I wanted to point out to you ladies that in the introduction to this chapter, Lisa explains that the machete is a formidable weapon for self-defense, capable of fending off assailants and wild animals and killing venomous snakes (pg 140).
This reminded me of something a friend told me last night. I was explaining how sometimes I feel like I am in a tug of war with Satan. I feel him wanting to wrap his slithering body around my arm and try with all of his might to pull me on his side, but God is not pulling my other arm, He is holding me securely in His mighty arms.
Her response was this: Satan is first mentioned as a snake in the Scriptures. Did you know that when a snake gets its head cut off, it can still live. They do not know that they are slithering around without a head. Satan is walking around with his head cut off, he just doesn’t know it yet. Genesis 3:15 says Satan will strike HIS (referring to Jesus) heels BUT HE (Jesus) WILL CRUSH HIS HEAD. Satan is still trying to have you because he doesn’t know that he is dead, but he is.
YES! He sure is dead. There is something more powerful than the machete; the stained cross where our Precious Lamb was slain for you and me. That same cross sliced the head of Satan the day He rose from the dead. Jesus has overcome Satan’s many attempts to strike His heel, with His stained cross and empty tomb. Jesus has freely given us this same victory over Satan’s many attempts to pull us on his path!
Satan is slithering around headless, he is dead, and he just doesn’t know it yet. When he tries to wrap around your arm, that is when we, princess-warriors-in-training, MUST slay his grasp with the machete of God’s word.
When we are on God’s path for us, we will encounter the snake in many forms. The snake wants us on his path. He will pull out all of his tricks to discourage us on our path for God. Lisa tells us on page 150 that even if the snake is not positioned to strike, it must be removed. Snakes are a threat, but not to God. When we are living our life for Christ, snakes lose their threat to us. Especially when you know the snake doesn’t have a head!
We have all power and all authority of God behind us, ready to take on that headless snake! Philippians 3:21 “The Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” The same God who raises our bodies to be with Him in Heaven one glorious day, is the same God who has beheaded Satan’s body. We have God’s mighty power behind us, the work has already been done, Satan is already dead. We must continue on God’s path and be prepared princess warriors with the machete of God’s word in our hands and on our tongues at all times!
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Let’s pray Lisa’s prayer together:
Dear Heavenly Father, direct my paths by the light of your Word, and instruct me in ways to leave a clearly marked trail behind for others. I want to use your Word to create environments that encourage others to flourish. I choose to guard my heart so as not to mistake co-laborers for competitors. Open my eyes to see the fields surrounding my life that are white and ready for harvest. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
AMEN!
About Diane Meyers
This section reminded me of when I was a kid in Largo, FL. My folks bought some undeveloped land to build a house. The first thing my dad and his friends had to do was clear away the palmettos and undergrowth. They found many snakes. Some they killed with their machetes, but others slithered away onto other land. I never thought of the fact that they needed to make the neighbors aware of the potential danger now in their yards.
Spiritual leaders have the responsibility to address a “danger”, and if that “danger” moves on they need to warn the leaders of that ‘field.’ This isn’t about gossiping or about competition, but about working together to purify The Church so we all can be a part of bringing in the Harvest. (Matt 9:37-38)
Wow! Clella, what you shared was just what I needed to hear. Appreciate your prayers in having to deal with a certain situation in our church. Thanks, again. xo
Lisa, I will definitely be praying. There are no easy ‘human’ answers in these situations, but God and His Word is the answer. I pray that everyone involved will focus on Him and follow His path to resolution and healing.
Great blog, Diane and great comment, Clella. I really like the reference to Philippians-what a powerful verse! Thank you so much!
Diane great message!! I to struggle with Satan using my old nature to distract me and get my eyes off the path God wants me to follow. Living for Christ helps all of us to keep our eyes on Him. I personally know I need to stop allowing Satan’s distractions from keeping me from bringing in the Harvest. I must keep my eyes on Christ and the big picture walking out my salvation ever day so that I become transformed not defeated!!
Great message! I agree that even though he is dead he will never give up. If he can get us to take our focus off God even a little bit he thinks he has won! GOD is love he does not hold it against us when we struggle with the devils tactics. We need to keep our eyes on our king who loves each of us beyond measure. A true warrior doesnt give up when the fighting gets rough. She just calls in reinforcements and uses all of the resources at her disposal!! Jesus thank you for covering my sin on the cross. I need your Holy Spirit to help me do battle with your enemy the devil. I am forever grateful for my weapons of your word, and prayer, and these sisters who stand beside me in battle. I also praise you for the cloud of witnesses who have gone before me and trusted in the truth of your promises. I may struggle but i will never give up. I will finish the race. I want to stand before my God and hear him say “well done good and faithful servant”!
Very easy to get busy, sidetracked, and distracted. Trusting God to keep us all on his “highway to heaven.” Reminds me of Pilgrim’s Progress. Onward and Upward!
Amen Joann to you said. And Diane, you wrote a good description of what the old snake tries to do. Well done.
Diane, I am praying your prayer with you today. Great words 🙂
Great prayer!