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00:01Don't be fuzzy in your thinking when it comes to the devil that is don't be joking about him. Don't
00:06have the idea
00:07He's just some something out there some force somewhere. Satan is a personality who is the commanding general of an
00:14innumerable host of demonic powers
00:17Determined to destroy the people of God a Christian friend can be used by the devil to divide
00:23Friendships have you heard about so-and-so you need to ask yourself the question where that come from not
00:29who it came
00:29Through where did that come from?
00:34Satan is a master of warfare
00:36So believers in Jesus need to take him seriously
00:40Today on in touch the teaching ministry of dr. Charles Stanley will learn how to be prepared for spiritual battle
00:47Stay with us to be briefed on the scriptural strategy for resisting the devil
00:56Do you know how to resist satan when he tempts you?
01:00If you don't know how to resist him, you're going to spend your life like a spiritual roller coaster up
01:05today and down tomorrow
01:06One defeat after the other until you learn how to resist the devil
01:11Satan is the personal enemy of every single one of God's children
01:17You can narrow Satan's objectives down to one simple thing and that is destruction
01:23Satan has one thing in mind primarily to destroy your body
01:28Your soul and your spirit and if he can't kill you
01:31He'll do his best to harass you till he wrecks and ruins your testimony or your witness for Christ
01:36And renders you absolutely of no use and no value to God when you look at the way he operates
01:42He operates in three areas primarily and one of those three areas. He operates first of all in the mind
01:48for example
01:49How does Satan work in a person? Here's what he does now watch this. He injects into your mind his
01:55thoughts
01:55Now listen if Jesus Christ is your Savior and Christ is your life
02:01Which the Bible says he is and the Holy Spirit is living within you
02:04Jesus isn't coming up with a lie
02:07The Holy Spirit isn't coming up with error and gossip and criticism and all the rest
02:11That is strictly from the devil. It doesn't make any difference who it comes through. It is ultimately from Satan
02:18Maybe an evil thought
02:20Maybe an unkind thought maybe a lustful thought greedy thought whatever it might be
02:24But he injects it in your mind at that moment. You have the privilege of accepting it or rejecting it
02:31So the mind the second area in which he works in is our conscience now here's what he does now
02:36listen carefully
02:38Do you feel guilty?
02:39Do you feel guilty even though you don't do what Satan tempted you to do if you feel guilty?
02:45Because he sent the thought through your mind that is a satanic accusation and he's called the accuser of the
02:52brethren
02:52He is called a liar. He is called a deceiver. He is called the destroyer because he seeks to accuse
03:00Now if I sin against God, I have a right to feel guilty
03:04That is the Holy Spirit convicting me of my sin and I have to deal with that
03:08But the question comes is this how am I able to distinguish between an accusation of Satan
03:14And the conviction of the Holy Spirit if for example, it is the Holy Spirit convicting you of sin
03:20The Holy Spirit doesn't say to you you are bad
03:24You're evil. You're not worth anything. Look what you've done. Look at you now
03:29That's the way Satan operates. The Holy Spirit is specific in his conviction
03:33That was a lie you told that was a lustful look that was a deceitful words you passed on
03:39The Holy Spirit convicts us specifically about sin. He doesn't tell us. Oh, what's God going to think about that?
03:46Now that never comes from the Holy Spirit. That is strictly from the devil
03:50It is the devil who says well well well you've blown it again
03:53What do you think Jesus thinks about this? Look at you now?
03:56What do you think God's going to accept you? Look at your behavior. Look at your performance
03:59What kind of a character? What does he do? He in general just absolutely attempts to annihilate your sense of
04:06self-worth
04:07But when the Holy Spirit is convicting he convicts precisely and exactly what you and I have done
04:14When the Holy Spirit is working on us and we deal with sin what happens?
