Who Must Flee, the Devil or You?

Who Must Flee, the Devil or You?

There are times in life's experience where the Devil must flee,and there are others where we must flee. He that is wise will perceive and know the difference.

“Resist the Devil,and he will flee from you"(Jas.4:7), declares James. Of the Devil, Peter also writes, "whom resiststedfast in the faith"(I Pet. 5:9).

There are nevertheless times when we ourselves are to flee.Flee youthful lusts(II Tim.2:22).Flee fornication (1Cor.6:18). Flee from idolatry (I Cor.10:14). Flee the seductive influence of false teachers (see I Tim. 6:1-11)."Abstain from all appearance of evil"(I Th. 5:22). "Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul (I Pet. 2:11)

Whenever the people of God are faced with temptations of these sorts,they are to flee their alluring influence, in the same way that Joseph fled from the attempted ensnarement by Potiphar's wife (see Gen. 39:12). Sometimes such fleeing will involve further testing for the one that is seeking to escape, as was the case with Joseph, but nevertheless it is always right to flee from perceived intended entrapment by the wicked one.“He that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey" (Isa. 59:15). But God is faithful, who will always provide “a way of escape that ye may be able to bear it" (see I Cor. 10:13).

The Lamb's Book of Life

The Lamb's Book of Life

The Book of Life—that blest register of Heaven,In which "the whole family" of God was enrolled “from the foundation of the world" (Mt. 25:34; Eph. 3:15; Rev.13:8; 17:8)! The official roster of "the general assembly and church of the Firstborn,” which is “written not with ink,”but with the finger of the everlasting God! Like all of God's works, it partakes of His character, being of necessity "very good"—that is,perfect—in its scope and in its eternal nature (Gen. 1:31; Eccl. 3:14). Wholly unaffected by “our works,” it is a product entirely of divine grace,“which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (II Tim. 1:9-10). How this precious roll of the "heirs of promise" has intrigued, impelled, and comforted believing hearts down through the ages (Heb.6:17)! And how it continues, and shall continue, to do so until "the mystery of God” is finished, and He shall become “All in all" (I Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 10:7; 21:5-6).

—Fred O. Blakely

Many Shall Come from the East and the West

“And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt. 8:11-12).

On the Use of Commentaries

“When my mind is sterile, that is the time when I go to the commentator, hand him the shovel, and show him where to dig.”

—Given O. Blakely

Jesus Came to do the Father’s Will

“All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from Heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40).

Abide in Jesus!

“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (I Jn. 2:28).

Do Not Tamper with God’s Word!

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19).