Resist The Devil And He Will Flee From You

BY ME


“RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU”…This verse has been brought up a few times now lately in my mind. Taking all the pieces that I am receiving from God’s word, and a few books I am reading or have read. I am seeing how these pieces fit into a whole.

I am sure I am not the only one who struggles with God’s sovereignty, man’s free will, a fallen world and the powers of evil forces. These struggles tend to show up more often during challenging times, than they do during times of rest. I can look back and remember when I was able to “Resist The Devil” (Satan cannot be everywhere so I say evil forces) when I had peace and faith NO MATTER WHAT! I DO know WHY, HOW, and WHAT made it change, and who can blame me, really?
I read the book…GOD WINS!...so if He wins, than he wants me to WIN WITH HIM….we talked in bible study last night about “RUNNING A RACE FOR THE PRIZE”…As an ATHLETE, I understand this concept. Hebrews12 So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, 2 and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne.

WHAT DOES THIS RACE ENTAIL?......

EPH 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”….too me if this verse is true than that means I really don’t have a PART IN THE STRUGGLE…I have a part in the PLAN, the race, but not one that involves the WORK (all religion is based on WORKS) God does the work, we do the REST, the ABIDING, the YEILDING, the SUBMITTING, the TRUSTING…see the picture? This concept is so simple, yet at the same time so hard, because our FLESH and our WILL wants to get in the way. We have a hard time understanding, trusting and seeing what God is doing or what he wants…life is so CONTRADICTING and sometimes if we just go by experience, His word can be too.
But God wants one thing to remain TRUE NO MATTER WHAT….TRUTH, because truth is light and light gets rid of darkness…turn on a light and the dark disappears. That truth is to always be based on God’s CHARCTER and who He says He is….I AM! Even if I “feel” He doesn’t love me, His word says He does and my salvation alone proves it. His TRUTH is based on His word; I can rest assured the answers are in it. His TRUTH is based on the sealing of the Holy Spirit and my position in heaven right now. His TRUTH is that all my past, present and future sins have been forgiven, so no need to be burdened down with guilt or regrets….just keep striving forward in the race, even though I’ve tripped over a few hurdles and got hurt in the process.

Anyway, as I REST in these truths that is the place God wants me to be…I guess it isn’t much FUN for Satan and his minions when you just keep ignoring them and not give in. That how it is in real life, take the school playground the kid (maybe this was me?) who gets picked on…all the bullies want is a reaction. So as one draws closer to God in FAITH, no matter what happens, 3 things should happen. Like Saul when David played his harp, the evil spirit left, so the presence of evil leaves and goes somewhere else…and if they don’t, at least you won’t care cause your faith and trust is in your fathers hands, not your own….or both happen simultaneously.

That is why this verse below is so important in a Christian’s life who desires to live Godly and do God’s will. If you want to go your own way, you can and if you are really His, you will “STRUGGLE” (God doesn’t want us to) also in 3 areas…one as He tries and bring you back, knowing the work He wants to do IN you isn’t done…or He just might let you go so far into destruction, you will died (we know many a celebrity who said they were born again whose life was cut short) or you may live a life of ease and not be used at all…Satan doesn’t bother those who are not a threat to him. He knows he lost the battle, but he wants to take as many down with him as he can and hurt the name of Christ….and what better way than to cause ones faith in God to be defeated. But since the battle is the Lords these verses are the key in how to “overcome and resist the devil”…..

THE ARMOR OF GOD

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of PEACE. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of SALVATION and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

 

lol GUESS I SAID SOMETHING RIGHT...NNE RESPONDED.....:type:

 

Thanks, I think many of us have been there and done that....that is how we learn...