2002-12-16
Good Morning Cherished Believers,
God truly fills my cup each day that His Spirit leads me to even more strategies for us to use against Satan than I ever imagined were in the Scriptures. Let’s recap one more time. 1) Evaluate the thought [PHIL 4: 8]; 2) If evil, reject the thought [2 COR 10: 4-5; IS 54: 16-17]; 3) Voice determined resistance [JAS 4: 7]; 4) Claim victory on the grounds of the cross [1 JN 5: 3-4]; 5) Repeat Scripture aloud [2 TIM 3: 16-17]; 6) Pray for strength and to overcome Satan [JN 15: 7]; 7) Rely on the Spirit for help [IS 40: 31]; 8) Recognize that Satan is trying to block God’s purpose [GA 5: 17]; 9) Remember we are equipped and empowered to beat Satan [EPH 1: 18-20]; 10) Remember to don God’s full armor [EPH 6:10-20]; 11) Recognize that as time goes on, Satan is accelerating his activity [1 PET 5: 8]; 12) Persist in seeking God’s help [MT 7: 7-8]; 13) Recognize that we have been set free from sin’s power over us [RO 6: 6, 11].
Even without more, that’s quite an arsenal. But, there is more! 14) Demand that Satan depart in the name of Christ. In dealing with this strategy, it is necessary to demonstrate to those who aren’t quite sure that it really works that it does. Christ gave us a beautiful example that it does in MT 4: 10-11. This passage comes at the end of a battle Christ wages with Satan when the latter tempted Him for 40 days in the wilderness. Actually Christ used a number of the strategies above, including citing Scripture to rebuff Satan’s temptations in this MT 4: 1-11 passage. Now here’s (10-11), “Then Jesus answered, ‘God away Satan! The Scripture [DT 6: 13] says, ‘Worship the Lord you God and serve only Him.’ Then the devil left Jesus; and angels came and helped Him.” It is interesting to note that 1 PET 3: 14 comments on suffering for doing what’s right, a verse that actually supports Christ’s situation and behavior during His temptation. “But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry.” Now look at Peter’s instruction for us in this context that comes in 1 PET 4: 14, “Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ’s followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is resting on you.” We know that Christ suffered during those 40 days in the wilderness and that He was insulted by Satan. I believe I can say with confidence that the Holy Spirit was right there with Him the whole time and saw to it that the angels came to help Him at exactly the right time. Since we are told what we are in the 1 PETER verses and given the example that Christ gives us, we too can be confident in our power to demand that and cause Satan depart from us when the latter is troubling us. We can also be confident that if we have come out of this battle spiritual bruised and sore, that the Holy Spirit will help us, just as He helped Christ.
The next strategy is: 15) Do not be afraid. There are many examples in the Scriptures where we have been told this, but still, there are times when it’s hard to go against human nature. That’s where we must allow our faith to kick in, our realization that the Lord will not abandon us and will provide protection while we are obeying His commands. PS 91: 5, 14-16, “You need not fear any danger at night or sudden attacks during the day…God says, ‘I will save those who love Me and will protect those who know Me as Lord. When they call to Me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them. I will reward them with long life; I will save them.’” Here’s another favorite one of mine, IS 35: 4, “Tell everyone who is discouraged, ‘Be strong and don not be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies.’” Let me repeat a very comforting passage that really applies here, IS 54: 16-17. “I create the blacksmith, who builds a fire and forges weapons. I also create the soldier, who uses the weapons to kill. But no weapon will be able to hurt you; you will have answer for all who accuse you. I will defend My servants and give them victory.” This reminds us Who is really in charge, and that our Commander-in-Chief has put His stamp of ownership upon all who love and obey Him. Satan would like us to forget these facts, but we must not. If there’s going to be a battle and we have to be involved in it, aren’t we blessed that we are fighting on the winning side? You bet we are!
One last strategy: 16) Keep an open heart to the Lord, praying to find the truth and to be kept from error. Since we already know that this kind of prayer is in keeping with God’s will, we can be sure that God will answer it [JN 8: 32; JN 15:7]. The truth is what God is all about. It’s why JN 1: 1-4 is so important to us. Note (4) particularly, “The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind.” Truth is light as we learn in PS 119: 105, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path.” PS 32: 8 [KJV], “The Lord says, ‘I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.” Two more passages apply here. PS 25: 8, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He teaches sinners in the way.” PS 19: 12-13, “Who can understand His errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” When we seek God out holding to the truth, we please Him, and He is only too happy to be there for us. Remember, when we fight against evil, we are fighting God’s battle, and we’re on the winning side!
PRAYER: O Lord, You give us powers that we all too often don’t recognize that we have. What a complete arsenal of strategies You have given us to fend off Satan’s attacks! We have the power to demand that he departs from us, just as Christ demonstrated for us at the end of His temptation in the wilderness. When we stand on the solid ground of Scriptural truth, our demand is not only heard, but Satan is forced to take action on it. You command us to go against our fleshly nature, calling us not to be afraid no matter what Satan does against us in battle. We must remember that You never give us a command that we aren’t equipped by You to obey. That is why when we hold tightly to the accuracy of Your word, we can claim victory on the grounds of the cross. What You did for us in sacrificing Christ on the cross and then raising Him from death to life is unparalleled anywhere in the universe. When You sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, so that we might be able to fully understand Your word, You gave us ample reason never to be afraid when Satan challenges our faith and our personal comfort. Dearest Abba, our hearts are open to You. We do pray that we will follow the same advice that Paul gave to his young protégé, Timothy, in 2 TIM 1: 13-14, “Hold firmly to the true words I have taught you, as the example for you to follow, and remain in the faith and love that are ours in union with Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who lives in us, guard the Treasure entrusted to you.” That Treasure is the Gospel message of salvation and peace. We dedicate ourselves to remaining in the word daily, learning and using it with accuracy, deeply believing all of it, and remaining in contact with You through daily prayer. In humility, we acknowledge that we are sinners and ask Your forgiveness for all our sins. We offer You our adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, glory, honor, trust, obedience, thanks, and utmost praise. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
Tomorrow, I am led to discuss the issue of unity in the Body of Christ, God’s army against evil. In JN 8: 16, Christ was arguing with the Pharisees, who had accused Him of testifying on His own behalf and were questioning why they should believe Him. Christ’s response in (16) was, “I am not alone in this; the Father Who sent Me is with Me.” We, who believe, know in our hearts that Christ never did anything without the Father’s approval or presence. Taking this one step further, we are told by Christ in JN 14: 21, “Whoever accepts My commandments and obeys them is the one who loves Me. My Father will love whoever loves me; I too will love Him and reveal Myself to him.” What has happened here is that Christ has described the supernatural link between the believer, Christ, and God Himself. This link is further forged in JN 13: 34-35 with Christ’s new commandment to include all other believers. He has told us to love one another, a recurring message that had its first utterance as far back as LV 19:18. Our Abba truly loves and blesses us! Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn