Don’t debate the devil.

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. John 8:43-45

Don’t debate the devil. He is smoother than you. The devil can use every trick in the book. The conversation will quickly get ugly because the devil will bring up every flaw you have and PROVE how bad you are.

Jesus is the ONLY neutralizer of the devil. As humans if we allow ourselves one sliver of pride thinking we can take the devil on … we will immediately lose. How did / do angels and Jesus deal with the devil?  

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” Jude 9

Luke 4 chronicles the devil going after Jesus when He was at His most vulnerable while He was at the end of forty days of fasting in the wilderness. We should all study closely Jesus’s responses on how He dealt with the devil’s temptations and confrontation.

When dealing with people who are in league with the ‘father of lies’, we must only respond by the explicit and specific instructions from the Holy Spirit, utilizing ONLY the Word(s) He gives us. We must have the maturity to ask for the discernment and wisdom from the Holy Spirit when dealing with individuals who are clearly against God, even if they say they are for God. We must be slow in response and not react out of our fleshly nature.

The only fear we should have dealing with the devil is of ourselves and the depth of the relationship we have with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Has our faith and trust in Him met and overcome the many challenges set before us in the past? Just like the shepherd boy named David who had pretty big challenges before he had to take on Goliath. Can you be calm while facing a foe who knows all of your weaknesses? Can you be still while the lies and ugly truths about you are thrown at you like knockout punches?

Who is our salvation? Who is our rock and protection? Where does our faith come from? Has your faith been tested over and over? Do you trust Him when facing a foe greater than yourself?

Now is the time to learn how to hear and take His instructions. Now is the time to learn how to be calm in the storm (fight), by listening to Him. Now is the time to learn to listen to Him before you have to face a life or death situation.

Does the Holy Spirit have you in a ‘boot camp’ type of training right now? Are you willing to go through difficult challenges with Him to learn how to correctly respond to dangerous situations?

The time is drawing short and many of us will most likely soon face the greatest challenge of our lives. Are you ready?