04:17There may be some agony over the grief of our sin
04:20But after we've settled it with God what happens? There is joy and peace and release and freedom
04:25But if it is a satanic accusation
04:29That is he's just accusing you falsely and making you feel what you feel
04:33Here's the difference even after you have agreed with the devil. Oh, that's right
04:38Oh my goodness. I'm not worth anything
04:40Listen, even after you've agreed with his lie
04:42There is no peace no joy and no release
04:45But what there is oppression there is depression there is discouragement and that's the way you can tell the difference
04:51When you've settled it up with God there ought to be a certain peace and joy and release in your
04:55life
04:56If you believe in the devil's lie, listen if you confess it God settles it
05:00He says all your sins been atoned for on the cross
05:03You've been forgiven past present future and what we do in confession. We just write our fellowship with him
05:08We get that right then there ought to be peace and joy and release because it takes confession repentance to
05:14do that
05:15If i'm still feeling down in the dumps and oh, what does god think and god's upset with me and
05:20he's mad
05:20He's angry. I want to tell you you are listening to the devil's lie
05:24Every bit of that is a satanic accusation that's straight from hell and not from god
05:29Don't believe it
05:30You just point the devil to the cross and tell him listen all my sin was atoned for by the
05:34blood of jesus christ
05:35I refuse your accusations because my sin has been taken care of
05:40But if listen if you accept his accusations, he'll pile it on you
05:44You'll be living under a load of 40 tons of false guilt
05:47False guilt means that satan has you feeling guilty when god says you are not guilty
05:53That's the way he operates and let me tell you something
05:55That's why so many of god's people are so useless in the work of god
05:58Listen if you feel guilty if you have a false sense of guilt
06:02Let's say you're not even guilty that you are
06:05Living as obedient as you know how and that you are keeping your sins confessed up to date
06:10If satan has you feeling guilty
06:12You have a sense of unworthiness before god you come to him in prayer
06:16Listen, if you're feeling guilty, you cannot pray the prayer of faith. Your prayers are null and void
06:22If you're feeling guilty and accused and down in the dumps and harassed by the devil
06:26Then listen, how are you going to stand up in front of anybody else and do anything do anything with
06:31any authority and power from god?
06:33You cannot the false sense of guilt renders your faith and your service for god almost futile
06:39And satan knows that so if he can keep you feeling guilty and down in the dumps and harassed by
06:44him
06:45And that you're unworthy and what does god think?
06:47All this stuff then he just mumbles it out and if you accept this the devil's lie, he's defeating you
06:55There's a third place where he operates. That's in the human body
06:58Now let me show you something all of our sickness is not the result of satan, but a lot of
07:03it is
07:04If I knowingly violate
07:06A law of health
07:08Then i'm going to get the consequences whether i'm the finest saint in the world or not
07:13And all disease we cannot say in all sickness
07:16You can't now ultimately you can trace it all the way back to the garden of eden when adam and
07:20eve fell
07:20But i'm saying as far as for practical daily living you can't say well satan did this that and the
07:25other ultimately. Yes
07:26So he's going to attack your mind
07:28He's going to attack your conscience and he's going to attack your body
07:32Now what is the proper attitude when satan attacks us? All right, look at this verse if you will
07:37He says in first peter beginning in chapter 5 verse 8 be of sober spirit
07:42Be on the alert now. What does he mean here? He's simply saying two things first of all
07:46That word be of sober spirit means be serious minded the greek word means don't be fuzzy in your thinking
07:53The word was used as the opposite of intoxication
07:56He's saying don't be fuzzy in your thinking when it comes to the devil
08:00That is don't be joking about him. Don't have the idea. He's just some something out there some force
08:05Satan is a personality who is the commanding general of an innumerable host of demonic powers
08:13Determined to destroy the people of god
08:16He says don't be fuzzy minded about it and secondly, he says if you'll notice be alert
08:20That is be sensitive be serious and be sensitive. No fuzziness be watchful
08:25Because he says he's always prowling present tense prowling about roaring about seeking to devour God's people
08:34All right, what is our action?
