Sometimes we make the mistake of rebuking demons or yelling at them. This not only is weak and fruitless but is interpreted by the demons as worship. They love attention.

We are not to rebuke the devil but resist the devil. We resist the devil by serving God and behaving righteously. Satan is terrified of the righteous and he flees in disarray.

Soon he returns and endeavors to deceive our mind. For he cannot possibly harm us unless he can persuade us to disobey God in some area. Satan has no power over us unless we are sinning. Then he can get past our protection even though we name the name of Jesus Christ.

Christianity can be one of two things in our life. It can be a religion we subscribe to, obeying its tenets just as the Muslims and Buddhists obey the tenets of their religion. In this case the ninety-first Psalm does not apply to us. Christianity has been, at least until recently, the prevailing religion in America.

Or, Christianity can be a daily experience with the living Lord Jesus Christ, in which we look to Him continually, trusting in Him for every aspect of our life. We are to present our body a living sacrifice, setting our mind on things above, carrying our cross behind Jesus, singing and making melody in our heart to the Lord at all times. We slowly but surely are learning to live by His body and blood just as He lives by the Life of the Father.

We are to abide in Him as He abides in the Father.

Which are you? Are you a member of the Christian religion? Or are you a branch from the true Vine, bearing the fruit of righteousness and praise that the nations can observe? Are you showing forth the light of your good works that people may glorify God, or does your religion consist mostly of attendance at church on Sunday while your personality remains basically unchanged?

Dagon, the fish god, fell before the Ark of the Covenant. Satan and his helpers will fall before you if you are being created the dwelling place of Christ.

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." (Psalms 91:14—NIV)

Loving the Lord and acknowledging His name are the conditions on which we are rescued and protected. To love the Lord and acknowledge His name do not always mean we are trying to convert people to the Christian faith.

To love the Lord is to invite Him into every area of our personality and behavior.

To acknowledge the Lord is to call on Him for assistance in every aspect of life, honoring Him and thanking Him continually for the help and wisdom He is giving us continually.

There is much evangelizing being carried on in the United States as ministers seek larger churches and followings. Sometimes such evangelizing is a proselyting to our religion more than anything else. However, it may be true that good has come from the desire for greater numbers.

To be continued.