Learning To Live Like A Winner (Pt 3)

James 4:6-10

Can Christians live under demonic influences & come into bondage?

· “Do not give Satan a foothold” (Eph 4:27) is evidence Christians can have demon problems.

· Paul warns against deceiving spirits & things taught by demons. (1Tim 4:1)

· Paul asks, “Who has bewitched you?” (Gal 3:1), as if their thinking had come from demons.

· Paul also spoke of saints receiving a different spirit than one they received at first. (2Cor 11:4)

· Scripture clearly teaches that the forces of hell are directly at work on our thinking.

· To the degree we accept Satan’s lies… to that degree the enemy may be resident in our minds.

· Can a Christian be demon possessed?

· Spiritual possession clearly implies ownership… so a Christian cannot be demon possessed.

· We should speak of the degree to which a person could be demonized… Christians can be influenced to one degree or another by Satan... a continuum.

· If I practice sin in my life, Satan can turn an act of sin into a habit which leads downward into bondage. (Pr 5:22).

· Since we must serve someone (Josh 24:15), any area of your life that you don’t yield to H Spirit’s control… Satan will control.

o That can lead to bondage (demonized, oppressed), & the need for deliverance.

Effective ways to resist Satan. (Ja 4:6-10)

· The command to resist Satan (v.7) has been changed by many to ignore Satan…

If we fail to resist, we fall into sin that breaks fellowship with God, & sin can lead to increased attacks, bondage & spiritual blindness, & even death.

· Get alone with God & ask Him to reveal your temptation “hot buttons” so you can be prepared to resist the tempter when he comes. (Heb 12:1)

· Proper use of the Sword of the Spirit (rhema Scripture) is essential in spiritual warfare. Find specific Scriptures that speak to your need, memorize them & be ready to use them when Satan comes against you. Resist the devil & he will flee from you.

· In spiritual warfare, we are totally dependent on the H Spirit.

o Therefore, make every effort to be holy, & to not grieve or quench the Spirit.

o All power, authority, & victory are in Christ… abide in His presence.

o Daily choosing Christ &drawing near to Him is the best resistance.

o When you live in accord with truth of God’s Word... Satan is withstood. (2Cor 10:5)

· Seven ways to effectively resist Satan:

1. Humble yourself before God (Ja 4:6)… acknowledge your need of grace & guidance.

o Pray, “Father, lead me in the right paths, for Your reputation is at stake.” (Ps 23:3)

o Thankfully, we don’t have to resist Satan in our own strength… we stand in Christ.

2. Submit yourself to God (Ja 4:7)… dedicate your body to glorifying God (Rm 12:1), your mind to thinking His thoughts (Phil 4:8), your emotions to loving God (Mt 22:37), & your will to serve God. (Jn 12:26; Lk 9:23)).

3. Actively resist the devil (Ja 4:7)… come against Satan using name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 2:9-11) & standing in His finished work on the cross. Note how saints have overcome Satan (Rev 12:11) (Christ’s blood, faithful testimony, willing to lose life).

4. Counterattack (Eph 6:18-20)… Select prayer targets for each area of attack, & pray that these people will be saved & do great harm to Satan & his kingdom.

5. Draw near to God (Ja 4:8)… “cleanse your hands”, plead the blood of Jesus & ask forgiveness for any sins. “Purify your heart”… use Ps 139:23-24 as a guide for your prayers.

o After a time of temptation… draw near to God, & He will draw near to you.

6. Get back in the race (Heb12:1)… take captive every lie of the enemy (2Cor 10:5); fix your eyes on Christ Jesus (Heb 12:2).

7. Put on the full armor of God (Eph 6:10-18)… pray on each piece of the armor daily.

The belt of truth: only way to stand against Satan’s lies is with the truth.

The breastplate of righteousness: we’re totally dependent on God for true righteousness.

The sandals of the gospel of peace: Pray you’ll display God’s peace wherever you go.

The shield of faith: your faith is in Jesus Christ’s authority & victory… He is faithful.

The helmet of salvation: hope & assurance of God’s deliverance & salvation.

The sword of the Spirit: thank God for His living Word… memorize it to pierce the darkness.

Pray in the Spirit: pray for your prayer targets… people God has put on your heart.

Does your heart “burn” for Jesus Christ? (Lk 24:32)

· There are no “lukewarm” victorious Christians… only those whose hearts burn for Him.

· Does your heart burn when He speaks to you & opens Scripture for you? (Lk 24:32)

· Are you passionate when it comes to the study of God’s Word… His love letter to you?

· Sin will keep you from God’s Word, or God’s Word will keep you from sin.

· Was there a time when you couldn’t get enough of His Word… it was your daily delight?

o Do you read the Bible daily & more than a few minutes?

· Are you fervent (hot heart) when it comes to your prayer life?

o Prayer moves the heart of the One who moves the world.

o Fervent prayer of righteous man is powerful (Ja 5:16)… do you really believe that?

o Was there a time when prayer was your soul’s delight & you knew He was listening?

· Evangelism is not an option… Are you zealous when it comes to sharing your faith?

· If you don’t hunger (burn) for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ… your spiritual heat has diminished to lukewarm.

· A lukewarm Christian dishonors God (Rev 3:16)… he is deceived & defeated by Satan.

· Though currently defeated, he can yet walk in victory & fruitfulness… honoring God.

· By grace & Christ’s victory & authority, every Christian can choose to draw near to Christ, to repent & be forgiven, to be set free from sin & its bondage, to renew his mind, to put on the armor of God & thereby stand & resist Satan & be victorious. (Deut 11:26; Josh 24:15)