DEVOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT INCLUDED

1 DEVOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT INCLUDEDBAITOFSATANTH EJohn BevereMost STRANGCOMMUNICATIONS/CHARISMAHOUSE/SILOA M products are available atspecial quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions,premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. For details, write StrangCommunications/Charisma House/Siloam, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary,Florida 32746, or telephone (407) OFSATANby John BeverePublished by Charisma HouseA Strang Company600 Rinehart RoadLake Mary, Florida book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in aretrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means electronic,mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise without prior writtenpermission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of Americacopyright otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New KingJames Version of the Bible.

2 Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by ThomasNelson, Inc., publishers. Used by quotations marked KJVare from the King James Version of quotations marked NIVare from the Holy Bible, New InternationalVersion. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used design by Judith McKittrickCopyright 1994, 1997, 2004 by John BevereAll rights reservedFirst edition, 1994, 1997 Revised edition, 2004 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataBevere, bait of Satan / John Rev. bibliographical 1-59185-413-X (pbk.)1. Forgiveness--Religious aspects--Christianity. 2. Interpersonalconflict--Religious aspects--Christianity. I. Title. 2004234'.5--dc222004003796 ISBN-13: 978-1-59185-413-507 08 09 10 11 14 13 12 11 10 Printed in the United States of AmericaMY DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO.

3 My wife, Lisa, who, next to the Lord, is my most cherishedfriend. You are truly a virtuous woman. I will be forever gratefulto the Lord for joining us as man and wife. Thank you for self-lessly helping with the editing of this my four sons, Addison, Austin, Alexander, and Arden,who sacrificed time with Daddy so this project could be com-pleted. You boys are a joy to my special thanks to John Mason, who believed in this messageand encouraged me to pursue publishing it; to Deborah Poulalion,for her talents and support in editing; and to the entire CharismaHouse staff who labored with us in this important, my sincere gratitude to our Father in heavenfor His indescribable gift, to our Lord jesus for His grace, truth,and love, and to the Holy Spirit for His faithful guidance duringthis.

4 ViiIntroduction .. 11 Me, Offended? .. 52 Massive Offense .. 133 How Could This Happen to Me? .. 234 My Father, My Father! .. 335 How Spiritual Vagabonds Are Born .. 456 Hiding From Reality .. 577 The Sure Foundation .. 678 All That Can Be ShakenWill Be Shaken .. 799 The Rock of Offense .. 9510 Lest We Offend Them .. 11111 Forgiveness: You Don t Give You Don t Get .. 12112 Revenge: The Trap .. 13513 Escaping the Trap .. 14514 Objective: Reconciliation .. 155 Epilogue: Taking Action .. 165 Notes .. 169 The Bait of Satan DEVOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT .. 171vPREFACEThe book you hold is quite possibly the most importantconfrontation with truth you ll encounter in your lifetime. Ican say this with confidence, not because I ve written it, butbecause of its subject matter.

5 The issue of offense the verycore of The Bait of Satan is often the most difficult obstaclean individual must face and disciples of jesus witnessed many great and notable mir-acles. They watched in amazement as blind eyes were openedand the dead were raised. They heard jesus command a life-threatening storm to stillness. They saw thousands fed by theviimiracle of multiplication of a few loaves and fishes. The list ofJesus miracles and wonders was so inexhaustible that, accordingto the Bible, the world of books could not contain before had mankind witnessed the miraculous hand ofGod in such an overwhelming and tangible way. Amazed andawed as the disciples were, it was not these miracles that pushedthem to the brink of doubt.

6 No, that challenge would come latertoward the end of jesus earthly ministry. jesus had instructedHis disciples, If your brother sins against times in aday, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. Their immediate response to Him was, Increase our faith (Luke 17:3 5). The miracles had notinspired a cry for greater faith, or for the raising of the dead, orfor a calmed sea; but the simple command to forgive those whohave wronged you! jesus said, It is impossible that no offenses should come (Luke 17:1). It is not a question of opportunity to be offended,but what your response will be. It is an unfortunate fact that, notsome, but many are offended and held has been ten years since this book was launched.

7 In thistime period we ve received countless letters and numerous tes-timonies of individual lives, families, and ministries that havebeen healed and transformed by the truths from the Word ofGod contained in this book. We have INCLUDED a sampling foryour encouragement. For all of them, we rejoice and give God allthe glory!One leader shared, Our church was in the middle of a hugesplit. It looked hopeless. I gave a copy of The Bait of Satantoevery elder. The split was diverted, and we are one today! Many marriages have been saved. Recently after speaking inNebraska, a couple approached me. The wife confessed, I wasoffended ten years ago by the leaders in this church. I becamebitter and suspicious, constantly defending myself and my posi-tion.

8 My marriage suffered from my anguish, and my husbandwas in the process of divorcing me. He was unsaved and wantednothing to do with the church. Someone put a copy of The Baitof Satanin my hands. I read it and, within a short time, was com-pletely set free from offense and bitterness. When my husbandThe Bait of Satanviiisaw the changes in my life, he surrendered his life to the lordshipof jesus Christ and stopped the divorce proceedings. The hus-band stood by his wife, smiling. When she had finished sharing,he affirmed the wonderful changes in his life and home!The testimony that touched my heart the most occurredwhen I ministered in Naples, Florida. Just before I spoke, aburly, middle-aged man stood up before the congregation andwept as he relayed his tragic story: All my life I have felt likethere was a wall between me and God.

9 I would attend meetingswhere others sensed God s presence, while I watched detachedand numb. Even when I prayed there was no release or pres-ence. Several weeks ago I was handed the book The Bait read it in its entirety. I realized I had taken Satan s baityears ago. I hated my mother for abandoning me when I was sixmonths old. I realized I had to go to her and forgive. I called andspoke with her for only the second time in thirty-six years. Icried, Mom, I have held unforgiveness toward you all my life forgiving me away. She began to weep and said, Son, I have hatedmyself for the last thirty-six years for leaving you. He continued, I forgave her, and she forgave herself; now weare reconciled. Then came the exciting part.

10 Now the wall that separatedme from God s presence is gone! At this point, he just completely lost it and wept. He strug-gled to get these last words out, Now I cry in the presence ofGod like a baby. I know the strength and reality of that captivity. I had beenheld hostage to its numb torment for years. This book is not atheory; it is God s Word made flesh. It brims with truths I havepersonally walked through. I believe it will strengthen you. Asyou read, ask the Master to increase your faith! As you grow infaith, He will receive glory and you shall be filled with joy! MayGod richly bless you. JOHNBEVEREP refaceixINTRODUCTIONA nyone who has trapped animals knows a trap needs one oftwo things to be successful. It must be hidden, in the hopethat an animal will stumble upon it, and it must be baited to lurethe animal into the trap s deadly , the enemy of our souls, incorporates both of thesestrategies as he lays out his most deceptive and deadly are both hidden and , along with his cohorts, is not as blatant as manybelieve.