Resisting the Evil One

A young lawyer and a young doctor were dating the same young girl.

The lawyer needed to go out of town for a month or so.

He was afraid that when he returned he would find that the girl’s affections would be wholly given over to the doctor.

He finally asked a friend what he should do. The friend thought for a moment and then said, “Send her a bushel of apples.”

The lawyer said, “Why would I want to do that?”

His friend answered: “Well, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it will take a whole lot more than that to keep Satan away from us.

He will try to woo us to his side.

He never gives up trying to win our affections from Jesus Christ.

He is crafty – He is sneaky – He is vicious – and he seeks us out through deceit.

This makes him more dangerous.

If he wins our heart we end up miserably united with him.

Look at how James instructs us on the ways we can resist the devil to make him flee from our lives.

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit 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 miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. JAMES 4:1-10

We do have – available to us – ways to resist the devil.

1.    PRAY

How does prayer help us resist the devil’s schemes?

Matthew 26:41 – “Keep watching and praying that you will not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Twice in Luke chapter 22 Jesus instructs His followers to pray so they would not enter into temptation.  Verse 40 – “Pray that you may not enter into temptation”; and 46 – “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

So, for us today – prayer should be our first line of defense against Satan.

We will all face temptations in our lives. A danger here is that sometimes we really don’t want to be led out of temptation.

This is not simply good direction for us; it is the same direction Jesus gave to His Apostles.   See again – Matthew 26:41

Prayer should be the first line of defense for us in all kinds of situations we find ourselves in.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

2.    A second way we can resist Satan is to HIDE THE WORD IN OUR HEARTS

Psalm 119:11 encourages us in this manner: “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”

The Word of God must be in your heart – in your soul – in your inner most being.

Many people have what we might call “head knowledge” of God, but “heart knowledge” is missing.

When we have hidden the Word in our hearts – in or inner most being – evil cannot enter --- unless we allow it or even welcome it.

My son, if you will receive my words

And treasure my commandments within you,

Make your ear attentive to wisdom,

Incline your heart to understanding;

For if you cry for discernment,

Lift your voice for understanding;

If you seek her as silver

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

Then you will discern the fear of the Lord

And discover the knowledge of God. – Proverbs 2:1-5

3.    A third way we can resist Satan is to AVOID THE PERSONS, PLACES, AND PRACTICES THAT PROMPT US TO SIN.

Look at 1 Thessalonians 5:22 --- it simply says, “abstain from every form of evil.”

Abstain from anything that has any kind of evil appearance.

Avoid what might lead to sin.

Proverbs 4:14-16

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil. And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.”

Key words in that message are these:  pass away, turn from it.

Involvement in sin leads to sleeplessness – the conscience is guilty of committing sin.

2 Timothy 2:22 tells us: “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

An apple a day may keep the doctor away. But it is going to take a whole lot more than that to keep Satan away from us.

As Christians, we have these ways to resist Satan and his temptations:

1.    We can pray.

2.    We can hide God’s Word in our hearts.

3.    We can avoid the things that might cause us to sin.