Christian Living

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Look across the world and you will see that people are having tough times. Ordinary, law-abiding people living ordinary lives are struggling merely to get through another day. It is even worse for Christians who by their lifestyles and spiritual choices swim against the moral tide and are determined not to be swept along with the secular tsunami.

People at the top of our society may find living less daunting because of the resources they control and the costly arrangement they can put in place to mitigate and manage unpleasantness which impact their exalted lives. But not totally, for Presidents and Prime Ministers get assassinated, Chief Executives and top people get assaulted, burgled, murdered and harassed and there is no such thing as unbreakable, guaranteed, absolute security.

Whoever you are then, it is certain that living in this present world is challenging and most people have adopted the attitude that they can do nothing about it. Why bother myself, they say, if I can make no difference, for if I venture to do a little it would be like pouring a drop of water in the middle of the Sahara Desert or like a snowflake on the track trying to halt a runaway express train hurtling downhill at breakneck speed. So you decide to grin and bear it as everyone else is doing and do absolutely nothing. On the other hand, you might have tried and in spite of your valiant efforts you did not seem to have done one bit of good. Presently, although you have not given up, you are at a loss to see why you are not making headway.

All people across the whole spectrum of humanity have this very same problem; presidents and paupers, royalty and rock stars, women and men, students and professors, employers and employees, the disabled and able bodied, the sick and the healthy, the poor and the rich, the good and the bad, the attractive and the unattractive, the wise and the foolish and all those ordinary people you see and meet day by day. This problem is truly universal, cutting across all social, religious, racial, educational, linguistic and national barriers.

This series of books, STAND UP TO THE DEVIL, defies this defeatist mindset and tells you of a way to enable you to live joyously, successfully and in complete and irrevocable command of your life to such an extent that your life will be transformed and you will fulfill your true, God-desired destiny. You will see clearly that at the root of your problems, in common with all humanity, lays not a philosophy, nor some abstract system, nor indeed some nebulous network of intangibles but a clever, scheming, powerful enemy.

These books will help you to identify him, understand his formidable strengths and his enormous weaknesses and put you in the position, with all the right tools, not only to stand up to him but to strike telling blows and make him run away. He will be intimidated each time there is an encounter; just like when he encountered the incomparable Jesus of Nazareth. In fact, you can make sure this irrepressible bully is himself bullied and forced to send his minions to do his work. Like all bullies, he can dish it out, but he has neither the intestinal fortitude nor the moral fiber to withstand sustained assault and at the first opportunity will rapidly flee to his underworld hideaway. Let there be no doubt that the Devil can be put to flight for the Bible says, "Resist the Devil and he WILL flee from you" (James 4:7).

If you have an interest in taking control of your life and living it without fear, fully and successfully and want to be able to help others to do the same, especially your family and loved ones, then the acquiring of the skills and knowledge in these books will greatly assist you. No book, except the Bible, can claim to be the panacea for all spiritual and moral ills, but here you are exposed to what really works and that is really what matters. Sometimes trying hard is not all that is required; you need some pointers, some sound advice, some necessary assistance and then you are able to stand up, show what you are made of, and fight stupendously the good fight right to the very end.

In dealing with our nemesis, the Devil, we take a look at who he is in chapter 1. Some people think the Devil is a figment of believers’ imagination and a convenient scapegoat for all our human failings so we start by examining his creation, unique role and his numerous disguises. Unfortunately a lot of paganism creeps into any discussion of the Devil and so it is necessary to debunk a lot of foolishness before we clearly see beyond the fog.

In chapter 2 we deal with the troublesome question asked by so many enquirers; where did the Devil come from? We can be sure the Devil did not create himself and so someone superior must have been responsible. A lot of people blame his creation as the reason for our problems, but this is like blaming a gun for shooting an innocent person. Understanding the Devil's origin helps in understanding the overall situation and see the big picture.

Chapter 3 is a look at the Devil’s dismissal from the portals of heaven and the reason for that dismissal. God does not take lightly the usurpation of his authority or the commandeering of his position. The Devil is about to learn that it is one thing to covet and dream about occupying the most distinctive seat in all eternity and quite another to accede to it by cunning or brute force.

Chapter 4 is more existential for it deals with the present. The compelling and fear-inducing question asked here is this. Where is the Devil now? If the Devil currently exists in some far away, unreachable, nether land and could not interact with humans, then we could ignore him and go about our business without giving him a single thought. If on the other hand, he is right here hiding in plain sight inflicting terror and pain, then ignoring him is not an option.

In Chapter 5 we need to examine the world in its many dimensions and see what the Devil is up to. Just like any general fighting a war, and let's face it, this is a ferocious war, the Devil has various strategies and tactics that he thinks will bring him success, i.e. the ruination of mankind. The strategies that he employs for the unconverted are different from those he uses for the believers in Christ, but the aim is the same; to get as many as he can be with him in eternal damnation.

