March 4th, 2025
by Aaron Owens
by Aaron Owens
Not Today, Satan: Winning the Battle Against Temptation
In our daily lives, we face an unseen enemy who is relentlessly plotting our downfall. This adversary, described as a prowling lion seeking someone to devour, is none other than Satan himself. But take heart - we are not left defenseless in this spiritual warfare. By understanding the nature of temptation and equipping ourselves with God's Word, we can stand firm against the devil's schemes.
Temptation is not sin, but rather a fork in the road - a moment of decision between following God's path or succumbing to our own desires. It feeds on our curiosity, painting alluring pictures of pleasure and satisfaction. Yet these promises are hollow, for Satan always over-promises and under-delivers.
Consider the story of an American cargo ship captain who was repeatedly offered increasing sums of money to transport illegal drugs. At $2 million, he finally said "maybe" - not because he intended to accept, but because the offer was getting close to his price. This illustrates a sobering truth: temptation knows our weak spots and will relentlessly target them.
The good news? Isaiah 54:17 assures us that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. However, we must recognize that these are not random attacks, but custom-built, tailor-made temptations designed to exploit our vulnerabilities. The devil doesn't play fair - he knows our price and will keep making offers our souls find hard to refuse.
To win this battle, we must first understand our enemy. Like a lion stalking its prey, Satan operates through stealth and surprise. He targets the young, the old, the sick, and especially the careless. When our spiritual fire goes out and we become lukewarm in our faith, we become prime candidates for Satan's next meal.
But there is hope. God always provides a way of escape from temptation. Here are four powerful strategies to resist the devil and emerge victorious:
1. The Word of God: Jesus Himself demonstrated this weapon when tempted in the wilderness. Three times He countered Satan's offers with "It is written," quoting Scripture from Deuteronomy. A Christian without God's Word is powerless against temptation. We must hide God's truth in our hearts, ready to combat the enemy's lies.
2. Prayer: In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing His greatest test, Jesus prayed so fervently that He sweat drops of blood. He urged His disciples to "watch and pray" lest they fall into temptation. Prayer keeps our eyes fixed on Jesus, our source of strength and victory.
3. Submission: James 4:7 instructs us to "Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." True spiritual authority comes not from our own power, but from our submission to God. It's impossible to resist the devil in areas we haven't fully surrendered to the Lord.
4. Leave and Run: Sometimes, the best strategy is simply to flee. Joseph exemplified this when he ran from Potiphar's wife, leaving his cloak behind rather than succumb to temptation. In contrast, King David's failure to flee at the first sight of Bathsheba led to disastrous consequences.
We must remember that we cannot fight this battle alone. The church is not just a Sunday gathering, but a spiritual family united against the forces of darkness. Where stragglers roam, lions feed - but there is strength in numbers. Satan will often look at a united body of believers and decide the fight isn't worth it.
A powerful illustration of this comes from C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters," where a demon laments that he cannot attack a new believer because "he went to church." The community of faith provides encouragement, accountability, and spiritual protection we desperately need.
In our modern world, the temptation to isolate ourselves is strong. Many argue that they don't need the church because "God is everywhere." While God is indeed omnipresent, He has called His people to come together. Jesus is returning not for scattered individuals, but for a unified, beautiful bride - the Church.
As we face temptation, we must be sober-minded and watchful. The devil never takes his eyes off us, so we must keep our gaze fixed firmly on Jesus. Like a well-trained dog who ignores treats at its feet while looking at its master, we too can resist temptation's lure when our focus remains on Christ.
Remember, Satan is not truly afraid of us as individuals - he's terrified of God. Our power comes not from our own strength, but from staying submitted at the feet of Jesus. It's there, in that place of humility and dependence, that we find the strength to say, "Not today, Satan!"
What area of vulnerability is the enemy exploiting in your life? What door have you left open that's allowing havoc to reign? Today is the day to submit that area fully to God, to close that door and declare, "You're not coming into my house, my marriage, my family, or my mind!"
Fathers, husbands, wives, leaders - it's time to take a stand. The battle is real, but so is our victory in Christ. Armed with God's Word, clothed in His armor, and united with fellow believers, we can resist the devil's schemes and walk in the freedom Christ has won for us.
Let us be a people so on fire for God, so united in purpose, that when Satan looks our way, he has no choice but to turn and flee. Not because of our own power, but because of the awesome presence of the living God dwelling within and among us.
Today, make the choice to feed your faith and starve your doubts. Immerse yourself in Scripture, stay connected to your spiritual family, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. In Him, we are more than conquerors. Not today, Satan - and not ever!
