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by Bro. John Gabe
Dec. 9, 2009
The enemy has come here to destroy us, rob us, kill us; but Jesus has come to give us an abundant life (Jn. 10:10).
We're still fighting. Our leaders have many plans. If they only give knowledge to people or if they teach them only about prosperity, and nothing about the spiritual battle, we're all losers.
In our service to God, only the tough remains. There's battle. Once we say to God "we're following you," we're declaring war with the enemy. The devil is mad at us already and will destroy us in every way. As the Bible says, many will give up their faith, many will grow cold.
But, let us be vigilant at all times to fight this battle (1 Pt. 5:8-9). Jesus is with us already. This is the good news. Jesus has come to break the power of sin over us.
We're the target of the devil. We're not saved to follow our wishes, but Jesus, so we can join the battle. This war is for real. Many leaders have already fallen. The enemy is determined to destroy us; his weapons are deadly.
Pope John Paul II said in an encyclical that there is "no growth in spirituality without the knowledge of spiritual combat." We are fighting against spirits, not persons (Eph. 6:12). Let us remember: "For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another" (Gal. 5:14-15).
The enemy makes our leaders fight each other to dishearten us. In her message to young seers Melanie and Maxim, the Our Lady of La Salette said God will allow the devil to attack the Church.
There's no one in hell now. Where are the devils? They're around the world. The world is now in the devil's hands. Scandals are everywhere - in government, in the Church. "We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one" (1 Jn. 5:19).
Scandals are not the work of a child of God, who really strives to follow God. So, be vigilant and be faithful; the devil could be hiding in the person. There are seven kinds of spirits controlling a person.
Jesus asks, when He returns, shall He find faithful people here on earth? (Lk. 18:8). As children of God, we are sometimes protected from danger. But, soon our time will come. Let's pray to God to have the courage to face our trials like Jesus did. Many will start with the battle, but few will persevere, St. Jerome said.
One way to destroy the enemy is to join prayer meetings. Let's be serious in the fight; God is with us. The community is God's protection for us. St. Augustine said, without the protection of God, Satan will hurt us and drag us to hell.
Let's pray for each other, so we will become victorious. If you leave the community where God has planted you, you give the devil the right to harm you.
The community is a gift of God for us, so let's strengthen our faith through it. Resist the devil and he will flee. Be not ignorant of the devil's schemes and strategies. The enemy wants to get us exhausted. He wants us to be busy.
If you like praying novenas, just pick one or two you will focus on. Let's persevere with God, not on our own strength. So, don't leave the community.
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