I think that one of the things we are failing at in training our children at a young age, is training them for war.
My son asked me an interesting question the other day. He said, "Daddy, what does Satan look like?"
I thought for a minute. How does one explain to their child without lying what Satan looks like? I think we like to brush those types of questions off too much. And I think one of the reasons could be that we just don't know. But I really wanted to give them an answer, because I had been preaching that entire month on spiritual warfare, and my boys were listening.
So I told my son, "Well, son, he is a terrible red dragon with seven heads! "
REALLY?
Well, doesn't the Bible say that?
Revelation 17:3 says, "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." The Bible also declares that this beast "shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."
The only person ever recorded being cast into a bottomless pit is Satan.
But I also explained to my son that the Bible also describes Satan as an angel of light.
You know, we sing children's songs about Satan's defeat, and verses like, "And if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack, but yet we shun teaching them of his present reality. Why is this?
First of all, I think it has to do with Satan himself. He doesn't want to be revealed. He wants to stay hidden behind the curtain like the Wizard of Oz.
And why is this?
Because he is defeated.
When was he defeated?
Calvary.
What verse proves that this is so?
Colossians 2:15, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Satan doesn't want our children to know that he's defeated.
Seriously, do you want to go around and advertise that you're a loser?
Have you ever wondered why Satan is described as a roaring lion, walking about and seeking whom he may devour?
I don't know a whole lot about lions; but I do know that when a lion is seeking his prey...he doesn't roar!
No, he's going to crouch down in the tall grass and patiently wait for his prey.
What we are seeing in 1 Peter 5:8 is a roar of intimidation. If you are a born again Christian, you're safe in the arms of Jesus...but Satan is a liar, and he will do what he can to make you fearful and untrusting of God's perfect will.
Perhaps this is another reason you should consider being born again. You cannot judge a lost life, and a saved life until you've lived them both. That's why God softly and tenderly says, "Taste and see that The Lord is good! If you want to know you're on your way to heaven, please click here!
Now as concerning our children; does a lion go after the strong member of the flock, or a weak one?
He goes after the weakest of the herd. Pharaoh tried to do it! He tried to keep the young children behind and let the rest go yonder and sacrifice to God. Satan wants your children. And the Bible commands us to "Resist the devil...and he will...fight back?"
No! He will flee!!! Why? Because we called his bluff when he roared.
There will be more to come on this topic of spiritual warfare; but this is something to consider when it comes to our children. It's never too early to teach them the tactics of war! Satan's already in the fight for your children...he hates them! He'll do anything to stop them from picking up where you left off. So you might as well decide now to enlist your kids in the fight now, because he's coming. Let's look at it from another angle. Suppose it was inevitable that an army of soldiers was going to surround your house, and their intentions were to take no prisoners. If you had an extra gun, you might consider teaching your kid how to shoot it.
So FAN THE FLAME in the hearts of your children.
William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army said, "Beware of the fire of your soul; for it is always the tendency of fire to go out."
I think that one of the things we are failing at in training our children at a young age, is training them for war.
My son asked me an interesting question the other day. He said, "Daddy, what does Satan look like?"
I thought for a minute. How does one explain to their child without lying what Satan looks like? I think we like to brush those types of questions off too much. And I think one of the reasons could be that we just don't know. But I really wanted to give them an answer, because I had been preaching that entire month on spiritual warfare, and my boys were listening.
So I told my son, "Well, son, he is a terrible red dragon with seven heads! "
REALLY?
Well, doesn't the Bible say that?
Revelation 17:3 says, "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." The Bible also declares that this beast "shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."
The only person ever recorded being cast into a bottomless pit is Satan.
But I also explained to my son that the Bible also describes Satan as an angel of light.
You know, we sing children's songs about Satan's defeat, and verses like, "And if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack, but yet we shun teaching them of his present reality. Why is this?
First of all, I think it has to do with Satan himself. He doesn't want to be revealed. He wants to stay hidden behind the curtain like the Wizard of Oz.
And why is this?
Because he is defeated.
When was he defeated?
Calvary.
What verse proves that this is so?
Colossians 2:15, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Satan doesn't want our children to know that he's defeated.
Seriously, do you want to go around and advertise that you're a loser?
Have you ever wondered why Satan is described as a roaring lion, walking about and seeking whom he may devour?
I don't know a whole lot about lions; but I do know that when a lion is seeking his prey...he doesn't roar!
No, he's going to crouch down in the tall grass and patiently wait for his prey.
What we are seeing in 1 Peter 5:8 is a roar of intimidation. If you are a born again Christian, you're safe in the arms of Jesus...but Satan is a liar, and he will do what he can to make you fearful and untrusting of God's perfect will.
Perhaps this is another reason you should consider being born again. You cannot judge a lost life, and a saved life until you've lived them both. That's why God softly and tenderly says, "Taste and see that The Lord is good! If you want to know you're on your way to heaven, please click here!
Now as concerning our children; does a lion go after the strong member of the flock, or a weak one?
He goes after the weakest of the herd. Pharaoh tried to do it! He tried to keep the young children behind and let the rest go yonder and sacrifice to God. Satan wants your children. And the Bible commands us to "Resist the devil...and he will...fight back?"
No! He will flee!!! Why? Because we called his bluff when he roared.
There will be more to come on this topic of spiritual warfare; but this is something to consider when it comes to our children. It's never too early to teach them the tactics of war! Satan's already in the fight for your children...he hates them! He'll do anything to stop them from picking up where you left off. So you might as well decide now to enlist your kids in the fight now, because he's coming. Let's look at it from another angle. Suppose it was inevitable that an army of soldiers was going to surround your house, and their intentions were to take no prisoners. If you had an extra gun, you might consider teaching your kid how to shoot it.
So FAN THE FLAME in the hearts of your children.
William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army said, "Beware of the fire of your soul; for it is always the tendency of fire to go out."