For the past few years in Illinois, a satanist group has put a display with their “baby” Baphomet (it looks like a demon) in a manger in the capital building in Springfield during the Christmas season. Baphomet is a goat-like Satanic deity, and the display was set up next to a traditional Christian Nativity display. News media reported that members of the Satanic Temple of Illinois stood around proclaiming “Hail, Satan!” and giving explanation of their peaceful, loving intent. A few steps away, Christian protesters from the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property were kneeling and praying near the Christian nativity scene. They displayed signs with slogans such as “Satan Has No Rights” and “Begone, Satan! Mary Crushes the Serpent.” 

In January, it was announced that a school in Moline, Ill. was going to host a “satan club.” The club claims it won’t be evangelizing, but since we know satan is a liar, what good is that promise? I have since read of another school doing this also.

What do these events tell us? These events are a “tell.” And what they “tell” me is that satan is not afraid of the church. He is so not afraid that he comes right out in the open. What’s next? Will he don a red suit and horns and carry a pitchfork and walk among us openly and visibly? It looks like we are almost at that point.

This is a challenge to the church. He’s not hiding anymore. He is openly defiant of God and God’s people. We may see more weird stuff as time goes on.

This reminds me of the story of the giant Philistine Goliath. He kept the armies of Israel in fear because of his size and ferocity as he challenged Israel to send someone out to fight him. No one would because they had forgotten who they were, people with a covenant with the God of the universe.

The church is a lot like David, the 17-year-old who finally did take on the challenge. The church LOOKS pretty weak and passive and unable to challenge the “giants” in our society. Goliath wasn’t afraid of David at all. He was actually offended when the lad came out to challenge him. But that’s where Goliath made his biggest mistake and it cost him his head. Because of his arrogance and pride, he could not discern what was actually happening.

What Goliath didn’t know, is that David knew his identity in God. The anointing, glory, and power of the Lord God rested on that young man. Goliath made a very big error in judgment…

The church too has the anointing, the glory, and the power of the Lord in them, and yet, satan has no qualms about challenging us. Granted, he’s not as smart as God, but he knows when he sees weakness, and I think he is calling the church out on that, daring us to engage him. I believe most Christians don’t yet understand that the power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in our mortal bodies. “Greater is He that is in you than he (devil) that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4. We have the power, the anointing, and the authority given to us by Christ to deal with these issues. Jesus is the Head of the universe; we are on the right side of this thing! We are supposed to be ruling with spiritual weapons, which will bring change to our circumstances. People of courage must unite and attack evil, not only with spiritual weapons, but by also speaking out openly at injustice and wrongdoing. Then we will see satan withdraw and his works demolished.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Believers need to be about that same business in whatever capacity God has called them to. 1 John 3:8 “…for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

Are you born again? Is Jesus your Savior? That will take you only so far; you are cleansed from sin. But is Jesus your LORD? He is the Lord of the universe right now. He is the Boss. He sits on the throne at the right hand of God. If He is your Lord, that means surrender to His will and plan. That means you are now enlisted in God’s army and are now in the war for men’s souls. You are also now a part of the Kingdom of God and aligned with the greatest power in earth and Heaven on your side.

The times we live in call for surrender to the King.

Romans 10:9-10 “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will  be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.“