John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

If you believe in a God who loves you then you better believe in a devil that hates you! Satan is at war against you, raging a war against anything good and holy you will ever want to accomplish in life.

Satan is at work trying to steal your salvation. He can’t but he does a good job convincing you he can. If he can’t get your salvation he will throw the terrible D’s at you. Depression, doubt, delays, discouragement, despair, deception, distortion, dejection, deprived, dismayed, dissatisfied, disappointed and disillusioned.

He is so good at it he even puts thoughts in your head making you believe you are feeling this way because of something bad you have done in your past that you have been forgiven of. The truth is; Satan is planting these thoughts in your mind mainly because of all the good things you are doing for God. Sometimes he gets desperate and will throw the old-fashioned guilt trip on you hoping you would ask God to forgive you of something He already did and forgot long ago.

This Friday is our next Commitment Night where we will commit our lives and our wills to Jesus Christ. We are going to have the opportunity to come to the cross and the answer the questions, "who is Jesus?" and "who is he to me?"

It is by far the most important night of Encounter. It is the reason we do what we do. It may very well be the most important night of your life.

When I have done these talks in the past, Satan works overtime to try and steal, kill and destroy by doing everything he can to keep you from attending this critical service. He has a million tricks to keep you from being at Encounter this Friday. If any of those terrible D’s come across your mind, recognize who the culprit is; take that thought captive in Jesus name; and be determined to have your life changed by having an Encounter at the cross this Friday where hope can and will be found!

Be Blessed and Encouraged

Bill Rieser
Encounter Pastor
bill@thehopeencounter.org