The Church is what keeps the Holy Spirit present in the life of a Christian. Men become conscious to the Holy Spirit’s presence when they hear the Gospel message. The Holy Spirit is recognized “after” men accept Christ for forgiveness of sins. Acceptance of His righteousness allows the Holy Spirit’s regenerating power to change the moral make-up of fallen man. This work of the Spirit of God in the human soul is what “defeats” the cause of the Devil. Christ …through the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit manifests holiness and righteousness within the human soul. How? …By giving the believer a divine nature. This new nature gives man power to live holy; and the strength to overcome sin. The Bible teaches that God purposed Christ to manifest Himself in heart of man…first to keep the believer from committing sin…second to destroy the works of the Devil.
· 1 John 3:8…He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Through the "miracle of the Church" the Holy Spirit was given to all men who accept Christ’s power and presence into their hearts. Holiness of heart comes into members of the body through a conscious recognition of Christ. This work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is what “defeats” the Devil’s cause. How? Christians resist the Devil by faith. Christians are in subjection to Christ not the Devil or His demons. That’s why the Scriptures teach that through man’s faith in Christ, “The Devil will flee”.
· James 4:7…Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
· 1 Peter 5:8-9…because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith,
Regardless of what the world says, Christians have victory over the Devil! The Spirit of God says so! The Bible says so! The victorious life of a Christian over the Devil is produced because the power of a living Christ is manifested every minute, every hour, every day… in the heart and mind of a believer!
This writer is thankful that members of the body of Christ… have the mind of Christ. Their mind is pure because their heart is pure. Clean thoughts and clean thinking gives the believer the ability to overcome sin and the works of the Devil. Members of the body of Christ think right and do right because they are “kept” by the power of God.
· 1 Peter 1:5…kept by the power of God through faith
The keeping power of God in the heart of man provides the believer with a way to “escape temptation” and to “escape the deceptive works of the Devil”. Without strength given from the Holy Spirits witness man is helpless to the powers of darkness. With Spirit given strength in the heart of a believer, the child of God has power to “overcome” sin, disobedience, the flesh, and the Devils devices. Here’s how!
The Devil and the powers of darkness are subject to Christ whose Spirit of holiness governs the heart and life of a believer. Through the power and presence of a resurrected Savior the Devils authority is spoiled. A believer’s triumph over the works of the Devil comes not only because of what Christ did on the cross; but what Christ is doing presently in from the Throne room. Members of the body of Christ triumph over the powers of darkness because Christ “spoiled” their powers openly. How? ... He is God! He rose from the grave! He’s alive forevermore! …Halleluiah!
· Col 2:15…And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
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