Wall of Resistance

There are many different types of resistance according to Webster’s New World Dictionary.  I want to address one kind of resistance that is vital to Christian living; the resistance to temptation.  This resistance encapsulates a plethora of areas that, if yielded to, can permit the surrounding wall of protection to collapse around us; allowing the infiltration of unwanted principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness. 

Resistance is the protective wall that keeps us separated from evil; Satan’s playground of sin.  When God is allowed to build a strong resistance through the reading of His Word and through prayer, this wall stands unmovable against the wiles of Satan.

The enemy of our soul is trying to negate all resistance to him so that he has free access to our soul.  One of his main objectives is to destroy our relationship with God the Father.

(1 Peter 5:8), “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Resistance reminds me of working out with weights.  The more a person works their muscles, relative to the amount of weight they lift, the results of this constructive effort causes their muscles to become stronger and stronger as they maintain this practice.  A healthy and fit body is the reward for continued dedication in this area.

When muscles are not used they soon become weakened even to the point of atrophy if the deficiency of movement is prolonged for any length of time.  When muscles deteriorate and wither, the whole body suffers as a result; likewise, our spiritual well-being suffers when we allow the wall of resistance to slowly erode.  For those that choose not to practice a healthy workout schedule each day through reading the Bible and prayer, it produces weakness in them.

It takes work when building a strong resistance to Satan’s temptations, but the outcome is well worth the effort put forth, in the end.  The more we resist the devil the stronger the wall of resistance becomes.  When “spiritual body building” is part of our daily routine and lifestyle, positive results follow, but it takes a made up mind to succeed in this endeavor.  It is like implementing and maintaining a physical fitness program; only spiritual.

Things, in general, can interfere with a person’s workout plan, which cause them to become lax in their drive for success.  A New Years Resolution is a good example of laid-back, disingenuous expectation of oneself.  People have good intentions, but can fail to sustain a made up mind and accountability to oneself, which are of the essence. 

Though many people desire to lose weight or achieve physical fitness, some give up before they even get started.  Their hope for success becomes a fading objective even though they already purchased a treadmill, stationary bicycle, or set of weights.  It takes doing to accomplish goals.  A person that sits on the sideline of “do nothing” accomplishes little. 

Though people have good ideas with full intention of finally doing something positive, procrastination and laziness get in the way of accomplished dreams.  They end up selling or giving away the treadmill, bicycle, and weights, because they take up too much room in the den or garage.  Dust accumulates when usage diminishes.

The health of a person’s soul is of greater importance than even the physical body, though God expects us to keep ourselves in good health.  The soul’s final destination is at stake if we fail to keep the wall of resistance strong in our walk of faith.

As stated, it takes dedication and hard work to maintain a strong and healthy wall of resistance to temptation.  If we are not careful we can give into temptation and let down in our workout schedule of reading the Bible and prayer regiment, while dust settles on God’s Word.  Should this happen, a person will soon feel the affects of lackadaisical living. 

Peace of mind and just feeling good about life becomes weakened, while godly ambitions become less and less important; much like the treadmill, bicycle, and weights.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, the wall of resistance can always be made strong even though we may have failed in the past to keep it this way.  He comes alongside to facilitate and help maintain our made up mind to serve God.  He keeps us motivated and spiritually healthy. 

A strong resistance does not maintain itself of itself; it takes working at it each day.  We need not fear Satan’s attempts to devour us spiritually when our wall of resistance is maintained.

(Philippians 4:13), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

(Psalm 27:1), “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Written by,

Papa Boyd