Pay attention to what God has to say and what you are instructed to do.
One of Satan's greatest tactics to destroy you is to get you distracted from what God has said and His purposes for your life.
Think about the enemy's successful plot on Eve:
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
What happened to lead Eve astray?
Genesis 3:5-6
“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate it.
“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate it.
Satan effectively got Eve distracted from what God had instructed Adam in Genesis 2:16-17 "But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Satan's effective distraction messed up the whole plan God had for Adam and Eve in the Garden. Things went downhill for them in a hurry.
What about Peter, when he was walking on the water?
What caused him to start to sink????
Distractions!!!!
Peter got distracted by the waves around him. Remember, those waves and the wind were happening when Peter got out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus on the water, but when he took notice of the distractions, it brought Peter down. Matthew 14:29-30
What was Jesus' response to the people who came from Jairus' house saying, "don't bother the Teacher, your daughter is dead?"
Luke 8:49-50
But Jesus having heard, answered him (Jairus), "Fear not; only believe, and she will be saved."
But Jesus having heard, answered him (Jairus), "Fear not; only believe, and she will be saved."
....they kept on task, not drawn away from the report and Jairus' daughter lived.
How about Nehemiah, who was on the job repairing the walls?
Read: Nehemiah 6:1-5
Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.
Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.
Nehemiah was wise and realized the enemy's tactic to get him distracted from the work he was called to do. Know this: the enemy goal is always for evil, always to harm us and get us distracted and drawn away from God and God's plan for us.
Finally, what about Jesus when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. Satan tried to distract Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
3During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone." Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
3During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone." Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Satan was very persistent in attempting to distract Jesus with food, His identity and His faithfulness to God issues. However, Jesus was not to be distracted. Jesus resisted the efforts of the enemy as many times as the enemy persisted. Finally the enemy left Him.....for another opportune time. He is a persistent cuss!
We must know that Satan will work hard to get us drawn away from God. He works to get us distracted by what certainly may seem like valid arguments, but ANYTHING that distracts us from our attention staying on God and His Word, our relationship with God, our faithfulness to God and our commitment to the work He has called us to do is the enemy tactic called, "Distraction!' If we take the bait, it leads to a path of defeat for us. If we hold fast to God, His Word and our assignment from God, resisting the devil, we Win!!!!
Hebrews 12:2 fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith....
Ephesians 6
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Luke 21:34-36
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Mark 4:19
But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
2 Corinthians 2:11
So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs
So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs
Proverbs 4:25
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you
Colossians 3:1-2
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
2 Peter 3:17-18
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Today, take time to think about what things are distracting you. Things that are effectictively getting your eyes off of God and focused on the problem. Recognize that these are enemy tactics used to defeat you. Put a stop to Satan's tricks. Send him packing by using your shield of faith. Do as Jesus did and speak the Word of God regarding the situation. Find applicable scriptures that tell you God's perspective regarding that which the enemy is using to drawn you away and distract you. Be MORE persistent than the enemy....he will eventually flee if you do not quit!
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