Satan is getting a foot hold in the hearts of girls across America. He's using this world as his playground to spread his lies. These girls are being lied to and not many people seem to be worried about it. I keep finding teenagers who accepted Christ when they were a child, but it went no farther than that. They aren't being taught how to be disciples of Christ. They go into high school not knowing how to put on the armor of God and they fall victim to Satan's attacks. If they've accepted Christ, Satan can't hurt them. But he'll do everything in his power to make them ineffective for Christ. Anything he can do to stain, tear, and mangle their testimony for Christ, he will do. He'll shoot every fiery dart in his quiver, aiming directly at their heart, and if they're not prepared, the arrows will stick and mar the heart the teens gave to Christ.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
Matthew 7:13-15
Over the Summer, while on a mission trip, Hannah and I were doing a 5-day Bible club at the Children's Home for Teens. There was one girl who really made an impact on me that week. She was seventeen years old and five months pregnant. My leader was giving the invitation and asked them to raise their hand if they wanted to know more about accepting Christ. I had seen her listening to the invitation and something told me she was going to raise her hand. I was praying she would. Slowly, and somewhat hesitantly, she raised her hand along with another boy. I led them through the plan of salvation again and the girl was crying as both of them accepted Christ into their hearts. That' s when I found out she was pregnant. She wanted to raise her baby right. The boy immediately asked me to give him some verses on patience, so several of the young adults and I got a list of verses for him and brought it back to him the next day. I couldn't believe the way God worked that week. Five teenagers from that Children's home accepted Christ that week. That was my favorite Bible club we did this Summer. We were able to bring light into those kids' dark world. I cried leaving them that last day. I still miss them. While there, a 17 year old girl tried to convince me that I was focusing too much on God. I was worshiping God, which was great she said, but I was focusing too much. She told me that God wanted me to have fun, that He understands. I tried to explain, to no avail though, that I was having fun and I was having the best Summer of my life. Sadly, she didn't understand and had it so very wrong. But it's what she was learning. That is the message that is being taught to my generation, "Just have fun". Satan is using everything he can to deceive us.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
1 Peter 5:8
The book "As a Roaring Lion" by Paul Schwanke has a very good description of Satan. "Satan is our adversary, a word defined as an 'opponent in a lawsuit'. There has never been a money grabbing lawyer who could twist words and phrases like this pernicious pettifogger from perdition"
Satan, like a lion, is making his way through the tall grass seeking those he can kill, cheat, deceive, and ruin. There is nothing he loves more than deceiving the very ones Christ came to save. He hates everything about God and tries to get even with God by hurting what He loves most. He uses everything to spiritually disarm and wound us such as social media, music, and movies. It brings God great sorrow to see one of His children fall, but He'll always be there with His arms wide open, waiting for His prodical son.
"Ye are of God, little children, an have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
1 John 4:4
Something that really disappoints me is seeing Christians post things on social media sites that are totally contrary to the Bible. Just because someone else posted it doesn't make it true. You can be helping or hindering the spiritual growth of others by what you post on a social media sites. So, before you say something, post it, share it, tweet it, chirp it, or yell it, THINK first! Know what you believe so you'll be able to discern whether or not something is appropriate. This is very important to understand. Think about what you're telling the world you believe.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
1 Peter 3:15
We need to know the difference between truth and Satan's whispered lies. Someone posted a quote on a social media site recently that was very wrong. It said, "My attitude towards you depends on how you treat me". This is saying that Jesus was wrong when He said, "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:39 ). We're supposed to love one another and treat one another as we would want to be treated, regardless of how they're treating us.
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
Matthew 5:44
It's a whispered lie that speaks directly to the flesh. This is what the world would teach us and satan is just hoping we believe it. Lies, like this one, are everywhere. Satan uses this world to tear down every Biblical value he can. Ones that I see everywhere is "follow your heart", "trust your heart" or "listen to your heart". WRONG again! This one deceives a lot of Christians, especially young girls. The fact that our hearts are deceitfully wicked above all things isn't taught like it should be.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
Why on earth would we want to trust something we can't know and is desperately wicked? We as Christians need to stand up for Christ. We need to know what we believe. We are called to be a light in the ever growing darkness and to plant seeds everywhere we go. Especially as young adults, we should to be examples of the believers in everything we do.
"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12
When others see us, they should be seeing Jesus Christ in and through our lives, not only in what we say, but in our actions as well. Unfortunately, the way we talk and act is how they judge our God. They judge God by our actions and words.
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
Matthew 5:14
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Matthew 5:16
This is hard to do, especially when Satan never gets discouraged, tired, or gives up, as we often do. Be aware of what's going on around you, and be ready with the armor of God. This is Satan's world and it's full of evil that's laced with glitter and trimmed with excitement. But, behind the lipstick and rouge, there's a deep dark evil pit trying to lure us in and devour us. This isn't just for those who don’t have Christ, like I said before. If you have Christ, Satan will do everything in his power to tempt you and ruin your testimony. He seeks to discourage us and steal our joy. His goal is to make us ineffective for Christ's Kingdom. Satan will do anything to distract you from God's will. So, stand strong till the end, and keep running back to Jesus.
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
2 Timothy 4:5-8
~Beautifully Created 4 Christ~
~Philippians 1:6~
