Winning Your Personal War with Satan (4)
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Jas 4:8 NIV
Resisting the Devil is imperative, but it is not the endgame. This is: “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Satan’s goal is to drive a wedge between you and God, so how do you keep him from doing it? By closing the gap between you and God! Observe three things: (1) Distancing from God is done unconsciously. You become preoccupied, self-centered, or over-committed. Before you know it, prayer is limited to grace said over meals, Bible-reading to the pastor’s sermon text, and worship to a Sunday morning interlude. “Pay more careful attention, therefore, to what [you] have heard, so that [you] do not drift away” (Heb 2:1 NIV). Distancing is a subtle drift, not a sudden dash. (2) Distancing from God is dangerous. Satan’s goal is to separate you from God and His blessing. Like a soldier in enemy territory who’s cut off, you become an easy target. The Bible says, “If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” (Ecc 4:10 NLT). (3) Distancing from God is a choice. But it’s your choice, never God’s! He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb 13:5). Whatever your circumstances, He remains faithful. “When you pass through the waters…the fire…I am with you” (Isa 43:2-5 NIV). What’s God’s part? “He will come near to you.” Take one step in His direction and He will close the gap, embrace, secure, and enable you “to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way” (Eph 6:11 TM).
January 18, 2013 | Permalink5 Responses to Winning Your Personal War with Satan (4)
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Ros says:
You’re right its our own personal war. In this fast I started very strong the first 7 days on liquids and then I moved into the Daniel Fast, however, I could see myself drifting. Getting up late and rushing and not spending time in the word or in worship with the Father. Also, slipped a couple of days with the things I was eating, not according to the Daniel fast. In the beginning I was very conscious of the fact that this is a time to set a side to draw nearer to God our Father. And I have allowed the stresses of life to come in. Well, today is a new day and as the bible says in the first part of Provers 24:16 “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:It is my choice to rise up again and take authority over the enemy and Trust in the Lord for all my needs. Thank you soooo much for this post. Be encourage everyone participating in this Fasting Movement 2013 I am praying for the manifestations of God’s miracles in everyone. Hallelujah! and Amen!
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Antoinette G. of Round Lake, IL says:
I humble myself before You Father God and I ask that you keep Your Hand on me so that the enemy does not touch me nor my family nor our possessions or properties!!! I humble myself to You knowing that You will lift me up higher than my enemies! With your Hand You will protect and prosper and richly bless me and mine!!!!!!! Please strengthen all of us that You have chosen for this fast to complete it! I know You have greatness at the completion of this fast for every one of us that You have chosen for it! My prayer also is that we (fasters) find positive ways to communicate and connect to one another for the purpose of encouraging each other on to the finish line! Thank You Father for choosing me for this fast and I thank You for Your unspeakable gift of Your Son and my Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ!!! Thank You Jesus!!! Amen and amen!!!!!!!
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Grace says:
Thank Pastor, today devotional reminds me of the scripture that say, ” I can do all things through Christ who strength me.” God is able to. Stay close to God and he will stay close to you.
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amado k. daran, jr says:
come near to God and he will come near to you.. thank you very much for this message.
Thank you for the message, I now have wisdom and understanding, for i did not know we can distance ourselves from God unconciously.