There is an enemy out there that hates us. His name is Satan, and he took a third of the angels and fell away from God. They were thrown out of heaven (the presence of God) and cast down to the earth. Though the devil and his cohorts are on the losing side of the battle, God allows them to exist for just a time. However, the enemy has no authority because Jesus died to give us back the keys of the authority that was once lost (Matthew 16.19). Now when we align ourselves with God, we have power over the devil and his demons (Luke 10.19).
Why does God allow the enemy to reign on earth? In the late 1980s, scientists made what is known as Biosphere 2, which was meant to be an example of s self-sustaining ecosystem that could survive in outer space. Though this experiment failed, much research was gleaned from the project. One discovered truth was that without the wind of resistance, the trees in the biosphere were fragile, powerless and short-lived. The trees need the wind to dig down their roots and to strengthen their wood. They were absolutely weak.
Isaiah 61.3 (NLT)reads:
"To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory."
We are God's "great oaks," and He allows the enemy to be the resistance in our lives that causes us to dig down our roots in Christ and to strengthen our faith, so our lives will glorify the Lord on this earth. Without the resistance of the devil, our faith would be fragile, our lives would be powerless and our destiny would be short-lived.
When Jesus allowed Himself to endure the "wind" of the devil, the Bible says that He entered the wilderness "full of the Holy Spirit" (Luke 4.1 NLT). However, after fasting for 40 days and being tempted by the devil, the Bible says that Jesus left the wilderness "filled with the Holy Spirit's power" (Luke 4.14 NLT).
What happened after Jesus endured the resistance of Satan? He gained power. How did Jesus endure the resistance of the enemy? Jesus used the Word of God (Luke 4.4). Thankfully, today, we have the entire Bible at our fingertips. Plus, we have amazing teachers who publish books, podcasts, videos and other resources to help us understand and claim the promises of God. Don't forget: Jesus did nothing wrong that caused an attack by Satan. In fact, the attack came right after God said that He was well pleased with Jesus (Matthew 3.17).
When we go through a spiritual attack, we are not alone (Hebrews 13.5). We have the Holy Spirit with us through the Finished Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, and we have the most abundant amount of resources available to us than any time of history. When you are going through a season of resistance, it is an opportunity to gain more of the Holy Spirit's power. When the wind is trying to knock you over, you can do the following.
First, repent of things that don't align with God. Look at your life and examine your thinking, words, behaviors, decisions and actions. Is there anything God wants to pluck out to make more room for Him? Repentance is a beautiful pruning process that allows room for God's fruit in our lives: " love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5.22-23 NIV).
Second, listen to the Holy Spirit. This is your chance to exercise your faith muscles and listen and respond to the voice of God in your life. His voice is full of love, kindness and hope. It is never cruel, chaotic or impatient. It may take a while but listen for the "still small voice" of the Lord (1 Kings 19.12 NKJV).
Third, dive into the Word of God. Make time to surround yourself with Christian music, community and resources. Jesus fought back with God's Words, the Bible, so we can use the same weapon (Ephesians 6.17).
Fourth, acknowledge that the enemy is speaking lies. Satan and his demons are trying to make you believe their imaginings, which are void of all truth. They speak only lies, which they are eager for you to believe (John 8.44). Don't believe a single word.
Fifth, call out the demon's tactic. Realizing why the demons are attacking you will help you gain confidence in defeating them. The root of the attack is always supernatural hate. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10.10 NKJV). Though the devil can yell at you, he can not take procession of you. God is much more powerful, and he has you in His mighty hands (John 10.29).
Sixth, resist the evil words of the devil. The Bible says that as we lean into God and resist the devil, he will finally leave us (James 4.7). It may take some time, but you must believe that the enemy will finally flee. There are no hopeless endings with God on your side.
Seventh, walk into a new power of the Holy Spirit. What the devil uses for evil, God can and will use for good (Genesis 50.20). You have authority over the evil one. Take this power and authority and look for others who need your help. God has planted you for His glory, so go be a light shining in a dark world (Matthew 5.14-16). And when the devil tries the same assault on you, you will be strong in the Lord.
You are a great oak that God has planted. Be blessed, loved ones!
