37 lines
4.7 KiB
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37 lines
4.7 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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October 19
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<h1>Protection from the Devil through Faith</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Be sober, be vigilant; because your <b>adversary</b> the <b>devil</b> walks about <b>like</b> a <b>roaring lion</b>, seeking whom he may <b>devour</b>. <b>Resist</b> him, <b>steadfast</b> in the <b>faith</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Pe', 5, '8-9');">1 Peter 5:8-9</a>)</div>
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<p>As we walk by faith, God's grace is imparted into our lives, bringing us many blessings in our Lord. We have seen that among these heavenly delights are <b>assurance</b> of salvation and <b>security</b> of salvation. <i>"These things I have written to you who <b>believe</b> in the <b>name</b> of the <b>Son of God</b>, that you may <b>know</b> that you <b>have eternal life</b>…who are <b>kept</b> by the <b>power</b> of <b>God</b> through <b>faith</b> for <b>salvation</b> ready to be revealed in the last time"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Jo', 5, '13-13');">1 John 5:13</a> and <a onClick="return mV('1Pe', 1, '5-5');">1 Peter 1:5</a>). Related to these delights is <b>protection from the devil through faith</b>.</p>
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<p>Godly Christian living involves spiritual gravity and spiritual attentiveness. <i>"Be sober, be vigilant."</i> These necessary traits that the Lord wants to develop in us do not nullify the reality of joy and peace in the Lord. However, such earnestness is mandatory due to the enemy that we have. <i>"Because your <b>adversary</b> the <b>devil</b> walks about."</i> We do have a committed and intimidating spiritual opponent, and he has an organized army of fallen, rebellious, demonic cohorts. <i>"For we do <b>not</b> wrestle against <b>flesh</b> and <b>blood</b>, but against <b>principalities</b>, against <b>powers</b>, against the <b>rulers</b> of the darkness of this age, against <b>spiritual hosts</b> of wickedness in the heavenly places"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 6, '12-12');">Ephesians 6:12</a>). The intention of our spiritual foe is deadly. He goes about <i>"<b>like</b> a <b>roaring lion</b>, seeking whom he may <b>devour</b>."</i> Our enemy does not merely desire to frustrate us or make us miserable. He wants to devour us, to devastate our lives. Jesus stated the matter this way: <i>"The <b>thief</b> does not come except to <b>steal</b>, and to <b>kill</b>, and to <b>destroy</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 10, '10-10');">John 10:10</a>).</p>
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<p>Although our adversary is relentless and imposing, God's gracious remedy is simple and effective. <i>"<b>Resist</b> him."</i> We are to oppose him. We are to stand against him. How are we to accomplish this? Are we to pit our own strength against his? Never! We effectively stand against him by being <i>"<b>steadfast</b> in the <b>faith</b>."</i> We simply continue <b>trusting</b> in the great truths of God's word, which declare Christ as victor over our foe. <i>"For this purpose the <b>Son</b> of <b>God</b> was manifested, that <b>He</b> might <b>destroy</b> the <b>works</b> of the <b>devil</b>…Having <b>disarmed</b> principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, <b>triumphing</b> over them in <b>it</b></i> [the <b>cross</b>]<i>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Jo', 3, '8-8');">1 John 3:8</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Col', 2, '15-15');">Colossians 2:15</a>). By faith, we renounce the enemy and submit to our Lord. Thereby, God promises us that the enemy will flee. <i>"Therefore <b>submit</b> to <b>God</b>. <b>Resist</b> the <b>devil</b> and he <b>will flee</b> from you"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jam', 4, '7-7');">James 4:7</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, mighty conqueror, what a joy it is to know that You have defeated the enemy and his demonic conspirators. What grace You offer in providing protection from the devil as I simply resist him by trusting in You. Praise Your victorious name!</div>
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