the enemy laughs

The devil is laughing with a zealous pleasure and joy as he sees what he and his minions have been able to foist upon the human race - with our complicit and foolish assistance!
And here is what he has been able to accomplish:
- WE have become 'like god' in our own minds and have acted upon our own foolish wisdom.
- Thinking and believing that WE can do all things in our own flesh,
- that WE are the authors of the knowledge of good and evil,
- that WE have the answers to life and peace and joy…
- WE glory in our own flesh.
The enemy of our soul does exist - he is real and he has entrapped us so well that he has 'veiled the eyes, mind and hearts' of even those within the church so that they ignore and ultimately deny that he is…how do you battle against an enemy that you don't believe exists!
And yet we can see the handy work of the enemy all around us - destroyed lives, selfish unquenchable ambition, vain glory, pompousness, reveling against the truth, altars built to honor man, wise in our own eyes…

Some verses to consider-

- Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5)
- …the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world (Rev 12)
- But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power (2 Tim 2)
- You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8)
- For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6)

So what can we do? What does the Word of God have to say?

- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (Eph 6)
- Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4)
- Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith (1 Peter 5)
- The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Tim 2)