Chapter 6 examines what the Devil would prefer you not to know, i.e. how he operates. A lot of what governments classify as national security is an attempt to keep secret their dirty work. The Devil is no different. If you can decipher how he operates you are less likely to fall victim to his atrocious schemes and here is exposed for all to see the real workings of his chicanery.

Chapter 7 is an affirmation that in spite of the Devil’s belligerence and vile agenda Almighty God is in total control. When the world is flooded with such bad news on an ongoing basis, it is quite easy to lose sight that God is not some uninvolved observer but is practically and forcefully in complete command. Just as God did not cede control of Heaven to the Devil, neither did he relinquish earth's destiny to him and his demonic allies.

Chapter 8 is a timely pause and summarizes what we know so far about the Devil. There is a lot to take in and assimilate, refresh one's memory and to recheck to ensure full and proper understanding. Sometimes we relish fresh information so much that small, useful details can sometimes elude us.

Chapter 9 looks at the solution to our dilemma and it’s not a system but a person. It is one thing, though enormously important, to have a very good, comprehensive assessment of our problems for that must surely be the starting point. If however, we stopped here, then we would only be halfway to achieving our stated objective; it is vital to look at solutions as we do here.

In chapter 10 we examine if there is a viable alternative to the one put forward by the Bible. Humans have a passion for seeking out alternatives and although this is generically best it can, in this particular instance, lead to disaster. The Devil has more smarts, tricks and guile than an army of clairvoyants, soothsayers, psychics and mystics. He will make fools of them all and use them, willingly or otherwise as pawns in his demonic schemes. The Devil greatly fears the Bible and its teachings. Always has and always shall.

Chapter 11 deals with the important subject of choosing your destiny and the ramification of decision making. Unlike some philosophers we do not subscribe to the idea that humans are jetsam and flotsam adrift out there going wherever the tide takes them. Humans have choices and can decide for themselves using their God-given free will. Here we look at not just making decisions, but having to face up to the consequences of those choices.

Chapter 12 concentrates on the Messiah, the chosen one, and gives an in-depth look at who he really is. Few people, outside of the devoted Bible student, really understands the concept of the Biblical Messiah. Truth be told even Bible scholars argue about some aspects of Christ's deity and his standing within the God-head. The majority of the seven universal ecumenical church councils dealt with these arguments and so we have a better understanding of Jesus the Messiah.

Chapter 13 is about mobilizing and getting ready for doing battle with the Devil. Having learnt all the lessons, acquiring all the skills and techniques, possessing all the tools and weapons and having the right attitude are all excellent but more is required. You now have to mobilize, bring everything together and in proper coordination proceed and do the business; anything less would just be an academic exercise.

In chapter 14 we take an overview of the 7 keys to repel the Devil. We are not engaging in some hocus-pocus, magical underworld occultist nonsense so familiar to fraudsters and mediums, but setting forth true, proven methods guaranteed to repel the Devil each and every time. This is not a suck-it-and-see exercise. Christ used these keys successfully and taught all his disciples, especially the apostles, to use them and they did so powerfully with commendable efficaciousness as can everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.

In chapters 15 – 21 we look in detail at the seven keys to repel the devil, beginning with the first looking at the subject of fear in Chapter 15. The keys are as follows. The first key: have no fear of the devil; the second key: keep the devil on the run, protect all that is yours; the third key: create a Devil exclusion zone; the fourth key: discern truth from error and reject error with finality; the fifth key: watch out for the Devil in the pews and the pulpit; the sixth key: pray in good times as fervently as in bad times followed by the seventh key: learn the secrets of irresistible prayer. Seven in Christian theology is the perfect number and here are the seven keys to always defeat the Devil in all his disguises.

Chapter 22 is captioned ‘Now let us stand up to the Devil and share some licks.’ This chapter tells you how to liberate yourself and those you care for by landing some mighty blows on the Devil and forcing him to flee. Just as bees cannot stand smoke or mosquitoes the smell of certain herbs so too the Devil is vulnerable and can be put to flight with the right application.

God passionately wants all humanity to live wholesome and pleasant lives free from satanic interference. The Devil on the contrary wants the opposite and it is up to you the individual to decide how you are going to live your life.

Enough said.

Books by this author you may wish to read.

THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (e-book)
Volume 1 – Five tough facts to be faced
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YX5NSI

STAND UP TO THE DEVIL (e-book)
Volume 1 – You must first identify him
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BQVLSS

BASTARD: A STORY OF REDEMPTION(e-book fiction)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006OF3SD6

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD’S CLOCK (Hard copy)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002X78D16

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT ON GOD’S CLOCK (e-book)
http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-630-9

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