Satan has two favorite tools: temptation and condemnation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With temptation, he minimizes sin: It\u2019s no big deal! Everybody does it! You know what will make you happy more than God does! <\/em>Satan doesn\u2019t have to speak out loud. He just puts ideas in your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, the moment you do that particular sin, Satan reverses his strategy to condemnation. Instead of minimizing the sin, he maximizes it: You did that! Are you kidding me? God will never love you again. It\u2019s over. God can never use you. That is so big\u2014you can never, ever be forgiven for it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n First, Satan tempts you. Then, he condemns you. See his strategy? Minimize the sin before you do it, and maximize it afterward to usher in guilt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the cross, Jesus defeated temptation and condemnation. He destroyed temptation\u2019s power, giving you the strength to resist it: \u201cHe rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son\u201d<\/em> (Colossians 1:13 GNT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus also destroyed the power of condemnation over you. Satan\u2019s accusations no longer work because the Bible says, \u201cThere is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus\u201d <\/em>(Romans 8:1 NIV). You are a trophy of God\u2019s grace, so Satan\u2019s accusations don\u2019t stick. You\u2019ve already been cleansed. Jesus cancelled the payment. Jesus paid the debt. Jesus satisfied justice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection were a fatal blow to Satan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have Jesus Christ in your life, then Satan has zero power over you except in the areas that you choose to give him. When you choose to give in to Satan\u2019s temptation or condemnation, then you give him a foothold in your life. But if you choose to say no, he can\u2019t touch you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With God\u2019s power in your life, Satan can\u2019t harm you. \u201cYour life is<\/em> hidden with Christ in God\u201d <\/em>(Colossians 3:3 GNT), and you are protected. You don\u2019t have to listen to Satan. You have the power to say, \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Written by: Pastor Rick Warren<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Satan has two favorite tools: temptation and condemnation. With temptation, he minimizes sin: It\u2019s no big deal! Everybody does it! You know what will make you happy more than God does! Satan doesn\u2019t have to speak out loud. He just puts ideas in your mind. Then, the moment you do that particular sin, Satan reverses his strategy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-updates"],"yoast_head":"\n