The Ultimate Weapon
Once again Jesus wielded the two-edged sword of God's Word: "Then Jesus said to him, 'be gone, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve"'" (Matt. 4:10).
In this brief account of an incredible battle in which Jesus disqualified Satan to rule over the kingdoms of this world, we learn several important lessons. First of all, we learn something of the nature and attitude of the devil. Satan capitalizes on our physical appetites (in this case hunger). He attempts to take advantage of human weaknesses such as vanity and ego. He tries to make us "show off." He also quotes scripture! And he desperately wants to be worshiped! That is why Satan has his ministers (2 Cor. 11:13-15). That is why the worship of idols Isis in reality, the worship of demons (1 Cor. 10:20-22). These are Satan's weapons. He stalks the earth like a roaring lion "seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8-9, KJV). He preys upon human weaknesses.
We also learn that the greatest weapon we have against Satan and his worldly system is the Word of God! The Bible (notice that Christ quoted from the Torah — the five books of Moses), in its entirety, reflects the mind and will of God. It is inspired by the Spirit of God. It is called the "sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:17). Is it any wonder that men have tried throughout the ages, led by the devil, to suppress the reading of the Bible — in fact, to even stamp it out?
One of the most effective ways you can gain the victory over Satan the devil is to be thoroughly familiar with the Word of God. In other words, read the Book! (If you don't already have it, be sure to request our free booklet by that title) True Christians should devote a substantial amount of time to the study of the Scriptures. Paul instructed Timothy to "attend to the public reading of scripture" (I Tim. 4:13).
He knew that the Christian congregations had to be armed with knowledge of the Word of God. Otherwise they would be defenseless and would "err, not knowing the scriptures." The way to "discern the spirit" is to be armed with the Word of God. The writer of Hebrews said: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).
The Apostle of Overcoming
The apostle John had much to say about overcoming. He confirmed the fact that the Word of God is the ultimate weapon in defeating evil — and the evil one: "I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2:14).
Though young in the faith, these men had successfully been able to defeat the attacks of Satan and the influence of his world by their strength in the Word of God! Like the powerful preacher Apollos, they were "mighty in the scriptures" (Acts 18:24, KJV).
Christians are to possess a "healthy suspicion." We are to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16, KJV). we are not to be gullible. We should not allow ourselves to be "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Eph. 4:14). Nor should we "heap to [ourselves] teachers, having itching ears" (2 Tim. 4:3, KJV). Any teacher who professes to represent God should be put to the test. God's people should develop what might be termed a "healthy suspicion" of those who claim esoteric insight and special knowledge. The apostle John warned: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4: 1).
In those early days of the apostolic churches, there were prophets — true and false alike — who claimed to bear messages directly from God. The true prophets fellowshipped with the churches and could be trusted. Such prophets existed at Jerusalem and Antioch, for example (Acts 13:1; 15:32). The daughters of Phillip were also prophetesses (Acts 21:8-9). God also sent reliable messages of impending disasters through the two prophets Simeon and Agabus (Luke 2:34, 35; Acts 11:28).
But there were others who were false to the truth. They bore no message from God but sought only to deceive and draw away followers after themselves. They even denied that Jesus was the Messiah and that God had actually come in the flesh: "By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God" (1 John 4:2-3).
No one can truly represent God and claim that Jesus was not the Son of God, the Messiah, incarnate! Those who deny that God became flesh and dwelt with men represent "the spirit of antichrist" (1 John 4:3).
There is no other name under heaven whereby men can be saved, but that of Jesus Christ (Acts 4: 12). It is through faith in Christ that men can be justified (Rom. 3:26; 5:1). Those who preach, and yet deny Christ, cut themselves off from God and qualify for the title "false prophet." Those who are of God acknowledge Christ as their living Lord and Master (1 Cor. 12:3).
Yet, false prophets and dishonest teachers will continue to plague the religious world as long as there is a devil to inspire them. And true Christians must be constantly on guard against those who would undermine their faith.
Jesus Christ — The Key to Overcoming
"Little children, you are of Cod, and have overcome them [the false prophets]; for he who is in you [Christ] is greater than he who is in the world [Satan]" (1 John 4:4).
Christ, who once defeated Satan and qualified to become King of kings and Lord of lords, will again and again defeat him in you! So long as Christ is in you, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:24; Gal. 2:20), you can defeat Satan! You can gain the victory over him. You can prevail and conquer him. You can overcome him and his world.
Through faith in Christ, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, you can readily discern between "the spirit of truth" and "the spirit of error" (I John 4:6).
". . . This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5) It is only those who have "faith in Jesus" who will be justified (Rom. 3:26). It is through Christ, and through His Word, that Christians can conquer or "overcome." Paul wrote: "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).
As Christians we must not allow ourselves to be swamped by the evil influence of Satan's world. We must walk worthy of our high calling. "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21).
False Freedom
Those who would "liberate" true Christians from the "bondage" of obedience to Christ will promise "freedom." Don't be deceived! "They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire" (2 Peter 2:19-22).
Those are powerful words of warning! Satan can use the enticing thought of "freedom" to induce you to forsake Christ and the truth of God and adopt a life of effortless "do-nothing" religion, which is both hollow and meaningless. The "way of righteousness" involves effort! It is the opposite of the path of least resistance. It is the "straight and narrow" road that leads to life — not the broad, easy way. God does not want dead fish in His Kingdom — He wants "live wires"! God seeks those who place enough value on the Kingdom to be willing to fight for it — and if necessary to die for it. The "pearl of great price" is not easily won, and God does not cast his pearls before "swine" (i.e., those who couldn't care less).
A Promise and a Warning
If you really want to be in the Kingdom you had better start making an effort. Begin by making a meaningful attempt to overcome some of your personal sins and weaknesses. God is not interested in "dabblers." He seeks those who are willing to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). He wants people who are serious about being in the Kingdom! To what are you enslaved? What habits? What sins? Are you really in control of your life through the power of the Holy Spirit? Or are you succumbing to ungodly, unchristian patterns that will ultimately destroy you?
John, "the apostle of overcoming," has left us with a promise and a warning. His words! God's words, come ringing down to us across the centuries: "He who conquers [overcomes] shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:7-8).
Which will describe your destiny — the promise, or the warning?
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