BrethrenVoice
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How to stay one step ahead of the devil

"Where there is grace there will be conflict." - J. C. Ryle

 As Christians, we are definitely in a day-to-day conflict. It is no time
for us to fall asleep, spiritually speaking, or grow slothful. We must be on
our guard at all times and in every place.

We are battling with an invisible enemy who does not meet us face to face.
His method of warfare is to advance on us stealthily, secretly, and
covertly. He does most of his work in the darkness. Rather than manifest
himself in displays of great power, he chooses to attack us through fraud,
deceits, snares, machinations, delusions, betrayals, etc.

Ephesians 6:11 - The Scripture calls his schemes - "wiles." These are
well-laid methods and cunning devices sent out to delude and destroy us.
They are different means, plans, schemes intended to entrap, enslave, and
ruin us.

Ephesians 6:11 - The only way that we could possibly stand against this
deadly foe is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ - "Put on the whole armor of
God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." We must
be completely covered or controlled by Jesus. We must have every portion of
our lives under His Lordship and care. We cannot find ourselves half in the
Spirit and half in the flesh. We cannot be walking in the Spirit one minute
and then walking in the flesh the next.

The Word of God commands us to "Put on the whole armor of God..." Every
piece has been carefully selected and given to us by God in order to obtain
the Victory over this foe. We must be completely absorbed in the Life of
Jesus. There cannot be one ounce of darkness or death operating in us.
Otherwise, the devil will have place and will cause us much hurt and harm.

It cannot be overly stressed that this warfare that we face every day is no
playground.

Ephesians 6:12 - The Scripture reminds us that it is an intense wrestling
match - not with another man - but with chief rulers, authorities, rulers
that preside over certain regions of the world, and wicked and evil
spirits - "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Their main intention is to draw us away from the Life of Jesus into the
realm of the World, the Flesh, Sin, and Darkness.

There is no more successful means of doing this than to draw us into the
realm of the Flesh.
Galatians 5:16 - Hence, we need to be more determined like never before to
"Walk in the Spirit, and...not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Our flesh
must be mortified, and the Life of the Spirit must have full reign. This is
the only way that we will survive in this treacherous fight.

The Scriptures give us some pointers that, if followed, will always keep us
a step ahead of the devil -

#1 At All Times Pay Attention To Your Lifestyle

1 Timothy 4:16 - "Take heed unto thyself..."

We must "take heed" or give heed to ourselves and the manner in which we
carry ourselves. Our discourse must be edifying and our behavior holy.
1 Timothy 4:12 - As the Apostle Paul admonished Timothy, we must also strive
to be an "example of the believers" in our manners, habits of living,
morals, contact with others, conversation, and temper.
We must pay strict attention to our "word" - our teaching and preaching of
the Word of God as well as our "conversation" or behavior.
We must pay strict attention to our "charity " - our affections - and our
"spirit" or mental disposition.
We must "take heed" to our "faith" or beliefs as well as our "purity" or
clean thinking and living.
In morals, we should at all times and in every place be upright, and in our
contact with others, we should be consistently courteous, polite, kind,
honest, upright, and godly.

#2 Abstain! Abstain! Abstain!

1 Corinthians 9:25 - "And every man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things..."

As Christians, we must accept the fact that we are called to a walk of
temperance - a lifestyle of self-denial. Therefore, we will be required to
give up things that not only are evil in nature but are a hindrance in our
spiritual progress.

We must recognize and accept the fact that this Christian walk is an
agonizing walk. It is a walk requiring great abstinence from "all things"
that would hinder our spiritual growth. That would entail any and every
indulgence that renders our flesh strong and our spirit weak. Just as the
boxer, wrestler, and runner do without certain foods, pleasures, and
activities in order to compete in the match or game, even so are we to
abstain from certain foods, drinks, habits, words, or unlawful and lawful
indulgences that would cause our flesh to be strong and take dominion in our
lives.

#3 Be Determined To Gain the Goal And Hit the Target Each Time

1 Corinthians 9:26 - "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I,
not as one that beateth the air."

We have to be willing to exert ourselves to the maximum in order to reach
the goal line - Heaven.

Our race is not haphazard. We are not running in all different directions.
We are not running ignorantly and obscurely. Like all runners, we run within
the margin of the white line, keeping our steps on the straight and narrow
way, not turning to the right or to the left through distractions or
sidetracks of the enemy.

When we "fight," do we "beat the air"? Are we exerting ourselves or
expending strength in vain? Or does every blow that we throw take us further
onto our final destination?

The boxers in the Grecian games would be said to "fight with a shadow."
Before the fight, they would "mock-battle" or fight the air. They would
exercise by using a gauntlet(glove) to develop and increase their skills.
This was considered "beating the air."

In an actual game, it also referred to the boxer running back and forth,
stooping, and avoiding all kinds of shots from his opponent, intending to
wear him out by having him throw blows into the air.

In this "fight" that we are involved in with the devil, we cannot afford to
"beat the air." Every blow that we throw must count. We cannot afford to
waste our strength for nothing. Every effort that we take against the enemy
must have effect or we will suffer some severe consequences.

#4 Consider Your Body As An Enemy

1 Corinthians 9:27 - "But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection..."

"I keep under my body" - This refers to making another black and blue. It
refers to striking someone under the eye with your fist so as to give them a
black eye. It denotes treating another with harshness, cruelty, and
severity.

We are to consider our flesh, with its evil propensities and corrupt and
carnal inclinations, as an enemy. Therefore, we must use all possible means
to reduce it to a state of slavery, servitude, or captivity. We must subdue
it and conquer it and not allow it any room for rulership.

#5 Crucify It! Crucify it!

Galatians 5:24 - "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with
the affections and lusts."

All corrupt and sensual passions, desires, appetites, and lusts must be put
to death so that they no longer have dominion over us.

#6 Let The Holy Spirit Have Total Control

Galatians 5:25 - "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

We are not to be controlled by our flesh and its appetites and desires. We
are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. At all times and in every place, He
is to direct, influence, and guide us. In turn, we are to yield and submit
to Him.

Our foe is an invisible foe who is determined to destroy us.

We do not have to be overcome by this deceiver and trickster. We can be the
Overcomers in this fight. The Scriptures give us some guidelines to follow
in order to obtain the Victory in each battle that we face.

The choice is ours.

We can ignore the teachings in God's Word, or we can adhere to them.
We can "live in the Spirit," or we can live according to the dictates of our
Flesh.

The only way that we will stay a step ahead of the devil is for us to
continuously keep our bodies in subjection, crucify every evil inclination
and desire, and totally yield our members to the Holy Spirit's control.

God's Grace is available to you right at this moment to help you make the
necessary changes in your walk with the Lord.
Why not receive it?
It is free for the asking.

May God Bless His Word.

Connie Giordano