Posts Tagged ‘Resist’

We don’t Wrestle against Flesh and Blood

Posted: October 20, 2025 in Something to think about
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My nephew wrestled in high school and I remember him telling me how unique wrestling is from a team sport because it’s not like football or basketball… It is just sheer strength against sheer strength, cunning against cunning and may the best man win.

Wrestling is a sport where you are literally grappling with your opponent and using every ounce of strength you have to try and overcome someone who’s trying to do the same to you. Experience matters, like it does in life, but at the same time pure strength can be hard to overcome.

Why in the world am I talking about wrestling today? There is a verse in Ephesians that communicates to you and to me about a battle that we Christians find ourselves in. And this battle is unique because we can’t see our opponent. But I felt it very necessary to communicate something that you may or may not have thought of before.

I think it is pretty obvious and and frankly safer to fight a battle from a long way away. In the US military, snipers can fire at targets over a mile away and be successful. In most successful battles going back to the Civil War, soldiers would set up cannons and fire at the opponent so they could soften the front lines in order that their infantry could advance. After all of that preparation, it was the infantry who gained the physical ground and ultimately again, battled their opponent, man-to-man.

So today guys, I wanted to introduce you to the warfare that our enemy is executing on us… You and me. Depending upon which translation you read, Ephesians 6:12 tells us that “we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but rather against the rulers, the authorities, and against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”

What does that really mean? That means the enemy is not a mile away, he’s not next-door… He is right next to you, whispering in your ear. Telling you things that are not true in order so he can bump you off your path and get you going in a different direction… 

We are literally wrestling with the enemy as Paul says. We are not dancing. We are wrestling. It’s important that you recognize how close your enemy actually is or, how close he is to your family. It’s easy to go about our day and never really think about that battle going on. But I assure you, it is, and there is active strategy being put forth and executed to destroy you and everything you love. You, must think about it and be ready for each day.

Now that we know what we are up against, how do we fight?

This will probably surprise you but when your adversary is the devil, you don’t stand and fight, you resist. I say this again, if you try and fight, you will lose. Even Jesus, after spending 40 days in the wilderness, Satan came and met with Him with the sole reason to tempt Him (Matthew 4:1-11). You will notice that Jesus did not fight but rather He resisted and that is exactly what we are called to do, resist. Take a look at these 2 verses:

  • Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
  • Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:9

Guys, if you only recognized the power you have right now that already exists within you as a believer, it would really change your mind about wrestling not against flesh and blood. Yes, you are a target, but not defenseless. The power within you comes from God’s Holy Spirit which is pure strength from Him to use when you are in a wrestling match. If you feel an evil presence of unseen forces, then call on His name. He will not abandon you. Most importantly remember the words of the Apostle John below which is always a gut check reminder for me-

Greater is He that is in you, than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4

Until next time Guys-

Keep the Door CLOSED!

Posted: May 27, 2023 in Something to think about
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“Luther said that when the devil came knocking on the door of his heart, he would send the Lord Jesus to the door. Christ would say, “Martin Luther used to live here but has moved out…I now live here.” Then, says Luther, when the devil would see the nail prints on Christ’s hands and His pierced side, he would take flight immediately.!”

Guys, I am giving you this famous Luther quote today to remind you of one thing…Keep the door closed when the enemy comes knocking. Even though sometimes he is pounding so loud it is hard to stay focused on what you are doing…keep the door closed.

Because here is what happens if you open…you expose yourself to things you know you should not…and the next time you do, you open the door just a little bit wider. Remember that in any battle, defending a position is much easier than trying to recapture it once it has fallen into the enemy’s hands.

Keep in mind this important point today, no matter what role the enemy plays in mine or your temptation, there is one fact that you must remember; God will hold you and hold me accountable for what we do, or what choices we make. Your strategy cannot be to simply blame Satan and avoid being responsible for your own actions. You and I must learn to say no to the devil, just as we saw Christ do.

Today I want to give you 4 ways to help you keep the door bolted from one of my favorite books, God’s Devil, by Erwin Lutzer. These are paraphrased so I highly recommend you pick this book up and read them for yourself.

