Gtcotr/ss041325
Happy Pessach! The Passover moon was brilliant in the sky last night.
2 Samuel 5 NKJV
6 ¶ And King David and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”
7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
The nature of the enemy known as the Jebusite is to wear you down, beat you up, and make you feel worthless. The Jebusite is hoping you will lose heart and quit trying. This enemy spirit with whom many people wrestle is a formidable opponent.
The picture most often associated with the Jebusite is that of the threshing of wheat. The process of threshing is one of continual beating. Allow me to show you:
The Jebusite will use anything he can to make you feel worthless …
· Sickness
· Sin
· The loss of a loved one
· Unemployment
· Retirement
· Failure
· Disappointment
· Mental and emotional pressures
· Post Traumatic Stress
· Economic downturns
His attacks seem constant, aggressive, relentless and unfair. One blow right after another. Even the disciples of Jesus experienced it.
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
Just before Jesus was arrested on that last Passover eve, He told Peter:
Luke 22
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32 “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.
Later as Peter sat by a fire in the courtyard with others watching to see what would become of Jesus, a woman recognized Peter as one of the followers of Jesus. So she said to others, “This man was also with Him.”
57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”
It happened that others accused Peter of being a follower of Jesus two more times in the courtyard that night and twice more Peter denied even knowing Jesus.
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Satan wanted to own Peter; abuse him; confuse him; and use him for satan’s own gain. If only he could destroy Peter’s faith and make him feel worthless and ashamed and cause him to quit the group and quit following Jesus.
That is still the aim and the goal of the spirits of the darkness of this world and the spiritual wickedness operating in heavenly places today. We are in the last days, we are in our last days for sure, and the enemy of our souls is trying to deceive, trick, beat down, wear out, abuse and confuse the disciples of Christ with his lies and his fear tactics.
What is the devil doing to dislodge you from the faith that brought you to Jesus and the faith that has always worked to the benefit of His Kingdom. Having begun in the spirit can we now be made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3)
Satan desires to own you: your hope; your faith; your family; your finances; your friendships; and your future. And it’s not just you … but the devil will try to get you to make it all about you …
1 Peter 5 NKJV
8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
2 Corinthians 4 NKJV
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
The Jebusites told David he was weak and worthless … Nevertheless, David took the city.
Take Aways from today:
Next Sunday is Easter Sunday. Bring a friend to Jesus!
