Satan cannot checkmate.

Read the first six verses of Psalm 64, and see the forces of darkness, the demonic forces plotting against your life, your family, your income, your ministry. We need to know that Satan can plan customized circumstances for your defeat. He is a very skilled chess player and he has the ability to get us into the "checkmate" corner.

"Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers.

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.

4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.

5 They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, "Who will see them?"

6 They plot injustice and say, "We have devised a perfect plan!" Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.

This is where Satan cries out "CHECKMATE, I’VE GOT YOU."

When you find that you have no more moves, then you move the Cross of Jesus Christ and His blood onto the scene. It matters not how skilled Satan has been in planning your demise, the Cross of Jesus Christ will turn your impending disaster into a blessing for the Kingdom of God.

7 But God will shoot them with [unexpected] arrows; suddenly they will be struck down.

8 He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

9 All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.

10 Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!" (Psalms 64:1-10).

In Genesis 3:14-15, God pronounced a sentence on Satan that included defeat at the Cross. Satan was relegated to the dust of the earth, or the old creation of mankind. We are new creatures in Christ and Satan can not even touch that. We need to make sure that we do not play according to Satan’s rules. When you feel "checkmated" in life, make sure your next move is the Cross and the blood.

Larry Chkoreff

March, 2000