The Bait of Satan...

 

The Bait of Satan

 

It’s a book John Bevere wrote. I first heard about it a few years ago but didn’t read it then, but it’s been on my radar. I don’t know that anyone told me what the bait is at that point. But the book (and other resources for it) has finally reached my hand.

Actually, it’s pretty cool what God showed me to help me study. I do love to read, but haven’t been as able to read lately. I’ve really struggled to make time for it. So, I got the book but thought, I need to listen to it if I want to finish it soon. So I looked on YouTube. And of course, there was a ton of times John has preached or spoken about the book posted, and materials from the book. God had me listen to one sermon though, and at the end, John said, if you enjoyed this message, we’ve created an app for free for anyone in the world to be able to study this book and all the books my wife and I have written!  MessengerX.  So I downloaded it and have been going through the study with the course guide for free!  It’s been great so far!

 

Okay, what is the bait of Satan?

Offense.

When we are offended by someone, we can be trapped into bitterness and unforgiveness. It is Satan’s tastiest bait.

Often, we don’t even realize we’ve been offended. Maybe pride gets in the way. But, I’ve had to reflect a lot about who all has offended me that I need to forgive. There’s actually a lot of people. At first I was only thinking about my mom, but the more John spoke, the more I realized, oh, that’s why so and so drives me so crazy, they’ve offended me and I need to deal with it.

This teaching is so important because, Jesus says outright, if you don’t forgive your brother, God won’t forgive you.

I think that’s because, if you can’t forgive, you don’t understand God’s forgiveness and grace. You don’t deserve it at all. But God gives it. So surely, you can forgive your neighbor, who doesn’t deserve forgiveness, because it’s not about whether they deserve it or earn it, it’s about extending God’s mercy and grace forward.

God is reminding me, I cannot earn my salvation.  Not that I don’t know it intellectually, but apparently I still try to. But, it is good to be lavished by God’s love, to realize how great his grace actually it.

I went to a prayer meeting, and Pentecostal prayer meetings aren’t like Baptist or Presbyterian prayer meetings. And a friend reminded me that. She also told me God is healing me now, spending time with Him will bring healing, and another woman there said she saw oil being poured out over me, like I was being anointed. This is all very encouraging to me, because I have been so stressed out about my dreams lately. I’ve been eating in my dreams, ugh, I had a nasty snake bite, witchcraft attack, watch out, and then, the killer from the Scream movies with the creepy ghost face came after me! Something wants me dead and destroyed. I feel particularly bad because I know I should fast but I don’t. I’ve gotten really slack about that practice. But there is power in fasting. Jesus fasted 40 days and nights and then overcame the temptations of Satan. But I’ve been worried, that if I’m not fasting, and I forfeiting my destiny?  I have prayed some prayers to reclaim my destiny actually. I feel like I’ve gone off rails somewhere. This is what happens when you start writing, stop, and try to write again hours later, your brain is like, where was I…

No, I think as I work through this issue of forgiveness towards everyone who’s offended me, there will be deep healing in my heart.

And if I’ve been the offender to anyone reading this, I’m sorry! I don’t do it on purpose! Maybe read The Bait of Satan if you need help forgiving me too.