Tell him off and mean it (PART ONE) by Elaine Davenport ( Tuesday, June 4, 2007)

When my daughter was about thirteen years of age she had trouble at school from other children. Let me make it clear that I was not even a baby Christian then, smile; more like a newborn. My daughter would ride home on the school bus and kids would pick on her, ridicule her and call her names and tell jokes on her and she would do nothing or say nothing. She was really shy and easily intimidated. I taught my children never to fight or spar words with other people. They have adhered to that to this day though many years have passed.

When I first heard about a group of children from our neighborhood picking on her and pushing her; I almost couldn't believe it. I needed to see it for myself. So, I took off from work one day and drove home to meet the bus. When I turned the corner in my husbands car, I was surprised by what I saw. Two boys from around the block were pushing my daughter and my looking at them had no effect whatsoever. My daughter never turned around. I guess she though there was nothing that she could do, so she appeared to be accepting the pushing from rear with no response. I yelled out: "Hey, what are you doing?" One boy, the main perpetrator was quite proud to say: "I'm pushing her, I can't stand her." I replied: "I'm her mother, you better stop." Then I got out of my car.

There were about 5 kids in on it and they all were shocked to see me. I talked to them all at one time. I looked each of them in the eye and I didn't smile. I was furious. However, I wasn't about to act like a parent with no control, embarrassing myself or ending up on the five o'clock news. Each to his own, but that's not my style.

I pointed them out individually and I told them: "She lived here before all of you. In fact, I remember when you all moved in and she was the only one who not only befriended you, but introduced you to everyone else. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. I'm going to see your parents and tell them just how you are and what you've done. One little boy yelled: "My mom doesn't speak English." My reply: "Does she know the word lawsuit? Tell her I'm coming."

I only went to see one parent. That was all that was necessary. It never happened again. Word spread to watch out for me. I TOOK MY AUTHORITY AS A PARENT AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED.


Now let's talk about Satan

He'll not only pick on your children, he'll do it to anyone you know including you and the only problem is that you can't see him.

Jesus talked about him. This is what he said:

He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies (John 8:44).

Then he said:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10: 10

The Bible says:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace... 1 Corinthians 14:33


The Bible even illustrates Satan's capability of entering into people and influencing their actions:

John 13:27 What thou doest, do quickly - This is not a permission, much less a command. It is only as if he had said, If thou art determined to do it, why dost thou delay? Hereby showing Judas, that he could not be hid, and expressing his own readiness to suffer.

If you want to know your enemy you need to study him:

These are references to Satan. Satan is real, you can't see him; but he is real. He's not a joke, but he IS under your feet. He gets his advantage if you don't know this, if you're afraid and when you don't believe this. He hopes that you don't.


*Unclean spirit (Matthew 12: 43)

* Evil one (Matthew 13: 19 )

* An adversary like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. ( 1 Peter 5: 8)



Now it's time for you to change your approach towards Satan. The average person gets madder at a fly or a mosquito than Satan. It's only a limited number of saints who even know how to talk to him in an effective way. Most people are just happy to know someone who has authority to call him out and tell him off, but they won't always be around.

It's time for you to tell Satan off and mean it.

That's what we're going to focus on and talk about tomorrow.

PART ONE