Today's Passage - John 8:42-50

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 8:42-50   ....You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.....   The Lord clearly says here that the devil is the father of lies. The most deadly work of the enemy in our life is to deceive us, to make us not know God's faithfulness and how precious we are before God. When the enemy tempted Jesus by saying, "If you are the Son of God", it is very clear and obvious that Jesus is the Son of God. However, Satan used especially the tricks of temptations and lies to tell him, "You haven't figured it out yet, you might not be the most beloved Son of God! If you are, why do you need to experience so much of this suffering on earth?" How many times Satan uses this kind of lies in our lives! Not only does Satan tries to work deceit on Jesus, but he often deceives us as well.   When the devil tempted Eve, he said to her, "Do you know why God didn't let you eat the fruit from the tree of good and evil? It is because when you eat from it, you will be like God."  All of a sudden, Satan caused doubt to be produced in Eve's heart, "Could it be that God hasn't given me the best? Why it seems that God has kept something valuable from me? Why God didn't let me eat the fruit from the tree of good and evil if it is really so precious?" We see that suspicion was also produced in Eve's heart, so that she was not able to fully depend on God with all her heart and soul.   Brothers and sisters, the enemy is deceiving us now in the same exact way. Many times, he just makes us see our own weaknesses and unworthiness, and even how useless is it to continue praying and seeking God. Also Satan often deceives us, so that we think that God doesn't love us enough. Therefore, we are not able to fully rely on God with all our heart and soul. The result is that we go astray, doing things our own ways and without thinking. All this is because we fall into the trap of the devil and is deceived by him. Yet, we do not know that all of God's truths and promises are made for our good. Even though we truly are not worthy, but through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we can have victory over the enemy, because every believer in the Lord is so precious in God's sight! The Bible says, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" May God help us rebuke all the lies of the enemy in our life, so we can enter into the rich abundance God has prepared for us!                                   Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, I thank you because you have given me abundant grace. By the victorious name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke all the lies of the devil! May the Holy Spirit renew my life once again. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!