Don'T Let Devil Get You Down

I want to share something with you today, friends. I read an old fable one time that said the devil put up all his tools for sale. He had some well-priced and well-worn tools.

And he had hate as one of his tools. And envy was one of his tools. And he had pride and lust and deceit and malice.

And all these tools that the devil had used to work on people and off by itself. He had one special tool that was well-worn. And there was a big high price on it as it was a well-worn tool and an effective one.

Well, someone inquired as to what this tool was. And he said, it is my best tool of all. I use it most of all.

I call it discouragement. And he said, the reason it is my best tool and the reason I use it more than any other tool is this. He said, many times I can't get near people with my other tools of pride, hate, envy, jealousy, wickedness, murder, lust.

But he said, often I can use discouragement to pry open their heart and get on the inside. And he said, if I can pry them open with discouragement, I can bring all my other tools in and do the work I need to do. And he said, the reason it's so well-worn is I use it on almost everybody because nobody realizes that it's my tool.

They know these other tools are my tools. But he said that discouragement is my chief tool that I use to pry open the heart and get inside and use my other tools. It's only a fable, friends, but I believe it has real applications.

Because if the devil can get you down in the dumps, he can make you vulnerable to sin. You'll start to question God, question your service to him. Is it really worth it all to do all these things for God? And then God doesn't come and answer a prayer when we need him to.

You try to live right and things go wrong. You tithe and then lose your job. You're faithful to God's house every Sunday and you end up in the hospital.

You read your Bible every day, but a loved one is breaking your heart. We will have adversity in our life from time to time and trials will upset us. But as the old hymn says, God is still on the throne and he will take care of his own.

So when problems come in your life and get you down in the dumps, don't let the devil keep you down in the dumps of discouragement, because if he can keep you there long enough in that dungeon of discouragement, he will try to get you to doubt God or doubt your faith, and he will then bring you into despair. And that's a dangerous place. I believe the most dastardly, pernicious gospel of our day is the health, wealth, and happiness gospel of the Joy Boys on television.

They promise you that if you only accept their Jesus and then give to their ministry, then you'll automatically have health, wealth, and happiness. And a lot of people buy into that heresy. But the Christian life is not a constant bed of roses, but at times a bed of thorns.

Sickness and disease can knock us down. Financial failure can crush us down. Domestic disappointment can level us down.

But Jesus never promised that a follower of his would be free from trials and difficulties, but he did promise that as you experience them, he will be right there with you in them. When I experienced the sudden tragedy of losing my wife, I knew two things. I knew that the devil was there taunting me, but stronger than that, Jesus was there strengthening me, comforting me, for I had God's truth of his word that greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

Listen, friend. When life throws you a curveball, don't let the devil get you down with its well-worn tool of discouragement. Rather, look to Jesus, for Jesus said, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. So don't let the devil get you down, but rather let Jesus lift you up.