HOW CAN I RESIST THE DEVIL?
Sakkie Parsons
What I am about to share with you can and will only work if you—who want to use it—truly believe in your heart that the Bible is the infallible Word of God.
Just for interest’s sake:
The dictionary defines “infallible” as follows:
- That which never makes a mistake.
- That which is always successful.
When I was a youth leader in our congregation, I had to deliver a message to the youth on a particular occasion. It so happened that I was sitting on my bed, strumming my guitar when this wonderful thought started forming in my mind.
What did Jesus do every time satan attacked Him?
– HE QUOTED THE BIBLE
Luke 4:3-12
3 Then the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to turn into bread.”
4 Jesus replied to him, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone [but by every word of God].’”
5 Then he led Jesus up to a high mountain and displayed before Him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth and their magnificence in the twinkling of an eye.
6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this realm and its glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
7 Therefore, if You worship before me, it will all be Yours.”
8 Jesus replied to him, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.’”
9 Then he led Jesus to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said mockingly to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here;
10 for it is written and forever remains written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard and protect You,’
11 and, ‘They will lift You up on their hands, so that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus replied to him, “It is said [in Scripture], ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God [to prove Himself to you].’”
Jesus teaches us very clearly that we should follow Him. In other words, we must follow His example.
Luke 14:27
“Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple.”
John 12:26
“If anyone serves Me, he must continue to faithfully follow Me [without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”
Jesus used the Word to fight satan, which must mean that this is the best way to fight satan.
No wonder Paul refers to the Word as our sword:
Ephesians 6:17
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
However, you can only use the Word as a “sword” against satan if you know the Word. The conclusion is:
The better you know the Bible, the better you can stand against satan.
Greetings,
Sakkie