Amanda BethSharing the Truths Behind the TRUTH

God calls us to walk in peace with each other. But as we look around, it’s clear to see that we do not live in a peaceful world. From the beginning of time, the devil (Satan—our real adversary) has worked to turn us against each other. Though God wants us to be peacemakers, we are not to be at peace with the devil. We are instructed to stand against him.

I used to not understand why Jesus instructed us to resist the devil, but not to resist an evil person.

“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. … You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:39, 43-45

God showed me that we are not in a battle against people even though it appears that way. We are in a spiritual battle against Satan and his army. We cannot fight this spiritual battle with carnal weapons. We need spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:12).

When we submit to God and keep our peace when someone hurts us, we are defeating the devil and winning a spiritual battle. When we don’t resist an evil person, we are in fact resisting the devil and making him flee.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

We win a spiritual battle when we follow Jesus’ example and love others above all else (1 Peter 4:8). We win a spiritual battle when we love and pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44). We win a spiritual battle when we respond gently instead of harshly when provoked (Proverbs 15:1). We win a spiritual battle when we refuse to slander someone by giving in to gossip (James 4:11). We win a spiritual battle when we build others up instead of tearing them down (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We win a spiritual batttle when we hold our tongues when we’re tempted to sin (Psalm 39:1). We win a spiritual battle when we forgive and bless those who wrong us (Colossians 3:13).

Satan doesn’t like when we walk in peace because then he is defeated. When we walk in peace, he can’t use us to destroy each other. Satan’s only weapon is deceit. He has to deceive us in order to destroy us.

We see this happening in all the marriages falling apart today. Satan deceives couples into thinking their spouses are their enemies. All he has to do is divide a couple against each other. Then he can sit back and watch them destroy their marriage themselves.

Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

Mark 3:25, NLT

Hebrews 12:14 instructs us, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” We can’t use worldly wisdom to fight our battles. We need to use God’s wisdom found in His Word. Only through His wisdom can we defeat the devil and be peacemakers to reach the world for Christ.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:13-18