“8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 (NIV)
The devil, Satan, is a spiritual being totally committed to keeping us from living for the glory and pleasure of God. His goal is to divert glory from God to himself or to others. The devil, our enemy, has three main weapons he uses against God's people.
Temptation
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
Satan's favourite method of attack is temptation. But God has Promised that we can have victory over temptation.
Deception
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 11:3 (NIV)
If temptation doesn’t work, Satan does not give up. He goes to plan B, deception. The way to keep free from deception is to stay in God's Word and stay in fellowship with God's people.
Accusation
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” Revelations 12:10 (NIV)
The most subtle weapon in Satan’s arsenal is accusation. He is the master accuser. He accuses God, producing doubt. He accuses our fellow Christians, resulting in division. He accuses our spiritual leaders, creating gossip. He even accuses us to ourselves, causing condemnation.
Stand up and Fight
“10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For 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. 13Therefore put on the full armour 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. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And 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.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
God has not left us defenceless. He has equipped us with spiritual weapons and spiritual armour so that we can stand up and fight the devil. Through faith in Christ, we can walk in victory over every attack of our enemy.
QUESTIONS
• Are there temptations that you are not able to resist?
• Are you constantly reading and obeying God's Word?
• Have you received any accusations against God? Against other Christians? Against spiritual leaders? Against yourself?
• Who do you pray with on a regular basis?
• Are you at peace with yourself and with people?
This Week:
• I will apply
• I will share with.