Resist the Devil

Rev Dr. Jintae Kim

Charleston Truth Alliance Church

Feb 9, 2025

 

Introduction

 

1. Humans as created in the image of God

 

They were created as noble beings who obey God but rule over all creatures.

 

They were given the perfect environment, Eden. There was only one restriction.

 

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

 

2. Bleak human reality

 

However, the reality of human beings is bleak. Human history is a history of ceaseless war. It is not only the First and Second World Wars. How could that be a problem only for Nazi Germany? The sins of mankind that are still being committed all over the world are beyond words. Even now, wars continue everywhere, in Ukraine, Israel, Syria, and elsewhere.

 

I still vividly remember visiting the Holocaust Museum in Israel 30 years ago and shivering at the cruelty and devilish acts of fellow humans. We don’t have to go that far. What about all the jealousy, envy, resentment, anger, possessiveness, and lust that often come to my mind? Listen to Paul’s own confession:

 

Rom 7:17 Now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. To will is present in me, but the way to do good is not. 19 For the good that I want I do not do, but the evil that I do not want is what I do… . 24 Oh, wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death?

 

3. The Origin of the Problem

 

How on earth did humans become such devilish beings?

Article 5 of the denominational faith statement answers this question.

 

“Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27); he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature (Romans 3:23), are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20–23). The portion of the impenitent and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment (Revelation 21:8);  and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss (Revelation 21:1–4).”

 

As stated in the faith statement, we find the answer in the tragedy of the Garden of Eden. It is because we live with a sinful nature due to the original sin committed by the first humans, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden.

 

4. What shall we do?

 

The Devil who tempted Eve is still active here and now. This is no exception for us who have believed in Jesus and received salvation. We are constantly being tempted. That is why the Apostle Peter commanded:

 

1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober-minded; be vigilant. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished in your brothers throughout the world.”

 

5. The reality of spiritual warfare

 

The devil attacks us by instilling evil thoughts into our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

The devil begins his attack by sowing seeds of doubt about God and His words in our hearts. Our hearts are the fiercest battlefield of spiritual warfare. In a word, opposing the devil means protecting our hearts.

The question then is: So how do we protect our hearts? 

 

The Devil’s Strategy in 3 Stages

 

To win the battle, we first need to know the enemy and its tactics. Then, what is the devil’s strategy revealed in the Garden of Eden? It can be divided into 3 stages.

 

Stage 1: First, he plants a seed of doubt about God’s word (3:1).

“Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden?’”

 

Compare the Devil’s words with what God said:

 

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

 

The devil slightly changes the words in this way to confuse us, and when he finds a crack in our hearts, he invades them without mercy. There is a proverb that says, “Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.” That’s exactly what happened in the Garden.

 

Stage 2: He creates discord with God (3:4-5).

 

When Eve saw that there was a crack in her heart (2:17 You will surely die-->3:3 lest you die).

3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God said, “You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”

 

Look at what Eve said after listening to the devil. The words “You shall not touch” were not there in the first place. After hearing the devil’s words, the lust of the eyes to see and touch and the lust of the flesh to eat raised their evil heads. In addition, the intensity was reduced by changing the words “You will surely die” to “lest you should die.” The indicative mood was changed to the subjunctive mood. At this point, the crack was visibly wide open. In the devil’s eyes, the crack was as huge as a gate.

 

3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, “You shall not surely die.”

 

The devil, who was sure that Eve was completely in his grasp, now dared to deny God’s words. See how he changed the wording: surely die-->not surely die.

 

3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

 

In addition, he denounces God as a selfish and evil being, fanning the flames of the pride of life in Eve's heart.

 

Stage 3: Leading to sin, making slaves, and leading to death. 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate, and gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.

 

James 1:15 “Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

 

Eve’s heart was filled with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16), and she eventually disobeyed God’s word and suffered the wages of sin, death (3:6). Those who are deceived cannot help but become slaves to those who deceive. This is how the tragedy occurred: Man fell from the position of the ruler of all things under heaven to become a slave of the devil, who has the power of death.

 

Application

 

The question is: How can we protect our hearts, fight against the devil, and be victorious?

 

1. Repel from the beginning. 

 

The answer is simple. We must repel the devil from the beginning without giving him a chance. When Eve listened to the devil, the game was already over.

 

Then, some of you may ask, “How easy it is to say that! If it were that easy, who would fall for the temptation?”

 

That’s right. Our hearts are always drawn to something. When a bad thought is about to enter, we must first fill it with another thought.

 

2. Look to Jesus!

 

Then, what should we fill it with? That’s right. The answer is that we must look to Jesus. Remember.

 

I am weak, but Jesus in me has overcome the world (John 16:33). By “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2, NIV), who overcame Satan's temptations and took on all my weaknesses by dying on the cross, we can quickly protect our hearts from evil thoughts.

 

3. Use the Jesus’ Name! 

 

In a fight, you cannot win by just defending like this. You must not only block the enemy’s fiery arrows with the shield of faith by looking to Jesus but also attack and defeat them. So, what should we attack with? There is a powerful weapon that God has given us. It is the power of Jesus’ name and the word of God.

 

When we accepted Jesus as the Lord of our salvation, we all received the power to become children of God. That power is the power of Jesus’ name. When you wield the word of God, the sword of the Holy Spirit, with that power, the devil will shiver for fear. 

 

Whenever evil thoughts try to enter your mind,

Repel them 

By the power of Jesus’ name,

By the Word of God!

 

I am reminded of a gospel song that we used to sing a lot. 

When evil thoughts invade, I pray that you will always protect your heart by singing this song and chasing them away in Jesus' name.

 

Conclusion

 

Shall we sing the hymn again?

 

In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus,

we have the victory.

In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus,

Satan, you have to flee.

Victory, oh, victory,

we have the victory.

Victory, oh, victory,

we have the victory.