Strength for the Fight

"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." -1 Peter 5.9

The enemy must be intentionally resisted, but how? Look back at Judges 14, where Samson is attacked by a lion as he travels to Timnah.

"Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing in his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done." Judges 14.5-6

Samson is attacked by a lion, and as the lion charges, God empowers him. It is the Spirit of God giving Samson mighty strength that allows him to kill the lion.

In the last post I shared James 4.7 and Ephesians 6.10-17, look at how both of those passages of Scripture begin.

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4.7

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6.10-12

Submit to God. Be strong in the Lord. That is how we fight. It is not that we resist the devil that causes him to flee, it is because we have submitted to God that he cannot stand against us. It is only in God's strength that I can be well armed for the spiritual battle that lies before me. I can only resist the enemy, when I am firm in my faith; I can only overcome the lion when the Spirit of God comes mightily upon me.

We are at war, we live in the war zone of the Spiritual realm. We care called to join the fight, but we are not sent into battle with no training and no equipment. Let us submit to God, being strong in Him, standing firm in our faith, and as we do, the Spirit will come mightily upon us. No demon, not even the devil himself, can stand against one in whom God's Spirit resides.

the lion is out there, ready to attack, but we are empowered to fight back.


Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!