08:36All right, I want you to watch this very carefully what he says
08:38Be of sober spirit be on the alert your adversary the devil prowls about like a roaring lion
08:43Seeking someone to devour but resist him how firm in the faith
08:49He says we're to resist him firm in the faith now listen if watch this if I am to resist
08:54him that implies I have a responsibility
08:57If I have a responsibility, then there's also accountability
09:00That means i'm going to have to give an account for the way I responded to satan
09:05He says resist the devil
09:07I have a responsibility. There's going to be accountability and in james chapter 4
09:11We have a beautiful promise in that chapter and verse 7. He says
09:15Submit therefore to god resist the devil and he will flee from you
09:19So I have a responsibility
09:21I have an accountability to give and then I have a promise that if I resist the devil the way
09:25god tells me to
09:26Satan is going to flee the christian is in deron
09:30It is satan who is to flee
09:32Now let me show you something very important when it comes to resisting the devil
09:36In both these passages, there is a word here that we must not overlook
09:41In chapter 4 verse 7 right before he says resist the devil. He says submit
09:47Therefore to god
09:48Then what do you do you resist the devil? He'll flee from you
09:52In first peter chapter 5 verse 6. He says humble yourselves
09:56Therefore under the mighty hand of god now listen
09:59It is very important if we're going to resist the devil successfully listen
10:03That we keep ourselves obedient that is
10:08Submissive in every area when god brings about the realization that i'm not submissive in an area
10:13I need to deal with it if you're not living submissive
10:16That is if that's not the bent of your life if that's not where your heart is and you have
10:21a rebellious spirit
10:21I can tell you already if you have a rebellious spirit satan has a stronghold in your life
10:26All he wants is a toehold
10:28Just give him a toehold and be quiet
10:30He'll get a foothold then he'll get a stronghold then he'll have absolute victory
10:35So what we have to remember is this
10:38When he says that we're to resist the devil
10:40We ought to resist him what
10:43In the spirit of submission and we're to resist him what we're to resist him firm in our faith
10:49Now watch both of these words my spirit must be submissive and listen
10:53My battle is a battle of faith faith in what listen faith
10:58In what god says about you
11:01Faith in what god says about himself faith in what god says about the devil
11:06All right, what is this that i'm to have faith in i'm to have faith in the truth. What is
11:11the truth?
11:12I'm to have faith in the truth. First of all of who I am who you are you are a
11:17born again
11:19A converted child of god
11:21He says you are a new creation in christ jesus
11:26He says christ who is our life when he shall appear we shall appear with him
11:30Christ is your life who is indwelling you the holy spirit of the living god
11:34He says you are a saint not a sinner. You are a saint saved by grace
11:39If satan can get you to thinking well, you're just a sinner saved by grace
11:42And after all the little sins part of everybody's life. Nobody's perfect. Everybody makes mistakes
11:46He gets you running down that line brother. You're just as sunk as you can be because you're going to
11:50be defeated
11:51So first of all
11:53When I think about what he's saying here, I have to remember who I am
11:57Who am I child of god?
12:00Eternally secured in the lord jesus christ my sins have been forgiven. I've been reconciled to god
12:05I've been sanctified under him. I've been glorified by him. I am his. I am not my own
12:11I am owned by him. All my sin has been placed on the cross past present future
12:15My name is written in the lamb's book of life. I have an immutable unchangeable
12:20Unalterable relationship of father son to god almighty. That means friend. I am secured forever in him
12:27That's who I am if I don't know who I am and I see myself as a struggling sinner
12:32Just a pilgrim passing through this world doing the best I can struggling with satan
12:37This overpowering awful line of satan who keeps on defeating me
12:40If I see myself as a defeated child of god as a sinner saved by grace struggling through this world
12:45I am sunk for sure
12:47I need to remember who I am based on the truth of what god said not satan's lie
12:53It is satan's lie who says you're a sinner. You're weak. You're unworthy. God doesn't love you
12:59Look what you've done. You're not fit. You're not worthy. You can't do that
13:03Why do you think god you see all of that straight from hell all that's the devil's lie
13:08Listen if satan can get you focused on what he thinks you are rather than who god says you are
13:15He's got you defeated. He has ensnared you
13:17First of all, I need to remember who I am secondly. I need to remember who what I have
13:21What do I have? I have the holy spirit living within me just like you do
13:26He says he that is within you is greater than he that's in the world
13:29That means the holy spirit who is living within you has more power. He is omnipotent
13:33Satan is subject to the holy spirit
13:36So we're not these little weaklings running and drowned down here just subject to all of satan's whims
13:41We are the servants and the sons of the saints of the living god
13:45Entwelt by jesus christ and dwelt by the supernatural resurrection power of the holy spirit living within us
13:51Which means that satan cannot satan absolutely cannot
13:56Overwhelm my will he does not have the power to do it
14:00The one who is in me is greater than the one that's in him
14:02First of all, I need to remember who I am what I have and where I am where am I
14:07he says listen
14:08He says every believer is in christ jesus and christ jesus is in us
14:12That means if i'm in him i'm covered by him the only time satan can get to me only if
14:17god allows him to get there
14:18And secondly, he says we are in hidden away in christ jesus in god the father and the heavenly
14:23So you are eternally secured in him
14:27Now if satan can get you to thinking that you're stranded out here on some islands
14:30Just you and him two of you are going to battle it out. You're sunk
14:33But if you remember who you are what you have where you are then you're on your way to victory
14:39But there's something else you must remember you must keep in mind two things about the devil
14:44Two very important things about him first of all he's a liar and secondly he's limited
14:51Those two words he's a liar and he's limited everything he says is a lie
14:55Secondly, he's limited. You say what do you mean he's limited? Remember this verse
14:59There have no temptation taken you but such as is common to man
15:02But god is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted
15:06Above that which you're able but will with the temptation also
15:09Make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it that is god putting a limitation on
15:15satan now listen
15:16Satan cannot
15:17Force a believer to sin against his will. Did you hear that?
