Part 1: BE STRONG in the Lord
Part 2: BE CLOTHED with the armor of God.
Part 3: BE CLOTHED with the armor of God.
Part 4: Be AGGRESSIVE in prayer.
Now in Part 5 we will speak about being FIRM against the enemy.
I have met many believers who have the idea that if they ignore the enemy then the enemy will ignore them. How foolish to embrace such a lie. We have not be given armor to stand against the enemy just so we can stick our heads in the sand and hope for the best.
We are called to submit to God and to draw close to God and resist the demons.
James 4:7-8 ESV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
BE FIRM:
Ephesians 6:13 ESV Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
The word "firm" in the Greek is histemi pronounced his-tay-mee. It is the continual and prolonged position of standing, holding up, or abiding. It is a firm belief that God is with you and will protect you as you stand against the enemy in faith.
2 Kings 6:16 ESV He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
1. Therefore we need to stand firm in RESISTING THE ENEMY:
James 4:7 ESV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
2. We need to stand firm in REBUKING THE ENEMY:
Matthew 17:18 ESV And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.
Jude 1:9 ESV But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."
3. We need to stand firm in BINDING THE ENEMY:
Matthew 18:18-20 ESV Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (19) Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Matthew 12:29 ESV Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
4. We need to stand firm in COMMANDING THE ENEMY:
Matthew 10:1 ESV And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
Matthew 16:23 ESV But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."