Memory verse:
| 1 John 3:8 | . . . For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. |
Words to chew on:
Most of us can think of something or someone we have
been afraid of at one time in our life. This fear could include
a dark room, a bully, a big test, a big game, a sick feeling,
or any other thing or person. Maybe your problem is not fear.
You may just have a problem overcoming a certain bad habit.
Habits such as procrastination, smoking, drinking, cursing, lying,
stealing, cheating, drugs, sex, watching the wrong television
shows, gossiping, laziness, or any other bad habit can be included.
Those who have a problem with fear usually don't have that problem
when we have someone like a mother, father, big brother, or more
mature friend with us. In the same way we usually don't practice
bad habits around parents, our pastor, or people from the church.
Most of us do our dirty work in secret, not around people we
respect.
How do we combat these negative circumstances in our lives?
We must first realize that Jesus came to destroy the works of
the devil. Once we realize that Jesus has come to destroy the
devils work, we must find out what work the devil is trying to
do in our lives and find out exactly what Jesus has done about
it. The sad part about what Jesus did is that although He came
to destroy the works of the devil, many people live and die without
accepting Him or what he has done. If a person has a fear of
flying in an airplane, it is because they don't know the outcome
of the flight. If they could look into the future and see the
airplane landing, then they would no longer have a fear of that
flight. Fear is not knowing the unknown. Therefore, if we know
that all the works of the devil have been destroyed, then we will
have confidence that he cannot operate in our lives.
Application:
Steps in accepting Jesus' destruction of the works of the
devil:
o Realize there is a problem (work of the devil)
o Find out what Jesus has done for destroying that work (search
the scriptures/research)
o Hide what Jesus has done in your heart (meditate on the Word
of God)
o Start acting on what Jesus has done (apply the Biblical truth)
Example #1:
o You think you are home alone and the room you are in is dark
and you begin to become fearful.
o You must first realize that fear is from the devil (2 Timothy
1:7).
o Realize that Jesus said that He will never leave you or forsake
you and that lo he is with you always (Hebrews 13:5;Matthew 28:20),
and therefore you are not actually alone. Since you are not alone
then you can be as confident or more confident than as if one
of your parents was right their with you (actually your big brother
is).
o Start to meditate on the three above scriptures by saying them
over and over again.
o The next time you are in the dark, stick out your chest and
tell the devil that his work (fear) is destroyed because God has
not given me this spirit but has given me the Spirit of love,
power, and a sound mind because the Spirit of Jesus is right here
with me and will never leave me.
o The devil will have to try (not accomplish) another one
of his works on you because you have allowed Jesus to destroy
that work in your life.
Example #2:
o You feel bad all over.
o You must realize that sickness is from the devil (Luke 13:16)
o Realize that Jesus came to save the sick(Mark 2:17). Accept
the fact that He took upon Himself all of our sicknesses on the
cross.(Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:5; I Peter 2:24)
o Meditate on the five scriptures by saying them over and over
again.
o Believe what these scriptures say and begin to act on them.
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