DO YOU RESIST THE DEVIL?

 DO YOU RESIST THE DEVIL?

JAMES 4:6-8 

BUT HE GIVETH MORE GRACE. WHEREFORE HE SAITH, GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, BUT GIVETH GRACE UNTO THE HUMBLE. SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU. DRAW NIGH TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW NIGH TO YOU. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YE SINNERS; AND PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, YE DOUBLE MINDED.

Are you proud or humble? Do you submit yourself to God? Do you resist the devil?

I ask these questions because we so often are proud, prideful, and boastful about anything and everything. We say, good job, to ourselves, and pat ourselves on the back.  I have heard preachers say, that's good preaching brother when they don't think the congregation has said Amen enough or loud enough. Maybe we have false humility, we pretend to be humble. People say good preaching or teaching, and we say very humbly, thank you it was all God, then we swell our chests as we leave. 

Do you truly submit to God? Do you receive The Word given to you by God or by it a person of your congregation? Or do you think that because of who you are, they couldn't possibly know more than you? I am the preacher or teacher and they are just someone I need to teach. When you read The Bible do you read it expecting a Word, or do you read knowing that you already understand all that it says?

When someone disagrees with you do you immediately think that the devil is working on them sowing discord and divisions? When there is a conflict, do you ask God if it is on your part? You should, because, don't you want to be absolutely sure to preach or teach The True Gospel? It doesn't hurt to ask God, am I correct on this? Tell God where I am wrong, please show me. Never assume, always know with certainty, that way you can help others see how they are in error, in love, not with pride in being right. Do you resist the devil?

Donna K Purifoy

7/31/2022