FAITH CAPSULE: Invariably, faith will fail when the enemy attacks the heart.
Luke 22:1-23
What points out man before God is the heart of man. Heart can be hidden from man but is not possible to be hidden from God. It is heart of man that concluded what man is about, before God. Genesis 6:5 recorded, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” For man, it is what flows from the heart of man that makes a mark of man. What flows from the heart of a man will make or break man in the journey of life under heaven.
Heart is undoubtedly the most important target for the devil to launch its attack. Judas spent time with Jesus and went to places with Him. Despite his entire experience with Christ his heart volunteered for devil’s investment in his life. Luke 22:3-4 recorded, “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.” Satan went after the heart of Judas and he was able to establish his plan to betray Jesus. Invariably, faith will fail when the enemy attacks the heart. Peter was close to Jesus and could also have been a victim of the devil. Once Jesus said to him, “…Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32) The only proven target for the enemy to strike is the heart. Ananias and Sapphira, his wife, were not forced to voluntarily sell their possession to buttress the fellowship of others, but they came up lying about the proceedings, “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep part of the price of the land for yourself? (Acts 5:3) Man’s hearts need to be constantly engage to the word of God continually which can deliver man’s heart from evil continually. A heart that is engaged to meditating the word of God is disengaged from negotiation with the devil. Determination not to allow Satan from entering in to man’s heart is not enough. With determination and Peter’s exposure to Jesus’ ministry, Peter could not avoid devil in his heart. It was determination that failed Peter when he was determined not to deny Christ as he eventually denied Christ three times. Thank God that Jesus had already prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail. In the journey of life, in all challenges, determination can fail but prayer is more than enough for man not to fail.
Do not engage self-deception, get to know by taking to the warning in the word of God as it is written in Ecclesiastes 9:3, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Prayerful keep heart from being a victim of devil.
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace not to become a victim of Satan’s agenda in your heart.