The Devil Within
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Brandon Bernard, an American whose alleged role was to get rid of murder evidence by burning the car with the bodies, was executed by lethal injection on December 10, 2020; in what American media is calling “the first lame duck period executions in 130 years!” He was described as the “low-ranked” member of the gang of five that was convicted for carjacking and murdering Todd and Stacie Bagley, in 1999. He was just 18 years old then! I was also watching a clip recently, where a woman was caught trying molest a child left in her care, in a way I am not bold enough to describe here. And when interrogated, I think I heard her say, “it was the devil,” that made her do it. There was another incident recently where a woman who has been stealing from her “boyfriend” was finally caught, and she also seemed to allude her crime to the devil.
We often accuse the devil, for making us do things we are not proud of; and often, we are made to pay for our “sins;” and some pay very dearly, sometimes paying the ultimate price with their lives!
Is it true that the devil makes us do things we would not have done? Yes, it is the absolute truth! Now, if the devil was the architect, why do we have to be the ones to pay the price?
There is a classic example in the Bible that we can look at.
READ Matthew 16:13-23
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said,
“Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter replied,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus answered him,
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heave. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying,
“Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
But he turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
(Matthew 16:13-23 ESV)
In the text we just read, Jesus addressed Peter twice: the first time as ‘Simon bar-Jonah’ [or Simon son of Jonah in Aramaic](vv. 17), and the second time as ‘Satan’ (vv. 23).
The question is, “Why will Jesus call him ‘Simon’ at one time, and call him ‘Satan’ at another?”
Had Peter become Satan?
The answer is in the rebuke Jesus gave in verse 23. He said,
“You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your MIND on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
What we set our mind on determines what we do. And what we do determines whether we are being Satanic or Godly. Often people think of being Satanic as being part of some dark cult and engaging in some deep demonic rituals; but we are just learning that being Satanic could basically be determined by what we set our minds on, and do or say. When Jesus said ‘One of you is a devil’ in John 6:70, he was talking to his twelve disciples.
In his book with the same title, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills opened the second chapter with the statement,
“You must accept that a person in your life can for a moment be a tangible living devil in action.”
The question is: Would you want to be that tangible living devil?
If it was very easy for Peter — who was physically present with Jesus Christ at the time — to turn from an Apostle into Satan; then we those here now need to be careful!
Just like Peter, and just like the intro stories, it is the one through whom the thoughts are manifest that suffers. Two scriptures; one from the Old Testament, and the other from the New Testament; speak to this issue:
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
(Romans 12:2).
The devil, indeed, will cause you to do it; but you will pay the price for allowing him.
So please don’t allow him!
MEMORY VERSE
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
(Proverbs 4:23)
QUESTIONS
- Have you been falling into trouble, and wondering how?
- Do you know that the things you think about determine whether you are being Satanic or Godly?
PRAYER TIP
Father, please help us to set
our minds on things that help
and edify others, and bring
glory to Your name.
CREDITS
- Dag Heward-Mills, “One of You Is A Devil,” Parchment House, (2017)
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for
guidance if you want
to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you.
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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