5 D's of Deceit and having the Victory

1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

We must be vigilant because Satan is trying to destroy us.  In order for us to be able to recognize his plans we must remain alert.

In Satan’s Plan he will use at least one or all of the 5 D’s of Deceit

1. Doubt- He’ll try to make you question God’s word and His goodness.
2. Discouragement- He’ll try to make you look at your problems rather than at God.
3. Diversion- He’ll try to make the wrong things seem attractive so that you will want them more than the right things.
4. Defeat- He’ll try to make you feel like a failure so that you won’t even try.
5. Delay- He’ll try to make you put off doing something so that it never gets done.

Satan may cause us many setbacks if we fall for his plan but we can have the victory.

1 Corinthians 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Don’t let the devil fool you, we can obtain victory through Christ!

How do we obtain victory over our setbacks?

1. We must present ourselves to the Lord.

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

• If we are to have victory over the imperfections in our lives, we must give ourselves to God each day and let Him fill us.

2.   We must be transformed by the Lord.

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

• God desires to renew and transform us into Christians He can use.  Even with failures and setbacks, we can be used by God if we will let Him transform us.

3.  Focus on victory one day at a time.

2 Corinthians 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

• Many times we can get discouraged when we think of having victory over a large setback in our lives, but we must focus on God and ask Him for victory each day.

4.  We must memorize scripture to gain victory over setbacks in our lives.

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

• God’s word is our guide and protection in life.  As we are memorizing scripture and applying the truths of His word in our lives each day God will help us to have victory.

5.  Don’t dwell on your past, claim the victory.

Philippians 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

• The devil enjoys keeping us from working for the Lord by continually reminding us of our past.  He tries to steal our joy and happiness in the Lord.  Instead of dwelling on our past we need to grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on our relationship with Him now.  Realize we are forgiven, and move on to a life of faith and obedience.  Look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of your hope in Christ and the victory He gives.

“I cannot take back my past sins, but I can allow God to forgive me, to restore me, to redeem every mistake I’ve made, and to cleanse my guilty conscience.  Thereby, through the power of the Holy Spirit, my past is reframed, and its destructive power is diffused.” ~Beth Moore