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We continue with the biblical step-by-step path to victory, acknowledging that these are also step-by-step paths to maturity in Christ.
We continue with the exhortations of Peter as he was the one given the keys to the kingdom, and they do provide an opening of the door. Now look at I Peter 5:5-10:
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives His grace to the humble.
“Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
“casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
“Resist him by being firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
This exhortation begins with how we should be humble, beginning with being subject to our elders.
We seek humility for the infinitely important reason that God resists the proud and gives His grace to the humble.
There is no treasure in this world more valuable than God’s grace, so if we have any wisdom at all, seeking humility should be a primary devotion we have, always.
We’re told in Scripture that God hates the pride of man.
In Proverbs we’re told that pride comes before dishonor, a fall, and destruction.
Is it not a form of pride to think that we can make major decisions for our life without even inquiring of God?
Therefore, we can expect that any course we take or decisions we make in this arrogance will lead to troubles at best.
We see in the story of King Saul that this was what brought down his kingdom and ended in his death.
In contrast, the most common phrase made concerning King David is that “he inquired of the Lord.”
He therefore was able to establish a kingdom that we are told will last forever.
Next Peter exhorts us to be strong, to be sober and vigilant, and to resist the devil with faith.
The Lord could have bound the devil immediately upon His resurrection, but He left him loose for our sake.
A big part of our training comes by resisting the devil, so we should not run from these trials, but resolve that we are going to have more faith in God and resist him.
Many great books have been written on how to resist the devil, and we do not have the space here to address this as it deserves, but it is something we should accept as a calling.
We should have vision and excitement about these battles because there can be no victory without a battle.
Then Peter says we should take comfort in the fact that our trials are common ones that all are going through.
They’re a part of life, and they are opportunities to mature in the Lord and in our faith.
Peter ends this exhortation with the fact that the trials are going to come to an end, and the Lord will use them to "perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
Basic to following the King is to trust Him to use all that we go through for this high purpose.
So, let us have more faith in God to lead us to the victory than we do in the devil to lead us to defeat.
© 2021 Rick Joyner. All Rights Reserved.
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