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Let's make this practical
• Whose responsibility is it to get the devil off of you?
• What does the scripture say?
‣ James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The implied subject is YOU. YOU resist the devil — not ask God to do it.
‣ 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Again, the implied subject is YOU. YOU resist the devil, steadfast in the faith.
You see, Paul, just like all of us. He grew in his understanding of spiritual warfare. He was asking God to do something that HE was supposed to do. So God’s answer to Paul, was “My grace is sufficient!”
Unfortunately, some have completely turned this around to say “My grace is insufficient!” Wrong. God said there was enough grace (or “charis” in the Greek, which implies bestowed supernatural power) to deal with this devil!
Paul didn’t say he never got delivered!
He said he would glory in his weakness, so that he would exchange that weakness for the power of Christ! The power of Christ delivers! — so that we can fulfill our mission here on the earth.
And don’t let that word “infirmity” throw you! It’s true that sometimes, that word is used, even in the Bible, to refer to something wrong physically — but when you read the previous chapter, 1 Cor. 11, you’ll see what Paul is talking about is all the persecution and opposition he was facing as a result of the revelation and the mission God had given him. His infirmity was simply his inability within himself to bring deliverance from the persecution and opposition — He needed the power of Christ!
Let's return to 1 Peter 5...
‣ 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Now read on...
‣ 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
• Who does the humbling? YOU DO.
• How do you do that? By casting all your care upon Him, knowing that He cares for you.
The Gospel of Matthew echoes that concept...
‣ Matt 23:12 “Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
Now here's an important point...Again, who does the humbling? YOU DO. You do the humbling so that God can do what He wants to do. What is God trying to do? Humble you? No, actually, God is trying to exalt you!
Why do you think the Word clearly tells us... in Eph 2:6, that He “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
‣ Eph 2:6 And [He] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Everything He owns, we own!
‣ Gal 4:7 says that we are heirs of God through Christ.
‣ Rom 8:17 says that we are not only heirs of God, but joint-heirs with Christ — because we identify with His suffering, and with His glorification.
Consistent with scripture — Let the record show, that God was not trying to humble Paul. God was trying to exalt Paul — because if He could exalt Paul, He could use Paul’s revelation to exalt YOU.
Please let me know if this teaching is a blessing to you, my friend.
May the Lord richly bless you this Christmas!
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