Are You Listening to Our Enemy's Lies?

What does your Abba say about you? | Go ahead, carve that Jesus pumpkin for children to see, and shine the light of Jesus | Halloween Challenge 2024 | Jesus Christ | Christianity

Featured image credit: The Jesus Question (blog)

If you’re a not-yet follower of Jesus Christ, come on this journey with us.
You are welcome here.
And, I invite you to read my series on the book “What Does God Want?”.

Halloween Challenge 2024: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Halloween Challenge 2024: Week 4

“Own” that You Are God’s Beloved Child

It’s the fourth and final week in the Halloween Challenge 2024 series. Where did the time go? How have you been doing on your spiritual journey through this series?

Let’s remember the difference between concern and worry/fear that I mentioned in Week 2 of this series. Jesus talked about it and it’s recorded in Matthew 6:25-34. Let’s take a quick look:

• Concern focuses on present issues/problems that we can probably solve

• Worry and fear focus on the future and what we fear might happen—but probably won’t—and, worry drains our mental and emotional energy over things we cannot control

Our Lord wants us to focus our mental and emotional energy on Him and His abundant life He has for us. He invites us to talk with Him about every single one of our worries and fears [see 1 Peter 5:7].

He loves you, precious child of His.

You Are God’s Child

John 1:12-13 (BSB)
12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

“…He gave the right…”. This is a legal statement. The English translations for the Koinē Greek word exousia (ἐξουσία) generally are: Authority; power (and more). Our LORD God alone has the authority, the power, for us to be born again into His family.

If you, dear reader, are not yet a Jesus follower, know this: You and I cannot earn a place in God’s family by being good people and doing good deeds.
What does He ask from us so we can be born of God?
As it says in verse 12, we are to believe in Jesus and receive Him.

Because Jesus died (and rose again) to set us free from death and sin, we are to confess to Him (tell Him) that we are sinners, that we repent of our sins, that we truly believe only He can save us from our sins, and we that we want to receive Him into our life (invite Him in).

We come to Jesus just as we are.

Image credit: Lee Strobel, October 19, 2024, on X(Twitter).com

You Have Every Spiritual Blessing God Provides

Ephesians 1:3, 7-8 (BSB)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.

For Jesus followers, verse 3 falls under the category of “already, but not yet”. Those of us who are in Christ Jesus are already blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing God intends for us to receive. Wow! Some spiritual blessings we receive now. Others we’ll receive when Jesus comes again.

And, our enemy knows this. I wonder sometimes if he influences our thoughts to focus on worry and fear to distract us from God’s truth about us, about Him, and how blessed we are in Jesus. What do you think?

Do you know deep in your heart and mind that you are blessed with every spiritual blessing? We need to know this truth and live it out daily. It’s our inheritance and our royal destiny.

You Are Forgiven of All Your Sins

Colossians 2:13-15 (BSB)
13 When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, 14 having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Ephesians 1:7-8 (BSB)
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Ah, this is an area where our enemy tries to cause us to stumble, fail, grow defeated, and more. Our enemy may “condemn” us on a regular basis, especially if we allow worry and fear to dominate our thoughts. Do not listen to the deceiver, the father of lies, dear readers.

You are forgiven.

Instead, run to Jesus, the One who will hug you one day with His nail-pierced hands. You’ll see His scars. Your transgressions were nailed to His cross! And Jesus—King of kings and Lord of lords, seated at the right hand of the Father—has triumphed over all of the evil ones, all of our spiritual enemies.

He made a public mockery of them.

No, next time our enemy tries to discourage you, remind yourself of who you are and Whose you are. You’re forgiven, and Jesus has lavished on you the riches of His grace. He’s given you His wisdom and understanding of spiritual things through His word.

So, put God’s word to work. Use His truth daily to build yourself up in the confidence of your adoption into God’s family.

You Are Sealed by the Holy Spirit until the Day of Redemption

Seal on envelope - Pixabay.com

Ephesians 4:30 (BSB)
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Sadly, what we do can make the Holy Spirit sad…to the point of weeping or grieving. However, the indwelling Holy Spirit is our Comforter, our greatest Advocate, our “BFF” (best friend forever). We can always run toward our LORD God in prayer when we’ve sinned. We are sealed in Him for that wonderful day of eternal redemption.

If you want to learn more about the Holy Spirit, I invite you to read my series: Holy Spirit 2023 Series.

Your Turn

If you have time, finish this Halloween Challenge 2024 series by reading and praying through the list of verses below. The more you cement your faith in knowing who you are and Whose you are, fear and worry in your life will decrease. You’ll also be able to sling God’s truth at our enemies when they taunt you.

Here’s a suggested schedule to read 2-3 verses each day [the links go to the ESV version on Biblegateway.com]:

Monday

1. You are born again - John 3

2. You are a new creation [creature] - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tuesday

1. You possess eternal life - John 10:28

2. You are reconciled to God - Romans 5:10

3. You are at peace with God - Phillippians 4:7

Wednesday

1. You are justified by faith and have peace with God - Romans 5:1

2. You are a citizen of heaven - Phillippians 3:20

3. You are a co-heir with Christ - Romans 8:17

Thursday

1. You have passed from death into life - John 5:24

2. You have the Holy Spirit living inside of you - 2 Timothy 1:14
   [Read my series on the Holy Spirit]

3. You are adopted into the family of God - Galatians 4:5

Friday

1. Your name is written in the book of life - Phillippians 4:3
   [See GotQuestions.org]

2. You receive the rightousness of Christ - Romans 3:22

Saturday

1. You are baptized into the body of Christ - 1 Corinthians 12:13

2. You are a friend of God and no longer His enemy - John 15:15

3. You have an inheritance in heaven waiting for you - 1 Peter 1:4

Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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Conversation & Community

Thanks for reading this series.

What did the Lord teach you along the way? If you have wisdom to share, please let us know in the Comments.

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