A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day – September 24, 2019
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19)
There are two plans for your life. God has a plan for you, which is abundant life, and Satan has a plan, which includes defeat. These two plans are diametrically opposed to each other.
Notice the contrast in John 10:10 where Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
We must recognize this: God’s plan is prosperity, health, abundance, peace, love, and life. Satan’s plan is poverty, sickness, lack, stress, hatred, and death. And as strange as it may seem, the choice is ours. Both plans are set before us and we must choose (Deuteronomy 30:19). Do we want life or do we want death. It seems like a “no brainer” of a choice, but many are choosing death. How can this be?
People are deceived and some of that is the fault of the church. I was visiting a large local church several years ago and the teacher of this Bible study class was a former seminary professor. He was explaining to the class the belief in predestination called Calvinism. When I asked him how a Calvinist handles Deuteronomy 30:19 he said that scripture does not apply to Christians today and that it only applied to the Jewish people. That type of teaching (even if unintentional) is one way people get deceived.
Satan is a liar and the master of deception. He can take darkness and make it look like light. Second Corinthians 11:14-15 says, “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
Do not allow yourself to be deceived. You have to know the Word yourself. Satan wants to destroy you. If you are not a Christian, he wants to keep you from accepting Jesus and becoming one. If you are a Christian, He wants to derail you, to distract you, to destroy your life and your witness any way he can. He is relentless and he does not give up.
The good news is we do not have to accept Satan’s plan for our lives. We have a choice, but more than that, we have been given authority over the devil. Jesus has paid the price and defeated Satan. He took back the authority that man gave up in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Jesus then gave that authority to everyone who would accept Him as Lord and Savior.
Every Christian has been given authority over the forces of evil and can live a life of victory. But there is one catch. You must not only know you have the authority, but you must take authority. In Luke 9:1 Jesus, “called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” A person can be given authority but unless that authority is exercised, it is useless.
Again, Satan is a liar and he does his best to convince Christians that they do not have authority over him. He uses fear and intimidation to cause Christians to step back and do nothing — but this should not be. Jesus defeated Satan and made a public display of him (Colossians 2:15). As a Christian, you are a part of the Body of Christ. You have nothing to fear. Victory is yours if you believe the truth and discard the lies. Remember, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4 KJV).
