RESISTING THE DEVIL

RESISTING THE DEVIL

Lesson for 3\10\2017

We did this lesson not long ago but I think it bears repeating... We need to know where and how to stand against the devil. Brother Andy.

James 4:7   ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The word submit means to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit, and to Gods power.

Don’t’ allow Satan to tempt you into fighting a spiritual war with carnal weapons.

Faith of a believer can access grace: in Gods grace we can command and cancel Satins power with Gods power and our authority. We can bind demonic power because greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world.

Ephesians 6:10-11   ¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

It is our authority, using Gods power of his might that allows us to have this victory. It allows us to stand against the wiles or strategies of the devil.

Satan often attacks our emotions, our self worth, and even our trust in God.

God’s righteousness is the body armor that protects and ensures our safety against Satins attacks.
With Gods perspective we can see beyond our circumstances, and know that the ultimate victory is ours.

Ephesians 6:12   ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

These who are not “flesh and blood” are demons over which Satin has control. They are not mere fantasies, they are real.

We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat believers, who is Jesus’ church.

When we believe in Christ, these beings become our enemies.

They will try every devise to turn us away from Jesus, and back to sin.

Even though we are assured of victory, we must stay in the word until Christ returns.

Satin is constantly battling against all who are on the Lords side.
We need supernatural power to defeat Satin and God has provided this by giving us the Holy Spirit: within us and His armor surrounds us.

Matthew 16:18   ¹⁸ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

If and when circumstances arise from this devil and you feel discouraged, remember Jesus’ words to Peter.

The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The rock on which Jesus would build his church has been noted as (1) Jesus himself, his work of salvation by dying on the cross… the finished work.

2. The confession of faith that Peter gave and that all the true believers would give.

Luke 9:1-2   Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

² And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Note here Jesus’ method of leadership: He empowered his disciples. He gave them specific instructions so they knew what to do.

Luke 9:4-5   ⁴ And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
⁵ And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
 
Also he told them how to deal with tough times, and held them accountable.
When the devil realizes that you are going to stand up against him, he will flee, but you must resist.

James 1: 5-8   ⁵ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
⁶ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
⁷ For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
⁸ A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.
By wisdom, James is talking not only about knowledge, but about the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances.

Whenever we need wisdom, we can pray to God and he will supply what we need.

Christians don’t have to run around in the dark hoping to stumble upon answers. We can ask God for his wisdom to guide our choices by the Holy Spirit.

Having wisdom means practical discernment. It begins with respect for God; it leads to right living and results in increased ability to tell right from wrong.

God is willing to give us this wisdom, but we will be unable to receive it if our goals are self centered instead of God centered.

We can’t be double minded. A doubtful mind is not completely convinced that Gods way is best.

To stabilize our wavering or doubtful mind we must commit ourselves totally to God.

The promises of God are completed through His covenant of spiritual laws to mankind that was set into motion at the death on the cross of Jesus Christ.

The words, it is finished set the spiritual law of grace into such an amazing source of power, that grace of God is sufficient for meeting every need, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Gods grace is unmerited favor and it is all we need.