Persecution? Trials? Hey, Buddy, Resist!
One night when I was in college, I was floating down the sidewalk, on the way back to my dormitory after having visited the love of my life. There was still a tiny glow of her presence inspiring me and my thoughts flew away to perfume and flowers and all the things you think about–before you’re married.
Suddenly I heard a sound that didn’t seem to be a love bird. Grrrrr!
Electricity ran up my back as I turned to see a ten-foot tall German Shepherd bounding towards me. His fangs were nine inches long, dripping slobber. (All these dimensions and certain impressions were estimations that I made at that moment and might not be completely correct. There was a German Shepherd anyway).
Coming after me!
I wanted to run but that would have been an enormous error. Fortunately I knew what to do because I had watched several Tarzan movies. I squared up my feet and faced the oncoming monster like Tarzan getting ready for a lion to jump on him. I had a package of something in my hands so I threatened to throw it at him.
You should have seen the ferocious look on my face. Well, I suppose it was ferocious. It could have been more like an expression of terror.
I yelled, “Get out of here!” If I had thought, I could have yelled “Ungawa!” That’s what Tarzan yelled at the wild animals when he wanted to save beautiful Jane. But, in this case, the beautiful girl was at her place. I worried about saving my own skin.
Incredibly, when I yelled and threatened, he stopped, turned around like a good doggie and trotted off behind the house he had come from
As for me, when my heart started to beat again, I continued back toward the college but I no longer tripped over the clouds. If I had run in that situation he would have bitten off a good portion of my calf or worse.
And Tarzan would have been ashamed of me.
That’s how it is in our battles with the devil.
“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world.” (1 Peter 5:8, 9 The Message)
“Resist him, steadfast in the faith …” (5:9 NKJV)
The Greek word for “resist” according to Mr. Thayer is “anthistēmi” which means: “1) to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose 2) to set against.”
If you run, the devil couldn’t ask for anything better. He’ll eat you up in one gulp. No, resist!
Combat the devil by faith, put your trust in God. We’ll be successful because of God’s faithfulness. Turn around and stand up to the enemy so that he will know that if he attacks you, he’s going to leave some feathers.
It goes even deeper because resisting the enemy does something in us. From being rookies without experience we become experienced warriors able to give more than we receive from the enemy.
“So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” (5:10 The Message)
When you resist the devil, you learn to stay on your feet during the battle; your muscles because solid and powerful and the devil realizes he can no longer run over you.
So how do you resist?
Quit panicking and turn towards the enemy to fight. “But, he’s roaring like a lion,” you cry. Yeah, but when he opens his eyes, he will see the Lion of the Tribe of Judah standing by you.
The devil may make the noise of a lion but Jesus IS the lion!
Then get into the Word, and get the Word into you. You don’t read the Bible just to get brownie points with God! You get strong when you read, meditate and put it into practice.
In the American Civil War, the Southern troops had a battle cry they called, “the Rebel yell.” I got a kick out of an old film showing old veterans demonstrating how they did it. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6jSqt39vFM)
When you hear the devil roaring, we have a battle cry as we rush into battle: “Here’s what God has said!”
Then feed yourself by thinking of the Lord Jesus and his promises to you. He is on your side. He loves you. It’s impossible for Him to abandon you. If you feed all day long on what doesn’t please you in life, when the fake lion shows up you’re going to run and he’s going to eat you up.
Some of us get gobbled up each day. Aren’t you sick of being the Big Mac of the devil? Stop! Resist him! He might find that you’re a little tougher eating than he had remembered.