And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

  - Revelation 12.17

The shining stronghold of God:
though its chief doorways are great,
none enters in from the habitations of earth
save three persons.

The person who keeps God’s law;
the person who is truly a virgin;
the noble penitent
who admits and does not conceal his deeds.

  - Saltair na Rann, Irish, 9th-10th century[1]

The four descriptions in our two passages refer to the same person: the one who is truly saved and belongs to Jesus by grace through faith.

Believers are the true virgins, for they keep themselves to one Bridegroom, our Lord Jesus.

Believers are the noble penitents, because they confess their sins readily, without fear of judgment or annihilation.

Believers keep God’s Law, as Jesus did, seeking that Kingdom greatness He promised (1 Jn. 2.1-6; Matt. 5.17-19).

Believers bear consistent witness to Jesus Christ.

These are the people who have made the Kingdom turn into full and abundant life in Jesus Christ. They grow in the Lord, thwart the devil and his wiles and temptations, embody the holiness of God’s Law and Spirit, and boast about Jesus to anyone who will listen (2 Cor. 10.13-18). They have entered the stronghold of God, and live confidently in the expectation of being fully incorporated into Him in the shining years of eternity to come.

No wonder the devil hates believers so much. They are the rust in his iron-clad plan to overthrow humanity and gain the throne of God. They are the sands of resistance dropping through the hour-glass of his time, as it runs out.

The devil hates believers with fury. He wages unrelenting spiritual warfare against them, and is always trying to deceive, distract, and destroy them through temptations and trials of various kinds.

If we are sincere in our faith and true followers of Jesus, we will experience the dragon’s hatred. We will know sorrows, disappointments, trials and temptations on every hand, occasional doubts, fits of unbelief, and the anger and deceit of men. We will weep tears of repentance and devote ourselves daily to bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. And we will overcome our fear of men to talk confidently and consistently about the Lord Who has saved us.

It’s a good thing to experience the devil being mad at you, because then you can know you’re walking faithfully with the Lord. You’re right where you ought to be, which is right where the devil does not want you.

Too bad for him.

I’m not suggesting that we court trouble here. I’m just saying that all who are serious about the Lord and His Word, who practice daily repentance and obedience, and who bear consistent witness to the Lord of glory, can expect to be harassed and troubled by the enemy of our souls.

So when it happens, do not despair, and do not shrink back. Take up all the weapons of your warfare (Eph. 6.10-20), and rejoice, give thanks, and soldier on.

Psalm 3.1-4, 7, 8 (Eventide: Abide with Me)
Lord, all around my foes are multiplied,
Rising against me, like a ‘whelming tide;
Many are saying of my weary soul,
“Not even God can save or make him whole!”

You are a mercy shield about me, Lord,
Raising me by Your glory and Your Word.
Prayers fraught with tears stream from me like a fount,
Yet God will answer from His holy mount.

Rise up, O Lord, rise up and rescue me!
Let all my foes destroyed and routed be!
Grace and salvation, Lord, are Yours alone;
Bless and protect all those You call Your own.

Lord, I do rejoice in your constant love and care for me. Give me the courage to stand firm and bold for You today, by whatever means I can.

Introduction to Christian Worldview
Our online course, One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview, allows you to study at your own pace as you discover the broad parameters and glorious details of the Kingdom ecosystem to which you have been called as a follower of Christ. Brief videos, study materials, assessment tools, questions for reflection, and action steps make this a course that addresses all aspects of your Christian worldview. The course and course materials are free, and it can go a long way to increasing your zeal and capacity as a disciple of Jesus Christ. For more information and to register, click here.

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Thank you very much for your support and prayers during the year past. It is our privilege to serve you, and our joy to have you share with us in this work. The Lord supports our work through the prayerful and generous gifts of those who share our vision and are served by our ministry. I ask you to seek Him in prayer concerning this matter for the year to come. You can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction VT 05452.

T. M. Moore
Principal
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All psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.