WE HAVE AN ENEMY THAT WANTS TO DESTROY US, HERE ARE KEYS TO RESIST HIM
It sure isn’t very long after we become a Christian that we become aware we have an enemy, namely the devil, Peter tells us 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”. Although he was defeated when Jesus died and rose again, he hasn’t got the message and continually trespasses into Believers lives seeking to take territory that he has no right to touch.
James tells us in his Epistle James 4:7 NKJV “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
All the scriptures I am quoting today are all in the PRESENT TENSE in our English Bibles. and in the Greek tense, it is the aorist tense, which is PRESENT CONTINUOUS. Which means as the devil continually wants to attack us, we must CONTINUALLY do what the Word of God tells us to do.
Sadly I have heard much preaching and teaching from the Book of James over the years, but cannot recall being taught how to actually resist the devil.
Firstly we must SUBMIT, as Romans 12:1 tells us I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. We must make a practice constantly of re-affirming Christ’s Lordship over our lives. You have heard the saying, :”The problem with a living sacrifice is that it is always wanting to crawl off the altar”. I am sure you can relate to that fact.
BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RESIST THE DEVIL????
Over the years I have discovered a number of keys, tools, weapons that is part of our inheritance as a Believer. I will list them below. You may not need to use them all on every occasion, but the keys that strongly witness to your heart make them weapons to use against our common enemy.
Paul tells us in Ephes. 6:11 NKJV Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (please not “present continuous”.
The Helmet of Salvation to protect our mind
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The Skirt & Belt of Truth
The Sword of the Spirit which is the Rhema Word of God
The Shield of Faith
The Peace of God to direct our walk
Prayer.
I speak the words Michael the Archangel used against the devil Jude 1:7 NKJV Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “THE LORD REBUKE YOU!”
I tell him the BLOOD OF JESUS IS AGAINST HIM, from the time he was defeated when jesus was crucified.
I remind him THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF HEAVEN IS AGAINST HIM
i remind him THE POWER THAT BACKS THE NAME OF JESUS IS AGAINST HIM
i REMIND HIM The Word of God is against him 1 John 4:4 N KJV “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”.
When Satan hears these truths he has no choice but to FLEE, and withdraw.
I have been a Christian for over 70 years, oh how I wished I had been discipled and learnt how to resist the devil. Now I know these keys, I use them regularly, and confirm he flees and withdraws.
I do trust this teaching helps you. If you would like clarification or additional teaching please email me on [email protected]
