READ:
MATTHEW 16:15-23
Satan uses
lots of methods to distract the children of God. He is very wise. He knows that
he cannot use your enemy because you are not likely to listen to the enemy. He
prefers to use your closest friend. We have an example in Matthew 16:15-17: “He
said to them, But who do you say that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said,
You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him,
Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to
you, but My Father who is in heaven. ” Satan here sensed that he had
found someone close to Jesus Christ; someone he could rely on. In Matthew
16:21-23, something then happened: “From that time Jesus began to show to His
disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders
and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third
day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, Far be it from
you, lord; this shall not happen to You! But He turned and said to Peter, Get
behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the
things of God, but the things of men.” Satan, knowing that Peter was
close to Jesus Christ, entered him and used him. Satan thought that it would be
easy to get Jesus Christ through Peter. Thank God, the devil failed. Jesus
overcame the devil because He was very watchful. The devil is still using the
same methods today. He has continued to lay booby traps for the ignorant by
using those who appear friendly. Watch it; your closest friend may turn round
to draw you into the by-ways of sin. He that has ears let him hear.
MEMORIZE:
MATTHEW 12:35 –A good ma out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth
good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
