i hate haters...

...does that make me a hater? maybe…
anyway, you know how haters hate you? they don’t want to see you succeed. they don't want what's best for you. they don't encourage you and make you feel good about yourself. noooo, they want to see you fall! they want to see you fail! they do everything they can to bring you down, to tear you down, to rip you off! they hate you! then there’s the hater of all haters...
do you know the devil is real? he's not some character in a book or movie, he's not some image someone created one day to scare you into being good and he's not walking around wearing little red under wear either. he is real and i’m here to tell you....he hates your guts!
i once met this couple whose job was to go into houses that had been foreclosed on and whose tenants had been evicted. their job was to clean them, repair them and return them to their original livable state. they tell me that this is a very difficult job to do because you see, once the tenants realize that they’ve lost the residence, they realize their time, money and investment is gone, that they no longer own this property, then they just don't care what happens to it anymore. they let it go to pot. more times than not, right before leaving, they even destroy it further! they break windows, put holes in the walls, ruin the floors, steal the appliances and on and on! they think, “if i can’t have it, then nobody’s going to have it!” see, satan is like that. he has been given residence here on the earth...freedom to reign the air; scripture calls him the prince of the air, eph. 2:2. but he knows it's just a matter if time. he knows he's been evicted...he knows his time is short so what does he do? right before he leaves for eternity he is going to attempt to destroy and steal the most valuable things that belong to the Owner…you and me.
john 10:10 says, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” he's about bringing as much destruction to your life as possible and he plans to rob you of all joy, peace and hope in the process. he will distract you dead. by that i mean he will keep you so distracted with worry or despair and/or keep you so waist deep in sin that although you exist in this world, you walk around like the living dead. satan distracts you dead. so are you doomed? is this it? so this is why your life sucks and always will? no, because there is a but…and it’s a big BUT...
"I (Jesus) have come that you may have life"
satan might be the hater of all haters, the prince of the air, BUT i'm about to tell you about the Lover of all lovers...and the King of all kings.
james 4:7 says, "submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."
you can resist satan and his plots and ploys against you. you can resist his attacks and attempts at your life. you can even resist him to the point that he flees. do you know what "to flee" means? to run away...as if from danger or from pursuers...it means now he is the one who is scared! he has his little red tail tucked between his legs and he is getting out of there...fast! resist him...how? well, we certainly are not strong enough or even smart enough to resist this one on our own...go back to james 4:7 and read it again...don't miss it, "submit therefore to God.."
you can’t resist until you submit. satan isn't fleeing from YOU; he’s fleeing from the One who is IN you!
Jesus...
the demons know that name. they know what that name means. in james 2:19 it says they (the demons) shudder. do you know what shudder means? you know how you’re watching a movie and you're so engaged in the plot, it’s got your full attention, you’re on the edge of your seat and suddenly out of nowhere an image pops out on the screen and you about jump out of your seat and scream..popcorn flies everywhere, your heart is racing..."dang that just scared the 'bleep' out of me!" you know that feeling? it's shudder. my co-worker and friend kevin causes me to shudder all the time…i never hear him walk up behind me, or enter the room, or coming around the corner. i am always surprised by his presence to the point of shudder and exclamations! i’m always saying, “kevin, stop doing that to me!” he doesn’t mean to though, he says he even tries not to, but i guess he's just a ninja by nature....i don’t know. anyway, shudder, that's what the demons do at the name of Jesus. sometimes i just like to say His name and picture them in my head….Jesus (shudder) Jesus (shudder) Jesus! (flee) haha.
Jesus, name above all names...Jesus. say it with respect, in honor, in awe, in humility, in total reverence, belief and faith...not flippant, in vain, in arrogance or ignorance. satan isn't fleeing from that! he’s embracing it and laughing at you!
Jesus... "at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." phil 2:10-11
there is power in that Name my friends.

the thief comes to destroy...don't live in destruction. the thief comes to steal...don’t allow Satan to rob you of your blessings and inheritance. the thief comes to kill...don't live dead.
submit and resist; know the power in Jesus’ name. He’s about restoration, recovery and resurrection. unlike my friends who simply clean up and repair property, Jesus actually makes us new again...not "like new" but brand new! get on your knees and confess it. shout out His name and receive Him. stand up today and...

...love to live!