THE DEVIL SHOULD RUN
RUNNING AT THE WRONG TIMES ?
JESUS COMMANDED THE DEVIL TO RUN. YET CHRISTIANS TODAY SEEM TO BE RUNNING FROM THE DEVIL.
Mark 8:33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
1. WHEN PEOPLE OPPOSE YOUR FAITH.
Instead of fleeing to another country, they simply went to believers to ask the Lord what to do.
Acts 4:19-23 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
2. WHEN DEMONS ARE PRESENT.
Mark 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
DISCIPLES DIDN’T RUN. THEY SOUGHT A SOLUTION FROM JESUS.
3. WHEN YOU DISAGREE WITH SOMEONE.
There are times when it is foolish to argue over a matter of your faith. Most of the time, the person who opposes you has their minds set, and all the facts in the world will not dislodge them from thinking like they do. BUT, there are times when you come across a person who you know to be honest and willing to look at beliefs that can be proven from the Bible. THEN, you should not walk away or avoid taking an opposite stand.
A. WHEN THE PERSON IS HONEST AND WANTS TO DETERMINE WHAT IS TRUTH.
Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
B. WHEN A PERSON NEEDS TO RECEIVE TRUTH, BECAUSE GOD SAYS TO TELL THEM, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT OPEN TO IT.
Daniel 5:22-26 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
4. SOME CLAIM THAT THEY WANT THE TRUTH, BUT THEY ONLY WANT TO HEAR WHAT PLEASES THEM IN THE FLESH.
A. THEY KNOW YOU WILL NOT AGREE, SO THEY GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ONLY SO THEY CAN CONDEMN YOU FOR THE TRUTH.
2 Chronicles 18:12-17 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good. And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak. And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand. And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD? Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
5. WHEN YOU CAN’T GET WHAT YOU WANT AT THE FOOT OF JESUS.
A. WHEN YOU DON’T GET WHAT IS PROMISED IN THE TIME YOU WANTED IT.
Abraham–for most of his life–did not receive what he had been praying for–a son.
Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
B. WHEN OTHERS GET A DIRECT ANSWER, BUT YOU FEEL SLIGHTED BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T.
Luke 24:19-22 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him. But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
WE SHOULD NOT BE RUNNING FROM CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT FACING THEM WITH THE POWER OF THE LORD. THAT WILL GIVE GLORY TO GOD. NOT RUNNING !
”The Devil Should Run”
A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams
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