The Watchman's Diary

“Loved ones, though very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I felt it necessary to write to you urging you to continue to contend for the faith that was once for all handed down to the kedoshim (Saints)”—Jude 1:3

We live in a time when the mention of spiritual warfare and talk of angels and demons sound more like a science fiction movie than reality; especially in the western world. But this is exactly how the devil would have it. Someone once said, “the greatest trick the devil ever pulled off is to deceive the world into thinking he doesn’t exist.” After all, if the devil doesn’t exist, neither does spiritual warfare, and the bible is nothing more than fiction.

Rest assured that while we are busy living this deception and paying no attention to scripture, the devil remains focused on his one goal—destroying everything God created and dragging us to the pit with him.

The writer of the Proverbs said, “Two things I ask of You—do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me with my allotted bread, lest I become satisfied and deny You and say, “Who is Adonai?” Or lest I become poor, and steal and profane the Name of my God” (Proverbs 30:7-9). He is asking God to deliver him from the deception of the enemy and to protect him against the temptations of the world.

The devil tries to throw us off course in our riches by drawing our attention to the object of our wealth instead of staying focused on the Source of our wealth—God. The other end of the spectrum is to bring us to a place of desperation where he can tempt us to take matters into our own hands, instead of waiting for God to deliver us.

This is why Yeshua (Jesus) warned us to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Nations have had their wealth swept away and their faith trashed because they didn’t “contend for the faith” (Jude 1:3). This nation is no different! While are spend our days arguing over trivial issues and seeking to gain more riches, the enemy is gaining more ground against our souls. He remains focused and the plot continues to thicken. Don’t be a victim! “Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour” (1Peter 5:8).

But, we should also never forget that we have a mediator sitting at the right hand of God. For, “Yeshua has obtained a more excellent ministry, insofar as He is the mediator of a better covenant which has been enacted on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). We should never fail to rejoice in this, “For there is one God and there is one Mediator between God and men—a human, Messiah Yeshua, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony at the proper time” (1Timothy 2:5-6).