Give the Devil a Headache

 1 Peter 5:8-10

The Bible included the Devil because God wanted us to know our enemy. When Lucifer was cast out of Heaven, he was not thrown into the lake of fire yet. Satan is still around and wants to destroy us. He sometimes deceives others into thinking he is a god or represents God.

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

2 Corinthians 11:13‭-‬15 ESV

The Devil is a deceiver and a accuser who is always looking for an opportunity to attack and destroy us. The devil wants us to stop working towards the great commission. He would rather us fight each other and be enemies with other Christians; however, our real enemy is the Devil.

Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

1 Timothy 5:13 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

Here are five ways you can defeat the devil.

1. Contentment - we need to serve God whatever our situation is. When we are content even though our situation is dire, we give praise to God.

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord  gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord .”

Job 1:21 ESV

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel 3:16‭-‬18 ESV

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Philippians 4:11‭-‬12 ESV

2. Conviction - We need to stand up and follow our convictions.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:57‭-‬62 ESV

3. Conformity with God - We need to conform to God's will and laws.

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

James 4:7 ESV

4. Confidence of God - We need to know God's word and be confident God will keep His word.

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 2:17 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Genesis 3:1 ESV

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Romans 14:23 ESV

 5. Closeness with God - We need to pray to God  and read the Bible.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:6‭-‬8 ESV

We cannot do this ourselves. We need the full armor of God and God to help us resist the Devil.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 ESV

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 ESV