When Jesus’ brother James wrote about this tug-of-war within our spirit between God’s desires and our own sin he said this…
[James 4:7]
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Today is about resisting, it’s about our role in this battle. We aren’t powerless, actually the Bible says…
GOD HAS EQUIPPED YOU FOR BATTLE
[1 CORINTHIANS 10:4]
“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
[2 PETER 1:3]
“ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”
You are lacking nothing. You have everything you need to be successful in living the type of life God has called you to live. You have everything you need to be successful in the battle against the devil and your own inner demons.
[EPHESIANS 6:11, 13-18]
“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil….Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
These are the tools you already have, the real question isn’t whether we have what we need, its whether we’ll actually use what God has given us.
It’s through the ACT of fellowship, the ACT of biblical study, the ACT of worship, the ACT of prayer, and the ACT of giving, and the ACT of listening to the Holy Spirit’s voice that we fight off the “fiery arrows of the devil”!
USE WHAT GOD GAVE YOU BECAUSE HE HAS EQUIPPED YOU WELL FOR THE BATTLE!!!
YOU ARE FIGHTING FROM VICTORY NOT FOR VICTORY
[ROMANS 8:31-39]
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
WE FIGHT FROM A PLACE OF BELONGING.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
WE FIGHT FROM A PLACE OF VICTORY!
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Some of us have been waiting for God to do something about the battles we feel ill-equipped to deal with, when the truth is we have everything we need for the battle already. Maybe God is waiting for you to put on your armor and fight! Its time to act on your faith! The book of James says this…
[JAMES 2:14]
“ What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?”
Its time to put on the armor, pick up your shield, open your bible, start praying, start engaging with other followers of Jesus and put your faith to work. Look, faith does work, but faith works.