“And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down -that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” Revelations 12:7-9

As I was typing the above passage I heard a whisper in my heart saying: “the same thing happens every time someone is being delivered.” Yes, every time someone is being delivered Satan and his agents (demons, principalities, rulers,…) fight back, but in vain because they are not strong enough to resist the power of God. When Jesus yes, nobody can say no, indeed….

Allow me to focus this message on verse 9 only. Here we learn that “the great dragon” is the ancient serpent, which is a reference to the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), the devil or Satan. The bible says, the devil or Satan leads the whole world astray -the devil is a leader with the whole world as followers. Whose follower are you?

If you are Christian, please note John 15:19, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” It means that whilst the whole world is being led astray, true Christians are not because they are followers of Jesus Christ. It is important to distinguish true Christians from “worldly Christians”. Worldly Christians live according to the patterns of this world; hence, they are led astray by the devil or Satan. I hope that you are not a worldly Christian, in Jesus Christ’s name!

I recall the words of Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul, he guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake…”

Please note that the devil or Satan leads the whole world astray, but the Lord leads me beside quiet waters, he makes me lie down in green pastures, he restores my soul. Wow! Being led by the Lord is beneficial, indeed. Now I understand better why the devil would not let people turn to Jesus.

Do you know where the ancient serpent led Adam and Eve? He led them astray, that is, out of the Garden of Eden -the realm of the fullness of God’s blessings and authority for them. He led them from kingship to slavery…

Please join me in praying for friends, relatives, colleagues, fellow countrymen and women who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Pray that the Lord will removed the veil that “the God of this age has blinded” their minds with, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image (2 Corinthians 2:4). It is only when the devil’s veil is removed that they will turn to Jesus to lead them to their God-given destiny, in Jesus name.