The Resistance Factor
Jesus Christ couldn’t have been our Savior if He hadn’t resisted Satan’s temptations. Jesus was tempted in all things, but He resisted all temptations.
Many people are unaware that godliness comes from resisting evil daily. Our natures put up resistance to everything we attempt to do for God. How many people resist their evil natures and discipline themselves to study God’s word on a regular basis?
The central message of the Bible is how to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (Titus 1:1). The apostle Paul told Timothy to discipline himself for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7). Paul said if any minister does not preach about the doctrine that conforms one to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing (1 Tim. 6:3-4).
The benefits of bodily discipline, such as weight lifting and running, are temporary, but godliness is profitable for all because it holds a promise for this life as well as the life to come (1 Tim. 4:8). You discipline yourself spiritually by resisting evil thoughts, avoiding evil or dirty movies or television, dirty magazines, etc. You resist foul language, swearing, and using God’s name in vain (Psalm 34:13-14; 139:20). When you resist evil, or the devil, he will flee from you.
Satan goes around seeking those he can devour by tempting them not to read their Bibles (1 Peter 5:8-9). He tempts you not to pray to God. He can make more excuses for you than you can imagine. Why can’t you do what you know you should do?
Humans constantly give in to Satan instead of resisting him for the glory of God! Most Christians are unaware that the resistance inside them is Satan himself—our adversary—our resistor. Many Christians are unaware that the overcoming process is resistance to all evil. It is doing what they know they should do, even though they are tempted not to do it.
In the Bible, Satan is compared to a snake. The more you resist him, forcing yourself to do what is right and pleasing to God, the weaker the snake or pull of Satan becomes. Eventually, if you continue to resist evil, and overcome daily by doing good, Jesus Christ will crush Satan’s hold on you (Rom. 12:21; 16:20).
The easiest way to force yourself past the point of the resistance of your evil nature, is to set your mind. Are you going all the way, or not? Settle it within yourself. Whatever you set your hand to do, do it with all your might. Any job worth doing is worth doing right. It’s all in making up your mind. Once you make up your mind, you can quit smoking, lose weight, stop swearing and stop lusting. With God on your side supplying the strength, nothing will be impossible to you.
So, continue to force yourself to study your Bible every day. Force yourself to continually pray for others. Force yourself to do all the things you know you should do to please God, and you will be victorious. You will overcome if you continue to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. Remember to resist. Resist! Resist! You must persist. Persist in doing good! By forcing yourself in this manner, you are entering the kingdom by force (Luke 16:16).