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How You Can Win Against Satan

Ed Young

As we begin a new  month and new season, there is something I want you to know. This truth is important if you are to be spiritually victorious throughout the rest of the year. It is simply this:

You are under spiritual attack...in an all out spiritual war...as Satan does all he can to cause you spiritual defeat.

Whether you realize it or not, you live in a spiritual war zone.  It's a battle for your heart and soul. 

The Bible teaches that every Christian is under spiritual attack. Scripture tells us we are aliens in this world, and Satan, as the ruler of this world, is constantly seeking the spiritual demise of every Christian.

If you think you are at home in this world, you have been misled. Do you realize that to embrace the values of the world is to place yourself in hostility toward God (James 4:4)? The world's values are not eternal, but temporal. And to embrace those values aligns you with the values of Satan himself.

But, if you are walking with God, embracing eternal values, you are secure against Satan and his attacks because of your relationship with Christ.  Christ has already won the victory and Satan knows that.

But there is a danger when you realize the position you have in Christ.  It is easy to seem invincible. After all, when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you indeed are in Christ. 

This may lead you to ask, "What else could I possibly need? He is my portion, isn't He? He has overcome the world, hasn't He?"

The answer is a resounding, "Yes!" I want to assure you, as long as you are walking with Christ, you have nothing to worry about. You indeed are secure in Him.

But this can create a complacency that is so dangerous. Here's why: 

Too frequently we are lured, enticed, or dragged away from Christ through the deception of Satan. The devil bombards our thoughts, our desires, our emotions in almost imperceptible ways, and we get tricked or seduced into believing his lies.

This is where the battle takes place. Satan will do all in his power to pull you away from walking in Christ and His victory. This battle is very real...and the reason why so many Christians today live in defeat and lack the joy God intends for them.

Now, if Satan has declared war, then the sensible thing to do would be to find out just as much as we can about our enemy, how he is likely to attack us, and how we can overcome him.

The first place to start is with a right perspective. One big problem in the church today is that many get so worried about the devil that they see demons behind every bush. That is a wrong perspective.

"Oh, I have a spirit of lust, of greed, of desire. I'm being attacked by this and attacked by that."  While the war Satan has declared is very real, not everything wrong in your life can be blamed on Satan.

So what is the right perspective? And how do we become victorious in our fight against Satan?

The right perspective is to understand you are indeed under spiritual attack...but you can be victorious!

That victory begins with what the Bible tells us in James 4:7: "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Too often as we find ourselves battling Satan, we simply fail to resist him.  While he's always looking for the perfect opportunity to tempt you and me with something attractive, something seemingly irresistible, he only wins when we play his game. 

So the first principle is this: 

We must submit to God, and we must resist the devil, or we are sure to fail. Satan has his eyes fixed squarely on you. He has you in his sights. In fact, you may feel that you're always under attack. And you may feel like you are constantly failing in the battle. Here is my challenge to you:

Submit to God...and resist the devil. Make that your habit.

Now, if you feel like you are constantly failing, don't worry - the greatest heroes of the Scriptures lost great battles against Satan. Just keep fighting...keep submitting to God and resisting the devil.

Now, on the other hand, you may be riding high in spiritual prosperity. You may feel bulletproof. Don't be misled by victory - Satan has a strategic plan to bring you down. The secret for victory is to understand that plan.

As you read Scripture, you begin to understand that Satan's strategy is to attack in any one of four basic areas: your body, your mind, your conscience, and your will. 

As you gain a better understanding of his tactics, you will be more perceptive of how he attacks...and be able to win as you trust Christ for the victory.

My challenge to you is to make every day a day of victory...over Satan and for the glory of God! And remember, victory begins with SUBMITTING to God and RESISTING the devil!

Ed Young is the pastor of Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June of 1992 and again in June, 1993. Young is author of many books including Against all Odds, Romancing the Home, Pure Sex and Everywhere I Go. His broadcast ministry, The Winning Walk, began in June of 1989. This ministry is seen and heard across North America and on OnePlace.com