  1. We must pause and give thanks for our test. Our faith will be strengthened when we see our struggles coming from the Heavenly Father. Remember, we don’t give thanks for our sin; we don’t give thanks for the devil; but we can give thanks that God has found us worthy to be tested.
  1. We must learn the meaning of the word “resist”. Many people think that victory over Satan should be easy. We speak Christ’s name, recite scripture and assume the temptation is gone. But the truth is, the battle with Satan is a war and is a matter of life and death and there will be casualties.
  1. We must be convinced that sin is always our enemy. One single act of disobedience can trap us. Remember the mouse usually does not have the luxury of having a series of experiences with traps before it is caught. Just once might be enough.
  1. We must use scripture against Satan as Christ did. You and I MUST be able to say to Satan, “GO, for it is written…” Such concentration blocks Satan’s attempts to confound us with his lies.

Guys, you are being pounded right now by this world. Every day there is something new and frankly, disgusting to see shown on the evening news. My word to you today is Keep the Door CLOSED and resist!

Until next time Guys…

Lutzer, Erwin. (2015) God’s Devil, Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.

The Rules of Engagement

Posted: March 15, 2023 in Something to think about
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Throughout the history of the world, nations have fought against nations with the intent to control the other. The goal is always victory and to the “victorious, go the spoils”. But the reality of war is incredibly painful. So much in fact, that nations have met between themselves to establish the ground rules of war or the Rules of Engagement. The most famous of these is the Geneva Convention, where countries gathered together for one purpose, to Protect the Vulnerable in War. This convention established battlefield articles that countries were to follow when one overtook the other and more.

Why am I talking about Rules of Engagement for war today in this post? I learned something recently that struck me and I believe is imperative to share with you about how we, you and me, engage with our number one enemy in this life, Satan. What you learn may surprise you.

If you were unaware, you are in a war but not like a war that you see in the movies.

Paul said it this way in Ephesians 6:12:

  • 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.

Even though this war is located in the heavenly realm, don’t be misled…it impacts all of us.

Next, it is critical for you to be familiar with your enemy. Learn who he is and what is his plan for not only you but strategically for this Earth. Peter does a very good job explaining that for us:

  • Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  1 Peter 5:8

Satan’s plan is to devour anyone and everyone if he can….or if you let him. Because this is a different kind of war, it has a different set of Rules of Engagement. You must know these tools and the armor that God gives you to RESIST, otherwise, you won’t win.

But please notice what I said in the previous sentence. I mentioned, resisting…not battling, fighting, or pursuing. We are NOT called to do battle with Satan or his minions. We will lose. Why? Because Satan is one of the most powerful created beings ever. He was created by God and he is currently the Prince of this earth. How do I know that? because Satan himself said so when speaking to Jesus in Luke.

  • “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. Luke 4:6

God delivered earth to Satan so that he would do the bidding of God…but that is another blog post.

So if we are not called to fight Satan then what do we do?

You are called to stand and resist. See these scriptures given to explain.

  • Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Eph 6:11
  • Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
  • Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:9

With the full armor of God in place, if you resist, then James says, HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU. That is exactly what we want to happen and exactly what our role is. Stand firm and resist…the rest of the battle belongs to God and His warrior angels.

And that is the best part…God does the heavy lifting so we don’t have to…

So today, put on your armor and resist-

Until next time guys

The Story of Satan – part 4

Posted: January 22, 2022 in Something to think about
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We have learned in the first 3 parts of this story that Satan has been very busy since he was cast out of heaven. He was there at the beginning disguised as the serpent that caused Adam and Eve or really, the entire human race, to fall into sin. We also learned that he is the god of this age which gives him authority over certain things like his fallen angels as well as the unrepentant human population. 

But, we also learned that he also has some very specific limitations on him as well. This includes the FACT that he is NOT omnipotent, which means he cannot read your mind. All of this plays right into the 4th installment of this series which talks about what Satan is up to currently. In other words…what is Satans strategy?

What is Satan doing right now?

In a nutshell, Satan is at war. He is presently at war against God and His people and just so we are clear, God’s people are you and me. His main purpose; is to try and draw you away from your loyalty to Christ. Literally, that is the main focus right now…how many people can he lead astray? And let me assure you…he is really good at his job which is why there is so much scripture to remind you to be on your guard.

