'Satan Hates Me This I Know...'

It's hard to imagine any Christian saying that they hate little children. They will generally agree without argument that Satan hates little children. Scripture makes it clear that Satan is waging a war against little children because he rages against anything Jesus loves. And Jesus loves the little children.

Matthew 18:3-6 states:

Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

You see that? There are those doing evil to children. Children are under attack. This is nothing controversial, but what will make Christians stand up and ready to knock you out is if you say, "You might be supporting the devil in this."

Paul makes it absolutely clear (along with Jesus) that if people are not repenting of sin and trusting Jesus to do good works then they are gratifying the desires of their flesh. Each time a Christian uses the grace they have been given to place themself above others, they are saying, 'Satan, I'm with you.' It's an either / or situation.

Galations 5:13-14

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

As a Christian under the grace purchased by Christ's work on the cross, you are free! Oh, what joyful news! But Chrisitans cannot just do whatever they want now. Before Christ they were boudn by how dead they were in their transgressions. After Christ, they are alive and have a choice: gratify their flesh or serve one another. Ephesians backs this up.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are [Christ's workmanship], created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God is not done with you after he called you to repentance when you placed your trust in Christ. He called you to know Christ knowing beforehand what good works he would have you do (meaning he has everything ready to go). Those good works abide in Jesus (John 15) because they follow in Christ's steps. All that Christ did was pleasing to the Father because he did only what the Father did (Mark 1:9-11 + John 15). And the Father rescues the oppressed (Psalm 146). Therefore the good works we are called to do, whatever they are, rescue the oppressed as well.

So, what good works is he calling us to, members of the Jr. and Sr. High CRAVE class? Maybe he has something in store for us that will aid children branded as witches.

I thank my friend, Joe Helt, who pointed out this story with his blog at barefootpastor.blogspot.com. Here's the link to the story:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/3407882/Child-witches-of-Nigeria-seek-refuge.html

"The devil's children are "identified" by powerful religious leaders at extremist churches where Christianity and traditional beliefs have combined to produce a deep-rooted belief in, and fear of, witchcraft. The priests spread the message that child-witches bring destruction, disease and death to their families. And they say that, once possessed, children can cast spells and contaminate others.

The religious leaders offer help to the families whose children are named as witches, but at a price. The churches run exorcism, or "deliverance", evenings where the pastors attempt to drive out the evil spirits. Only they have the power to cleanse the child of evil spirits, they say. The exorcism costs the families up to a year's income.

During the "deliverance" ceremonies, the children are shaken violently, dragged around the room and have potions poured into their eyes. The children look terrified. The parents look on, praying that the child will be cleansed. If the ritual fails, they know their children will have to be sent away, or killed. Many are held in churches, often on chains, and deprived of food until they "confess" to being a witch.

The ceremonies are highly lucrative for the spiritual leaders many of whom enjoy a lifestyle of large homes, expensive cars and designer clothes.

Ten years ago there were few cases of children stigmatised by witchcraft. But since then the numbers have grown at an alarming rate and have reached an estimated 15,000 in Akwa Ibom state alone."

Prosperity preachers, that America sends and raises up, in Nigeria are brutalizing children there so they can make a profit, rob families of their desperately needed income, and leave children abandoned by their families, hopeless and injured on the streets! Why? These prosperity preachers refuse to repent of their greed and do the good works of the Lord. We are no different if we resuse as well. And be sure that Jesus will cast them into the depths of the sea if they do not repent.

Oh, how God must be eager for a group of Christians, a generation of Davids (1 Samuel 17), to stand up and do something about this! Could we be that group, that generation, NMCC? Could this be our good works?

Ask God and let Him answer in his unquestionable wisdom. But let us not be Nicolaitans (Revelation 2) that say we do not have to repent and do good works that the Father does. Either we abstain from good works and side with the devil who hates these children, or we repent and trust God to lead us at any risk.