Resist the Devil — Mark Greening

Resisting the Devil Through Submission to God

This morning I will be preaching from James chapter 4 verse 7 which says submit yourselves then to God resist the devil and He will flee from you. Now at our last preaching team meeting as we all sat around and as everyone realized that the next verse in the series was this one and it fell to me there were smiles and quite a sense of Poetic justice.

I just want to let you know this was not planned. I do not choose to speak on these topics. It just seems that for the past while the Lord has so directed that I Am the winner of the lot on these and I don't mind speaking on it at all.

So I will be speaking for the next three Sundays Following this and you'll realize that I am able to speak on other topics other than spiritual warfare but As it is this morning. We want to learn what it means to resist the devil.

The Christian Response to Spiritual Warfare

I've known many Christians over the years who have been afraid to discuss this topic and even churches that avoid Talking about such things because they fear reprisal from the enemy. They feel fear oppression on themselves or that bad things are going to be happening if they discuss the enemy's tactics.

But to calm fears and to set the record straight God says in first John chapter 4 verse 4 Greater is he that is in you Than he that is in the world. That is the devil greater is he that's in you than he that is in the world.

And you know as Christians and Since this is true Not one of us need be afraid this morning if Christ lives in us as a matter of fact. The enemy is more afraid of Christ in us than we should be of him.

Actually this topic of the devil is brought to light within the first few chapters of Genesis by Genesis chapter 3 God does talk about the devil and his tactics. You remember that in the story of Adam and Eve?

Some time ago one father was tucking in his five-year-old son and four-year-old daughter and He read them a story as was his custom and he read them the story on Adam and Eve and the temptation in the garden.

And so he asked his children Before lights out. He said and what did you learn from this lesson tonight? And without hesitation the five-year-old son said not to play with snakes and That's exactly what James is saying here this morning in our text he says.

Don't play with snakes. Resist them. One of the challenges we face in the battle against sin is that we're fighting an invisible conflict the enemy of our souls we cannot see and Yet the battle we face daily is every bit as real as any world war that has ever been fought.

Martin Luther wrote these insightful words. He said for still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us. Woe. His craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate on earth is not his equal. Does not matter how long we've known the Lord.

Does not matter how much of the Bible, you know, it doesn't matter how spiritual you are or how many spiritual gifts you possess. None of us here this morning is a match for the enemy of our souls on earth is not his equal.

All the way through Scripture we see this truth confirmed every patriarch. Every priest Every prophet every king. Even the disciples were defeated one time or another by Satan. It is impossible to outwit the devil in our own wisdom and with our own strength even a man like Solomon Who by God's own admission is the wisest man who has ever lived and whoever will lived or it will live.

Yet by the end of his life He was brought to spiritual ruin by his own lusts by the very things. He warned his son about in the book of Proverbs. Every one of us knows that once we become Christians. This means war.

Walking in Victory by Following God’s Instructions

Son of us this week have been in the heat of battle. Some of us are lying wounded on the battlefield and For others we've been defeated and you've given up. That's the bad news that we're in a war but the good news is God promises in our text this morning that we can actually walk in victory and that by Following God's instructions Satan will actually flee from us by humbly following God's commands.

We can actually put to flight the most powerful force in the universe next to God. Well, how then do we overcome temptation and besetting sins in the evil one in our lives. Verse 7 says first We submit to God.

Then secondly, we resist the devil and he will flee from you. Now I'm going to do something different this morning. I'm going to start with the second step instead of talking about submission this week.

I want to talk about resisting the devil. I believe that's important just to clear away some of the preconceptions and lies that we may have Heard or believed over the years. Scripture says do not go beyond what is written and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

And so I want to talk this morning about what it means Scripturally to resist the devil then next week. We're going to talk about submitting to God and really That is a prerequisite to Resisting the enemy but be that as it may I want to talk about resisting the enemy today.

First I want to start by talking to you not about how to resist the devil. But what it means to or what it does not mean rather to resist the devil. I want to talk for the first half of this sermon about what it means.

