So many times, as I sit and listen to Christians talk, somewhere, in the middle of the conversation, a discussion of the attacks of the enemy will come up. Yes, he is real. Yes, he tries to interfere with the plan God has for your life. And, yes, you need to be aware of his devices and understand how he works so you can stand against him. But, is it really necessary to give him so much publicity?
It always disturbs me when someone says that the Devil keeps telling them something. Wait just a minute, if you know it's the Devil, why are you listening? Doesn't the Word say he is a liar, and the father of liars? Stop listening to him!
When Jesus was in the wilderness and the devil came to have a discussion with Him, His response was always the same, listen to what He said:
Matthew 4:
"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
Most of the Matthew 4 relates the story of how Satan challenged Jesus in the wilderness. I would suggest you read the entire chapter to see how He dealt with it and what His response was. He did not debate it, consider it or wrestle with it...He simply said "it is written!".
You have to realize that He had the power to do anything He wanted to in those situations, but all He did was quote the Word! He knew the power of truth. No threat, no enticement could change that! He had nothing to prove to Satan, no need for any other action to be taken except to tell him what was written in the Word!
We have the same weapon at our disposal. The power is in the Word! In order for you stand against the wiles of Satan you have to know what God says in the Word. The Word tells us that nothing came against Jesus except what was common to man. That means that He faced the same things we face. What was His plan, His weapon of choice against the enemy...the Word! It is the same for us.
I used to work in children's ministry and also taught 7-9 year olds at a Cherokee Children's Mission. It didn't take long for me to learn that their attention span was very short. I would constantly have to draw their attention back to me, because there were so many distractions that could so easily catch their eye. I would remind them over and over, "Look at me...because where your eyes are...you ears are!"
There is a real truth in that little statement! The same can be true for us. Keep your eyes on God and focus on the truth of His Word and it will be His voice you will find yourself listening to. Just remember...where your eyes are, your ears are! Stay focused!
Read the Word, embrace the truth of it, and use it! It is written...That's sums it up! Nothing left to debate!
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I love this essay and agree absolutely with what you say.
Like you, I believe we need to get back to recalling and quoting the Word of God in which real authority lies.
Juliette
