STEADFAST IN THE FAITH
The gospel of Luke tells us of a father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus. Christ told the father, “Bring thy son hither. And as he was yet a-coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him” (Luke 9:41-42). The word tare means to violently convulse, to terribly shake.
This young man came to Christ and was about to be set free, translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light. The devil saw he was about to lose another victim, so in a rage, he threw the young man to the ground in one last, violent attack. He wanted to kill him and take his soul before Jesus could deliver him.
Satan will try to do the same thing to you today. The moment you move toward Christ, he will attempt one last devouring attack. He will put before your eyes the most alluring temptations. He will try to cast you down with lies, telling you that you will never be free from sin and lust. He will try to convince you you’ll always be his, not God’s!
But let me remind you: The instant you move toward Jesus, the devil is rendered helpless. He cannot stop anyone who is headed to Christ! He could not keep the demon-possessed young man from reaching Jesus. All Christ had to do was say a word: “And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father” (verse 42).
James tells us, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). So, how do you resist the enemy? You do it by faith alone! Simply come to Jesus, trusting that He will rescue you from Satan’s clutches. “Whom resist steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9).
You can be free today. You can say to Satan, “When I finish reading this message, I’m going to be a free person. Jesus is going to deliver me from every lust and ungodly passion. It’s all going to go because He said so.”
The times ahead may get hard for you. But the Father’s glorious, blazing sun will shine ever brighter for you!
This young man came to Christ and was about to be set free, translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light. The devil saw he was about to lose another victim, so in a rage, he threw the young man to the ground in one last, violent attack. He wanted to kill him and take his soul before Jesus could deliver him.
Satan will try to do the same thing to you today. The moment you move toward Christ, he will attempt one last devouring attack. He will put before your eyes the most alluring temptations. He will try to cast you down with lies, telling you that you will never be free from sin and lust. He will try to convince you you’ll always be his, not God’s!
But let me remind you: The instant you move toward Jesus, the devil is rendered helpless. He cannot stop anyone who is headed to Christ! He could not keep the demon-possessed young man from reaching Jesus. All Christ had to do was say a word: “And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father” (verse 42).
James tells us, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). So, how do you resist the enemy? You do it by faith alone! Simply come to Jesus, trusting that He will rescue you from Satan’s clutches. “Whom resist steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9).
You can be free today. You can say to Satan, “When I finish reading this message, I’m going to be a free person. Jesus is going to deliver me from every lust and ungodly passion. It’s all going to go because He said so.”
The times ahead may get hard for you. But the Father’s glorious, blazing sun will shine ever brighter for you!