Satan (Part 08) – Resisting Satan

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I.       Resisting Satan

1. Satan desires to take control of and destroy God’s children (Luk 22:31).
2. He lurks around like a lion looking for weak prey that he may devour (1Pe 5:8).
3. Satan can be resisted and made to flee from us (Jam 4:7).
   1. He must be resisted in the faith, not in the flesh (1Pe 5:9).
   2. He must be resisted with the word of God, not by psychology or humanistic reasoning and methods (Mat 4:1-10).
   3. When he is, he will flee from us for a season (Mat 4:11 c/w Luk 4:13).
4. Here is the pattern that must be followed to resist all of the devices of Satan.
   1. Satan tempted Jesus and tried to make Him doubt that He was God’s son (Mat 4:1-11; Luk 4:1-13).
   2. Satan does the same thing to God’s children and tries to get them to doubt they are sons and daughters of God.
   3. When Satan levels this attack, we need to resist him steadfast in the faith (1Pe 5:8-9).
      1. If Satan tries this tactic on you, know that you are not alone.
      2. Your brethren endure the same afflictions (1Pe 5:9).

• This temptation, like all others, is common to man (1Co 10:13).

1. With every temptation, God makes a way for you to escape (1Co 10:13).
2. Jesus was tempted in all points as we are (Heb 4:15-16).
3. He will help you (Heb 2:18).

• Ask Jesus to increase your faith (Luk 17:5).

1. If we resist the devil Biblically, he WILL flee from us (Jam 4:7).
2. Jesus showed us how to resist the devil.
   1. Satan must be resisted with the word of God.
   2. Satan leveled his attack on Jesus casting doubt on His Sonship saying “If thou be the Son of God…” (Mat 4:3,6).

• Jesus responded by quoting scripture to the devil each time (Mat 4:4,7,10).

1. Jesus knew that He was the Son of God because God publicly declared that He was (Mat 3:17), and He therefore could confidently resist the devil’s attacks.
2. Jesus rebuked the devil with the word of God, saying “Get the behind me, Satan: for it is written…” (Luk 4:8).
3. Jesus as a man resisted the devil by using scripture.

• When Jesus resolutely resisted the devil multiple times, the devil left tempting Him for a season (Luk 4:13).

1. We must resist the devil the same way Jesus did.
   1. Don’t rail against the devil; resist him with the word of God.
   2. The devil is more powerful than we, but he is not more powerful than God or His word.

• Even Michael the archangel didn’t rebuke the devil on his own merit, but said, “The Lord rebuke thee” (Jud 1:9).

1. Just as God told Jesus that He was His beloved Son, God has told us that we are His beloved children (1Jo 5:13; 1Jo 3:1-2).
   1. The Bible tells us that as believers we are the sons of God (Joh 1:12-13).
   2. The Bible tells us that as believers we have eternal life (Joh 3:36; Joh 5:24; Joh 6:47).
   3. The Bible tells us that if we believe that Jesus is the Christ, we are born of God (1Jo 5:1).
   4. If you believe what the Bible says about Jesus, then believe what it says about you!
2. Therefore, when the devil comes to us and says something like:
   1. “If you were a child of God, God wouldn’t have let that happen to you.”
   2. “If you were a child of God, you wouldn’t have all the trouble in your life that you do.”
   3. “If you were a child of God, you would understand more of the Bible than you do.”
   4. “If you were a child of God, you wouldn’t doubt that you are a child of God.”
   5. “If you were a child of God, you would have stronger faith.”
   6. “You’re just a pretender…you’re a phony…you’re a hypocrite.”
   7. “If you were a child of God, you wouldn’t have just committed that sin.”
   8. “If you were a child of God, you would act more like Jesus.”
   9. “If you were a child of God, you wouldn’t be depressed.”
   10. “If you were a child of God, you wouldn’t have this persisting temptation.”
3. Resist him steadfast in the faith by saying: “Get thee behind me Satan, for it is written: ‘Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God'” (1Jo 5:1).

• If you resist the devil in this way, he WILL flee from you (Jam 4:7).

5. All of the tactics of Satan which are listed above can be resisted with the scripture.
   1. His temptations to sin can be resisted with the scripture (Mat 4:1-10).
   2. His deceptions can be resisted by knowing the truth of scripture.
   3. His traps can be recognized and avoided by knowing the scriptures.
   4. His accusations can be answered by quoting God’s word to him.
   5. His lies can be exposed by the truth of scripture.
   6. His wresting and perversion of the scripture can be countered by interpreting the Bible the way the Bible teaches us to.
   7. His murder can be avoided through God’s protection by drawing nigh unto God through His word.
   8. He will not be able to affect our thoughts and actions if we weigh them by the scriptures.
   9. If we draw nigh unto God through His word, Satan will not be able to afflict our bodies unless God allows him to for a purpose.
6. We must use all the armor that God has given us to resist him (Eph 6:11-13) including:
   1. Knowing the truth (Eph 6:14).
   2. Living in righteousness (Eph 6:14).
   3. Believing and living the gospel (Eph 6:15).
   4. Having faith in God, that He will protect us (Eph 6:16).
   5. Having eternal salvation and knowing it (Eph 6:17).
   6. Knowing the word of God and applying it in our lives (Eph 6:17).
   7. Praying regularly for help (Eph 6:18).