As people of God, we have been accepting evil things long enough. It is time to stand our ground.
We stand our ground with the word of God.
Jesus was tested/tempted by Satan after a 40-day fast in Luke 4.
Satan likes to come at a vulnerable moment in your life to get you to fold under pressure.
However, when he was tempted, Jesus spoke the word of God. When Satan came at Him, Jesus said, “it is written.”
He did not dwell on what Satan said. Instead, Jesus immediately spoke the word of God.
We should follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We need to feed on the word of God daily, so when we are under pressure, the word of God will automatically come out. It is just like when you are listening to a song long enough. Then, you sing it without even thinking. It is automatic.
We should be the same with the word of God.
James 4:7-8 Amplified Version says 7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart], and He will come close to you.
You cannot do it to your ability. So you defeat the devil with the word of God.
Satan came at Jesus more than once, but each time Jesus spoke the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 King James Version 12 For the word of God is quick, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and Spirit, and the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Know your enemy. The enemy can be working through yourself, a person close to you, or someone not close to you. The enemy can also operate through unexpected events (bills, accidents, disappointments, and painful situations).
What does the word of God say about our enemy? First, the enemy is like a thief; it robs you of material things and your emotions and Spirit.
John 10:10 New International Version says 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
We need the whole armor of God every day to protect us from the enemy.
Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version says 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.11 Put on God’s whole armor so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the whole armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ask God to give you spiritual discernment when the enemy is working. Ask God to provide you with wisdom on dealing with the person/persons the enemy is working with. Remember, it is not the person but a spirit operating within that person. Somewhere there was an open door for the enemy to come in to operate on that person.
Solomon prayed to God to give him an understanding heart of how to deal with people. That should be our prayer every day. We cannot escape people.
Yes, we should speak the truth and speak it in love. However, sometimes you must get bold and firm with certain spirits operating within a person.
Jesus rebuked Peter in Mark 8:33 when Peter tried to stop Jesus from fulfilling what God had for Him. Jesus turned and looked at his disciples; he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God but merely human concerns.”
It was not Peter; it was a spirit operating through Peter, and Jesus recognized it. Sometimes I even rebuke myself when I know it is not from God.
It is time to be defiant and slay the giant or giants in our lives.
Satan tempts you to do something that is not according to the word of God; use the word of God as a weapon to destroy the enemy.
Do not accept defeat or give up when things come at you.
When the enemy comes around, stand your ground!
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, this is the day you made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you, Lord, for another opportunity to manifest your love through me. I put on the whole armor of God to stand against the devil’s tricks. I know the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. I recognize when the enemy is operating through things, and people, including myself, and I stand against it with the word of God. In Jesus’ name! Amen!