29 Sep Badge (discovering that authority is the channel through which God’s power flows): Part 8
Remember that bout 27 years ago I almost died. Most of you know the story. I had very difficult cardiovascular challenges. At the time I could barely walk and barely talk. This was the most difficult time of my life. It was during that time I received a life-changing revelation. God clearly spoke to my heart and whispered, “You can change the devil’s will.”
As I meditated on that it hit me that the devil’s will is to steal, kill and destroy (see John 10:10). However, the Bible also tells us in James 4:7 that if we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil…he WILL flee from us. Notice it is the devil’s will to steal, kill and destroy. However, if we resist the devil he will change his will from steal, kill and destroy to FLEE!
Remember this: The devil can’t overpower your will but you can change his!
Let’s review the first four of our, “Six Submit Standards”:
- There is a difference between submit and surrender (Mark 8:34-35)
- You must get under what is over you, in order to get over what is under you! (James 4:7)
- There are certain things you should submit to and there are certain things you should resist (John 10:10)
- Just because it happened, does not automatically mean it is the will of God. Just because it is the will of God, doesn’t automatically mean it will happen!
This week let’s continue with…
5. If you believe everything that happens is the will of a sovereign God, it will put you in a state of non-resistance to the devil. (James 3:13-17)
“Yes but Pastor Jim, isn’t God sovereign?” Of course He is but from a Biblical perspective of sovereignty, not a religious perspective. The Bible tells us, “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (I Tim. 6:15). The Greek word “Potentate” is “dynastas” which means “possessor of power.” The Greek word translated “king” is “basileus” which means “a sovereign.” Sovereign literally means God is superior or highest in power. He is supreme to all others and is chief in authority. However, God in His sovereignty delegated to you and me…free will! (see Genesis 1:26-28)
Please just think about it honestly. Is God in control of every attitude you have when your child forgets to clean his room for the ninth time…today! When you went 15 miles over the speed limit yesterday, was God in control of that?!
Think about doing a push up. When you go down it’s like submitting to God. When you push up it’s like resisting the devil. There are things that come from God I need to submit to, and there are certain things that come from the devil that I need to resist. When I get them Biblically straight, then and only then will my spiritual “muscles” begin to grow.
Next month we will continue our discussion.