There doesn't mean to resist. This is what it does not mean to resist the devil now. There are a few areas in the Christian world of greater confusion than this teaching over the past few decades. There are many books that tell us that we are to pray spiritual warfare prayers and that we are to and let me just quote some Of the common phrases and catch phrases and young people.

I want to just share this specifically with you. You may not have read some of these books. But you will hear these things as you get older in the faith and you need to be aware to be forewarned as the before arm, and so I want to talk about these today some of the things that Books teach is that we are to bind the enemy or bind Satan.

We are taught in some of these books to rebuke Satan in the name of the Lord. We are taught that we are to command the enemy to go to the abyss. And we have the authority to do that or to tell the enemy to go to the foot of the cross.

We're told and here's a big one over the years and please Check the scriptures to see if this is taught anywhere. We're taught to plead the precious blood of Jesus on people or situations or things. Do you know these things are not taught in Scripture?

We're taught to pray spiritual hedges around people and the list goes on. But nowhere does the scripture teach us these things and they begin this road. Down a path that takes us where we don't want to go.

We're all of a sudden. We have no defenses because we've believed not the truth, but the lies and deception of the enemy. There are even pre-written spiritual warfare prayers that have become mantras for some Christians.

Some time ago. I counseled with a man who for 35 years. He told me he had been under oppression by the enemy. Once he became married that oppression came into his home his wife and his children. Regularly had nightmares hideous nightmares demonic nightmares at night.

I won't describe all the things that took place but be that as it may he was under tremendous attack continuously. He was well educated well respected in a very very large church here in Ontario. He was training to be a missionary.

He was planning on going to the mission field and he says I cannot go I cannot go until I have victory over this oppression in my life. He told me that he had Seconded prayer support around the world from some well-known Christian leaders some of whom I had heard of before.

He had prayer teams praying for him for release from this demonic oppression that he felt daily. It was so tangible it would sometimes drive him to tears. He even used to pray that God would take his life.

And so I started to share with him from scripture and all I needed to do is find out the lies. He believed and counter it with the truth and by the end of five hours of just going through scripture. He looked at me and he says mark.

I want to tell you something. In all the years I've been through this is one of the most significant days of my life. Because I now know the truth and the truth will set me free and if the Sun sets you free you will be free indeed.

He quoted John 8 32 and 36. He says today I have chosen to not go beyond what is written according to first Corinthians 4. And I'm going to stand by faith on the Word of God and how scripture teaches me to resist the devil.

This has been so simple. I didn't believe it could be that simple, but I'm going to trust God's Word. He put his faith in God's Word, and he called me a little later and said this mark since that day we met.

He says I've been free. My family's been free. If the Sun sets you free you will be free indeed. According to scripture We do not have authority to command Satan to leave us or other people when he is tempting them or oppressing us.

Now don't jump to conclusions. I'm going to talk about our authority over Satan in a moment. But according to scripture you do not have authority. I do not have authority if my brother Stefan here is under oppression by the enemy.

I cannot command Satan to leave him. I cannot do that. We have authority elsewhere in scripture regarding the enemy. But I do not have authority to tell him any of anything that's happening to my brother.

I cannot command Satan to leave him. I can pray for him, but I cannot command the enemy to leave him. All we can do according to scripture is resist the devil. We can quote scripture. We can put on the full armor of God.

We can pray. But if we say that we have authority to bind Satan over his working in our lives and in this church. Then folks, let's call a Wednesday night prayer meeting this Wednesday when we pray. Every one of you come out and we're all together in one accord.

We're going to bind Satan and in one foul swoop. We're going to deal with him and get rid of him and do us and all the churches around the world a favor because we'll bind him folks. We have no authority to do that.

Job, Paul, and the Limits of Human Authority

May I continue speaking a little facetiously? This is the problem with Job. Was it not. Job's friends didn't understand and hadn't read these spiritual warfare books yet. And so when they came to Job when the Satan had taken his family and his wealth and even his health.

