Our Father...

Our Father.

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them...”

C S Lewis

Our Father.

“Know your enemy”

Sun Wu

Our Father.

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

a powerful enemy

Our Father.

John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.

a malicious enemy

Our Father.

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

a ruthless enemy

Our Father.

Matthew 4:1-3 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” .

a intelligent enemy

Our Father.

John 8:44 cont.. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

a deceitful enemy

Our Father.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

a crafty enemy

Our Father.

However..

Our Father.

Phil 2:9-11 ..Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

a defeated enemy

Our Father.

1 Corin 10:13 God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

a limited enemy

Our Father.

2 Thess 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming.

a doomed enemy

Our Father.

1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

an enemy overcome

Our Father.

1 Corin 10:3-4 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

an enemy in battle

Our Father.

James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

an enemy to be resisted

Our Father.

Psalm 91 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence...

an enemy not to be feared

Our Father.

Psalm 91 4 ..He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart...

an enemy not to be feared

Our Father...

Our Father.

Living GodI bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,by invocation of the same,the Three in One, the One in Three.

Celtic PrayerThe shield of St Patrick

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ's incarnation,his baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;his bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,his coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,his eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need,the wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,the Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,Christ behind me, Christ before me,Christ beside me, Christ to win me;Christ to comfort and restore me;Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,Christ in hearts of all that love me,Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,the strong name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same,the Three in One, and One in Three,of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;Praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!

Amen