SATURDAY April 27, 2024

Spiritually Dead

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Ephesians 2:1-3

Paul made us the center of his conversation. He revealed our past position before we came to Christ––spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins. As sinners, we lived in the lust of our flesh, walking according to our carnal desires and appetites. We sinned willfully and had no spiritual life. We lived in rebellion and disobedience as children of wrath under God’s judgment. We had no hope!

Satan dominates the lives of nonbelievers. As the father of all lies (John 8:44), he deceives them. They are convinced that there is no life after death. They are led to believe that God is not real. They are deceived into thinking, Live for today! Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die!

The devil desires the destruction of people’s souls in hell: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). The truth is, it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Satan was once a beautiful angel. In pride and rebellion, he thought he could overthrow God’s throne. What happened to him instead?

...war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, ... the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:7-9).

The book of Revelation reveals an unseen realm. There is now an ongoing battle for the souls of men. Pray that people’s eyes would be open to the Gospel message and their hearts ready to receive Christ.

...if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ ... should shine on them.
~2 Corinthians 4:3-4~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!