How To Win When Wrestling Against The Devil

1 John 2:14 - "I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one."    NASU 

• College Greek Class 

One of the first words I memorized in Greek class was the word "meno". It means to stay, remain, abide or dwell. The apostle John is telling the young men (the Greek word for young men means those less than 40 years of age) they are strong and the reason they are strong is the word of God abides, dwells or remains in them. 

• The Wrestlers Who Are Winners Have A Plan 

It isn't a big secret that winners have a plan on how to be successful. In communicating with Champion wrestlers below are some of their plans.
 
Wisconsin Coach Barry Davis says, "Preparation is the most important thing a champion does. A champion prepares for his opponent, he knows the moves his opponent is good at, and sees himself mentally countering those moves and executing his own moves to win that match." 
 
Campbell Coach Cary Kolat says, "The biggest trait of the best wrestlers is that they find a way.  Wrestling is man (vs.) man which attracts men who are independent but most of all determined.  If the door is locked the wrestler will climb through the window.  He will not stop until he achieves or fails.
 
Oregon State Coach Troy Steiner says, "A Champion is someone who is willing TO GO ALL IN EVERYDAY in all area of their lives.  By going all in, I mean that you are giving your very best effort in what you are doing in that moment.  This doesn't mean you will win every moment, but if you are persistent in giving your best each and everyday in every moment, You will prevail!"
 
Wrestlers will have a plan to win and they will execute that plan because they want to be winners.
 
The big question here is "What is your plan to win against the devil and his temptations?"

• I Have A Simple Plan For Christians To Be Winners 

My plan isn't something that no one has ever heard of before. In fact it is quite simple.

Read the Word of God Daily - that is my plan. Col. 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,..."  NASU
 
Last week's Pump Up was about how the Bible doesn’t contradict itself. You will never know that for sure if you don't read it.
 
A HOF wrestling coach named Mike Hampe preached this one lesson over and over again to his athletes -TOM - Time On Mat. "You will never get any better if you don't spend TOM - Time On the Mat.", he would say.
 
I was thinking about what Coach Hampe had said one day and it dawned on me. You will not improve spiritually if you won't spend TIB - Time In Bible.
 
A preacher friend of mine had a saying, "No Bible, NO Breakfast."

Start your day off right by reading God's Word. If you will read 3 chapters a day starting in the New Testament with the book of Matthew you will be finished in 87 days.
 
I can guarantee you the successful wrestlers have spent more than 87 days in training. 

• The Apostle John's Commentary 

These Christian young men are strong because the Word of God abides or dwells in them and because of this fact they are able to overcome the evil one.
 
Do you want to out wrestle the devil?

Then know the Word of God and let it reside in you. When the devil was tempting Jesus we all know what Jesus did. He quoted scripture to the devil and in so doing, He gave us a plan on how to defeat the evil one.
 
We must KNOW the Word of God.
 
I remember this old saying, "Reading the Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from reading the Bible."
 
Think On These:
 
The Bible is most helpful when it is opened and read.
 
A Bible that is falling apart often belongs to one who isn't.
 
If you couldn't get another Bible, what would yours be worth? 

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

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