Satan´s defea
12/09/2024
More than conquerors
13/09/2024
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Resist
- Restrições às atividades do diabo
- Resistir – um mandamento
- Resistir com o quê?
Even though Satan has been defeated by the Lord Jesus, and His victory credited to our account, he is still able to oppress us, even though we are believers.
It is unquestionable that when you accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you become a child of God and receive rights and privileges in Christ. But, as long as you are here in this world, you will be susceptible to the temptations of the evil one.
We must make it very clear however, that Satan cannot attack and oppress a child of God whenever he pleases. He can tempt a believer, and if the believer does not resist him, he will be able to continue his evil work.
We must always remember that the devil has definite limitations. There are stages he has to complete for his work to be consummated. The Bible states that an undeserved curse does not come to rest (Proverbs 26:2).
There is a commandment to resist the devil. The children of God have a duty to stop his actions, demand him to leave, and prohibit him from tempting them. This is what the Lord Jesus did to the devil in the desert.
There are no imperfections in the Lord’s plan. If He has commanded us to resist the devil, then we can be sure that He has given us the right weapon to resist him. This weapon is the Word of God.
When should we resist? Whenever he attacks.
I pray that from this day forward you will never give the evil one the slightest chance to oppress you. Be more than a conqueror in Christ.
In Christ,
R. R. Soares
The ministry of the Lord Jesus is divided into three distinct phases: teaching, preaching and manifesting the power of God.
If we examine what the Bible tells us about His ministry, we will see that He spent most of His time teaching. This explains the difference there is between our ministry and the Lord’s… What else could explain the results He obtained? Did He not promise that whoever believed in Him would do the same and even greater works?
Whenever the Lord Jesus taught, all who heard Him marveled. He simply opened the Scriptures and showed the people the truth, and all kinds of miracles and wonders took place. Whenever the Bible is preached today, and people’s eyes are opened to its truths, an avalanche of miracles is bound to happen.
Restrictions to the devil’s actions
Though we know that the devil is busier than ever at his work of destroying humanity, we must be careful to not exaggerate, and credit him with more capacity than he actually has. There are restrictions on his operations. He cannot go around destroying whoever he pleases. The Bible says that he cannot touch those that are born again: We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him (1 John 5:18).
Before the Lord Jesus defeated the devil, he acted as if he owned our planet. But, with the death of Christ, the devil lost his dominion over the human race, and was cast off the face of the Earth: Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out (John 12:31).
Even before the coming of Jesus, when the devil acted as the prince of this world, he had to obtain permission before he attacked the people of God, as seen in the following examples:
I – The story of Job: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions 83 have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD (Job 1:6-12).
II – The Lord’s temptation in the desert. The Spirit of God led the Master out to the desert to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1).
III – When the time came for His crucifixion, the Lord Jesus warned Peter that the devil had asked to sift him: And the Lord said, Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift [you] as wheat (Luke 22:31).
All these episodes happened before the devil was stripped of his power. Today he is not allowed to oppress us under any circumstance, unless our God so permits. But he will never be able to take us from the hands of Jesus: And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given [them] to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of My Father’s hand (John 10:28-29).
We should not despair or fear when the devil tempts us; but rather resist him, standing firm in the faith and using the Name of Jesus: Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world (1 Peter 5:9).
We know that God only allows us to go through trials and temptations for our good. Instead of getting upset when this happens, we should be encouraged in the Lord, for He is faithful and will not permit us to be tempted beyond our strength: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it] (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Resist the devil: a commandment
No matter where and when the devil is tempting us, the Word of God orders us to resist him.
The order in James 4 is very clear: Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7b). This verse shows us that we are responsible for our success or our defeat. If we resist the devil, not only will he leave, he will flee.
It is important to remember that we must resist each and every attack of the enemy. It is not enough to resist big attacks. Many times it begins as a small problem, but if it is not dealt with, it will cause enormous damage. Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines [have] tender grapes (Song of Solomon 2:15).
Another fact that we must always keep in mind is that the devil does not stop tempting us now that 85 we belong to Jesus. Even though he knows we are now divine property, he continues striving to steal, kill and destroy our lives. As long as we do not take our position as overcomers in Christ, he will try to destroy us.
It is very simple to resist the devil. Whenever he attacks you, through infirmities, negative thoughts, or temptations to commit sins, boldly refuse to accept it; rebuke the evil and order the devil to get out of your life and stop tormenting you.
We have no better example of how to resist the devil than that which is given us by the Lord in the desert, when He was tempted by the devil. The full story is in Matthew 4:1-11.
I – The devil approached Jesus and said: “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (v. 3).
The Lord answered: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (v. 4).
II – The devil took Jesus to the Holy City, placed II Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said: “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you’, and, ‘In [their] hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone’” (v. 6).
