Thursday, August 2, 2007

To Resist We Must See, To See We Must Submit



James 4:7
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Our Enemy has blinded us (the Body of Christ) to the movement of GOD. Why and how has he done this? The 'Why' can be explained this way ... if we cannot see our enemy how can we resist him? Our Enemy has diminished the desire for us to know GOD's will. And, how do we know GOD's will? By being in relationship with HIM. So, here's the 'How' ... our Enemy entices us to seek pleasure and avoid pain. In James 1 we read that we will suffer trials in our life as Christ-Followers. And, through the trials we grow in perseverence. How many of us enjoy the trials? I know I don't. But, it is through the trials that GOD teaches us to hear HIS voice, to know HIS will, and to see HIS movement in the Spirit. Later in James 1 it says that we are to ask for wisdom from GOD. When we ask for wisdom what does HE give us? I challenge you now in what I believe GOD is saying ... when we ask for wisdom HE give us more trials. We get more wisdom by practicing discernment (Hebrews 5:14). So, when we ask for wisdom GOD gives us more 'practice'. It is in the trials that we learn we need HIM, and by needing HIM we lean on HIM (Proverbs 3: 4-6), and by leaning on HIM we submit. And, as we submit GOD sharpens our discernment (seeing). And, what is discernment? My pastor says it is knowing where GOD is and where GOD is not. By seeing/discerning we can be in GOD's will, and we can see and 'resist' the devil.
SUBMIT ... SEE ... RESIST ... To GOD's Glory.