Knowing the Schemes of the Devils
9/23 Reading Portions: 2 Samuel 19; 2 Corinthians 12; Ezekiel 26; Psalm 74
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
9/23 Reading Portions: 2 Samuel 19; 2 Corinthians 12; Ezekiel 26; Psalm 74
Ezekiel 26:2
“Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’
GATE
As mentioned yesterday, while this prophecy was certainly against the kingdom of Tyre during the days of Ezekiel, Tyre’s kingdom also represents the principalities, powers, spiritual wickedness in high places, and the rulers of darkness of this age. The evil in Tyre reflects the sinister behavior of Satan’s minions. Since “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12), this insight from Ezekiel applies to our spiritual warfare as saints in Christ. The unseen realm of demons will cry “Aha,” when we fail, fall, or fumble in faith. They relish every opportunity to create mischief when our gates are broken. While the Lord Jesus is the Door or Gate for His sheep in saving us and providing refuge in Himself for us (John 10:9), our reconciled relationship with Jesus is also a gate or door (Hebrew דֶּלֶת, DE-leth) that keeps the wicked from overrunning the Mansoul of our redeemed lives. When we sin, succumb to temptation, fumble in faith like one who doubts and is driven by the wind and tossed, the breach in our gates is enough for the evil influences of the unseen darkness to slip in and wreak havoc. This happens most often when we are given over to the nations of our mortal flesh (Ezek 25). When are we weakest in faith? When we are most confident in the strength of our flesh (1 Jn 2:16a), most assured in the decisions of our wills apart from Christ (1 Jn 2:16b), and when we are most satisfied in the accomplishments we have received by God’s grace but boast in them as if they were done by our own strength (1 Jn 2:16c). In short, we are weakest when we are most idolatrous. How do we overcome the schemes of Satan and his minions? By Christ’s sufficient grace (2 Cor 12:9). Leaning ever and always upon Christ’s righteousness and not upon our own strength is the open secret to being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph 6:10). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Who Christ is and what He’s done
Is very strength indeed;
It’s only Jesus, God’s true Son,
Yes, Christ secures our need.