Standing Firm: Spiritual Warfare and Assurance in Christ

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that he may be able to stand against the Ws of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against Powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [00:12:00]

One of the Devil's most frequently used is to try somehow or another to rub us of the Assurance of our Salvation or if you prefer it of the joy of our Salvation. He can't Rob us of Salvation, thank God for that. If he could, he would, but he cannot. That is something that is beyond the power of the devil. [00:21:52]

A Temptation only becomes sin when we accept it, when we fundle it, when we enjoy it, then it becomes sin. The suggestion itself is not sin. The Temptation is not sin. The feeling of Desire is not sin, but to accept it and to enjoy it and to fun it, that is sin. [00:21:04]

The Christian is not perfect in this life. He himself is saved, but his body is not yet saved. That's why the Apostle, you see, puts it again in Romans 8:23. He says, yes, and we ourselves also who have the first fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption to it, the Redemption of our body. [00:12:40]

The secret of victory in the Christian life is to know the scriptures, to be able to interpret them, and to be able to apply them. And you must always start with the truth, the doctrine, the teaching. Very well, there's our first answer, but then of course, having got rid of that and having seen that therefore the fact that we are tempted does not prove by any means that we are not Christians. [00:13:56]

Our Lord was tempted. The perfect can be tempted. Of course, it comes from the outside. His Temptations were entirely from the outside, from the devil. But the important point is to notice that though he was perfect, harmless, free from sin, he nevertheless was tempted in all points like as we are. [00:19:37]

The fact that one is tempted therefore does not presuppose any defect in the person. Still less does it presuppose any sinfulness. Our Lord was tempted. The perfect can be tempted. Of course, it comes from the outside. His Temptations were entirely from the outside, from the devil. [00:19:57]

The devil is being forgotten. It's all attributed to us. We've all become so psychological, and we're missing this great objective fact, the being, the existence of the devil, the adversary, the accuser, and his fiery darts. And of course, if we are not aware of this, we'll attribute it all to ourselves. [00:16:01]

Resisting means that you have nothing whatsoever to do with him. Tell him that he's a liar. Take up the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, and do what I've been doing. Say you're a liar, you're the father of liars. That's what our Lord called you, that you are a liar from the beginning. [00:36:10]

Remind yourself now positively as to who you are and what you are. Remind yourself of your status and of your standing in Christ. Remind yourself of your prospects. This is the finest tonic for any weak Christian. This is positive. We've been dealing with him negatively. We've got to, but then never stop us. [00:38:29]

Remind yourself of the truth about yourself as a Christian. As I say that already, you are saved. You've already died with Christ. You are in Christ. You'll never be more saved spiritually than you are now if you're a Christian at all. You're in Christ. You have been crucified with him. [00:38:43]

You round upon the Devil, you attack him, you tell him that whatever he may say, your chiefest desire is to know God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Spirit, to be free from sin and to be a worthy disciple and a worthy Christian. Hold on to that and say, say what you like. [00:44:50]