Clearing Hurdles (2)

Resisting Satan

Last week we discussed firming up your stance when it comes to serving God. To clear hurdles you have to be committed to the jump.

This morning I want to discuss with you resisting the enemy. I read a quote once that said

Silence is an answer.

This morning we are in a war. You are continually in a war. The cost to that war is your soul and the soul of those you are closest to and the Key to winning the war isn’t fighting demons it’s resisting.

You don’t have to actively engage in warfare to win the fight, but you must resist the Devil.

James 4:7 ESV

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The definition of resist isn’t doing nothing, but rather

The Refusal to accept or comply with something. To prevent something by action or argument.

In order to clear hurdles you must actively resist what the devil is doing in your life and the first thing to understand about the battle is that you can be influenced by demons. Your choices, your actions, and your thoughts can be influenced by Satan.

The perfect biblical example for this is Peter. On moment He the pebble in which God will begin His church. The Next moment Jesus looks at him and says get behind me Satan.

You don’t have to possessed to be influenced by the demonic world.

So how do you know you’re being attacked (Borrowed from Robert Morris)

Immobilizing Fear

If you’re dealing with excessive fear you might be being attacked. Elijah just got through one of his biggest battles. He won, but Jezebel then threatened his life.

1 Kings 19:3 (ESV)

3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life...

2. Intense Depression

If you’re dealing with excessive non medical depression that won’t leave you.

1 Kings 19:4 (ESV)

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

3. Increased Fatigue

1 Kings 19:5–6 ESV

5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.

If Satan can’t beat you he wants to take the fight out of you. If you are growing overly tired of a situation to the point where you want to give up and walk away you might be being attacked.

4. Illness

If you are suffering form sickness on a constant level you might be being attacked

Revelation 2:22 ESV

22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,

5. Immorality

Revelation 2:20 ESV

20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

If you’re going through times of greater sexual temptation

6. Insecurity

God is a God of security. If you are feeling overly insecure you might be being attacked

7. Isolation-

Satan wants to get you alone. The greatest way to fend off many of these attacks are with people. Having people come around you and pray for you. You are not a burden. You may be carrying a burden, but you yourself are not a burden.

So How do we overcome

James 4:6 ESV

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Most of your battles can be won through humility. In other words Repentance. Satan can’t work in your life without an open door. He may try to come against you, but if we humble ourselves through the grace of God we can get through this.

James 4:8 (ESV)

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Then it gives you things to repent of that you may be struggling. Again not an exhaustive list.

James 4:10 ESV

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

We see the word humble again. Pride often times stops us from seeking God’s help. Stops us from repenting. And by the way the term repenting means changing your mind. Some of us might need to change our mind about the way we see things, the attitudes we have, or the desire to seek out God.