Apostolic Friends Forum - Defeated Enemy

This is today's online devotion from the Pentecostal Evangel
Jim Ellis

Defeated Enemy

October 26, 2009

By Gary Rogers

No one is immune to the attacks of our spiritual enemy. First Peter 5:8
tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks
about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (NKJV). Our adversary
walks throughout the earth seeking the weak and the strong, the stable and
the faltering, the young and the old, and no one is excluded from being in
the crosshairs of his aim. His desire is to tear into pieces, devour and
destroy your life. The devil devours people with pride, fear, rebellion,
poverty, sickness, worry, doubt, depression, defeat, discouragement,
frustration and immorality. His arsenal is filled with just the right bullet
to bring down any victim.

The good news is, our enemy has been defeated. First John 3:8 tells us, “For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works
of the devil.” Jesus came to this earth to destroy our enemy. Jesus’ death
on the cross opened the door to His resurrection, which made the way for the
devil’s head to be crushed. Jesus shared our flesh-and-blood qualities so He
could die and, with His death, destroy our enemy. Hebrews 2:14 explains, “He
Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him
who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Jesus has defeated our enemy. Through God’s Word we know our enemy’s
tactics. We know his weaknesses. We have armor he can’t penetrate. We have
weapons he can’t defend against. We have a General who has won our battle
for us. So how can anyone suffer loss from a defeated foe?

There are three ways to lose when fighting a defeated enemy. The first way
to lose is to surrender. Imagine a boxer about to knock his opponent out,
then pausing and throwing up his hands to declare, “I give up!” When you
just stop fighting and give up, you lose even though your enemy is defeated.
There is no place in this Christian walk where we can stop fighting.

The second way to lose to a defeated enemy is to become a traitor. Changing
sides and showing loyalty to the opposing side will change your destiny in
this spiritual battle. If you stop praying, studying your Bible and
attending church, you are becoming a traitor to your own spiritual
condition. You become an ally to the enemy when you sabotage your spiritual
maturity and strength by giving up what brings spiritual victory.

The last way to lose to a defeated enemy is to sign a peace treaty. If you
hand the devil a peace treaty, he’ll grab it and start dictating terms.
He’ll want your hope, your future, your peace, your joy, your eternity.
He’ll want your spouse, your kids, your finances, your health and your home.
He’ll take and take and take until there is nothing left. He wants to devour
you! You must fight back. There can be no surrender, no becoming a traitor,
and no treaty.

But be reassured — Jesus has defeated Satan, and you must daily fight the
devil’s tactics by remembering that he must flee when you resist him in the
power of the Savior. You are on the winning side, and there is no reason for
you to be defeated.

— Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla.