Look At Jesus

"You will never outtalk a devil."

STOP LOOKING inward. The most freeing moments are those where I get up and go do something. I refocus. Because the more I dwell on the doubts and unanswered questions, the less I see the solution. The solution is God’s anyway, and He is peace.

I found myself up against a mental and physical wall, swinging a sword I’d fashioned from church doctrine. Then God spoke and told me to let it go and rest. Being honest, I couldn’t see it. I wanted rest. But how do we just sit in any calmness with chaos all around us? Weren’t we supposed to fight?

Then He spoke again through His Word, and the picture which formed didn’t fit the warfare mentality of songs and sermons. Has Jesus done enough to win the war or not? I mean, on the one hand, we read, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).” Which sounds warlike. And then there’s Ephesians 6, where we’re given God’s armor, complete with breastplate, helmet, footwear, shield and sword. On the other hand, the prophet Isaiah told mankind Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus told His disciples, He was giving them His peace and not to be troubled (John 14:1,27). Angels told the earth, Jesus had come to bring peace to it (Luke 2:14).

The apostle Paul says we pray without worry and will have peace beyond our understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

So which is it? Well, we are human and our humanness demands we take defense. It feels good to fight back. God knows this. As I like to say, “He made us. We didn’t make Him.” And the armor does paint a picture we must grasp. First, those shoes we’re given are for a gospel of peace. So there it is again. Second, the sword isn’t ours. It is the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is THE WORD OF GOD. And who is the Word? Jesus. John 1. This makes the fight His and not ours. We’re supposed to lean on Him and not ourselves.

The devil IS like a roaring lion, ALL TALK. The word “devil” means “false accuser.” We read in Revelation that he accuses DAY AND NIGHT (Revelation 12:10). In short, devils and the devil never shut up. But here’s where the rubber meets the road because, again, we’ve been told what we hear, what we’re dwelling on, thinking about over and over, can be one. So it’s best to take defense. Let me lift this from you – NO.

When we choose to fight a person or a spiritual being, there is no winner. You will get angrier. They will get angrier. You cannot fight people or unclean spirits in your own strength, even shouting out God’s Word. You will never, ever outtalk a devil.

A World War II Vet told his story of being held by the Germans. It was quite horrifying to hear, but in the midst of all he said, he told a Truth which applies here. When caught by German forces, he was interrogated and asked the same questions over and over again. Despite being beaten, he only replied with his name, rank, and serial number. At one point, they threatened to shoot him. He didn’t flinch but gave his same answer. So they beat him and forced him outside. He found out that if he’d given them even a tiny answer, even spilled the smallest information, they would have beaten him harder until he gave in. Saying nothing saved his life.

Hear this Veteran’s story:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18n4gbhU6s/

Here is the behavior of evil of any order. In men or beings, where we think we are saving ourselves by spouting off, it is simply fodder for their next wrong action. Silence is our weapon. What we don’t say is protection. But also, when we do, there is no condemnation from heaven. None. Condemnation guised as devils or church doctrine isn’t Jesus. He came to save the world, sent by our loving Father, who adores us. Our weapon is peace. We rest in worship, in study of the Word, in prayer, and we fill ourselves with God’s joy, and refuse to dwell on what isn’t a devil at all but is simply negative thoughts and overwhelming emotions.

Jesus won the war. Completely. He destroyed the devil and his works and sent us the Holy Spirit to grow in us the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, and self-control (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Galatians 5:22-23). These are our weapons. NOT reacting is what He wants us to do. Instead, we simply say, “I need you to take this,” then turn our eyes to other things. Forgetting about the devil entirely.

Stop looking for an enemy. Look at Jesus.


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