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TITLE: Talk,to the Hand
By Durelle Rutledge
09/30/06
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“Talk to the Hand!”

Read: I Peter 5:6-10
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.

Focus: I Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Reference:
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

John 10:10
The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Tell the devil to “talk to the hand”! You would be surprised how well that works. Whichever ear he’s whispering into (right or left), raise that hand and turn it palm out and say, “Talk to the hand devil, (or Satan, whichever you prefer) because I’m not listening!” Or if some other phrase works better for you, use it! As long as you make it clear to him that you’re not receiving or listening and you don’t and won’t receive or listen to whatever it is that he’s lying to you about or trying to tempt you with.
In I Peter 5:8 the word sober doesn’t just refer to consuming alcohol or rather not doing so. But rather to be serious and attentive. Vigilant means to be on guard at all times, constantly and consistently. Adversary means your enemy, foe, antagonist and opponent. Seeking means looking, searching, hunting, pursuing and rooting out. And devour is to eat, consume, annihilate, extinguish, deplete, exhaust, use up, ruin and waste. So putting all of these definitions together clarifies the verse like this: “Be serious and attentive, be on your guard at all times, constantly and consistently, because your enemy, foe, antagonist and opponent the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, looking, hunting, searching, pursuing and rooting out those he may eat up, consume, annihilate, extinguish, deplete, exhaust, use up, ruin and waste.
From this we can see that the devil has “no” good intent for any of us (saved or unsaved alike)! He’s not particular! He’s going around “looking” for anyone he can take out, or at the very least take down! He’s trying to accumulate as many souls as he can before his time is up. And he “knows” his time is running out!
Let’s not give up or give in to the devil! Let’s not go down without a fight! In James 4:7, its conveyed that when we give ourselves “completely” to God, we have the power within us to resist, reject and repel the devil. He will have no power over us. We have to remember that the only power he “has” is the power we give him! And knowing that; should give us the strength, motivation, courage and encouragement, to stand against all his lies and trickery.
John 10:10 describes the devil as a thief. A thief is someone who takes something from you without your prior knowledge and/or permission. What this thief wants is your soul! And in order to get it, he will steal your mind, kill your spirit and destroy your heart.
But Jesus said that He came so that we could have a more abundant life. This life that He wants for us does not include the machinations of the devil. The Lord desires and wills for us to live full, healthy and prosperous lives. This cannot be accomplished without determination to evict (dispossess, oust, expel, banish, exile and ostracize) the devil from our lives. We can also speak to his devices in the lives of others. We don’t have to “lay down and rollover” for him, ever! We don’t have to take this! We can tell him to go home!
So lets tell the devil to “talk to the hand!” and make it a habit.
Amen and God bless.
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