15:22Satan cannot force you to sin against your will. He cannot he does not have the power to do it
15:27You become a child of god and you're listen
15:29You have been freed because satan's power was broken at the cross
15:34His power was broken this disposition towards sin within you is rendered inoperative and you only
15:39You only will sin against god when you choose to do so when you consent to satan's lie
15:45He cannot overpower your will if satan could overpower your will against the will of god
15:49Satan would be more powerful than god
15:51Or if he overpowered your will and god did not provide a greater power than us it'd be unjust on
15:57god's part
15:57You have within you the holy spirit
15:59And you have within you the power to say no
16:03You have within you the authority to say no
16:06He is limited by god almighty and he is a liar and listen
16:11Who are you you're a saint separated under the living god and dwelt by the holy spirit and dwelt by
16:16the lord jesus christ
16:17The power of the holy spirit the resurrection power of god living within you
16:21And you have the right to choose to sin or not to sin
16:25It is your decision to sin or not to sin. It is not the devil's decision
16:29Listen if I think my sinning is the devil's decision i'm sunk
16:34But if I see that my sinning is my decision then I can live in victory
16:39So I must remember who I am what I have and where I am
16:42Second I must remember satan is limited
16:45And he's a liar
16:46Then what do I what shall I do when satan attacks?
16:50For example, let's say that satan throws one of those thoughts your way
16:55You ask yourself the question where'd that come from?
16:58And you knew it came straight from hell straight from the devil. What do you do?
17:04Because of who you are and what you have and where you are
17:07And because of what god's done by limiting satan you just say
17:12Confessing with your mouth and it's good to do it out loud. I refuse that
17:17I reject that in the name of jesus christ. I refuse that on the authority of god's word
17:22What is the authority of god's word that satan is a defeated foe that satan's power has been broken
17:27The holy spirit is living within me. He that's in me is greater than he that's in the world
17:30Therefore, I have the authority given to me by god just like you and every believer does to say I
17:35refuse that
17:36I reject that I resist that and the bible says when you resist him he flees
17:40Now you say how long is going to be before he comes back he may come right back
17:43Just you see he's going to come right back again. You just say that strictly from the devil
17:48I refuse that I rejected a confession with the mouth a confession of faith to satan of rejecting
17:55His actions his attitudes or his thoughts the bible says satan will flee from you
18:00But listen, it is a confession of faith
18:04It is a statement of faith. I resist that in the name of jesus christ
18:08Covered by the blood standing on the authority of his word in the name of jesus christ. I resist that
18:14And friend god says satan is limited and he's got to hit the road
18:17The bible says when you resist him he will flee
18:22The bible says that satan is a defeated foe and god's already prophesied and written in the book of revelation
18:27That he's bound for an eternal hell with all the demons and all the angels antichrist the false prophet and
18:32forever and ever
18:33The smoke of fires will burn
18:35Satan forever and ever you think he doesn't like that
18:39He hates that
18:41He doesn't want us talking about it or thinking about it
18:44And the one thing he doesn't want us thinking about is who we are in christ jesus
18:50How do you resist the devil
18:52In the spirit of submission
18:56In faith in the truths of god's word believing who you are what you have where you are
19:02That satan is a liar and that he's limited and in a confession of faith. I reject that
19:07I resist that I refuse that in the name of jesus christ and god says he's got to go
19:11He comes back you tell him the same thing if he sends a thought my way and I think well
19:17Well, there's not nobody's perfect. You're headed for trouble
19:21You must discern where it comes from
19:23And immediately begin to act and if you'll do so my friend god says
19:29Satan will be defeated in your life and you will learn to live in victory after victory after victory
19:36The choice of victory is yours
19:39for the asking