But for those of you who are skeptical that Satan is at war…read this verse please:

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. Eph 6:12 ESV

Have you ever heard of a guy named Job (pronounced jōb)? He has a very long book in the old testament inside the Bible that tells an interesting story about how Satan went and challenged God about Job by telling him that the only reason Job served Him was that he was blessed and had everything. As a result, God took on that challenge and allowed Satan to take away all of Jobs’s earthy possessions including his health, his family, his wealth…and yet ultimately, throughout the entire epic,  no matter what happened to him, Job would not curse God. It even drove Job to proclaim in 13:15…Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…

Guys, realistically, not everyone is like Job with his unwavering commitment to his God through his adversity…which is why I write this to you.

Satan is your enemy and his strategy is that he wants you to fail and fall. That is why the Bible focuses so much scripture to inform us to protect our minds and NOT be led astray.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Co 11:3 ESV

(For more information on this idea that you need to guard your thoughts, please read a previous blog on Ironman-Strength called, Guard your Mind, published in February of last year. This will better explain why Satan focuses his attack on your thoughts)

What is Satan’s goal for his non-stop attack on you and me?

His # 1 goal is, and always has been, to draw you and me into a sin and bondage relationship with him and this present world system. (Emphasis on the present). He wants to squash you like a bug. By the way, as the leader of your home, if you fall, so might your wife and family. That is why you must resist.

For some have already strayed after Satan. 1Ti 5:15 ESV

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life–to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 1Jo 5:16 ESV

What are we supposed to do to thwart this constant attack?

  1. As believers, we MUST RESIST and pray constantly for deliverance from Satan

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matt 6:13 ESV

Guys, in this instance, I cannot emphasize the importance of the word, “constantly”. This has never been a “one-and-done” type of defense against the enemy. It is a daily response (meaning a conscious effort using prayer) from you and what your intent is for that day to defend yourself and your family. Don’t forget that.

  1. YOU must be on the alert concerning his schemes and temptations

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

Eph 6:11 ESV

If you recall, the very first paragraph mentioned to you in part one of The Story of Satan was about knowing your enemy. Be prepared and resist, because the attack is coming…you just need to know how you can defend yourself.

  1. Resist him through spiritual warfare

Guys…here are the famous verses that talk about putting on the armor of God. Although this looks like symbolism, it truly means putting on armor each day. If you don’t take this part seriously, you give the enemy a foot in the door so I recommend that you take just a second to read them.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Eph 13-18 ESV

  1. Remain firm in the faith

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1Pe 5:8-9 ESV

Guys, the book of Hebrews puts it this way:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb 11:1

I do hope that after reading part 4 you recognize you can’t do this yourself. There have been many who have tried and ALL have failed. And by the way, there is no such thing as trying to ride the fence and be in BOTH worlds at the same time. Jesus calls that being “lukewarm” and He says, ” I will spew you out of my mouth”.

Finally, guys, you and I have very specific resources in this fight against Satan and all of them only will work when we are plugged into Christ as repentant Christians. Without repentance, you are just another dude proclaiming you are a good person…which won’t get you into heaven.

We are getting close to the end…Part 5 is next-

Until next time guys

Guard your Hearts…

Posted: April 25, 2015 in Heaven Bound
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Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

When was the last time someone told you to guard your heart? Has anyone ever told you that before like maybe Mom or Dad? On the outside, guarding ones heart does seem like an odd thing to say, but from a Christian perspective, it makes all the sense in the world.

But I always do find it interesting when I find scriptures that reference exact circumstances I’m in now or see others going through and I realize that God was way ahead of all of us when He gave us this Word of His. Where else will you find instruction about guarding your heart? Who else but God would have cared enough about us to give us instructions as to how to do this in the first place? You see, if you look at the Bible as just a storybook, and I have met many who do, you are missing Gods point. His intent with scripture was to provide us a road map to use while on this journey called life. It is up to us and it’s our choice as to whether or not to use it…

So if we get back to this scripture above about guarding your hearts, and we look at it transparently and think about the FACT that…Satan only wants your heart and nothing else. Because when he gets that, HE HAS YOU.

Do you believe that? When Satan breaks through your heart barrier, it takes a superhuman effort to resist him and when was the last time any of us met a super human? That’s because they don’t exist. The reality is, the only way you or me can only hope to resist Satan’s attack on our heart is with Gods help. Our job is to seek God and everything else just works out according to His will. It really is that SIMPLE.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

What I am telling you is simply this…

Be aware of who and what you give your heart to…

Guard it safely as God has asked us to do…

Don’t be ignorant of what I have told you…

Until next time guys…