Pope Francis says REAL Christians are at constant war with the devil

'This is the truth. This is the reality that each one of us feels when Jesus approaches.'

The closer we are to Christ, the more the devil attacks. Why? Because the enemy wants us to fall from grace - just like he did.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - During his early morning Mass in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis described the relationship between us, God and the devil.

When  Jesus goes to those who want to hear and be healed by him, "the unclean spirits try to stop him, they wage war," the Pontiff explained.

All who wish to follow Christ will face similar obstacles as well.

Reading from Mark 3:7-12, His Holiness stated it was "curious" how verse 12 ends with unclean spirits crying, "You are the son of God."

Pope Francis referred to the presence and constant persistence of evil when he said, "This is the truth. This is the reality that each one of us feels when Jesus approaches."

Anyone who claims they have never been tempted is most certainly "not Christian - they are ideological, agnostic."

Gnosticism is the belief that special people have powers and God-given gifts unavailable to the majority of the population; it is an elevation of oneself without credit to God.

True Christians are well aware of the constant battles between obeying the Lord and choosing to follow the devil's temptations.

"This is why Paul talks about Christian life as a battle, a daily battle," Pope Francis explained. Jesus came to us to win the battle and "to destroy Satan, to destroy his influence on our hearts," he continued.

In closing, the pontiff left his audience with a choice: To live an easy, comfortable, quiet life or the challenge of allowing their hearts to "feel the battle" and help Jesus be victorious.

"Let us think about how our heart is. Do I feel this battle in my heart" and the desire to serve the Lord, do what is just and properly pray and praise him? Or is there "something that stops me," something that tempts me? Do I take the easy road with nothing at the end or the difficult path with eternal life waiting for me?

Choose wisely.

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