2 Corinthians 2 - Stand against the devil's schemes

in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:11

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

John Wesley writes about the above scripture, "The devices whereby the subtle god of this world labours to destroy the children of God--or at least to torment whom he cannot destroy, to perplex and hinder them in running the race which is set before them--are numberless as the stars of heaven or the sand upon the sea-shore. But it is of one of them only that I now propose to speak, (although exerted in various ways,) whereby he endeavours to divide the gospel against itself, and by one part of it to overthrow the other.
The inward kingdom of heaven, which is set up in the heart of all that repent and believe the gospel, is no other than "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." Every babe in Christ knows we are made partakers of these, the very hour that we believe in Jesus. But these are only the first-fruits of his Spirit; the harvest is not yet. Although these blessings are inconceivably great, yet we trust to see greater than these. We trust to love the Lord our God, not only as we do now, with a weak though sincere affection, but "with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength." We look for power to "rejoice evermore, to pray without ceasing, and in everything to give thanks;" knowing, "this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us."

Satan looks to destroy us, but if he can't do that, he wants us as weak as possible. He looks to accomplish this by keeping us at the earliest stage of development in the Christian life so we either never progress to a fulfilled life in Christ or best of all for him, we fall away and never serve God.

Join me in reading 2 Corinthians 2 and be encouraged!

Just a Guy and His World