Satan does not want you to read this message.  He is going to do everything in his power to keep you from reading it.  I promise that if you don’t commit yourself and pray through this, you will not finish, including reading all the scripture references which are hyperlinked to make it easier for you.  The Holy Spirit has put this on my heart, and it has been a convicting message for me as I write it. I am praying that you read it to the end and take it to heart.  I would love to know what you think.

I pray that we have all accepted Christ as our Savior. The thing is, there is a war going on all around us—believers and nonbelievers alike–as long as we live on this earth.  Ever since Satan fell, even before the earth was created, he has been waging a futile war against God.  Only Satan doesn’t seem to realize that it is futile.

Satan conducts this war by trying to entice us to his side.  He presents evil as pretty and desirable.  But do not be deceived, he only wants your destruction 1 Peter 5:8, because by destroying you, he thinks he can win this war against God.  We are just pawns in his chess game, and he will use every deception possible to win us over.  Billy Graham preached a powerful message on how Satan tries to confuse us.*  However, the Bible is crystal clear that those things that Satan entices us with are sins (Mark 7:21-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:8-11). We are warned many times over, “Do not be deceived.”

Jesus’ response: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10.

The GOOD NEWS is that God sent Jesus to save us from this life of deceit and eventual destruction (John 3:16). Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).  You can choose life.  It’s not easy, because as we said before, Satan never gives up.  However, God never gives up on us either.  If we have accepted and truly believe that Jesus has saved us through his sacrificial death on the cross, then we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us to defeat Satan and protect us from his ways.  We have to call upon this power daily through prayer.  We have to educate ourselves through Bible study.  We have to protect ourselves with the Word of God.

This message is on my heart because I sense that the Mission is a real target for Satan.  He knows about our work here and our love for Jesus, and he is targeting us.  To bring us down would be a real feather in his cap.  Many of the people who come to us for shelter, food, clothing, recovery have been exposed to much wickedness.  It’s very convenient for Satan to ride in on their coattails and to attempt to dwell among us in some form or fashion.

While this may sound scary and repulsive, that is exactly why we are all here.  This is our calling.  Others may serve as missionaries to unchurched people groups or the most impoverished third world countries.  But Nashville Rescue Mission is our mission field.  We are a Rescue Mission, which is a very specific designation with the objective of serving those who have nowhere else to go right here in our own city, and to be the light, to present the Gospel message to the hurting and helpless among us. We must commit to protect this ministry, this campus, the people we serve, and ourselves, by daily putting on the whole armor of God. The wisest man who ever lived says: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23.

Paul gives us specific instructions in Ephesians 6:10-18 that we would do well to follow.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

 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. 

¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 

¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 

Finally, please know that prayer warriors are meeting twice weekly and praying not only over the individual prayer requests but also that God’s will be done at Nashville Rescue Mission.  Feel free to join us if you can, and pray from wherever you are if you cannot physically be present.

Tuesday, 2-3 pm, Women’s Guest Services Chapel

Thursday, 1:3-2:30 pm, Men’s Guest Services Chapel

Blessings,

Judy

*If you did not click on this powerful message, please do so now and read it in its entirety.