'Yes' to God, and 'No' to the Devil.
The sermon emphasizes the believer's need to submit to God and resist the devil to maintain spiritual victory.
Watchman Nee emphasizes the believer's need to firmly say 'Yes' to God and 'No' to the devil, as outlined in James 4:7. He explains that believers are positioned in victory with Christ and must persistently assert their choice to walk with God while resisting the adversary's attacks. Nee warns that the enemy can disguise himself as light, leading believers to unwittingly give their 'Yes' to deception, which grants the adversary power over them. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in maintaining a simple attitude of submission to God and resistance to the devil. Ultimately, the fight is to uphold this attitude of victory and keep focused on God.
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In relation to all these four aspects of the adversary's workings, there is one strong central position which the believer must hold toward them all. We have it tersely described in James iv, 7. "SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE;" which briefly means, say "Yes" to God, and "No" to the devil. "Joined to the Lord one spirit" your place is with Christ on the throne "far above all principality and power," and this position of victory you must hold persistently by the power of the Holy Ghost, whilst in regard to the approaches and attacks of Satan, you will, as the deciding factor, persistently assert your choice to walk with God. From the POSITION OF VICTORY you are to be awake to what Satan seeks to do to your circumference in all his various disguises, and from your centre-position to say in your will just "Yes" or "No"--i.e., "Yes" to God, "No" to the devil.
Granted your spirit in union with Christ, how can you be free from the bondage of the enemy in your circumference; that is to say, in mind or body? The spirit is in union with Christ in victory, but the enemy can attack the MIND with depression, and with dullness, or inflame the imagination, and the body, with its nerves and muscles, in fact, all that is in the circumference.
If the believer understands his true position in Christ, and maintains a simple attitude, of (1) submission to all that is of God, and (2) resistance to all that comes from the adversary, these attacks do cease. The "fight" is to maintain the attitude of victory in Christ; and to keep the helm of the ship set towards God; the "resistance" is a refusal to yield to Satan at all costs--THEN HE DOES FLEE.
But suppose the adversary appears as "light," and gets the "Yes" of the will under disguise? Alas, it is Yes, even though the believer gave the "yes" under deception, and it gives the adversary power over the believer TO THE EXTENT OF THE "YES" WHICH THE DECEIVER OBTAINED BY FRAUD.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding the believer's position in Christ
- The importance of submission to God
- The necessity of resisting the devil
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II
- The role of the Holy Spirit in maintaining victory
- Recognizing the attacks of Satan
- The believer's authority in Christ
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III
- The dangers of deception from the adversary
- The impact of a 'Yes' given to the enemy
- Maintaining a clear stance against evil
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IV
- The fight to maintain an attitude of victory
- Setting the course towards God
- The promise of the devil fleeing
Key Quotes
“'SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE;'” — Watchman Nee
“'Yes to God, and No to the devil.'” — Watchman Nee
“'The fight is to maintain the attitude of victory in Christ; and to keep the helm of the ship set towards God.'” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- Regularly affirm your commitment to God through prayer and scripture.
- Be vigilant against the subtle deceptions of the enemy in your life.
- Cultivate a mindset of victory by recognizing your identity in Christ.