SUBMIT TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE FLEES!
SUBMIT TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE FLEES!
And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many. —Mark 5:2-9
And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. —Mark 6:7
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” —Matthew 8:29
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. —James 2:9
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. —Revelation 20:10
Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. —II Timothy 2:25-26
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God…” (Ephesians 6:12-13). Satan is a defeated foe and we are on the Victor’s side! But let us not think we can be in this battle in our own strength. We need the full armor of God on.
Demons know of the coming judgment. They know there is an appointed time of torture for them and they shudder at the thought. Man on the other hand speaks lightly of hell as if it is going to be a party with friends (Luke 16:19-31). That is a demonic deception! In the end Satan, the demons and unbelieving man will end up in the Lake of Fire to “be tormented day and night forever and ever.” I do not understand that because I cannot come close to grasp that except to know I am not going there! Fear should grab hold of unbelieving man; they should shudder at the thought of going to a place of torment forever and ever. Jesus has provided the way to heaven. He has taken the judgment for us. To reject what He has done is the uttermost offense toward God and there will be an eternal consequence.
Again, let us remember that our battle “is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We need to pray that those who do not know the Lord “will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” They are in bondage, trapped and need to come to their senses.
Dear Father as I share the gospel may Your Light shine into the hearts of those who hear, come to their senses and escape the bondage and trap of the devil. May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and by the authority of Jesus. So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzZZb6RbLJs