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 7 of 15

DO NOT FORGET THE FACTS!--SATAN TEMPTS US

"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency" (1 Cor 7:5).

It behooves the people of God to be wise concerning the issues of life. I have very rarely heard this text expounded. Yet, it deals with a difficulty that is found in an indulgent society. Paul here assumes that husbands and wives are so interested in going to heaven that they refrain from the intimacies of marriage in order to give themselves to prayer and fasting. This is virtually unknown in our time. Indeed, many churches have even curtailed their activities so that families can spend more time together. All of this sounds plausible to those with little interest in heaven. It makes no sense to those realizing how much personal effort is required to "obtain the prize" (1 Cor 9:24). Without demeaning the God-ordained institution of marriage, the Holy Spirit assumes there are some spiritual activities that call for a temporary cessation of marital intimacy.

But even here, caution is to be exercised. If we refrain from the normalities of life for an inordinate period, Satan will tempt us through our incontinence, or inability to contain our desires. In order to ready ourselves for this temptation, the Spirit admonishes this form of abstinence is to be ONLY by mutual-consent. One party cannot impose abstinence upon the other. Secondly, it is not to be for a lengthy period. The reason for the condition is consideration of the enemy's tactics. He will "tempt us" in the very area we have mutually elected to forgo in preference of fellowship with God. This assumes temptation in the midst of long fasting, a view that may contradict much religious thinking.

SATAN CAN GET THE ADVANTAGE

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor 2:11).

Is it really possible for Satan to get an advantage of us? Is it not true that God is "able to keep us from falling" (Jude 24)? Does not the Word of God affirm that "nothing is able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8:35-39)? Did not Jesus attest that "no man is able to pluck them out of My hand" (John 10:28,29)?

The subject with which Paul is dealing is forgiveness. You will remember that a man in the Corinthian assembly was living with his father's wife; a sin of which even the Gentiles were not guilty. By apostolic injunction, this man was disfellowshipped, in order that his spirit might be saved (1 Cor 5:3-5). By the grace of God, the guilty individual repented of his sin, returning to the Lord. Now the Corinthians are admonished to forgive the brother and "confirm" their "love toward him." This required an aggressive effort on their part, lest the one to be forgiven "should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow" (2 Cor 2:6-8). Thus the person, although repentant, would fall into the snare of the devil because of the improper response of the very people who originally sought his welfare.

The principle to be seen here is vital. When we do not conduct ourselves in harmony with the spirit of Christ, we are immediately subject to Satan's devices. If we do not walk in fellowship with God, we will become subject to Satan's "devices," knowingly or unknowingly. Such a walk gives Satan the advantage over us. It is not possible to live in the devil's territory without being dominated by him! The only escape is to rise into the "heavenly places," where we have been blessed "with all spiritual blessings" (Eph 1:3). There are no spiritual blessings anywhere else! If you do not resist the devil in this way, he will get the advantage of you. That is a truth upon which you can reckon.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, bless me with a keen sensitivity to, and knowledge of, the devices of Satan, so he will not gain an advantage over me. Also, grant me grace to be considerate of those about me, that my decisions do not cause Satan to gain advantage of them.

-- TOMORROW: SATAN BLINDS MEN TO TRUTH --