Spitting In The Wind

"This isn't a chest pounding point. It is taking Jesus by the hand."

FOR SOME REASON, we think we are in a shouting match with the devil. If we are loud enough and if we spit enough, he will leave off. And we should scowl. Swing our arms.

No, we should be in the Word instead. Too much is done by the church rebuking the devil and not enough knowing what God has said. He did say we have authority over Satan's ability, but this isn't a chest pounding point. It is taking Jesus by the hand. You know, you and Him walking together? Instead, we are swinging swords and picking out helmets.

No, again, just walk and speak the Word. What does it say about peace and safety? What does it promise about tranquil sleep and having enjoyable, safe night hours? What are God's promises to our children? What does He promise us as we age? Did you know even our pets are blessed? We must know these things and place them deep in our hearts so that they are what comes out of us under pressure.

The truth is we can rebuke the devil in the flesh with not once ounce of the Spirit, and that's like spitting in the wind. Instead, when we're snuggled up to Jesus, He does the work, and we are at rest. That is the place where God the Father wants us. He's been at rest since Day 7 of Creation, and now through Jesus, invites us to join Him with not one worry bothering us. Instead, we bring our cares to Him, and He fills our mind with His peace. We are quiet and at rest.

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:9-10)

“His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4;7 TLB)

Which beats spitting into the wind and wearing half of it. God’s peace is a secure place to be. He always has our deepest care at heart. From what we wear to what we eat and our success at work, there’s not one place He doesn’t touch. We tend to keep things to ourselves, but Jesus told us the Father sees in secret (Matthew 6:6), and the psalms say He knows everywhere we go. We can’t escape Him. He’s even in the depths of hell. We can’t fathom this, but it’s what the Word says. Nothing skips past Him. I find comfort in this because it means I don’t have to explain me. I do, from time to time, have to make the effort to understand me. After all, he’s trying to make me better, more like Him, and sometimes, what I’m feeling, how I’m thinking, needs some fine-tuning.

But shouting at the devil solves nothing without being combined with the wind of the Spirit. It is His presence that sets us free, not our volume or calisthenics. It is Jesus that makes Jesus’ name effective. It is the Father’s strength that makes us endure until deliverance comes. It is His peace that gives us rest and confidence to lay our cares down at Jesus’ feet. We can’t solve them anyway.

The apostle Paul spoke to the church many times about not going back under the works of the Law. All that Levitical law required, that Jesus lived when He was walking on the earth, was fulfilled in Him and not needed any longer. “Circumcision is meaningless,” Paul said. It is trying to do through human hands what can only be done by God in the heart. We can substitute any other rule we come up with there. Our appearance doesn’t get us closer to God. What we eat doesn’t rescue us from sin. And in reverse, even what we believe about nature and people and many other subjects, even if it’s completely wrong, won’t send Him away from us. He is faithful. We need only believe in the work of the cross and the tomb, and when we make Jesus Lord, then we are saved. God works out the rest.

“Circumcision doesn’t mean a thing to me. The only thing that really matters is living by the transforming power of this wonderful new creation life.” (Galatians 6:15 TPT)

God defeated the devil. He made him no longer our enemy. He held the triumph. He is all we need to enjoy life and live long upon this earth without a care in the world. Not our finances, not our education, not our future. We don’t have to be “care-full” about anything. Including the devil.

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30)

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Image by fotografierende from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com