The Lord answered: “It is written again, You shall not tempt the LORD your God” (v. 7).
III – The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, and said: “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me” (v. 9).
The Lord answered: “”Away with you, Satan! For it is written, `You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (v. 10).
In all three temptations of the devil, the Lord simply used the Word of God. It is our only weapon. To withstand the devil and his temptations, we do not have to use anything beyond the Word of God. Of course Jesus knew how to pray and speak in tongues. He had more knowledge than any mortal that ever walked the face of the earth. However, He used nothing but the infallible weapon. We must do no differently.
Do not believe a thing the devil tells you. He is defeated. His career is practically over. First he was cast out of heaven; during the great tribulation he will be cast from the heavenly sphere to Earth; during the millennium he will be bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years, and then thrown into the lake of fire.
What about us? What will our future be? Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).
Referências Bíblicas
Provérbios 26.2
“Como o pássaro em seu vagar, como a andorinha em seu vôo, assim a desgraça sem motivo não acontecerá.”
I João 5.18
“Sabemos que todo o que é nascido de Deus não vive em pecado; antes, Jesus, que nasceu de Deus o protege, e o Maligno não o atinge.”
João 12.31
“Chegou o momento de ser julgado este mundo, e agora o seu príncipe será expulso.”
Jó 1.6-12
“Certo dia os filhos de Deus vieram se apresentar perante o Senhor, e veio também Satanás, entre eles.
E disse o Senhor a Satanás: De onde vens? E Satanás respondeu ao Senhor; De passear pela terra e perambular por ela.
E disse o Senhor a Satanás: Observaste o meu servo Jó? Porque não há ninguém na terra como ele, homem íntegro e reto, temente a Deus e se desvia do mal.
Respondeu Satanás ao Senhor: Teme Jó a Deus à toa?
Eis que o tens protegido, a ele, sua casa, e a tudo que possui em redor; a obra de sua mão abençoaste, e seu rebanho multiplicou-se na terra.
Mas entende tua mão, e toca-lhe em tudo o que tem, e verás se não blasfema contra ti em tua face!
Disse o Senhor a Satanás: Eis que entrego em tua mão tudo o que ele possui, mas somente contra ele não estendas a mão. E Satanás saiu da presença do Senhor.”
Mateus 4.1
“Então Jesus foi conduzido pelo Espírito ao deserto para ser tentado pelo diabo.”
Lucas 22.31
“Simão, Simão, Satanás vos reclamou para vos peneirar como trigo!”
João 10.28,29
“Eu lhes dou a vida eterna, jamais perecerão, e ninguém as arrancará da minha mão.
Meu Pai, que me deu tudo, é maior do que todos, e da mão do Pai ninguém pode arrancar.”
I Pedro 5.9
“Resisti-lhe firmes na fé, sabendo que sofrimentos iguais aos vossos acontecem entre vossos irmãos espalhados pelo mundo.”
I Coríntios 10.13
“Não vos sobreveio tentação senão humana, mas fiel é Deus, que não permitirá que sejais tentados acima do que podeis, antes com a tentação dará também o escape, para que possais agüentar.”
Tiago 4.7b
“…resisti ao diabo, e ele fugirá de vós.”
Cantares 2.15
“Caçai para nós as raposas e as raposinhas, que destroem as vinhas; nossas vinhas já estão em flor.”
Mateus 4.1-11
“Então Jesus foi conduzido pelo Espírito ao deserto para ser tentado pelo diabo.
E tendo jejuado quarenta dias e quarenta noites, depois teve fome.
E o tentador aproximou-se dele e lhe disse: Se és filho de Deus ordena a estas pedras que se transformem em pães.
Respondeu Jesus: Está escrito: Nem só de pão o homem viverá, mas de toda a Palavra que procede da boca de Deus.
Então o diabo o levou até a cidade santa e o colocou sobre a parte mais alta do templo
E Lhe disse: Se és Filho de Deus, atira-te abaixo; pois está escrito: Aos seus anjos dará ordens a teu respeito e eles te protegerão em suas mãos, para que não tropeces em nenhuma pedra.
Jesus lhe respondeu: Também está escrito: Não tentarás o Senhor teu Deus.
Novamente o diabo o levou, para um monte muito alto, e lhe mostrou todos os reinos do mundo e a glória deles.
E lhe disse: Tudo isto te darei se prostrado me adorares,
Então Jesus lhe ordenou: Retira-te, Satanás! Porque está escrito: Ao Senhor teu Deus adorarás e só a ele servirás.
Então o diabo o deixou, e vieram anjos e o serviram.
Mateus 25.34 “Então dirá o Rei aos que estiverem à sua direita: Vinde benditos de meu Pai! Entrai na posse do reino que vos está preparado desde a fundação do mundo”;
