Gird Up!

How many times in life do we get angry, frustrated, disappointed or disgusted with people?

You cannot get on the internet, turn on the TV, or listen to the radio without hearing the anger people have with others. Just the other day I received a phone call from someone who was extremely angry with me. Thankfully, as I have matured as a Christian, I have learned who my enemy is! It was not the person on the other end of the phone; it was Satan, who was prompting the person, who was so angry.

In fact, it was another Christian who had allowed Satan to get them so “fired up” that my phone got “warm” from the anger. During the conversation I realized this person had been nursing their anger for weeks. The minute I realized the anger I started to pray, asking the Lord to speak through me. Sometimes I fail at this when someone else is angry but I have really been working on “gentleness,” a fruit of the Spirit.

Scripture also teaches that you can be angry but not to sin in your anger. I’m not gonna sit in judgment of the person on the other end of the phone about whether or not they were in sin, but I also know that it was my responsibility to NOT OWN their anger. In my younger days, when someone would get angry with me, I would get angry right back. Thankfully as I have matured and through failure I have learned that just because someone else is angry doesn’t mean I have to join them! I feel the conversation ended up going well especially due to the fact that we were both Christians and the Lord took over and allowed me to be “gentle.” It was definitely the Holy Spirit…in my “own strength” I would have failed!

In Scripture you don’t see Jesus rebuking people, but you do see Him rebuke Satan. So often in our Christian walk we look at people as our enemy. But Scripture is crystal clear as to who our REAL enemy is. Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Who does Scripture say Satan is?? Satan is not imaginary; he isn’t something people dreamed up in an attempt to explain the existence of evil. Satan is real and the Bible makes it clear that he is a powerful (and evil) spiritual being who is absolutely opposed to God and His goodness.

The Bible doesn’t give us a detailed account of Satan’s origin but it does indicate that Satan originally was one of God’s angels, created by Him to carry out His will. Apparently Satan became filled with jealousy and pride and decided to lead a rebellion against God so he could take God’s place as the ruler of all creation. The Bible says, “You said in your heart I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13).

Satan’s rebellion failed and he was cast out of heaven. Now Satan and those who followed him are fallen angels—no longer part of God’s heavenly army, separated from heaven’s glory forever. He still is powerful, however, and he still does everything he can to block God’s plan for our lives.

Don’t be deceived: Satan is our enemy and he will do everything he can to keep us from God.

Point of post…we all have an enemy whose name is Satan. Our enemy is not people. So as Christians we need to “Girl up” and “Man up” by Girding up. Putting God’s word into practice and seeing the enemy for who he is and battling the way scripture teaches.

Satan prompts people and deceives people into doing his dirty work. Our battle has to be fought on this earth with spiritual weapons…putting on the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:10, “Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:14-17, “Stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breast plate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes form the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.”

James 4:7-8 states, “Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” These are powerful verses to obey. When you are verbally attacked by another human, realize your real enemy is Satan. Submitting (praying to God), by inviting Him to take over, resisting the fleshly urge and promptings of Satan to engage sinfully, is when you will see that God will not fail you. The Holy Spirit who lives inside of every believer will take over.

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