Today, life is quite simple, but we through our own interpretation of how life is to be life has made life complicated. The striving for more, to be the best, has moved us from a place of pleasing men rather than God. I am not saying that those things are not important, but what I am saying is, what is the motivation of your heart. Everything flows from there and the condition of your life is the result of what is in your heart. That statement is not a statement of condemnation, but it does reveal what is in your heart. How you react to situations determines the state of your heart. Look at the first commandment. We are to love God with all our heart. The enemy is here to test you to see if you really love God or you love yourself.

Mark 12:²⁹ Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. ³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The enemy believes you really do love your life more than God. Here is an example of an accusation to God about you.

Job 1:⁸ Then the Lord said to satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” ⁹ So satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” ¹² And the Lord said to satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

The devil will even pushes to see if your love for God more than your own life.

Job 2:³ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” ⁴ So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵ But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” ⁶ And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”

I said all this to drive a point. When you live in the simplicity of the gospel and the simplicity of life in the spirit with Jesus, none of all these will matter. This place in the spirit is so life changing that all the evil spirits will fear you. . You walking out this love in the spirit will cast fear out of people as perfect love casts out fear.

2 Corinthians 11:³ But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Acts 19:¹⁵ And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

1 John 4:¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. ¹⁹ We love Him because He first loved us.

My advice for you my friends is that never let sin against you, produce sin in you. This is the trap the enemy sets for everyone. You can confess that Jesus is Lord, but the enemy will challenge you with circumstances to see if what you confess has entered your heart. You may understand the parable of the sower explained more now. This is why it is written regarding the temptations that come against you, is common to man. Everyone is tempted to see if they will respond out of love. Life in Christ is very simple, but what comes against your flesh is not. You get to choose from which place you live from and how you will respond. God does search the entire earth to see who’s heart is loyal to Him. Be blessed my friends

Matthew 13:¹⁸ “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. ²⁰ But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. ²² Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. ²³ But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

1 Corinthians 10:¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

James 1:¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

1 Peter 1:⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

2 Chronicles 16:⁹ For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.