They didn't know that they could bind Satan and and ends Job's trial quickly. They didn't know that. And neither did the Apostle Paul know and neither did his churches know even though the Apostle Paul wrote half of the New Testament.

He didn't know. That he could have bound Satan and the thorn in his flesh begun. Remember what Paul said. I besought the Lord three times that this thorn of the flesh be taken from me. But the Lord said my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Paul I'm not taking this messenger of Satan from you Paul. You see we do not have authority where God has not given us authority in these things we're given authority to resist the devil. Now I only bring this up to shed light on the church's departure from Scripture up until the 1980s.

The church taught that the way we're to engage Satan was to quote scripture as Jesus did in the wilderness. When at the end of the temptation, he said Satan it is written three times. It is written. He quoted scripture and said get behind me.

That's all that Jesus did he quoted scripture. The church used to teach that we were to put on the full armor of God according to Ephesians chapter 6. Wonderful passage on putting on the full armor of God and having done all to stand just to stand to resist the enemy.

The church taught that in Jude chapter 1 the Lord rebuked you Satan. Even Michael the Archangel when arguing with Satan about the body of Moses did not dare bring slanderous Accusations against him but rather said the Lord rebuked you Satan.

And then in James 4 7 and 1st Peter 5 8 We were taught by the church for years that we were just simply to resist the devil and he would flee from us. Until the latter part of the 20th century the early church took seriously God's warning in 1st Corinthians 4 6 do not go beyond What is written?

The church took seriously. Revelation 2 24 were God's commendation to those in Thyatira who had not embraced false teaching and who had not Learned Satan's so-called deep secrets. That's a direct quote Satan's so-called deep secrets and folks when we start reading books.

And when we start going beyond what is written and when we start learning Satan's so-called deep spiritual secrets We get into trouble. Because God says if you want to resist the devil and have him flee from you all you do is you stand firm you resist.

You resist and he will flee from you. Now someone will say but what about the authority that Christ has given us over Satan? Don't you believe in the authority that Christ has given us over Satan? I absolutely do.

Christ’s Authority Over Demons

Amen. Luke chapter 10 19 Jesus said to the disciples They returned with joy the 72 because they said Lord even the demons submit to us in your name and they were so excited and Jesus said this I have given you authority to trample on snakes and Scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy.

Nothing will harm you. Yes, I believe this and yes, I've been in situations where I needed to exercise my authority over Satan. I remember one Story. One day I got a telephone call a number of years ago and this girl at the other end gave me her name and she told me where she lived in Ontario and she says Mr. Greening I You don't know me but I've grown up in a Satanist home.

My mother and father led one of the most Well-known Satanist covens in Canada and as a little girl I was dedicated to Satan and I became possessed as a result. She said I've gone to counselors. I've gone to psychiatrists.

I have gone to psychologists and No one can help me she said I wouldn't have known to call you, but I just walked into a church in this particular city and She said to the pastor she says, can you help me?

No one can help me. I'm in terrible trouble. Can you help me? And he looked at her. He says in this church We don't deal with things like this, but I know a fellow by the name of Mark Greening. And she said to me on the phone.

She says Mark when that man mentioned the name Mark Greening, she said the Holy Spirit spoke to me and Said you call that man. He can help you. I told her on the phone. I said, I'm sorry. I can't help you.

I Said but I know someone who can the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you will submit to him. And if you will resist the enemy He will flee from you. He will be delivered. I Got together with that pastor just him and I alone with her.

And for the first hour I wept as she told me her story. I have never heard a story of emotional spiritual and sexual abuse ever in my life. Words fail. Well, I won't talk about that this morning. All I can say is there's no one here this morning.

Not one of you who has even come close to what she went through not one. Not one of you. And as we chatted and as I shared scripture with her and as she put her faith in Jesus Christ Eight demons manifested themselves and one by one in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I exercised the authority that God has given to us as Christians in these cases and they were all cast out everyone. She was set free. She wept for almost a half hour and rejoicing tears of joy. After that meeting I lost contact with her.