19:49You're listening to in touch the teaching ministry of dr. charles stanley
19:53Satan is real and he possesses tremendous power and influence
19:58But through the holy spirit god has given each believer greater power to overcome the enticements of our spiritual adversary
20:06To study more about spiritual warfare take some time to visit in touch dot o-r-g
20:10And look for the link to today on radio to listen to this lesson again
20:15And if you go to the bookstore page, you can order a copy of dr. Stanley's complete message
20:19resisting the devil
20:21Again, you'll find these resources at in touch dot o-r-g
20:25To call or text the number is
20:271-800 in touch
20:29To write to us address your letter to in touch post office box 7900 atlanta, georgia
20:3730357
20:39The bible says that we should fear god
20:41If you're a little foggy as to what that means find clarity in today's moment with charles stanley
20:47That's coming up. What is god's will for your life?
20:51Does he really have a specific plan for you?
20:54How do you know for certain if you've heard him correctly?
20:58What happens to his will if you make a mistake or simply fail?
21:03God's will for your life doesn't have to remain a mystery
21:05As you'll learn in dr. Stanley's book the will of god
21:09To order call 1-800 in touch or go to in touch dot o-r-g slash will of god
21:20You're listening to in touch
21:22Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10 says the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom
21:27To explain here's a moment with charles stanley
21:32To fear the lord is to reverence him
21:35To honor him
21:36To acknowledge who he is
21:38That's the beginning of wisdom
21:40Because it's wise to always acknowledge him and his place in your life as the sovereign
21:46It's always wise to follow his will and purpose for your life
21:49Now there's a time to be afraid of god when you're sinning against god
21:53That's a time to be afraid when he sees us heading in the wrong direction
21:57That's the time
21:58That fear is good the way he creates fear
22:02Is showing us the consequences of what's going to happen and when a person for example
22:07Here's the gospel and let's say they're just living all kind of sinful life
22:11And they hear the truth of the gospel and the warning of judgment to come
22:16And the warning of the penalty the consequences of sin
22:20That's a time to be afraid but it's godly fear
22:24It is the fear it's conviction that comes in a person's life as a result of facing the truth
22:29And the truth is if i'm living an ungodly life
22:33Living in sin disobedient to god
22:37I have a reason to be afraid i'm going to face god at the judgment and give an account for
22:41my life
22:42There's a reason to be afraid yes indeed and i would just remind you of a verse
22:45He says whatever we sow we reap what we sow and listen my friend you cannot change that
22:50That is the irrevocable
22:53Principle of the sovereign god
22:55And if you choose to live in sin against him
22:59There is a reason to be afraid of the oncoming judgment
23:02And for the believer the discipline of god's hand and all of us have been disciplined by him
23:07You really don't want that in your life and you certainly do not want to die
23:11Without christ in your life. So let's pray
23:14Father, I pray that every person listening will be wise enough
23:18Will be honest enough to realize
23:21Sin is destructive
23:23And there is a reason to be afraid of sinning against holy god
23:29And I pray that they will acknowledge that
23:31Get right with you father confess their sin acknowledge you as their savior and lord in jesus name
23:37Amen
23:41Sin has consequences that cannot always be avoided
23:44Sin's penalty however will be avoided for anyone who trusts god to forgive them through faith in jesus christ
23:51Learn more when you visit us at in touch dot o-r-g
23:55And if today's program has prompted you to consider how you could share the grace of god with others
24:01Please let us know about that
24:03Tomorrow on in touch
24:05What does the bible mean when it talks about walking with god
24:08Join us friday for in touch the teaching ministry of dr. charles stanley
24:17This program is a presentation of in touch ministries atlanta georgia
24:21And remains on this station through the grace of god and your faithful prayers and gifts
24:26Chances
24:28You
24:28I
24:30You
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