Day 5 - Resist the Devil
By Pastor Tim Escamilla
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
During this time, we should also focus on how we can reject the devil and all his attacks. If we're proposing to do EVERYTHING we can to get closer to the Lord, then we need to also think of ways in which we can resist the devil. Looking at the verse, we immediately realize that there can be no resisting the devil if we aren't first submitted to God. Submission is the key to resistance! If we're fully submitted to God, we can then easily repel the devil.
Our hearts should be focused on pleasing the Lord with every word, every act, and every belief. In other words, we are trying to please the Lord with everything we do. I was reminded earlier today when reading "The Holiness of God" that Martin Luther wanted for everything he did to have a holy use.
One of the more silly examples of this, though he was serious with it, is that he found a sanctified use for his flatulence. He taught his students that his flatulence could repel the devil's attacks. Martin Luther had a lot of gas and found a sanctified use for his flatulence! I am not arguing that we should come up with a doctrine of farting! But I do want you to think about ways in which you repel the devil's attacks!
In what ways do you resist the devil in everyday life? Sometimes, you need to get off Facebook. Sometimes, you need to not drown yourself in negative thoughts. Sometimes, you need to close your mouth and stop talking. These are only some of the ways we can resist the devil. How are you going to resist him today?
Pray this with me:
"Lord, I want to worship and serve You everyday. I want to follow Your plan for my life. I begin by submitting all that I am to You. Help me today to resist the devil. Help me avoid pitfall areas that I might usually walk around. Help me to not set myself up for failure; You have not created me for failure but for victory and holiness! Help me to live in such a way that I resist the devil, and he flees from me and my family and friends. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen!"
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
During this time, we should also focus on how we can reject the devil and all his attacks. If we're proposing to do EVERYTHING we can to get closer to the Lord, then we need to also think of ways in which we can resist the devil. Looking at the verse, we immediately realize that there can be no resisting the devil if we aren't first submitted to God. Submission is the key to resistance! If we're fully submitted to God, we can then easily repel the devil.
Our hearts should be focused on pleasing the Lord with every word, every act, and every belief. In other words, we are trying to please the Lord with everything we do. I was reminded earlier today when reading "The Holiness of God" that Martin Luther wanted for everything he did to have a holy use.
One of the more silly examples of this, though he was serious with it, is that he found a sanctified use for his flatulence. He taught his students that his flatulence could repel the devil's attacks. Martin Luther had a lot of gas and found a sanctified use for his flatulence! I am not arguing that we should come up with a doctrine of farting! But I do want you to think about ways in which you repel the devil's attacks!
In what ways do you resist the devil in everyday life? Sometimes, you need to get off Facebook. Sometimes, you need to not drown yourself in negative thoughts. Sometimes, you need to close your mouth and stop talking. These are only some of the ways we can resist the devil. How are you going to resist him today?
Pray this with me:
"Lord, I want to worship and serve You everyday. I want to follow Your plan for my life. I begin by submitting all that I am to You. Help me today to resist the devil. Help me avoid pitfall areas that I might usually walk around. Help me to not set myself up for failure; You have not created me for failure but for victory and holiness! Help me to live in such a way that I resist the devil, and he flees from me and my family and friends. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen!"
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