So did the other pastor. We didn't know what happened to her a year later I get a phone call from her. She said mark. It's me. She said I just thought I should follow up with you. I want to tell you something right after I was delivered.

She said I moved to another city. I changed my identity because the Satanists had a contract out on my life to kill me when they found out I'd become a Christian. She says I just want to tell you something if the Sun sets you free.

You will be free indeed. I am free. I am free. And so God has given us authority in extenuating circumstances, but folks for you and I today. Unless anyone tells me they're possessed here. We don't have authority in your life.

I don't have authority in your life. You have the authority to resist the devil and he will flee from you. That's it. Now back to our passage. God says if you want Satan to flee from you. All you've got to do is resist him.

Satan’s Tactics: Lies and Deception

But what does it mean to resist the devil? Now to know how to resist the devil we have to know how he comes at us. What are his tactics in coming to you and me once we understand his tactics now we can resist him.

Jesus explained Satan's tactics in John 8 44. Let me read this for you Jesus talking to the people around him by the way, these are people that like listening to his sermons. They were those who are very religious by and large the churchgoers of his day and he said to them which must have really shocked.

He said you belong to your father the devil and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning. Not holding to the truth for there is no truth in him. When he lies he speaks his native language.

For he is a liar and the father of lies. Now here Jesus is speaking to non-christians to those who could not resist the devil. And how did the devil get those non-christians to do his will? He lied to them and They believed his lie and they were like puppets on strings.

Because Satan is very good at lying. He's the father of lies. And what is more Jesus calls him and Says about him that when he speaks he speaks his native language. Now what language do you speak this morning?

Now obviously all of us speak English or else we wouldn't be here today. But there's many other languages represented here. We have some Arabic some Chaldean some Korean French Spanish other languages.

But have you ever considered that the language that Satan speaks to you and me is called the language of deception and the language Of falsehood, that's the only thing he can speak. Even though he may speak truth he twists it at the end to put his spin on it like he did with with Eve in the garden and The truth is and I'm going to address the young people as we go through on a number of these issues all week long.

Whether you realize that or not. Some of the thoughts you've been thinking. We're not even your thoughts you thought they were your thoughts, but they're the enemy's thoughts. Because he is the world's greatest propaganda machine that's ever been around and the first way he deceives us is by getting us to think.

That his thoughts that he throws into our mind those fiery darts are our thoughts. And if he can convince you that his thoughts are your thoughts. Then he's got you defeated. Let me just expose some of the lies there are so many I could preach a whole series of sermons on the lies that the enemy Speaks, but I won't do that.

Let me just take five minutes or so and talk about some of the enemy's lies. Let me tell you what he's been telling some of you. There is no God and by the way, I don't exist either. But God says in Isaiah 45 22 for I am God and there is no other Satan will then come Tweak his lies to some of you and we'll say if you do believe in God then there are many paths to God and by the Way, I still don't exist.

Acts 4 12 says salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given by men by which We must be saved. The father of lies then comes and he says Well, maybe you believe the Bible and you can believe that Jesus was an historical figure but Jesus never rose from the dead.

Jesus's disciples made the whole thing up. Acts 2 32 we read Peter said God has raised this Jesus to life and we are all witnesses of the fact and by the way young people If anyone tells you that Jesus didn't rise from the dead.

I want you to ask them this question ask them Why did 11 disciples then die brutal martyrs death for a lie? Brutal deaths. Peter asked to renounce the fact that Jesus was Lord. He rose from the dead. They said Peter you don't renounce that we're going to kill your wife right in front of your eyes.

He says how can I deny him who died for me? They killed his wife in front of his eyes. His two children stood before him. They said if you do not renounce that Jesus Christ is Lord. That he rose from the dead.

