A few weeks ago my mother was walking across her living room and stubbed her shoe on the magazine rack and fell. She broke the fall with her left arm, which broke her arm. Obviously, the magazine rack was a trip hazard and has now been relocated.

Spiritually speaking, the devil tries to trip us up. He works tirelessly deceiving, lying, stealing, destroying, and killing people everywhere. The Bible says he walks about looking for someone he may devour. But, we don’t have to be ignorant of the devil’s devices to destroy us. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11 NKJV). We probably don’t use the word “wiles” very much, but it’s the perfect description of Satan‘s tactics. The definition of wiles: devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what he wants.

Our enemy hasn’t changed his strategies since the Old Testament times. “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made” (Genesis 3:1 NKJV). Eve entertained the devil by conversing with him. I don’t think she recognized the serpent for who he was and she was deceived. Satan’s first encounter with Eve resulted in his first deception of the human mind and will. The result was sin and death. He continues to deceive and attack people who don‘t know how to defend themselves against him.

Resist the devil and he will run away from you. If believers will put on all the armor of God and actually use it, the devil will be the one running. We’re instructed to stand our ground in faith. If a Christian tries to resist the devil without his armor, he’ll be stressed out, beat up, deceived by Satan, and led astray by the world.

The Bible is your sword, but if you don’t have it in your heart or know what it says, you can’t really use it. It’s like going deer hunting without a rifle. God’s Word won’t do you any good just lying on the coffee table collecting dust.

When the meteorologist forecasts a blizzard, we prepare for it by making sure we have enough food and supplies for the duration of the storm. Shouldn’t we have enough common sense to be prepared for the devil‘s attacks?

If there’s something in your life that’s pulling you down and away from God, get rid of it. Turn it off, lay it down, walk away, and pick up your Bible. Learn how to resist the devil and be victorious instead of being defeated and depressed. You can’t be strong and healthy if you only eat potato chips and candy bars. So feed your spirit on God’s Word; it never fails.

The Bottom Line: Don’t live your life with one broken arm after another. Get rid of your trip hazards…today.

Pastor Jimmy Tucker

(620) 223-1483

Diamond Community Church

2591 Jayhawk Road

(4 miles east of Hwy 69)

10:45 a.m. Worship