Resistence is Not Futile

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (ESV)
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;"

I had a conversation a few days ago with a couple of fellow pastors about resisting the devil.  We do not realize, those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the power that we have the ability to tap into.  We forget that the God of the universe, the creator of all things, the one who was here before here even began is the same God that we worship and the same God who has made himself known to us.  He has power over all things including the devil and our sinful nature.  After all, the work on the cross defeated the work of Satan with Adam and Eve.

But this power is not something to mess with or take lightly.  Psalm 111:10 makes this very clear. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!"  In other words, we are to have a healthy fear of the Lord.  We need to understand that we are on the side of the power of the universe and that it is not our power to use, but to respect with holiness, honor, and glory.

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" James 4:7-8 (ESV).  Too many times we either fight the devil on our own, half-heartedly, or not at all.  But God has reminded us that if we truly resist the devil he will flee from us.  If we tap into the power of God it is God that will push the devil back.  It is the power of God that the devil will flee from.  But all too often the devil knows that we will not resist him.  He knows we will not rely on God but on ourselves.  He is cunning and gives us opportunities to deny the power of God in our lives.

"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." Let's tap into the power of God.  Draw near to him and allow him to change our life, heart, mind, and soul.  And in the end we will stand firm.  Not on a foundation built by us, but a foundation on the blood and power of Jesus Christ.  To His glory forever.

For more on this topic check out Matt Heltzel's blog titled "Make War" (http://matthewheltzel.blogspot.com/2009/11/make-war.html).