The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1903-06-12

Spirit which is able to cut the devil
asunder and make him flee? Resist
ance which fails to provide this shield
and this sword is sure TO prove unavail-
| ing. This is the resistance which James
means when he declares: Resist the
devil and he will fee from you''
! n Nd when the soul has put the devil
| n to flight, it ought to keep him on
the run. Oh, if the saints who are in
Christ Jesus, and who know that it is
true that the only way to win victory
over the devil is to use the shield of
| faith and the Sword of the Spirit,
would only keep the shield before them
! and the sword in hand they would soon
| have him driven into corner, the
chains would be snapped upon him and
| Christ surely would come to reign.
! The trouble is that the devil has not
run very far before the soul lays aside
the shield and sheathes the sword, con-
fident that victory is final and COM
plete. But the discarded shield and
the encased sword act like tonic upon
the nerves of the devil. He is as sem
sitive to such movements on the part
pass is conscious of the attraction of
the pole. He checks his hasty flight,
he takes new breath and fresh courage
and returns to renew the attack from
another quarter. The shield of faith
laid aside soon gathers rust and mold,
and the sword put into its scabbard
is harmless weapon, and when the
attack comes the soul is taken off its
guard, and in the confusion the shield
and sword are either forgotten alto
gether. or so much time has to be spent
in rubbing off the rust and unsheathing
the sword that the devil is given a
powerful advantage at the very start.
| IHAT would be thought of the
w army which would fail to fortNv
the camp and would carelessly stack
its guns. when it knew that the en-
envy was lurking about watching for
an opportunity to strike a blow? It
would be supreme folly. 1t would in
vite sure defeat, and just cOndemna-
ton upon the general who COM
manded the army. And is not the soul
that fails to prepare for the attack
of the devil. who is constantly going
about seeking whom he may devour,
as worthy of condemnation? No
wonder the devils victories are so
many! No wonder the Christian so
often is such a miserab BILE spectacle
before the world. No wonder he
brings reproach upon the name of
Jesus Christ and His religion! No
wonder that the testimony of the
lips is not more powerful. when the
l.. L.. I
with the defeats which the devil has
inflicted! Paul declared that the
Gospel of Jesus Christ "was the pow
er of God unto salvatiOn," and it was
when Paul was bearing witness to
that Gospel by word and deed. But
every word which Paul spoke for his
Lord was backed up by that brave re-
sistance against the inward and out
ward attacks of the devil which en-
abled him to live a victorious life.
But the Christian who is not resisting
the devil daily and hourly in inward
thought and outward act, and-compel-
ling him to flee from him. might betS
ter shut his mouth and hide his light
under a bushel, for his life of defeat
will put the stamp of the lie upon his
testimony, and the world viii refuse
to receive it,. Resist the devil before
you begin to confess the Christ. 1t
is the resisting saint who shines the
brightest and the farthest. The road
of resistance is the highway which
leads to the crown of life and the
place on the throne with Christ The
brightest promises are given to those
who overcome, for the resistance
which the saints offer the devil are
the blows which are forging the
chains which will help TO bind him
some day.
NUR text is not only declaration of
| ] fact, which has been reinforced by
Gods faithful children in all ages, but
its first clause is a command: Resist
the DEVIL" 1t is in the imperative
mood There is no weakening off"
James might have said: "If YOU resist
the devil. he will flee from YOU" But
he does not He bluntly tells you and
me to "resist the devil" That short,
plain command of three words defines
the only attitude of the soul towards
the devil. No compromise; no terms,
short of absolute and determined OPP
position. The people of the world and
a good many Christians are in NOR
tai terror of giving offense to the devil.
They like to handle him with gloves
and are careful to rub the fur the
right way in order not to rouse the
monster to raging passion. But Gods
command is: Resist the devil and
when you do God will take care of the !
and it will not be long |
before the devil is fleeing in terror. |
The passive attitude of Christians is
10 the will and purpose of |
God. and violates the spirit of His |
not evil might be quoted to disprove |
this and to contradict the command |
of our text. but if you will take the |
pains to read all the section of the |
fifth chapter of Matthew. in which |
these words occur. you will readily see
that they have their application in mat.
ters of revenge and of persecution.
Those who have been demanding IAN
eve for an eye. and tooth for TOOTH"
are told to "resist not evil" But those
who are beset by the devil and who
encounter the forces of evil at work
in whatever form are commanded to
Resist the devil"
There is battle to be fought,
An upward race to run,
A crown of glory to be sought.
victory to be won.
THE shield of faith repels the dart