DRAWING NEAR
September 12
Resisting the Devil
"Take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist
in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm"
(Eph. 6:13).
Spiritual warfare isn't as much a frontal attack on Satan's domain as
it is the ability to resist his advances.
Spiritual warfare has become a popular topic in recent years. Books,
tapes, and seminars on the subject abound, but there is still much
confusion. Some say we must rebuke and bind Satan to thwart his power
and influence. Others say we must expel demonic spirits through
"deliverance ministries." Still others encourage us to band together
to aggressively assault the strongholds of supposed territorial
demons.
But spiritual warfare isn't an outright frontal attack on the forces
of darkness. Scripture says, "Submit . . . to God. Resist the devil
and he will flee from you" (James 4:7); "Be on the alert. Your
adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith" (1 Pet.
5:8-9). The idea that Christians have the authority to rebuke or bind
Satan is foreign to Scripture. Even Michael the archangel treated him
with more respect than that (Jude 9).
Spiritual victory involves submitting to God, pursuing His will,
keeping your spiritual armor on, being on the alert for Satan's
attacks, and then standing firm and resisting him "in the evil day"
(Eph. 6:13).
"Evil day" is a general reference to the sin that exists in this
world. As the "god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4), Satan will continue
to produce evil until he and his forces are cast into the lake of
fire (Rev. 20:10-15). Then the evil day will give way to an eternal
age of righteousness.
Countless people have pastored churches, taught Sunday School
classes, led Bible studies, sung in choirs, and been involved in
every conceivable area of ministry only to one day abandon their
ministries and embrace the world. Somehow they stopped resisting the
devil and lost the courage to stand firm.
How about you? Is your commitment strong? Are you willing to stand
firm for the Lord today?
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask God for the grace to boldly resist whatever might challenge your
faith today.
For Further Study:
Read 1 Corinthians 9:23-27.
What was Paul's great fear?
What measures did he take to insure spiritual victory?
Are you taking the same measures?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
James 4:7
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from
you.
Jude 9
9 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!"
2 Corinthians 4:4
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe,
lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image
of God, should shine on them.
Revelation 20:10-15
10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be
tormented day and night forever and ever.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place
for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and
books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of
Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the
things which were written in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades
delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each
one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into
the lake of fire.
1 Corinthians 9:23-27
23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it
with you.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one
receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all
things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an
imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as
one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when
I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus Is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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