Satan will torment a believer as much as that particular believer permits him. Breaking the back of Satanic torment is mandatory if one is going to enjoy life and live it more abundantly. It is important to remember that Satan has no power over the Christ-centered believer. To the contrary, as members of the body of Christ, we have been given power over him.

The formula for overcoming power is written in James 4:7. Over the years of service unto Christ, I have learned a five-step formula for unlocking the power of this glorious Biblical principle. James, chapter 4, verse 7, reads:

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

Let us suppose that the problem you’re dealing with is bitterness against someone who has offended you. For example, let’s suppose that person’s name is Jeff. The five-step formula is as follows:

1. Submit yourself to God audibly (when possible).

Example: “Dear God, blessed be your holy name. I esteem all your words to be true and righteous altogether. I surrender my mind, including my opinions, to the authority of your truth. Forgive me for entertaining bitterness against Jeff. In the power of Jesus’ name, I love Jeff and will do good to him.”

2. Now look toward the Devil and resist him audibly (when possible).

Example: “Get thee behind me Satan with your spirit of bitterness. It is written, Matthew 5:44, ‘But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;’”

3. Step #3 is an inspection step. Satan must always obey the spoken Word of faith. He has no other option because he has been fully spoiled by our Lord Jesus Christ. If he doesn’t flee (as in leave immediately), it’s because I am holding on to part of that sin, therefore, Satan’s power is not broken.

4. If Satan has not fled, then I turn to God and repeat step #1. God will reveal to me the remnant of the evil that I’m still harboring. This step may take several efforts.

5. When I have disavowed that remnant lurking in my heart, then I will resist the Devil and he will flee from me, and that means instantly.

God’s Word always dominates the power of Satan. Use it and live. NOW FOR TODAY’S SUBJECT.

GOD SAID, Matthew, chapter 2, verses 16-18:

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

MAN SAID: This never happened! Matthew was not telling the truth—his writing is just another example of Biblical fabrication.

Now THE RECORD. The passage we read above in Matthew quotes from Jeremiah 31:15, which reads, “Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.” Rachel was a wife to patriarch Jacob and one of the mothers of the 12 tribes of Israel. Our dear sister Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin, the father of the Jewish tribe that carries his name.

Genesis, chapter 35, verses 16-20:

16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

Centuries before Herod committed this great evil against the children of Bethlehem, Rachel had died and was buried beside the highway at the entrance to Bethlehem, and centuries before Herod’s murderous crime, the prophet Jeremiah foretold it. Rachel’s tomb exists today and is venerated by Jews, Christians, and Moslems, as one of the world’s most holy sites.

But does history record Herod’s horrendous crime? At the beginning of the fifth century, Macrobius wrote in Saturnalia, II, 4, concerning the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem. Historian Alexander Hislop refers to Macrobius’ account in the following excerpt:

When Christ was born in Bethlehem, no doubt Herod endeavoured to cut Him off, and Herod was a subject of the Roman Empire. But it was not from any respect to Caesar that he did so, but simply from fear of danger to his own dignity as King of Judea. So little did Caesar sympathise with the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem, that is is recorded that Augustus, on hearing of it, remarked that is was “better to be Herod’s hog than to be his child.”

GOD SAID, Matthew, chapter 2, verses 16-18:

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

MAN SAID: This never happened! Matthew was not telling the truth—his writing is just another example of Biblical fabrication.

Now you have THE RECORD.



References:

King James Bible

Hislop, A., The Two Babylons, Chick Publications, p 235

Macrobius, Saturnalia, II, cap. 4, p 77, B

Thompson Chain Archaeological Section