Resisting the Devil

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Through our observations over time we are aware of those who cause strife and divisions. We first have tried to get them to repent, if they refuse, then we are to mark them that cause divisions and offences contrary to sound doctrine. We are to restore all that will respond to good counsel, but some have allowed satan to use them to cause strife and divisions. We are to mark them and avoid them. This we must do so that satan will not be allowed to steal from the people of God and destroy the unity and presence of the Lord.

Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

They are proud, self centered, thinking themselves wise by putting down others, the are carnal, flesh driven and prideful seeking to deceive the simple by fair speeches and accusations.

Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

Paul commends them for their good works of faith, but also warns them to seek the wisdom of God, and not to seek to get to know evil, or to fellowship with evil.

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

I see satan as under Christ Jesus' feet, so if we are in him he is under our feet. But, we must do some things as written above. We are not to fellowship with those who bring strife and divisions to the body of Christ. Mark them, avoid them, for to allow them to speak with twisted words or of a bad spirit, then we allow satan access to our fellowship. By avoiding this, we put satan under our feet by the authority of Christ and his Holy Spirit.

1 Pet 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

We are to be fed the pure word of God by the Spirit of God, not for money, but because it is a joy and calling of God.

1 Pet 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

We are not to put down people from some exalted position. Jesus said the greatest shall be the servant of all. We are to teach sound doctrine and to be examples to others of a Spirit filled child of God.

1 Pet 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

We will be rewarded by Jesus at His coming. It will be worth it all.

1 Pet 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

God resists the proud and so do I. The arrogant name calling, belittling, person of pride, the person full of guille is not of God's Spirit. Avoid them and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Some may say, well we are told to contend for the faith! Contend with grace; speak the truth and then move on if they mock you. We are to avoid them as enemies of God. Pray for the lost, speak the truth to be understood with all meekness and grace. Winning an argument by put downs, is not winning in God's eyes. Speak the truth in love. If there is no love the Spirit is grieved.

1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Pet 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Pet 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Note that it says that the devil is a roaring lion. What is our response? We are to be sober, of a sound mind, we are to be vigilent, to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake us. We are to be aware of satan's ways and not give into his temptations or be overcome by fear or dread. He can only cause damage if we give him permission to do so. He walks around seeking who he "may" devour. He can roar with strife and accusations or he can speak negative things in our thinking.

2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Cor 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Pulling down strongholds. You must first put off evil, come to Jesus for his salvation. After you are committed to him, then you may be free of satans hold on you. We sometimes think that an unbeliever should fit our understanding of a good person. He is what he is until God changes him. If anyone desires to be helped, then we bring them to Jesus gently and with patience. If people are with us who are unsaved, but not causing problems, we are to continue with them to bring them to the knowledge of Christ. The workers of satan, without and within the body of Christ are warned and then are to be separated from us.

2 Cor 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

If one Christian seeks to gain power over the people of God, we are the people of God not to be under subjection to a strong personality, but to submit one to another.

There is a good striving and it is best to be together with those of faith

Phil 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Phil 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

We stand fast in one spirit, striving together for the faith of the gospel. We are much stronger in a room of unity, then as one in a room of confusion. Do not be afraid of satan's people, they are just showing that they are son's of perdition. They have resisted the truth so long that they have become adversaries. Expect to see this and know that we belong to God through the blood of the Lamb.

We contend together for the faith.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Keep the faith, but lets be together in unity. One person may be used as led by God to witness in a crowd of hostility, but in the chats we need rooms without the devil, so that the seeker may be in the presence of a true place of sanctuary where we worship in Spirit and in truth in one accord. We are to be on the offensive to where satan is under our feet. A person ill equipped to witness who is away from the body of Christ, may be convinced to follow a false way, so stay with the mature followers of Jesus.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 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.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

It is a spiritual battle that cannot be won in the strength of the flesh; stay in the spirit and stay close to Jesus. Be with those of the mind and Spirit of Christ. We are God's army, so get in step with him.