WE HAVE THE POWER TO RESIST THE DEVIL!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2023.

SUBJECT: WE HAVE THE POWER TO RESIST THE DEVIL!

Memory verse: "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4 vs 7.) 

READ: First Peter 5 vs 8:

5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

5:9: Resist him, stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

5:10: But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

INTIMATION:

There is within man the power to resist the temptations of the devil. God has never given Satan the power to voluntarily subject people to his will. If one desires to seek God, then Satan has no power to subjectively keep one away from God. Our power to resist Satan is exemplified in the fact that we can make him flee. Since God will not allow the individual Christian to be tempted beyond that which he is able to endure, then we must assume that we have the power to make the devil flee from us (First Corinthians 10 vs 12 - 13; Matthew 4 vs 8).

Our power to resist Satan makes us responsible for our own actions. However, we must keep in mind that no man has the power within himself. It is through the power of the gospel, and Christ working in us, that we are able to resist the devil (Philippians 4 vs 13). We must choose to unleash this power in our lives in order to flee from all temptations that come to us through the work of the devil. And since we have this power, then we will all stand before God in judgement and be held directly accountable for our deeds. Each one will give account of himself before God (Second Corinthians 5 vs 10). 

The apostle James’ imperative command to draw near to God (James 4 vs 8), places the responsibility for our action on our shoulders. In this he identifies the source of power to resist the devil. The individual must take the initiative to keep himself in the love of God. Those who have allowed their lives to be directed by the world must repent and turn to God. Those who have made their hands dirty by becoming a friend to the world must repent and turn to God. They must become pure with wisdom from above in order to remain in the grace by which they are saved.

Satan has no power over the one who voluntarily keeps himself close to Jesus. However, Satan roams about as a nervous lion looking for his lunch. Those who are ignorant of his warning roars will fall victim to his hunger for the souls of men. Therefore, it is necessary that the Christian learn how the devil seeks to destroy the lives of men. One must be aware of how he stalks his prey. The sober and vigilant Christian is constantly listening for the roar of the hungry Satan. He can identify how Satan works. However, if he becomes ignorant of God’s Word, or enticed by the lust of flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life, he or she will be ensnared by Satan and consumed (First John 2 vs 15 - 16). 

Christians have been called out of the world through their voluntary obedience to the gospel. Since they have been called by God through the gospel, they will be guarded by God through trials. The Christian must remember that Satan cannot voluntarily consume anyone he chooses. The apostate Christian has simply given himself or herself over to Satan because of his or her own ignorance of the Word of God or willingness to forsake the fellowship of the community of God’s people. 

Peter’s admonition, in the passage we read today, is evidence that the Christian has the voluntary power to stay away from the consuming hunger of Satan to devour souls. The context in which one is more apt to fall is when one is under trials and persecution. Therefore, it is in such a state that one must be sober and vigilant to resist Satan. Christians can withstand the temptations that are presented by Satan by exercising faith in God through prayer, Bible study, and good works toward others. One must understand that as a Christian, others have also gone through similar trials that he or she may be suffering. Since others endured, then certainly the ones under similar circumstances of trial can also endure. 

The Scripture, in Ephesians 6 vs 12, says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” These who are not “flesh and blood” are demons over whom the devil has control. They are not mere fantasies—the are very real. We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ’s church. When we believe in Christ, these beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from Him and back to sin. Although, we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ return, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord’s side. 

We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided that by giving us His Holy Spirit within us and His armor surrounding us. If you feel discouraged, remember Jesus’ words to Peter: “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16 vs 18).

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, my ‘Senior Partner,’ and Your whole armor to withstand the wiles of the devil. Bestow on me the divine wisdom to always ask for the supernatural power You have made available to us through the Holy Spirit, and that I may rest assured in Your guidance and protection, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!