James 4:7-10
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
I think deep down, most of us desire to live lives pleasing to God. And most of us have those things in our lives that we perpetually struggle with. But God promises that he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability and he promises to always provide a way out for you. Whatever you struggle with, he provides help.
My sister and I have very different personalities. Growing up, I hated getting in trouble and I didnt like having my parents upset with me. I was more than happy to learn from the mistakes of others so I didn’t have to experience the pain of the consequences of disobedience. If there was a line set, I would steer clear of it. My sister, however, was not wired the same way. When she was given a boundary, she liked to see how far she could cross the line before she got caught. There were many times she would decide if the punishment, usually being grounded, was worth the crime. I’m sure there are many of you who relate to both of us.
The thing about entering into sin is that the consequences are not as simple as being grounded and missing out on a few social engagements. The consequences of sin is death. Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We do not have to suffer death and separation from God as his children, but he does still give us free will and he lets us walk out the consequences of our choices. Any time we open a door to sin, we are potentially opening a door giving the enemy permission to oppress us. We give him legal access to influence our thoughts, our desires, and our behavior. That is why God encourages us not to sin.
Fortunately, God is greater than the enemy. Jesus has defeated the devil and can no longer have an eternal hold on you. If you have opened doors you should have left closed, he will help you. He will always help us move toward freedom and help us find a way out.
God gives us resources to defend ourselves against the enemy. This week we have talked about putting on the armor of God, We have talked about the power of the Word of God, we have talked about walking in your authority in Christ, and using worship as a weapon. Another tactic God gives us is to run from evil. Flee. Do not entertain it in the first place. When Joseph was approached by Potiphar’s wife, he did not entertain her flirtations. He ran. From this day forward, when sin comes to entice you in any form, ask God to empower you to resist the devil. Ask for God to reveal to you the way out of the situation. Invite accountability through godly community in your life and encourage one another to flee from sin. Pray for one another. Ask God to put a foul taste in your mouth for the things of the enemy. He will do it.
John 10:10 says, “The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy.” If that’s what sin brings us, we want to stay as far away from it as we can.
Listening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, what sinful things am I entertaining in my life that you want me to flee from? What tools do you want me to use when I am under attack? What people in my life do you want me to invite into my struggles for accountability?
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. I am so grateful to have you on my side. I recognize that apart from you I would be utterly destroyed. Thank you that there is no temptation so great that you don’t provide a way out. Give me eyes to see the escape route and the strength to take it. Give me wisdom in who to invite into my struggles that will hold me accountable and encourage me. Show me how to lovingly do the same for others in return. I submit my flesh and my weakness to you. Cleanse me once again from all unrighteousness and fill me with a fresh infilling of you. Thank you! In Jesus name, Amen!
Resource: Bible Verses on Resisting the Devil
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Matthew 6:9-13
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Psalm 19:13-14
“Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Proverbs 4:23-27
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.”