Tim was preaching to us about being strong in the Lord and resisting the devil. It was a power-packed sermon very similar to an old Irish song I recently found. The chorus of this song says, “Stand up to your devils, or they'll walk all over you. Remember son, the devils come in many shapes and hues...”
In the book of Genesis, Joseph faced the devils in his brothers who wanted to murder him. If it had not been for the greed of Judah, he would have been left to die, but God meant their evil for good. Joseph also met the devil in his boss Potiphar's wife. Joseph refused her evil temptation, saying, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
The book of Proverbs is full of instructions on how to stand up to the devil. “My son,
if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” “For the Lord giveth wisdom. Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
No one is exempt from having to face the devil. Even our dear Jesus met him and overcame him more than once. The temptation of Jesus is recorded in Matthew 4, Mark 11, and Luke 4. Jesus stood up to the devil at the temptation in the wilderness. The devil was pretty smart to tempt him with the desires of the flesh, “Make these rocks turn to bread.” Jesus answered, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” In other words, there is more to life than what this flesh needs. Satan took Jesus to a pinnacle of the temple, tempting Him to jump, stating that the angels of God would catch Him. Jesus replied, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Men everywhere have fallen for this temptation, pushing the limits of daredevilishness seeking to be the first to survive death-defying feats for fame and glory or just foolishness. The next temptation was power over the kingdoms of the world, the catch was to bow down. Jesus would have none of that, “Get thee hence, Satan! Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” The devils were continually saying, “If thou be the Son of God, prove thyself; show us a sign” during Jesus' ministry on earth. Jesus didn't need to prove himself to anyone. He was depending on God to do the work in him.
Jesus faced many devils throughout his ministry. He told the Pharisees and Sadducees that they were children of the devil because if they were of God they would have loved him. He even went so far as to call them serpents and a generation of vipers. Jesus faced the devil in Peter. He told him, “Get thee behind me Satan, for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” The Bible states that Satan entered into Judas, and he went his way and communed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray Jesus unto them. Jesus called him friend.
The Bible states that Jesus was manifested that he might destroy the works of the
devil. God knows that man has no strength in himself to resist the devil. It is true that
without Jesus we can do nothing. Jesus told his disciples that he was destined to be crucified and die. He warned them and told them God is with Him so that they might have peace. Then he said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” He means you'll have troubles and you'll meet devils, but “Be of good cheer! I have overcome the world.” This world and the devil have nothing in Him and if we have Jesus reigning in our lives, we can be overcomers too.
Ephesians tells us, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the whiles of the devil.” The Bible tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from us. We must walk on with Jesus and be faithful to him even unto death.
Richard Wurmbrand told of when he was in the communist prison. The guards beat
him when he preached to his fellow prisoners. They were not able to stop him from
sharing the love of Christ. He would not bow though they beat him down. He triumphed over them though his flesh was in great suffering. He triumphed over them in spirit and in soul. God was sanctified in Richard Wurmbrand before the heathen and atheists.
Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to
be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Remember we are made more
than conquerors. We are made victorious through the blood of Jesus Christ. Stand up to your devils, or they'll walk all over you. Remember friends, the devil comes in many
shapes and hues.