How can I stand against my greatest enemy, Satan? - Against - TouchPoints

How can I stand against my greatest enemy, Satan?

Daniel 11:32He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.

Know God. Seek a living relationship with him so you can be strong enough to resist Satan.

James 4:7-10Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you . . . Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Humbly depending on God draws us closer to him and positions us to resist Satan, who wants to feed our pride.

Matthew 12:30Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

It is impossible to remain neutral in spiritual warfare. We must decisively choose to stand on God’s side.

Ephesians 6:10-18A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Our strength and power against evil depends on God’s power within us. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, confidence in the gospel and our salvation, persistency in prayer and the study of God’s Word—these are the characteristics God grows in us so we can stand firm against Satan’s fury.

Luke 11:23-26Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, “I will return to the person I came from.” So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.

To clean house spiritually is not enough. Our lives, emptied of evil, must be filled with God. Otherwise, we are defenseless against greater evil.

Psalm 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Matthew 4:4, 7, 10But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” . . . Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” . . . “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

The Bible is the Word of God and is a very effective tool against Satan.

1 John 4:4But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

John 14:26But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative-that is, the Holy Spirit-he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Romans 8:26And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

God’s power is greater than Satan’s. We can rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and equip us in following God’s will..

1 Corinthians 10:13The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

We can trust God’s faithfulness and follow his leading.

1 Peter 5:8-9Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Hebrews 12:1-3Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. [3] Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up.

John 16:33I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

John 12:31Be careful, attentive, shrewd, firm and strong in faith. Jesus has already conquered sin and death, and Satan has already lost the war. Though we may face many battles yet, we can take courage from the example of Christ and all who follow him.