H- [X] 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. NASB [V]
E- My Lord is faithful and Disciples [A] can depend on Him for strength and protection from satan! I want to focus on satan [U] and his demons today.
The apostle Peter said under the direction of the Holy Spirit; “8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9a So resist him, firm in your faith,” [1 Peter 5:8-9a NASB] Peter had a lot of experience with satan as Jesus “turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! [Matthew 16:23 NASB] Peter also declined knowing Jesus three times during His trial. We may not want to admit it, but all Disciples have done similar things.
We can claim this promise “9a So resist him, firm in your faith”. In the preceding verses Peter said “6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,… 7 having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.” [1 Peter 5:6-7 NASB] So the Lord gives us four steps to take to defeat satan:
1. Humble yourself under the hand of God. Be willing to submit to the direction and control of the Holy Spirit.
2. Be firm in your faith. The Disciples in Thessalonica were under heavy persecution and that suffering had drawn them closer to the image of Jesus. Today it is possible to go to church on Sunday and coast the rest of the week. As we prepare for the persecution coming in the US every Disciple needs to be certain their faith is strong.
3. Resist satan. The roaring lion is after Disciples, but he has no power over us unless we give him power by the choices we make.
4. Cast all your anxiety on Him. Anxiety will burn energy and discourage you. But we have an alternative; turn it all over to God by faith trusting Him. “One day at a time sweet Jesus” has been my claim for many years.
A- How are you and I doing in the steps to defeat satan?
R- O God help me to take these four steps seriously every day!
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Notes: A– [A1- For how to have peace with God and become a Disciple [Y] click here, A2- for how to have the peace of God and grow as a Disciple click here, A3 for how to teach Disciples to be Disciple-makers click here]; U- I normally do not capitalize the “S” in satan; V- My wife and I are reading through the New Testament and read 2 Thessalonians 3 on 10/9/2021; X- 4 steps in The H.E.A.R method of Bible study and worship; Y- “Disciples” or “Christians”?;