Deborah Toyin Daniel
GIFTS AND TALENTS OF WOE
Reflection: Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Proverbs 10:22, Psalm 16:4, Revelation 21:8
If you are still in the company of Satan and accepting gifts or talents from him, you need to know that there are grave consequences. Please give them all up and surrender to Jesus Christ before it's too late. The wonderful thing is that God is merciful. When He forgives, He also forgets (Isaiah 43:25). Now, the truth, and not so good thing is that satan would have robbed you of peace, joy, and blessings that were rightfully yours when you were created; so, it is best to repent quickly. For those who have been nursing the idea of getting adventurous with him because they have seen others with so much "wealth, fame, and the good things of life" - think again. Seek the Lord first and His righteousness, and wait upon Him (Matthew 6:28-34). When Satan gives you a kitten, he comes back later asking you for your whole life, part of it (this could be a disease that you will attend to for the rest of your life), or that of a loved one in return. With Jesus Christ, you have it all. He gave His own life for you, freely.
The one who rides on the back of the tiger will end up in its belly!
If you think all is well because you hop from one fortune-teller, witch-doctor, or false prophet to the other, or involve yourself with the occult for fast miracles, then you are treading on dangerous grounds. Many have been lured into the snares of Satan with the Money, Money, and How It Answereth All Things sermons. The only One who gives blessings that are perfect, permanent, and without sorrow is the Almighty God (James 1:17, Proverbs 10:22).
There is a vicious payback time for anything you receive from ungodly sources. The only way out of your predicament is to repent immediately and turn to Jesus Christ. The price Satan charges his victims for his package is usually not initially revealed. When a victim begins to experience misfortunes and goes back to the deliverer of the package, he then makes it clear that the blessing had a price tag on it all along. Time will not permit me to narrate true-life stories of folks that I know, who have had a taste of such wickedness.
Be aware also, that not every challenge in life is a trial the Lord allowed for sanctification purposes. If you are not a born-again Christian, you cannot even begin to talk about such trials. What are you being tried for? What assignment is He preparing you for? You are not in Christ! It may just be that the time has come to account for your misdeeds. But there is Good News! Rest assured that the Lord has no pleasure in the destruction of any of His creatures, but to see us all turn from our ungodly ways (Ezekiel 18:21-23, Acts 3:19). He loves every soul He created that much.
THE GOOD NEWS
If you have consciously or unconsciously made a pact with Satan - the liar and the father of lies, there is a way out of the bondage you are in. Satan has just one three-fold mission: To Steal, to Kill, and to Destroy (John 10:10). He loves no creature, dear ones; and he loves nothing good. Give the doomed 'blessings' you received up, and surrender all to Jesus Christ to be free (John 8:36). Bear in mind though, that salvation is not forced on anyone. You are also under no obligation to confess your past misdeeds to a fellow human being, but do need to have the determination to be delivered. No one can save you, but the Only Mediator between God and mankind, whose Blood cleanses all manner of sins - Jesus Christ, the Righteous! Come to Him this moment. He is waiting to have you in His loving arms.
Firmly in His Grip,
Deborah O Daniel (Toyin)