1 Peter 5:8–9 - Be sober, be vigilant; bcoz your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Resist him, steadfast in the faith…
When I was a teenager, I was taught that if I wanted 2 resist the devil, I had 2 rebuke him. So whenever an evil thought came 2 my mind or I was tempted, I found myself saying, “I resist u, devil, in Jesus’ name! I bind u, devil! Go away from me, devil! I rebuke u in Jesus’ name!”
This went on until God showed me one day that though I had “resisted” the devil, I had spent more time talking 2 him than 2 God! I was more conscious of the devil than of God throughout the day.
I checked the Word of God & realized that we resist the devil not by focusing on resisting him, but by being established in the faith that we are made right with God through Jesus’ blood, that we are the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Yes, the devil will continue 2 remind u of your mistakes, failures & sins. And he will tell u that bcoz of these things, u cannot receive your healing, that u will have 2 pay 4 your mistakes or that something bad will happen 2 your family. He will accuse u, condemn u and try 2 persuade your heart 2 believe that he can do bad things 2 u.
But the truth is that the devil cannot enforce anything in your life if he cannot persuade your heart. And your heart cannot be persuaded if it is “steadfast in the faith”, if it is established in righteousness. God says that once u are established in righteousness, “You shall be far from oppression, for u shall not fear; & from terror, for it shall not come near u”. (Isaiah 54:14)
So now that my heart is established in righteousness, I can boldly declare, “Yes, I may have these problems in my life, but I am not guilty in God’s eyes. I am justified in God’s eyes by faith bcoz of what Christ has done. I am righteous by Jesus’ blood!” My friend, that is how u resist the devil & become undevourable!
