19/07/2019 - HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL

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Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5.9

Scriptures don´t lie, and according to them, the devil, our adversary prowls around us like a roaring lion seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). Therefore, we are told to be sober, not cause any scandal and wash our robes in the blood of Jesus (Revelation 22:14). If we do this, we will be qualified to walk like He did in this world. The enemy will tempt us many times, for he wants us out of the divine presence! 

There is a firm and definite way to overcome the wicked one: resist him by abiding in the faith in God. Nothing can defeat the saved because when going through the new birth, he is freed from darkness and becomes part of God´s people. Then, filled with the Holy Spirit, he will no longer be oppressed or defeated by wicked forces. When we use the Name of Jesus to rebuke evil, the demon flees! 

Christ resisted all temptations and won, using the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-11). He did to Satan what had to be done. This serves us as an example. We must do this when facing similar moments. We need to use the Word, who is like the Lord, a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). When telling us to resist in the faith, the Omnipotent gives us the success formula. The devil cannot stand when we reply with fire. 

Sometimes, in the history of Israel, it seemed that the Lord´s chosen people would be wiped out from the face of the Earth by their enemies. However, when the Israelites practiced the divine teachings, their adversaries fled. Likewise, if we use today the weapons of the Most High, we will succeed against the wicked onslaughts. Victory is ours! 

See king Jehoshaphat´s action against a confederation of nations that stood up against him. Their goal was to destroy God´s people, but when he sought divine help, the king heard that the battle belonged to the Lord, thus, the Israelites wouldn’t have to fight. They were told to place the Levites ahead of the warriors. Thus, when the trumpet sounded, they would all praise the Lord, who would do the work for them. It seemed like a fanatic thing to do, but they came out victorious ( 2 Chronicles 20:15-26)! 

It doesn’t matter what the devil does to you. When seeking divine guidance, you will receive it through the Word. Then, as you obey it, God´s power will guide you and victory will come. Don´t try to resist the devil as if you were holding on to one end of the rope with all your strength, while he is doing the same on the other end. God is the one who grants victory to His people, as long as they don’t accept evil and rebuke it in the Name of Jesus. 

You receive faith when giving ear to God – confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrew 11:1). Persevere in this conviction: recite the Scriptures and believe in them, like the woman with a bleeding, healed by Jesus. To receive virtue that will grant you victory, use the weapons given by the Lord in His Word.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares