Walk in the Spirit to Resist the Devil

Welcome to the world in which we live every day now! We must walk in the Spirit to resist becoming like the world that surrounds us.

If we are becoming more like the world because of those we spend time with, then it is time to pull away and be alone with God while we redirect our hearts toward Christ Who lives in us.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.

3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears, they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"

Anyone or anything that distracts us from our first love, that is Jesus Christ, we must withdraw from, regroup and get back with Christ again. No relationships takes priority over Jesus Christ in our lives, if someone does then we have an idol.

Revelation 2:4 "4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. 5Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.…"

It is so easy to be caught in the trap of "people-pleasing" it makes us think we are spiritual by just being nice. However, the motivation is self-protection not the furthering of the gospel or helping one another to walk in holiness.

Galatians 3:3

"Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

1 Corinthians 5:1-3 "1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

3 Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.…"

The Corinthians passage is dealing with sin in the body. In this case, it was sexual immorality, however, there are other sins that should also be dealt with, many dealing with pride, misuse of Scripture, and division in the body that takes people away from thinking about Christ and onto the things of the world that cause frustration and anger.

Those who punish others for not agreeing with them on things that cannot be proven from Scripture. Those who place beliefs about foods, medicine and personal living styles above the principles of Christ. They are so convinced of their desired belief that they refuse to go to Scripture to make sure their dedication is one to the Word of God and not just a worldly idea that sounds right.

Proverbs 14:11-13 "…11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.…"

Many Christians in our day are fighting to defend things that have no basis in Scripture, but sound good to them. They enjoy their favored worldly belief system because it makes them feel special and superior to others. Boasting of their false knowledge they mince when they walk, without regard to the needs of their brothers and sisters. The need to be right in their own eyes takes priority over love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, self-control, the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

When contention over favored unScriptural beliefs causes anger, unkindness, brashness, and faithlessness to Christ, we can be sure the disobedient brother or sister may not be born again. God tells us what to look for when judging whether someone is born again or not.

Matthew 7:15-20

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 1

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

Perhaps if believers in Jesus Christ would abandon everything that is not proven by Scripture, the fights, arrogance, and punishing mentality would dissolve and Christ could be glorified. Relationships could be reconciled, even entire churches could heal, taking a new direction, that is the leading of the Holy Spirit instead of worldly ideas that propagate self-exaltation.

Proverbs 12:15

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel."

1 John 4:8

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Romans 8:6

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

Hallelujah, when we actually follow Christ, not only just speaking words we will be so different from the world they will wonder why we are so calm and strong while everyone around us is falling apart, depressed and continually agitated.

Our calling here on earth is the gospel, we have no mandate from God to save governments Our marching orders are to be an example of Christlikeness toward individual people in our sphere of influence that they would see Christ in us.

1 Peter 2:12

"Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."