Here are his words - "Also, while I'm sure the devil is a powerful foe who without Christ's atonement for us and subsequent indwelling of the Spirit would surely devour us, we give him way too much credit for our struggles and failures. I believe that the Bible tells us our biggest problem is our own prideful, selfish, idol producing flesh."
I think he is right! We dare not deny the devil's existence or pridefully think we alone are more powerful than he. However, it is interesting to see how the scriptures suggest we deal with him as believers -
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
First, it is no accident that submission to others and accepting the sufferings of this life, is a matter of our humbling ourselves before God, and something the devil would like to help us reject!
Second, the key to faithful earthly submission and suffering, is seeing it as ultimately about submission to God, recognizing His authority to have us under people's authority and in difficult circumstances, as He wills.
Also, our being exalted/delivered form hard circumstances, must come from God, not us. However, the devil would surely like us to take a shortcut through sin and exalt ourselves! In this he devours us, as he cuts us off, even if only temporarily, from the power that comes as we trust in God and are delivered by His grace!
So, we are to resist the devil - how? Remaining steadfast in the faith, remembering God is in control, we are His in Christ and our struggles are not unique.
Finally, in God's time, not ours and not the devil's, God will deliver us, by His power and for His glory in Christ Jesus!
So, we don't blame the devil for our sin or deny that he loves to encourage us in it, but we remember that God is never the slightest bit limited, taxed or influenced by Satan, rather he allows him only as much rope as it takes for God to accomplish His will in creation and our lives, as He displays his absolute glory in, and dominion over, all things!
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
Very good thoughts pastor. I believe you are spot on about the fact that satan would try at every turn to tempt us to exalt ourselves, as his very first deception of man in Genesis 3:4-5 involved appealing to their vanity in selling them the idea that if they ate from the tree, they would be as God. Also, and I may be wrong, isn't that the very reason he himself was cast out of Heaven, because he sought to exalt himself above God? Very good point on your part about submission being a good combative weapon against self-exaltation, as submitting seems to be an antithesis of pride. If I'm in a haughty mind set, I won't submit, but instead rebel. In todays world, it's so difficult to do, as the devil has geared all media, etc. toward vanity.
ReplyDeleteTruly our God is our strength and our victory over Satan. One only need read Romans 16:19-20 for assurance of that fact. No might, no maybe, but a definate God Will! Thanks and all Glory to Christ for victory!!! tj