Be R.A.R.E. and B.E.W.A.R.E. to Resist the Devil

[Norma]

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1Corinthians 10:13

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8

Resisting the devil seems like something we can easily do but is it? Who or what is the devil? The devil or Satan is the exact opposite of God. Sin is the product that the devil uses to entice us. Temptation is the tool the devil uses to get us to sin. The devil, sin and temptation are all negative terms that we instantly know in our hearts are bad things so why do we yield to temptation and sin? We are all familiar with the saying: “You can catch more flies with honey.” Well, Satan has the sweetest honey you have ever tasted but the aftertaste is quite bitter. Let me explain… the devil can make sin look like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Halle Berry. He can make sin taste like the juiciest, falling off the bone, melt-in-your-mouth, finger-licking good, rightly seasoned steak. He can make sin feel like a hot, bubble bath and full body massage until you drift off to sleep. Am I making my point here? If sin didn’t seem to be so good, then, we wouldn’t have any problems resisting, right?

So what is one to do when faced with the tricks of the devil? The Word says: Resist the devil, and he will flee from you! Resist the devil at all costs but how can we do this consistently? Let me give you two major things we must do. First, we must admit that we are sinners. No one is better than anyone else. Admitting we have a problem is the first step in solving it. I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Psalm 32:5 We live in a sinful world. The best of us have fallen and gotten up. No one is above sinning. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ecclesiastes 7:20 The greatest men in the Bible are examples of yielding and then being steadfast. Peter denied Christ before he preached Christ. Paul persecuted Christians before he became a leader of Christians. We all sin but we can all overcome sin. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1John 3:9 Secondly, recognize sin when it shows up in disguise: you know, the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Be able to identify it before it gets too close to you. Understand what the Word says about sin and what is sinful. Study your Bible because the Word says: Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 Some of you thought that if you just kept the Ten Commandments you were doing fine. Let me serve notice that in any circumstance where you can do good and you do not do it, then, it will be counted as a sin to you. Now don’t get mad at me but the Word said it not Norma. If you have the means to do something for someone, then, you better find yourself doing that thing so you won’t be sinning. God wants us to love one another and ignoring the needs of those around us is a sin. For those of us who have a problem with our tempers and those of us who hold grudges: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 How many times have you sat when you should have stood up? How many times were you silent when you should have spoken up? Loving someone is not a free pass to have premarital sex. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1Corinthians 6:18-20 Just because your boss is unfair doesn’t give you the right to be a slacker on your job. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 Just because your money is funny doesn’t give you a free pass to gamble and play the lottery. (Note: Gambling, unlike other forms of entertainment or purchases, is not a fair exchange. If I go to a retailer or a museum, then, I give them my money in exchange for a good or service of equal value. This is not so with gambling. In every exchange with the casino or the lottery, there is a gain for one and a loss for the other. Obviously, the player is the most likely loser or the casinos and lottery would not be in business.) I hope this has helped someone who may have been confused as to why gambling is wrong.

Finally, here are some points to help us stay away from sin.
Be R.A.R.E. –
R – Remember, sin jeopardizes our relationship with Christ
A – Avoid the people, places and things that cause us to sin
R – Resist sin by knowing your weaknesses to sin
E – Equip yourself against sin by studying the Word of God

Always, B.E.W.A.R.E. –
B – Be steadfast and unmovable
E – Establish yourself in Christ, know who you belong to
W – Watch
A – And pray
R – Restore yourself to Christ daily as we sin daily
E – Encourage yourself and others to do the ‘right’ thing

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1Peter 5:8-11 Be encouraged, Saints!
Daddy’s Girl
Norma J. Oliver
June 2, 2009

[Pastor Sylvian (Syl) Acey-Talley]

I like that, girl!! Be rare and beware! I hope you have a copyright; I intend to "copy it right" LOL