Are you experiencing destruction from falling prey to Satan’s temptation? Did you succumb to his enticement, only to discover his bait concealed the hook of dissatisfied desires that trapped you in sin, and now you stand accused before God and others?

Satan is a destroyer: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Satan wants to wreck each one of us, so he tempts us to desire life apart from God. The result is death and destruction.

Jesus offered a solution to this pattern: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Christ has liberated believers from death and destruction to experience eternal and abundant life in Him.

The sinker that took the bait, hook, and line down is designed to take us down with it. Although the bait of temptation appears to be attractive, the hook of dissatisfied desires is disguised inside to keep us returning to the bait. The line of accusation presents us before God and others as fallen prey to Satan whose intent is to destroy us.

Don’t be destroyed by desiring life apart from God. Regardless of your circumstances, Christ can and will set you free. Simply pray to Him, “I can’t. You can. I can’t free myself from the penalty of sin. God in Christ you can. I can’t free myself from the power of sin, God in Christ you can.” “I can’t” is repentance. “You can” is faith. One day, Christ our Forgiver and Restorer will free us from the presence of sin in eternity with Him.

Episode 68: Guard Your Heart Against Satan's Schemes from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.