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How to Defeat the Enemy – Part 1

Read I Peter 5:5-10

 

1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 

The word perfect used in this verse means complete. God wants to make us complete. How is that accomplished, let’s look in the Word of God.

The Apostle Peter is an authority in this area!

Our enemy wants to defeat us. When God is working in our lives, it makes the enemy mad and when he gets mad, he attacks any way he can. I just heard last week of a church who had gone through a building program. The church was pulling together growing, but as soon as the building was completed, the enemy attacked and split the church. That happens repeatedly in individuals’ lives, in families and in churches.

 

We must learn to be as Peter said, sober or discreet and watching, vigilant, be alert and watching. How do we do that?

 

How can we defeat this enemy? It starts with our thought life. The enemy begins by attacking what we believe. Proverbs 23:7, For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…

 

So the first area to build up our defenses is in our minds. 

 

Philippians 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

How? 

A.  Concentrate our thought life on the things of God. Philippians 4:8

B.  Captivate every thought to the obedience of Christ. 

 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

C.  Cast out those things that are not pleasing to God.