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Has The Devil Taken You Captive?
Contributed by John Akosile on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: That was great scripture but I want to point out to you verse 26: “that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” I want to preach to you for just a few minutes on being taken captive by the devi
4; The devil wants to condemn you. LUKE 22:31 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” The devil will strip you of every thing you have and at the end of your life you will have had nothing. There’s a lot of people in that situation today. The devil has condemned them. That’s the way people look at you if you’re being condemned or if you’ve been taken captive by the devil. You have stink written all over you. You can’t walk close to God and smell like the devil. The devil wants to get all you have. But God wants to give you all he’s got. If only you’ll accept Him in your heart. Just say Lord I’m not living like I ought to. God can give you everything you need in this present life. It’s not easy being a Christian. But it’s a prosperous journey because of where we’re headed. I know where my treasures are at. Won’t it be glorious to close your eyes down here and wake up in heaven?
5: The devil wants to convince you. JOHN 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it.” He wants to convince you that everything he’s telling you is the truth. NOTHING THAT THE DEVIL GIVES YOU CAN DO YOU ANY GOOD! But EVERYTHING GOD GIVES YOU WILL ALWAYS BE GOOD! Have you been taken captive by the devil today? You think because you’re saved, it’s not possible. If he can tempt Jesus in the wilderness, he can tempt you. The devil wants to betray you but God wants to bless you. The devil will make you think he’s your best friend. Then after a while and you’re alone and you have nothing....and the devil will leave you to sit there and wallow in your sadness. Remember the prodigal son? He went out and spent all he had on devilish things and when he came to he realized he didn’t have anything. He said, why my fathers servants have more than I do. He said I will arise and go to my father. I wonder, would you do that today? Maybe your life is just not where it ought to be for Christ. It’s easy to be a Christian . try being one now! You get around all those wolves. He said he’s send us forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. You know what a wolf will do to a sheep? It’ll eat it up. You better make sure the good shepherd is close by.
You say pastor, I just don’t know how to make a change in my life. I don’t know how to make it better. I want to tell you, you can’t make it better, only God can make it better.
EPHESIANS 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Leave part of that armour off and the devil can get in.
JAMES 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Wouldn’t that be a blessing to look up and see the devil running from you.? I believe when we’re close to the Lord we can stand up against the devil.