Consistent Resistence

Consistent Resistance

Introduction: Sandra Bullock won the 2010 Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Leigh Ann Tuohy in The Blind Side. The sensational film chronicles a Christian family who took in a homeless young man and gave him the chance to reach his God-given potential. Michael Oher not only dodged the hopelessness of his dysfunctional inner city upbringing, but became the first-round NFL draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens in 2009. At a recent fund-raiser, Sean Tuohy noted that the transformation of his family and Michael all started with two words. When they spotted Michael walking along the road on a cold November morning (the movie depicts it as nighttime) in shorts and a T-shirt, Leigh Ann Tuohy uttered two words that changed their world. She told Sean, “Turn around.” They turned the car around, put Michael in their warm vehicle, and ultimately adopted him into their family. (sermoncentral ill.)

Like the Prodigal son Turning around can save your life.

The last several years I have asked God for a goal or piece of advice for the upcoming year. In 2023 the word I received was “10,000 steps and a day.” In started out as a physical goal but He showed me how it was a spiritual goal. I figured to stave off diabetes, heart attacks, obesity etc. 10,000 steps a day is a good goal! But God was showing me that this has a spiritual meaning - if we spend every day walking with God and walking toward God we are also leaving our former self 10,000 steps behind every day; day after day, week after week, month after month year after year. And from personal experience the further away you get from your former self the less you miss him.

I received another word for 2024: which is the title of our message. I received two words - Consistent Resistance, again something that started out as a physical goal turned into a spiritual lesson. I didn’t notice I put on weight until my doctor told me during a routine checkup. And I was determined to make one small change resist the urge to snack after dinner. But this would only work if I did it consistently. But the Holy Spirit has shown me that this applies to repentance.

Repeat after me. ‘Consistent resistance is key to repentance.’

Before we begin let’s make it known what these two words mean.

First, what does it mean to be consistent? If I say someone shows up for work consistently that means they don’t miss days at work. They are reliable and steady and will be doing the same thing at the end that they started in the beginning.

Second, what is resistance? It means to repel in opposition to or push away.

James 4:7 says “.. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Notice it doesn’t say he won’t ever come back. In the Greek, the word ‘Resist’ means to oppose as if fighting an enemy.

We may successfully resist the devil at the moment and cause him to flee, but that doesn’t mean he won’t ever return. we must consistently resist him the rest of our days.

Ill. I hunted one tree stand so much one season the deer knew where I’d be and at what time. There was corn there for them to eat but they wouldn’t eat it for fear of me. The next year rolled around and I had so much going on that I didn’t get out and hunt much, and the deer were left with a safe hunt free piece of prime real estate. When the next season rolled around, I was eager to get out and get in a tree stand and the deer had a long time enjoying nobody hunting them and on opening day, 3 big ole bucks came right in to the corn and the first clear shot I got - I took. I came home with the biggest buck of my life.

Going a long time without any opposing pressure can cause us to get comfortable, believing no opposing pressure will ever come again. We think the battle is over and its safe to go back from where we had left, when in reality the enemy is waiting on us to do exactly that.

There’s going to be people who refuse to repent of a certain sin. They cry and cry and with tears running down their cheeks, “I try to leave it behind - but I just can’t do it.” I'm telling you today - you must do it or you will perish! That’s the truth of it. But The good news is you are promised if you resist it in Jesus name, you will overcome temptation and be set free from it!

Listen to me, If you want peace with God you must war with Satan. And that war isn’t over in one day, You only get to ‘rest in peace’ when you’re dead. so until then, you are called to take the whole armor of God and make your stand. You must expect that armor to be assaulted. Because the truth of it is, You won’t ever have peace until you fight away the one who steals peace. If you refuse to fight, if you refuse to consistently resist the devil, then don’t go about pouting and complaining about losing all the time. You won’t win if you don’t fight! And there is no victory without consistent resistance to the devil.