We will kill your two sons. He says how can I deny him who died for me? They killed his two sons in front of him. Then they hung him upside down and crucified him. You asked people who tell you that Jesus didn't rise from the dead why 11 men would die for a lie.

That's a lie from Satan that he's telling some of you right this morning Jesus rose from the dead. He's alive today, man. Here's another lie. He'll tell you. Oh, you're a pretty good person. Nobody's perfect.

And by the way, God is loving so you'll get to heaven one way or another. Romans 3 23 6 23 and 5 8 combined tell us this that all of sin and fall short of the glory of God and that the Penalty of sin is death, but in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

That's how much he loved us. Satan says there is no hell. Hell is here on earth. So because you're living the good life, don't worry about eternal punishment. There is none Jesus Christ himself in marks 947.

Jesus talking to those who refuse to repent in this life said they will be quote-unquote thrown into hell. Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Everyone will be salted with fire.

The Gospel’s Answer to Satan’s Accusations

Now once we become Christians the game changes and Satan's lies take on a new form. Here he'll come to you now that you've been saved and he'll say this. You'll never be forgiven for that bad sin. That's one for the Guinness Book of World Records other sins, but not that sin.

In Colossians 2 13 we read he forgave us all our sins. Satan then comes and modifies that lie. He says, okay. So God's forgiven you from that sin, but not these ones you've committed since becoming a Christian because you're bad.

First John 1 9 says if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Satan then comes to us and says didn't I tell you you were bad. Let me remind you of all the bad things that you have done and said and felt.

You have every right to be depressed because as I told you you're bad. Romans 8 1 says therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Satan comes to you and I counsel this more amongst young people than adults.

But Satan comes to you and he says You're ugly. You're uncoordinated. You're stupid. You're dumb. You'll never amount to anything. And when he really wants you to believe this, you know what he does. He has some of your friends or people at school or people on the street come and say the same thing to you, doesn't he?

You say how could that be? Isn't that what he did to Peter? He wanted to get at Jesus and Jesus is talking about going to die in Jerusalem and Peter says never Lord this shall never happen to you and Jesus looked right at him and said get thee behind me Satan.

You have not the things of God in mind. But the things of man and I want to tell you Satan is sending some of your friends to confirm these things in your mind this week. God says about that in Psalm 139 13 for you created my inmost being.

You knit me together in my mother's womb. I Praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came. To be you are not a mistake.

Your gifts your talents your looks your direction your propensities all of these things God Pre-programmed into you not the sinful ones by the way. Psalmist says in 139 how precious are your thoughts to me?

How vast is the sum of them? Would I do count them they would outnumber the grains of the sand of the sea. God thinks such loving thoughts towards you and you know. What is all of these loving thoughts are being thought towards you and scripture is being taught to you by your parents or in this church.

Or your youth leaders, you know what Satan's there. He's lying against every truth that you've been taught. He's lied about everyone. Because he's a liar and the father of lies and when he lies he speaks his native language.

He comes to us and he says these things to some of you. I'm going to destroy you. Isn't that what Jesus said in John 10 10 seal quote scripture to you? The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

But he doesn't tell you the rest of the verse. But I have come said Jesus that you might have life and have it to the full. But he says he's going to destroy some of you first. John 3 8 by the way Satan never quotes this verse.

First John 3 8 the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. Satan comes to you and says I have power in your life and I can keep making you sin. Colossians 2 15 We read and having disarmed the powers and authorities Jesus made a public spectacle of them Triumphing over them by the cross.

Satan's been disarmed. He has no weapons forged against you that can prevail. None, he comes to some of you and he says you will be stuck committing this sin till the day you die. Everybody does it so take a chill pill and don't worry about it.

John 8 32 and 36 as I've already quoted you will know the truth and the truth will set you free and if the Sun sets You free you will be free indeed. Galatians 5 1 it is for freedom that Christ has set you free.