In our daily lives, we face an unseen enemy who is relentlessly plotting our downfall. This adversary, described as a prowling lion seeking someone to devour, is none other than Satan himself. But take heart - we are not left defenseless in this spiritual warfare. By understanding the nature of temptation and equipping ourselves with God's Word, we can stand firm against the devil's schemes.
Temptation is not sin, but rather a fork in the road - a moment of decision between following God's path or succumbing to our own desires. It feeds on our curiosity, painting alluring pictures of pleasure and satisfaction. Yet these promises are hollow, for Satan always over-promises and under-delivers.
Consider the story of an American cargo ship captain who was repeatedly offered increasing sums of money to transport illegal drugs. At $2 million, he finally said "maybe" - not because he intended to accept, but because the offer was getting close to his price. This illustrates a sobering truth: temptation knows our weak spots and will relentlessly target them.
The good news? Isaiah 54:17 assures us that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. However, we must recognize that these are not random attacks, but custom-built, tailor-made temptations designed to exploit our vulnerabilities. The devil doesn't play fair - he knows our price and will keep making offers our souls find hard to refuse.
To win this battle, we must first understand our enemy. Like a lion stalking its prey, Satan operates through stealth and surprise. He targets the young, the old, the sick, and especially the careless. When our spiritual fire goes out and we become lukewarm in our faith, we become prime candidates for Satan's next meal.
But there is hope. God always provides a way of escape from temptation. Here are four powerful strategies to resist the devil and emerge victorious:
1. The Word of God: Jesus Himself demonstrated this weapon when tempted in the wilderness. Three times He countered Satan's offers with "It is written," quoting Scripture from Deuteronomy. A Christian without God's Word is powerless against temptation. We must hide God's truth in our hearts, ready to combat the enemy's lies.
2. Prayer: In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing His greatest test, Jesus prayed so fervently that He sweat drops of blood. He urged His disciples to "watch and pray" lest they fall into temptation. Prayer keeps our eyes fixed on Jesus, our source of strength and victory.
3. Submission: James 4:7 instructs us to "Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." True spiritual authority comes not from our own power, but from our submission to God. It's impossible to resist the devil in areas we haven't fully surrendered to the Lord.
4. Leave and Run: Sometimes, the best strategy is simply to flee. Joseph exemplified this when he ran from Potiphar's wife, leaving his cloak behind rather than succumb to temptation. In contrast, King David's failure to flee at the first sight of Bathsheba led to disastrous consequences.
We must remember that we cannot fight this battle alone. The church is not just a Sunday gathering, but a spiritual family united against the forces of darkness. Where stragglers roam, lions feed - but there is strength in numbers. Satan will often look at a united body of believers and decide the fight isn't worth it.
A powerful illustration of this comes from C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters," where a demon laments that he cannot attack a new believer because "he went to church." The community of faith provides encouragement, accountability, and spiritual protection we desperately need.
In our modern world, the temptation to isolate ourselves is strong. Many argue that they don't need the church because "God is everywhere." While God is indeed omnipresent, He has called His people to come together. Jesus is returning not for scattered individuals, but for a unified, beautiful bride - the Church.
As we face temptation, we must be sober-minded and watchful. The devil never takes his eyes off us, so we must keep our gaze fixed firmly on Jesus. Like a well-trained dog who ignores treats at its feet while looking at its master, we too can resist temptation's lure when our focus remains on Christ.
Remember, Satan is not truly afraid of us as individuals - he's terrified of God. Our power comes not from our own strength, but from staying submitted at the feet of Jesus. It's there, in that place of humility and dependence, that we find the strength to say, "Not today, Satan!"
What area of vulnerability is the enemy exploiting in your life? What door have you left open that's allowing havoc to reign? Today is the day to submit that area fully to God, to close that door and declare, "You're not coming into my house, my marriage, my family, or my mind!"
Fathers, husbands, wives, leaders - it's time to take a stand. The battle is real, but so is our victory in Christ. Armed with God's Word, clothed in His armor, and united with fellow believers, we can resist the devil's schemes and walk in the freedom Christ has won for us.
Let us be a people so on fire for God, so united in purpose, that when Satan looks our way, he has no choice but to turn and flee. Not because of our own power, but because of the awesome presence of the living God dwelling within and among us.
Today, make the choice to feed your faith and starve your doubts. Immerse yourself in Scripture, stay connected to your spiritual family, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. In Him, we are more than conquerors. Not today, Satan - and not ever!
Aaron Owens
Recent
Archive
Categories
no categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments