Rhapsody of Realities 13 December
SCRIPTURE: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4: 7)
Satan never plays fair; so you have to always be on the offensive against him. Our opening scripture says to resist him; but how do you resist him? It’s with the Word—the Sword of the Spirit. Don’t think the devil is sleeping; he’s not! The Bible says he prowls to and fro like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Don’t wait for his fiery darts before putting him in check. What the devil likes to do is to get your attention, so that you’re always on the defensive, fighting to get your peace back, to get your health and strength back, or to get things back to normal; ever fighting to restore something; no! Don’t let yourself be hemmed in such a position.
While with your faith you’re neutralizing all the fiery darts Satan throws at you, always be on the offensive with the “Rhema” of God in your mouth. In Ephesians 6:10-16, the Apostle Paul gave a list of the protective part of our armour. Then in the 17th verse, he gave the only offensive tool: “the sword of the Spirit,” which is the “Rhema” of God.
Read Yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities Here
Rhema is Greek for the “spoken word.” In this case, it’s your proclamation of the inspired Word of God for the hour and the season. It’s always a word said, or a word in saying; otherwise, it’s not a sword; it’s not a weapon. Always put the Word on your lips; that’s what you use to discomfit the enemy and all adversities.
CONFESSION: Dear Father, your Word is in my heart and in my mouth, prevailing as I speak it forth! I speak forth righteousness, wisdom, prosperity, victory and abundance. And with the shield of faith, I extinguish and render ineffective the fiery darts, lies, tricks and stratagems of the adversary, walking on in the victory of Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 6:10-17
10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 5 & Joel 1-3
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 12:11-17 & Micah 3-4
Thank you for studying today’s Rhapsody of Realities – Keep the Devil on the Run – written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
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Rhapsody of Realities 13 December 2022
