God has absolutely no problem at all with Satan or the demonic forces of darkness that exist in the world today. And He could remove them in a heartbeat if He wanted to. But we...are the ones who have a problem with them...IF...we are not abiding in Jesus. (1 John 5:18)

How’s that for an opening statement to get your day started?

You would be amazed when you start laying out all these ‘puzzle pieces’ from scripture that deal specifically with devils and demons and Satan and the powers of darkness...and then allow the Holy Spirit to ‘put them all together’ to bring out a very clear picture as to what we are contending with in this world today (Eph. 6:12). A world, I might add, where many consider themselves to be more ‘educated and enlightened’ than those who lived back in the ‘olden days’, medieval times and prior, and who did believe in such ‘nonsense’. And here’s some irony for you- Guess why they can’t ‘see’ it? Luke 10:17-21 might explain it.

That might also explain why so many people, including God’s people today...are ‘being destroyed for a lack of knowledge’ (Hosea 4:6; 2 Cor. 4:3-4).

Did you know who Jesus said actually does...the ‘destroying’? He called him a ‘thief’ in John 10:10...who ‘comes to steal, kill, and destroy’. Who, or ‘what’ do you think God uses to carry out His ‘wrath’? Take a look at Ps. 78:49 & 1 Cor. 10:6-11 and let that sink in for a moment.

I mentioned the other day that for the most part, the body of Christ seems to be lacking a bit when it comes to our understanding as to what the ‘wrath of God’ is, why it is here today, and how does it affect us. And honestly, I’m not here to debate, change people’s minds, or convince you of anything. I simply have been compelled to lay out scripture for anyone ‘who has ears to hear’...to examine for themself (Acts 17:11)...and what you do with all this is between you and God. That sure takes a lot of pressure off me, as you have no idea.

Ask the average believer who claims to be ‘saved’ today...’what exactly are they saved from’? I have a hunch that few will state what Romans 5:9 tells us...it’s the ‘wrath of God’... that we are ‘saved’ from. And do you know what already ‘abides or remains’ on anyone  who is not a genuine ‘believer in Jesus’? Take a look at John 3:36... I’ll wait here for you while you go read that.

I was never a ‘heavy’ smoker, but there were a few years way back when...that I did smoke regularly, as did my girlfriend and my roommate and his girlfriend. A funny thing happened after I quit smoking – I started to smell the odor it left...embedded in the furniture and curtains and carpet of our apartment. It was rank and rancid and unpleasant, like the smell of an ashtray. And the odd thing was...I never noticed the lingering odor when I was a smoker. Granted...now days, I rarely find myself in a room or shut up place where others are smoking, but we all know what that was like to come home from a party or event where others were smoking and you could smell it on your clothes the next morning. Ever pick up or hug someone else’s young child whose parents smoke, and the first thing that hits you is that ‘odor’ that is all over them? IYKYK

Yeah...that would describe what John 3:36 is conveying about the ‘wrath of God that abides’ on those who don’t abide in Jesus. You’re kind of oblivious to it...until you ‘come out from under that’. I’ll give you a minute with that one.

Oh...and if you need another passage to offer even more insight, go read Eph. 2:1-3 again because that describes clearly, the condition we were all in prior to our coming to Jesus. Who ...or what does it say was actively ‘working IN us’ at the time? And what seems to be the vehicle or platform that it worked in or from?...the sinful lusts and passions of our flesh and mind? Interesting...is it not?

So if it's our sinful ‘flesh nature’ that ‘gives place’ to this ‘devil’, then it only makes sense that the first thing the Holy Spirit is going to lead us to do when we come to Jesus with all our heart...is to ‘put to death’...all those attributes of that ‘old man’ (Rom. 8:13-14; Col. 3:5,8-9; Gal. 5:19-21). And that is exactly what those who ‘belong to Christ’ have done- Gal. 5:24.

Oh, here’s two more ‘puzzle pieces’ from scripture, taken from two different books that you might see if there is any ‘connection’...Eph. 4:27 and Romans 13:14.

I’ve shared this in the past and will do so again today: Look back at Genesis 3. After the ‘fall of man’ and Adam and Eve had ‘given place to the devil’...caving to the ‘lust of the flesh and eyes and pride of life’ (Gen. 3:6; 1 John 2:16)...we read where God placed a ‘curse’ on the man, the woman, and yes...the ‘serpent’. We read there in vs. 14 that the serpent was to crawl on its belly and ‘eat dust all the days of his life’.

Do you recall what man’s ‘flesh’...was made of? “For dust you are and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19; 2:7)   Your flesh nature is 'serpent food'.

 Are you tired of 'spiritual rodents' and other pest plaguing your 'home'? It might help to close up those openings where they keep coming in and remove any ‘food source’ that might be attracting them.

You don’t want to miss tomorrow’s message; trust me!