RESIST THE DEVIL
Leeanna Porter
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 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Slightly 5 foot 1 inch tall and sporting flaming red hair, which was actually auburn enhanced by Miss Clairol, my mother stepped onto the elevated front porch. With one hand on her boney hip, and the other shaking a pointing finger, she fearlessly addressed the motorcycle gang, that had just taken unprecedented liberties with her freshly manicured front lawn and her beloved monkey grass and petunia-lined sidewalk. Well-heard, over the sound of 13 revving Harley's, Dorris barked out her orders with the authority of a Hitler to his underlings. "GET THOSE BLANKETY-BLANK BIKES OFF OF MY BLANKETY-BLANK GRASS, RIGHT NOW!!!".
At just 7 years old, I was captivated by the way my mother was able to sound out her orders so loudly, while at the same time balance a freshly lit Winston filterless cigarette out of the corner of her Merle Norman painted lips. Horrified, her teenage rebellious son, who had just returned from California with these Goliath beings on the lawn, abandoned his own bike in a flash and leapt onto the porch in order to save our french-twisted mother's uninformed, spunky life. I heard my brother in a loud panicky whisper say, "MOM! HUSH! You don't know who you are yelling at! Those are THE HELL'S ANGELS!". My mother's reply? "WELL, HELL'S BELLS! I DON'T CARE WHO THEY ARE"! She yelled even louder, "THEY CAN GET THEIR BLANKETY BLANK ARSES OFF MY BLANKETY BLANK GRASS OR ELSE!!".
No one was more surprised than me, when I saw twelve, 200-pound Hell's Angels, carefully back their Harley's off my mother's grass and thunderously slink away.
After I was born-again, and began to experience the Adversary trying to wreck havoc on the “property” of my own mind and life, this story would return to my memory and teach me a principle for spiritual warfare.
- The Word of God has instructed us on how to deal with the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:11 says, Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. And 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.
- Remember, man (flesh and blood) is not our enemy. The forces of evil spirits are our foes to wrestle with.
- Do not accept the invasion of the enemy on your turf. Be bold, be brave, be firm and be ready to recognize his intentions and send him on his way. The spiritual weapons of our warfare are MIGHTY and can pull down strongholds. Be strong in the Lord, in the strength of HIS might! Draw near to God. Resist the devil and he must flee.
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