Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Overcoming Temptations/Resisting The Enemy

"Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?"
Proverbs 6:27

"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. "
1Corinthians 10:13

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
James 4:7

The forces of this present darkness are constantly at work! Our enemy, the devil, knows what makes men tick, and he and his foot soldiers are at work, looking for chinks in our defenses, probing our weaknesses. John Bunyan wrote the story of a fierce battle to take control of a city from its rightful ruler.  This famous allegory, Bunyan's second most popular work, is entitled The Holy War. His depiction of the human soul is a city, Mansoul,  with five gates: Ear Gate, Eye Gate, Nose Gate, Feel Gate, and Mouth Gate. The enemy of the city is Sin, who comes on a daily basis to attack at one of its five gates. Sin speaks to the Ear Gate; he presents vivid, alluring pictures to the Eye Gate; he tempts the other gates also. The thing about this battle is that Mansoul could never be defeated by outside attacks, and Sin could never win in his assaults against the five gates ... except in one way:  someone on the inside had to open one of the gates and let Sin in.
We have but one option here; don't try to dance with the deceiver, he knows all the tricks! If you dabble or just dip your toe into that pool, crack that door, he will blow it wide open!
No beloved, resist the devil, and he will flee. When we are weak we need to run to our Father, who is supremely strong, and put on the armor daily, protect every gate, never underestimate our enemy.
Today submit yourself to God, pure surrender to the Lord means victory over the adversary!






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