Born Again Dreamer

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Resisting the Enemy & Doubt

1 Peter 5:8-10

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

Standing firm in faith...what does this look like in our lives today?

Sometimes it looks like the kind of faith that Abraham had: 
Abraham, against all hope, in hope, believed. Romans 4:18

Where does that kind of faith come from?
 Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

From hearing the word of Christ?
'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' -- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching. Romans 10:8


What are they preaching?
But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.   Romans 10:6-10

Notice there is nothing said about the thoughts; Scripture did not say believe in your thoughts always (not because He doesn't want us to try but because our thoughts are not always inline with Truth), 100% of the time, never doubting and then you will be saved. Scripture says believe in your heart; believe Him with the core of your being even when circumstances are a mess; people have hurt or rejected you; you cannot pay your bills; or you loose those you love. Believe in your heart, even when your mind wants to doubt and your emotions tremble and quake. Believe in His faithfulness.


"Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." Romans 10:11

So when the enemy attacks, or prowls around you waiting for an opportunity to devour your faith resist him by trusting the One who has proven Himself worthy and true and refuse to believe what the circumstances say or what the internal pain tries to hammer home; and turn to Him, standing on His Word and the enemy will flee.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of ALL grace...will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.





 

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