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 11 of 15

SATAN WORKS IN DISOBEDIENT PEOPLE

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph 2:2).

Those with little or no faith do not consider disobedience a serious matter. In our day, far too much time is spent explaining why the will of the Lord Is not done; why His commandments are not obeyed; why there is a variance between what God requires and what people do. However, disobedience is never viewed as a small thing in Scripture. The Spirit apprises us that Jesus will utterly destroy those who "obey not the Gospel" (2 Thess 1:8). He will not repent of that affirmation.

We are told that Satan "works in the children of disobedience." Wherever disobedience is prominent, Satan dominates; there are no exceptions. If you are to resist the devil, you must declare war on any and all disobedience. If the Lord says do it, then do it. If He says to refrain from doing it, then refrain from doing it. Failure to do this opens the door to the devil, and he will not fail to enter in.

The thought occurs to me that some may think obedience is too difficult. The commandments of our Lord may appear to be impossible for you to obey. However, this is not the case. The commandment is accompanied by power that will enable you to obey. That is involved in the Word being "living and powerful" (Heb 4:12). This truth is also seen in the words of our Lord, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).

This circumstance is confirmed in several of our Lord's marvelous miracles. He told a paralyzed man, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house" (Mark 2:11). He told a man with a withered hand, "Stretch out your hand" (Matt 12:13). Just as these commandments were accompanied by power to do them, so His commands to you are also accompanied by power.

If a person chooses to disobey, or not obey, he at once becomes a working area for the devil. The disobedience itself is evidence of Satan's influence. It also nails the person to the place where the devil works without inhibition.

PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ, help be to abhor disobedience. Grant me grace to perceive Your power accompanies Your commands.

-- TOMORROW: BE AGGRESSIVE! GIVE THE DEVIL NO ADVANTAGE! --