But first ...maybe I should clarify what it is that we are actually supposed to be ‘resisting’.
My daily writings/postings here are primarily directed at those who would consider themselves to be people of ‘faith’, fellow ‘believers’ who strive to follow Jesus.
I was going to say that most folks ‘in the world’, who would not claim to be people of faith or spiritual in nature, are going to pretty much do what they want to do. And then it dawned on me...how many people who claim to be children in God’s kingdom do that as well...do what they ‘want’ to do as opposed to what Jesus wants us to do? “Why do we call Him Lord and not do the things He says?” (Luke 6:46)
I’m continuing on from my message of the past few days that centers around dealing with spiritual enemies, the powers of darkness... and yesterday, I touched on the question as to just how involved are we to become ...in battling these spiritual forces of darkness? It’s not like God needs our help with them. God has no problem with Satan and his angels who ‘influence the whole world’ (1 John 5:19; Eph. 2:1-3; Rev. 12:9)
We do; we have problems with them when we fail to obey God, which is why we are warned repeatedly to be vigilant and to give him no place in our lives, which we do when we sin and yield to the lustful desires of our flesh nature. (1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 4:27; Rom. 13:14)
Take a look at these two verses side by side: Jesus told that man who had suffered for 38 years with a debilitating infirmity, after healing him totally...to “go and sin no more or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14)
Then, we read in 1 John 5:18: “We know whoever is born of God does not sin...and the wicked one does not touch him.” Do you know why this happens? God sets a hedge of protection around those who fear Him, and walk in obedience to Him. (Ps. 34:7-11). He always has...and always will...since He is a God who does not change. (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8)
We ‘believers’ can often be lulled into a false security and passivity on so many occasions, even lulled into sleep, like those ten virgins were in Matt. 25...and we easily forget that the war and conflict we find ourselves immersed in is not related to ‘flesh and blood’. On the contrary, it is “against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12)
Why do I suggest we lose sight of this so often? Because if you find yourself more irritated agitated, and uptight over politicians and media folks in the world today, then that would be a good sign that you too...have been blinded by the ‘god of this age’ (2 Cor. 4:3-4). Who do you think is ‘pulling all the levers’ in anyone who is not a follower of Jesus? (1 John 5:19: Eph. 2:1-3). Yes...look those verses back up again!
When Jesus was being nailed to a cross...He was at the same time praying for those who were pounding those nails through His flesh...as well as for those who were mocking Him.... “Father, forgive them...they know not what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Case and point...how many ‘conservative Christians’ get angry with all those who want to clamp down on ‘gun rights and laws’ every time there is a mass shooting somewhere. We can be the first to holler: “It’s not the guns, you fools...that kill people, it’s the lunatics behind the gun!” And honestly....I agree with that statement. And I have to remind myself of that same principle or ‘truth’... when people who are ‘blinded’ by the ‘god of this age’ (Satan) do or say things that make no sense to me. I’ll give you a moment with that one.
Friends...we can’t have it both ways.
So being ‘not ignorant of Satan’s devices/schemes’ (2 Cor. 2:11)...we should probably refine our tactics when waring against spiritual forces of darkness. And it begins first with ... ’bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ’ (2 Cor. 10:5).
You do realize that Satan’s biggest tactic to gain access in to your life is to tempt you to sin; sin gives him ground to come in so he can ‘steal, kill, and destroy’ (John 10:10). And in case you didn’t get the memo...God lets him...in order to teach and remind us...we are to be done with sin. (Heb. 12:5-12; 1 Cor. 5:5). So what are we to do when he does come our way, as James describes in 1:2-4;12-16. Take a moment and read those verses.
What did Jesus do in the desert when He was tempted? (Luke 4:1-13). He stood and resisted, standing on the word of God...”it is written”. That was it. Nothing flashy or loud or demonstrative; He just stood on the word...and what did Satan do after that was all done? He departed (13). What does James tell us to do when we are tempted? “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (4:7)
What did Peter advise us to do, after exhorting us to be vigilant and on guard against this roaming enemy who was seeking to devour us in 1 Pet. 5:8? “Resist him, steadfast in the faith!” (9). He also hints that there will be some ‘suffering’ when we do this, when we ‘resist’. James commends those who ‘endure temptation’ (1:12) and Jesus reminds us that it is those who ‘endure to the end...who will be saved’ (Matt. 24:13)
I have to be honest here and say that I don’t think we, in the body of Christ’ have been adequately instructed on how to do this, and why it is imperative that we do so...that ‘after we have done all to stand...to stand therefore’ (Eph. 6:13-14). And it is for this reason that many of God’s people today....continue to be ‘destroyed for a lack of knowledge’. (Hosea 4:6; Luke 13:3,5; Acts 3:22-23). Join me tomorrow?
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