RESISTING THE DEVIL

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7). Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Pet 5:8-9).

Devotion 6 of 15

ABSTINENCE

When Gentiles were converted, the early church knew they were not familiar with the definitions of sin provided in the law. Therefore, they directed them in some essentials that would protect them from defiling themselves before God. They did not provide a large list, but only matters that would place no unnecessary burden upon them. "That ye ABSTAIN from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well" (Acts 15:29).

There are other directives concerning abstinence. They are to be taken seriously, for they are areas in which the devil tempts people. Again, abstaining from these things is resisting the devil. Not abstaining from them is yielding to him.

MORAL DEFILEMENT. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should ABSTAIN from fornication" (1 Thess 4:3). We live in a time when fornication is not treated as seriously as it is in the Word of God. Sexual impurity is found in the church, and even in the ministry. It is ALWAYS the result of choice, and is ALWAYS against the will of God. It is never, excusable, and never acceptable. It will become the cause for condemnation, so we must "flee" from it.

THINGS NOT WRONG OF THEMSELVES. "ABSTAIN from all appearance of evil" (1 Thess 5:22). There are things that are not specifically condemned by God, yet they have an "appearance of evil." Involvement in them suggests that we are not righteous -- or that we are numbered among those who are alienated from the Lord. Things that have the "appearance of evil" are found in environments where Satan can more easily work, and the Holy Spirit is more easily resisted. It is the responsibility of all children of God to apply themselves to this matter. To fail to do so will result in falling into the snare of the devil.

FLESHLY DESIRES. "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, ABSTAIN from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Pet 2:11). "Fleshly lusts" are desires that are rooted in the flesh, or lower nature. They are desires that militate against the soul, battering down holy preferences, and opening the door to the flood of sin.

The requirement to "abstain" assumes a strong allurement. That attraction does not necessarily involve an existing preference for the thing to which we are enticed. However, the devil fully intends to create a preference for sin by allurement to it.

Abstinence is a refusal to involve ourselves in things that cloud the truth and take us from the presence of the Lord. It is denying the fulfillment of a tendency you find in your lower nature. This is another way of saying, "resist the devil." Your adversary is working through your lower nature, making appeals to it to do what God has forbidden, and to fulfill desires that God has condemned.

Peter's admonition is succinct: "abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul" (1 Pet 2:11). Such desires make it more difficult to get to heaven, if, indeed, they do not prohibit it altogether. You may not be able to stop the desire from entering your mind, but you can refuse to give it expression. Abstaining from the desire assumes that you have grappled with it. It is also important to remember that your determination to abstain from sin will be fortified by Divine power. You will not be left alone in your holy efforts.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask for strength to abstain from every desire that wars against my soul. Help me by Your grace to be sensitive to recognize such desires.

-- TOMORROW: DO NOT FORGET THE FACTS!--SATAN TEMPTS US --