Stand firm then and do not be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Satan comes to some of us and says Just say what's on your mind. You have a right to express yourself. Proverbs 15 1 says a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

He comes to you and says you have a right to be angry. Go ahead lash out throw things bang that door yell and scream. Just let off some steam and you'll feel better for it. God says in Ephesians 4 26 in your anger do not sin.

Do not let the Sun go down while you're angry. Do not give the devil a foothold. Now I'm going to say something and I'm just gonna throw this out and you can talk to me about this after this week. I just feel I should say this and I won't elaborate.

The enemy sometimes lies to people and I believe in all the gifts as God sovereignly gives them. I believe that all the gifts as God sovereignly gives them. But sometimes the enemy comes and teaching comes and tells you if you really want defense.

All you have to do is speak in tongues and you'll be Protected from the evil one. Do you know that is a life in the pit? Nowhere in Scripture does it teach that and I throw that out because I feel that some of you have been taught that.

And your prayers may be hindered this morning. Because I have dealt with people over the years. Who have been handed false gifts? One man came to my office. Said that he couldn't ever get answers to prayer.

His life was a failure. And he says but I speak in tongues. I know I must have the Holy Spirit and God is listening to my prayers because I speak in tongues. And as he began speaking in tongues in my office, he fell to the floor writhing and an evil spirit manifested itself.

While he was speaking tongues folks I want to warn you against this. A gift is a gift and if the Holy Spirit gives the gift he gives the gift. But if you went to someone demanding a gift seeking a gift someone laid hands on you to give you a gift.

You have every reason to question whether that was of God or not as I said I believe in all the gifts as God sovereignly gives them and I throw that out because many Christians I've counseled have been under such oppression and they Tell me that they they know that it that the enemy shouldn't be there because of this gift.

They have. I want to warn you. I want to warn you about that. Now I wasn't planning on mentioning that this morning, but I thought I would throw that out in case anyone here is Experiencing and believing that deception of the enemy and you are kept down now.

Resisting the Devil by Standing Firm in the Faith

So, what is our defense against the devil's schemes, how do we send that crafty serpent to flight? James says all we have to do is resist the devil. Resist his lies and the lies of temptation that come again and again.

All we have to do is keep believing the truth and saying no, I don't believe you. I believe God. I believe his word over and over and over again. No matter how often the enemy comes at us and sooner or later.

The enemy concedes defeat and leaves us until an opportune time as he did with Jesus, but he does leave us Peter and first Peter 5 8 says the same thing. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

That's scary. How what's the solution. Peter if Satan goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour what do I do next verse? Resist him. That's what Peter says. Resist him standing firm in the faith.

And what is the faith the truth of the Word of God? Everything that I just read this morning and everything else. I didn't read that's in this book. This morning is the truth and you resist him by standing firm in the faith standing firm in the truth believing it God's Word and not Satan's Word to you.

You say how do I know what Satan's telling me? And how do I know what he's gonna lie to me about? Take everything that the Word of God says. Take the opposite and that's what he's telling you and. Then he goes on and he says resist him standing firm in the faith because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Do you know that if we were to pull a hundred youth groups this morning here in Ontario? Do you know that if those young people wrote down every thought every bad emotion? Every time they felt depressed fearful anxious.

No good bla bla bla. Do you know that what you write down this morning would be identical to what everyone else is writing down? Oh, it's not not to every single person to a man or woman, but I mean you'd be surprised.

Because the enemy wants you to think that you're the only one who's going through what you're going through. You're the only one that that's true about. No scripture says. You know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings and guess what they're learning to resist the devil like I'm teaching you Peter says and folks day after day as We believe God's Word and we resist the devil in his lies you will begin to sense victory and your feelings will change and You will have joy and your doubts will leave and the Sun will begin to shine again in your life.

And you will experience the joy and love of God in your life shed abroad in your hearts as you've never experienced it before. When I was a teenager my mother Taught me to memorize Psalm 119 verse 11.

Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you. Young people can I ask you and challenge you? From what God says to hide his word in your heart. To read daily from God's Word if you're not sure where to read.