USING GOD'S SWORD
Satan is winning the battle for control of America. The question is, How much control does he have in your life?
Satan has control of the news media, public schools, TV, movies, and the government. At one time the radio and TV stations would have lost their licenses for the things they now broadcast! The Bible and Christian standards were once taught in the public schools. Now sodomy as an acceptable way of life, sex without any restraints, New Age beliefs, and witchcraft are taught in the schools, while the Bible is outlawed. And the government is removing all restraints on sex education, sodomy, and abortions. The dams holding back the floods of iniquity have burst. As a result, America is flooded with crime, immorality, and evil of all kinds.
We must begin with ourselves. What control does Satan have over you? If you are bitter, have immoral thoughts, and are greedy for the things of this world, Satan has control of parts of your life. Once he has control of even a small part of your life, he will build a stronghold in that area and cause you to have false reasonings in your mind. This results in making many wrong decisions, which in turn Satan will use to torment you with fears, guilt, discontent, feelings of inferiority and other such destructive emotions.
It is disastrous to give in to temptations. When we yield to our earthly desires they will conceive and give birth to sin. And sin, when it is full grown, produces death. We must lay aside all filthiness and wickedness and accept God's teachings, which will save our souls. Our mind, will and emotions are always damaged when we give in to temptation.
When tempted we must resist Satan. Otherwise, he will sneak up on us, cause defeat in some area of our life, and take control of that area. Resisting Satan requires knowing and using the Bible. Jesus is our example, for He quoted Scripture to refute Satan's temptations. There is a Scripture for every possible temptation.
 WORRY:
Worry is an indicator that we lack faith. When tempted to worry, we must tell Satan that God is our supply and that we know and believe He keeps His promises. Also we must confess our sins of worry to God and ask His forgiveness. Quote Philippians 4:6 and 19 when worried.
"In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." "My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Also use Matthew 6:25-34.)
FEAR OF DEATH:
Christians should not fear death, but should look forward to this event as moving from our home here on earth to our home in Paradise. Quote Psalm 23:4 when tempted to fear death. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Also use Romans 8:35-39.)
JUDGING OTHERS:
Satan will tempt us to judge and condemn other people. Only God may judge, so when we judge others we are putting ourselves in God's place. Also we condemn ourselves for we are guilty of the same sins we condemn others for. When tempted to condemn and judge quote Matthew 7:1,2. "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you."
PRIDE:
Satan is extremely deceitful. He continually appeals to our pride to resist God and His will. Satan wants us to take vengeance on those who hurt us, to seek our own security, to depend upon our own efforts rather than God's power to do God's work. When Satan uses our pride to tempt us to go our own way rather than God's way, let us quote James 4:7-10. "Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you."
LOVE FOR THE WORLD:
One of Satan's great temptations is to love the things of the world, which are temporary, more than the things of God, which are eternal. When tempted to love temporal things, quote Exodus 20:17, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."
Also quote 1 John 2:15-17, "Don't love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love isn't in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's. The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever."
IMMORALITY:
America is experiencing a flood of immorality. Christians must be very careful to protect themselves from Satan's power to pollute their minds with immoral music, TV and radio shows, and pornography. When tempted to watch and listen to immorality and to thank immoral thoughts we must resist by quoting Exodus 20:14, "You shall not commit adultery." Also quote Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." and Matthew 5:27,28, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart."
These are a few examples of using God's Word to overcome temptation. These Scriptures were written to teach us that God is holy and we, His children, are to be holy. We must humble ourselves before God and allow Him to work in and through us. Then we will become the standard lifted up against the floods of evil. We, our children and children's children become the foundation of many godly generations. We, who are mighty in the Spirit, are the only hope for America.
Christians who refuse to overcome temptations, refuse to put off the sins of their life, refuse to become mighty in the Spirit, will be the more harshly judged! Sodom would not have been destroyed if God had found ten righteous people living there. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are the only ones who can prevent the total and absolute destruction of America. But only if we turn ourselves completely over to God and let Him change us into the likeness of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up. Galatians 6:9
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Revised June 2000. Scriptures changed to The World English Bible.
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