesus Christ every person that believes is justified from all things.

You may have lived a corrupt and despicable life; or you may have lived a life which, to the rest of society, seemed good and acceptable. But neither is important in relation to your justification. Either way, only by him can you be justified; and either way, by him you can be justified. There is hope for anyone, but the only hope anyone has is in Christ.

There is no sin that cannot be cleaned by the blood of Christ; there is no life that cannot be justified by the cross of Christ. All that believe are justified from all things. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ for your justification?(Baptist Bible Hour)

“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6

With all our present problems we tend to forget that, for the Christian, the best is yet to come. Too often we think of Christ only in a historical sense– failing to realize that history is His-story and it is not yet complete. He who came is coming again, and what He started He will finish. All things are working together and toward His return. That dear friend is our blessed hope!

Adrian Rogers wrote: “God has not promised you smooth sailing, but He has promised you a safe landing. He has a purpose in allowing every circumstance into your life. You can bank on this: He’ll see you to the shore in every storm of life.

Andrew Murray said, “God is willing to assume the full responsibility for the life totally yielded to Him.” One of these days your destiny will be fulfilled. And soon and very soon, He is going to step down from the mountain of His glory, and the trumpet will sound. Our little ship will leave the sea of time, and immediately we’ll be on the shores of eternity.

When He comes, He’s coming for you! He’s coming for me!

First Thessalonians 4:16-18 tells us to comfort one another with these words of Christ’s return:

¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

¹⁸Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Do you have a Christian friend who is troubled today? Comfort him or her with this hope.