Luke 22:3, “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.”

No matter who or what you are or think you are and the position you occupy anywhere on earth, even within the body of Christ, or whatever is happening in your life or space, understand that, on your own and left to yourself, the devil isn’t and will never be your mate; he is far beyond your CONTAINMENT – you can’t handle him on your own.

Dear friend, just imagine someone so audacious and confident that he even ATTEMPTED to topple God and wrestle His heavenly kingdom out of His hand. And as if that wasn’t daring and bad enough, even after being thrown down to earth and banished, he again attempted to tempt God in the flesh – Jesus Christ. The devil, that wield, dreaded and CROOKED serpent of old is so huge, strong and formidable that, even the fiery angel Michael, the very arch angel couldn’t hold him down man to man.

Beloved, scriptures said in Jude 1:9 that, “yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Can you beat that? The devil has the audacity to come for the body of Moses, a man God honoured by buring all by Himself; no human knew where Moses was buried. Yet, the devil wanted to drag Moses into hell. So God had to send angel Michael to go and foil that plot.

Dear child of God, read today’s scripture again. Do you remember that Judas who the devil entered into was one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. And he wasn’t just there like a figure head but, he was an integral and important part – the treasurer. Besides this, Judas also performed miracles along with the twelve when Jesus sent them out on evangelical campaigns. So, apparently, Judas should have known that the idea to betray Jesus Christ his Lord and Master for thirty pieces of silver was not from God, but from the enemy – Satan. However, he fell prey.

So, as a believer please, learn from the experience of Judas. No matter who or what is speaking or making suggestions to you; your spouse, family, friend, colleague…even your spiritual leader, JUDGE that idea by the Holy Spirit and the word of God and be sure to know when it’s the devil messing with your head, your own mind running amok or the Holy Spirit is actually inspiring you. If Judas had judged that idea of selling Jesus to the chief priests, he would have been able to see and REBUKE the devil and overcome that thought.

Like we see in John 13:27, “now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” It is clear that Jesus made effort to help and stop Judas by making him realize that He already knew he was up to something evil. However, Judas still stubbornly went ahead to carry out the evil. Do you also insist on carrying out your ideas or plans even after God sends words of correction and conviction to you? Is your EGO so big that, even the Holy Spirit cannot stop your decisions even when you come to realize you’re actually wrong. Please, be careful and alert to know when it’s the devil messing with your mind, so you can stop before you SELF DESTRUCT. Selah!

Further Reading
~ Job 2:9, “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Prayer
~ Dear Lord, I receive wisdom to always judge every thought and idea that occur to me, so I can say no to the devil or my flesh
~ Dear Lord, I receive grace to listen and embrace your effort to convict and correct me anytime am out to do what is wrong or evil