resisting the devil

I have heard a lot of people say that God put something bad on them to teach them something. The Bible doesn’t support the idea that God puts anything bad on believers..

With Whom Is Our Fight?

As we learned in Ephesians 6:12, it said that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (people). The verse goes onto explain what we do wrestle against. principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. On the surface, we can take that to mean that we are to fight against evil in the world system whatever that may entail.

However, as we read this in context, it specifically speaks of the evil in the spiritual dimensions that are beyond the four dimensions of height, width, depth, and time. What exactly is the evil in this spiritual dimension?

The Father of Lies

In Genesis 3:15 we learn about the serpent who tricked Eve into eating of the fruit of The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In Revelation 12:9 the Bible tells us that the serpent is the Devil, Satan. In Ezekiel 28:13-19 we learn that this same being was in the Garden of Eden and that he had been a beautiful and perfect cherub. that walked in the midst of the stones of fire. But when he deceived Adam and Eve, he lost his position as one of God’s angels. It was his pride in how beautiful he was that separated him from God. Here it says that it was Satan who defiled the earth and that he is the ultimate terrorist.

Isaiah 14:11-20 tells us even more. It says that Satan’s angelic name was Lucifer. who fell from heaven and weakened the nations. Here it says that he had so much pride that he wanted to take God’s place. However, at some time he will be placed in the pit of hell and everyone will ask, Is this the man who made the earth to tremble and did shake kingdoms? That made the world like a wilderness and destroyed the cities and held prisoners captive. The people of the world may have mercy and grace, but Lucifer did not have that opportunity. He would never receive what he wanted which is to be greater than his creator.

The Enemy’s Tactics

In John 10:10, it says that this devil is come to kill steal and destroy, but (Christ) came that we could live and to live more abundantly. In other words, whenever something/one is killed, stolen or destroyed, it is not God that does it, it is the devil, Satan. Christ came to die on the cross to set us free so that we could have abundant life.

Our Lord’s Strategy

The truth is, we do not need to say “the devil made me do it”. We have been given tools to wage war against the devil. In addition,God gives us the battle plan for overcoming this enemy. First, we are recommended to protect ourselves defensively. In James 4:7 it says to submit to God and resist the devil and he will flew. Therefore our first strategy is to submit to God and resist the devil. According to Ephesians 6:13-15, we are to protect ourselves with truth, righteousness, prepare ourselves with the gospel of peace, take up the shield of faith, take up the helmet of salvation.

Verses 16-18 tell us how we can advance offensively we are to carry the sword of the Spirit which is The Word of God. In addition, we are to pray all forms of prayer and supplications in the Spirit to put the enemy on the run.

Donna Brown is an ordained minister. As Author Cygnet Brown, she has recently published her first nonfiction book: Simply Vegetable Gardening: Simple Organic Gardening Tips for the Beginning Gardener

She is also the author of historical fiction series The Locket Saga. which includes When God Turned His Head and Soldiers Don’t Cry, the Locket Saga Continues. Her upcoming book A Coward’s Solace will be available soon. Click here for more information about Cygnet Brown and her books.

Our Enemy , Ourselves

When my first husband and I broke up, I had a dream. I dreamed that I was in a restaurant with a bunch of friends including my then husband. Then a good looking man came into the room and the next thing I knew everyone else left except for the “good looking man” and me. The next thing I heard was this “good looking man” telling me everything that was wrong with me. He also told me that every fear that I had about myself was true. I was a total mess, I had nothing to offer. I was a complete and utter failure as a human being.

After I awoke from the dream, I realized that the “good looking man” was a spirit. I began to see that spirit in other men around me. The man would look desirable on the surface, but underneath, that spirit as overly critical. and left me feeling like I didn’t deserve to live.

Then about fourteen years later, I married my second husband. At first I thought that he did not have that spirit, but over time I have learned that he was influenced by that spirit more than anyone else. Our whole relationship seemed to be about showing me how worthless he felt that I was. I was never good enough.

I could go on and on berating him, but in truth, the problem isn’t his. It is mine. I have listened and accepted what he said as truth, but it isn’t the truth. Its a lie that I do not have to accept. I am good enough. The truth is, I am an exceptional human being because I am a child of The Most High God. The truth is not about any specific thing that I have done. It is about who I am in Christ.

As A Roaring Lion

Each of us have a similar spirit that comes against us trying to tell us that tells us that God doesn’t care about us. He has doing that since he tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3:1 the Serpent asked Eve, “Has God said, ‘you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’

From that day onward, the devil has been telling us either that God does not exist, or that God doesn’t care about us or that God is angry with us. All of those things are lies that separate us from the one who loves us most.

I Peter 5:8 tells us “Be sober, be vigilant: because the adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about, seeking whom he may devour.””

The enemy searches us out, looking for our weaknesses and exploits them to the point that he is able to devour us. The only way that he can devour us is by getting into our minds and convincing us that what is a lie is actually the truth. We have to be on our guard and remember that God cares for us.

In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes for to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The idea that “I am worthless to everyone including God” is the enemy’s attempt to stop the Body of Christ from doing the great commission that Christ gave us in Mark 16:15: “Go you into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be save; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

It t is, therefore, important to remember that we are, in fact, in a war against this spiritual being. We need to understand that as it says Ephesians 6:11-17 that we need to take on the whole armor of God including the truth in order to stand against the lies of the devil.

James 4:7 tells us that must resist the devil. To accomplish thisl, I must first submit to God. I have to recognize that he wants the best for me. He will “never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). God loved me enough to send his son to take my place in judgement. (John 3:16-17). Therefore, I am lovable and capable of good works because God says that I am.

Cygnet Brown now has a new look! (Photo by Joyce Bohm Photography)

Donna Brown is an ordained minister. As Author Cygnet Brown, she has recently published her first nonfiction book: Simply Vegetable Gardening: Simple Organic Gardening Tips for the Beginning Gardener

—Author Cygnet Brown

Author of the Books Folks "Swan" to read.

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