We are praying for a great week for Kristine and for you and the girls! The word for this week is "resist". We'll be looking at these two verses:
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. KJV
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. KJV
This is the Greek word "anthistemi". Vine's Expository Dictionary shows that this is a compound word with "anti" meaning against, and "histemi" meaning to cause to stand. Strong's Concordance adds: to oppose. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to set against. The Word of God reveals to us that we have supernatural weapons that work against the enemy (2 Corinthians 10:4). In order for these weapons to work effectively, we must first of all recognize the works of the enemy, and then set ourselves against him, refusing to accept any report that is contrary to what the word of God says belong to us. Putting the Word as our final authority buts us in submission to God so that when we resist the enemy, the promise is that he WILL flee from us! I love this expanded translation from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems":
"Stand firmly against the devil! That's right - be unbending and unyielding in the way you resist him so that he knows he is up against a serious contender. If you'll take this kind of stand against him, he will tuck his tail and run like a criminal who knows the day of prosecution is upon him. Once you start resisting him, he'll flee from you in terror!"
Now THAT is a powerful promise! Here is a very old song by the Christians rock group, Petra, called "Now Weapon Formed Against Me". The quality isn't great, but the message is good!
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
