The Ballestero Blog

The Devil Doesn’t Play Fair!

This is not new news for anyone. Our lives, our churches, and our world are all testimonials of the devil’s dirty tricks.

Hell has no honor code. It is not bound by Rules of Engagement like our Army in wartime. Satan fights dirty.  He’s not your friend. He shows no mercy. He doesn’t ‘love’ you. He’s your enemy.

• He will demoralize everyone he can.
• He destroys everyone he can.
• He kills everyone he can.
• He uses everyone he can.
• He accuses everyone he can.
• He addicts everyone he can.

He’s An Adversary

1Pet. 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

• Take it personal. It’s OK. You’re not being paranoid. He is YOUR adversary.

He’s An Intimidator

• He’s a roaring lion. The lion’s roar is meant to instill fear

He’s An Accuser

Rev. 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

• Take it personal, It’s OK. You’re not being paranoid He is Your accuser.

The Devil Doesn’t Play Fair:

Pastor Johnson with young children at home finds out he has cancer. Stage 4. He is on chemo for many hours a day, almost every day for many weeks. He’s deathly ill. His church suffered a fire. Several families have left him. The church attendance is going down. He’s hurting in every area of his life. The devil doesn’t play fair.

Larry found someone else. He leaves his home, his wife and his children. His now ex-wife is left with the bills and the care of the family. The children are robbed of their father. Their faith in marriage is forever scarred. Behavioral problems surface in the son. The absence of the father gave him more liberties than he needed and the police finally got involved. Now he has a record. The mother loses her job and her house. The devil doesn’t play fair.

Donna went to church by herself. She was on fire for God. Her parents weren’t saved. Her dad got a job transfer to another state where there wasn’t an apostolic church within 50 miles. Donna was only 14. How long can you not go to church and still survive? The devil doesn’t play fair.

Tom died. He didn’t have much in the way of insurance. His wife Linda and her young children struggled financially. A smooth talking Romeo took advantage of Linda’s desperate situation and marries her. She wanted the children to have a father. It’s not long before the Romeo began to physically and verbally abuse Linda. She had to call the police. Tom was gone, Romeo’s gone, and now the money gone. The devil doesn’t play fair.

The doctor told Cheryl that she was pregnant. Cheryl and Bob had wanted a baby for 14 years. The concern on the doctor’s face slowed her celebration. The doctor could find no heartbeat. The baby was taken prematurely. The lab report said Cheryl also had cancer. Chemo is ordered. The devil doesn’t play fair.

Sam was a preacher in the local church. Everyone liked him. He and his landlord disagreed on an issue. The landlord spread a lie about Sam that got back into the church. The church people believed the landlord. No one was interested in Sam’s story. Sam was embarrassed and disappointed in the people. He backslid and never went back to church. The devil doesn’t play fair.

Rachael, a virtuous and talented young woman would have welcomed the attention of a dedicated young man. The ones in her church seemed to be interested in girls in another church. The guys that showed her attention were in the world and didn’t want anything to do with living for God. She knew there were things much worse than being single. She also knew the devil didn’t play fair.

Frank backslid. He started drinking and gambling. He lost everything. His family left. He had nothing to show for his 47 years of life, but the few clothes in his closet and a $300 car. He remembered the days when he led song service in church. He’d gotten offended and left. He hadn’t meant to go as low as he had. The devil doesn’t play fair.

Steven was just hanging with some friends from school. In a moment of weakness, he tried what they offered him. He became addicted in one day. He had to steal to support his habit. He went to jail for 25 years. The devil doesn’t play fair.

Remember the Prodigal Son? The devil didn’t play fair with him either. The good news is that the son woke up to what the devil had done to him.  He went to his Father. The Father restored his world.

• Just like the Father wishes to restore your world today!

Remember Israel in Egyptian slavery? God delivered them.

• Just like He wants to deliver you today.

Remember Job? He lost everything. God gave him back double.

• Just like God wants to bless today.

Here Are A Couple Of Precious Promises To Help You Through Today.

1. 1Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
2. Rom. 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
3. Heb. 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
4. 1Sam. 30:8 And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
5. Ex. 14:25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
6. Josh. 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

Don’t Give Up! The Last Chapter’s Not Written Yet! No Matter What Happens, God Is A Good God And He’s In Control!