THE POWER TO RESIST (2 OF 3)
by Eddie Snipes
Scripture: I JOHN 1:6-7, I JOHN 3:10-11, I JOHN 3:14-16, I JOHN 4:21, II PETER 2:21-22, JAMES 4:4, JAMES 4:6-8, JOHN 13:34-35, PROVERBS 3:5-6, PROVERBS 26:11-12, PSALMS 16:11, PSALMS 119:9-11, ROMANS 6:16-18
This content is part of a series.
The Power to Resist (2 of 3)
Eddie Snipes
Resistance is Futile
This may sound odd at first glance, but resistance is not the key to resisting. The Bible gives the key to resisting temptation in James 4:6-8.
Many people believe in error that if we resist temptation the devil will flee from us, but that is not what this passage is telling us. The focus of this passage is humbling ourselves and submitting to God. When we draw closer to God, He gives us the power to resist and the devil flees from the power of God, not our resistance. I know that when I resist, the devil does not flee, but continues to pound away at my weaknesses until I give in. Resisting temptation is like pushing a weight off our chest. At first, I may be strong and able to resist, but in time I get weaker and more fatigued until, in a moment of weakness, I give in. As long as my focus is on resisting, I am standing by my own strength. When my strength fails, I fall.
God's way is a complete paradigm shift from the way we think. Instead of facing temptation and trying to push away, we turn from temptation and draw near to God. Then we have the absolute promise that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Our relationship with God must come first. We were created to have fellowship with God. Anything that does not center around that relationship will fall short. When I am standing in my own strength, I don't recognize my need for God. The Bible says, "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall". God does not give grace to those who think they are self-sufficient. God resists the proud. Anytime we take total dependency on God out of the picture, we have cast our lot in with the proud. Humbling ourselves before God is the first principle of living by God's grace.
Changing behavior is only a weak, temporary change. Changing behavior does nothing to change who we are. Changing the outside is temporary if the inside remains the same. Scripture puts it this way:
Proverbs ...
Eddie Snipes
Resistance is Futile
This may sound odd at first glance, but resistance is not the key to resisting. The Bible gives the key to resisting temptation in James 4:6-8.
Many people believe in error that if we resist temptation the devil will flee from us, but that is not what this passage is telling us. The focus of this passage is humbling ourselves and submitting to God. When we draw closer to God, He gives us the power to resist and the devil flees from the power of God, not our resistance. I know that when I resist, the devil does not flee, but continues to pound away at my weaknesses until I give in. Resisting temptation is like pushing a weight off our chest. At first, I may be strong and able to resist, but in time I get weaker and more fatigued until, in a moment of weakness, I give in. As long as my focus is on resisting, I am standing by my own strength. When my strength fails, I fall.
God's way is a complete paradigm shift from the way we think. Instead of facing temptation and trying to push away, we turn from temptation and draw near to God. Then we have the absolute promise that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Our relationship with God must come first. We were created to have fellowship with God. Anything that does not center around that relationship will fall short. When I am standing in my own strength, I don't recognize my need for God. The Bible says, "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall". God does not give grace to those who think they are self-sufficient. God resists the proud. Anytime we take total dependency on God out of the picture, we have cast our lot in with the proud. Humbling ourselves before God is the first principle of living by God's grace.
Changing behavior is only a weak, temporary change. Changing behavior does nothing to change who we are. Changing the outside is temporary if the inside remains the same. Scripture puts it this way:
Proverbs ...
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