What’s Blocking My Blessings? (Pt.7) (319) - October 11 2025

In this week's episode, we continue our discussion on resisting the devil so he will flee. This week, we focus on how Jesus resisted the devil. We also discuss some of the things Jesus left us to help us resist the devil. Jesus led by example when He became flesh and lived how we lived. Who better knows how to overcome evil than Jesus, who defeated the grave?
 
This program covers the following Scriptures from the Amplified Classic version (AMPC): John 10:10, John 14:30-31, Romans 4:17, Jeremiah 1:12, Psalms 91, Luke 10:19, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 34:7, Colossians 3:3-5, Colossians 3:4-10, 1 John 4:17, John 14:11-18, John 14:26-27, 1 Peter 1:16-17.

Transcript

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(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) Hey, and welcome back to another episode of a touch of God. My name is Catrice. I will be delivering the message for this week. We will be doing what's blocking my blessing part seven, which is a continuation of part six. And for those of you who would like to follow along in the Bible, we use the amplified classic version. Last week in what's blocking my blessing, part six, we discussed resisting the devil and he shall flee from you. How does resisting the devil improve your being blessed? What are we resisting? Do you have to serve the Lord in order to resist the devil? Is the devil attacking you or did you invite the devil to your party? Remain hidden in Christ. Can I ask my family members, friends to resist the devil for me, obedience to instruction from the Holy Spirit? Those were the topics for last week and this week on what's blocking my blessing part seven, we will be talking about resisting the devil part two, and he shall flee from you. This is a continuation of resist the devil part one. The topics for this week's discussion, why do we need to resist the devil? How can we resist the devil more? What are some tools Jesus left us to resist the devil, learning different ways to continue to resist the devil so he flees from you, the role that holiness plays in resisting the devil. So the first section, why do we need to resist the devil? John 10, 10, it says the thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance to the full till it overflows. So that's Jesus speaking. I just defined the function and the purpose of the devil coming into anyone's life. If you don't want things stolen, destroyed and lives taken, you're going to want to resist the devil. So he flees. There's always that choice between God and evil. Whoever is on the Lord's side, stand with him. How can we resist the devil more? We can resist the devil by making sure we are not stealing, killing and destroying like the thief does in John 10, 10. You also do not want to be in fellowship with those who still kill and destroy. When like-minded people are around each other, they want to make sure those they are with are like-minded. This means the devil will be looking to see if you say one thing in front of others and are stealing, killing and destroying when no one is looking. The devil wants to have something on you. Let's look at John 14, verse 30 to 31. This is Jesus speaking to his disciples. I will not talk with you much more for the prince evil genius ruler of the world is coming and he has no claim on me. He has nothing in common with me. There is nothing in me that belongs to him and he has no power over me. Verse 31, but Satan is coming and I do as the father has commanded me so that the world may know, be convinced that I love the father and that I do only what the father has instructed me to do. I act in full agreement with his orders, rise, let us go from here. So in John 14, 30, it says at the end of the verse, there is nothing in me that belongs to him and he has no power over me. What does this mean? To demonstrate this further, I'm going to go ahead and just tell you a story. A guy named Jeff finally gets a job. He decides he is going to do all it takes to really work hard and rise to the top. Months pass by and he is doing okay. One day, Jeff noticed that others who were working half as hard and were not even knowledgeable on the work process were getting bonuses all the time. He went over to one of the people who got bonuses all the time and asked, how are you getting bonuses all the time? The co-worker responded, well, you have to really want the bonus and do whatever it takes to get it. The co-worker invited Jeff to a meeting with the others who happened to be getting frequent financial bonuses as well. Before Jeff could go to the meeting, the co-worker made him promise to do the same as they did if he was invited to this meeting. Jeff said that he would. He didn't think they would be doing anything illegal, so it would be okay to go. In the meeting, it was discussed that the client was not even asked to sign up for certain item deals. It was just implied in the initial contract details that certain fees would be added and the company associate who orchestrated the account would receive these fees. This was not the company policy. It was something simply entered into people's contracts without them knowing. After the meeting, Jeff's co-worker who invited him to the meeting said, now that you have seen how to make bonuses, I expect you to follow through. Now that you have seen the process, we will be watching you to see that you do the same. Be sure to add the information to every stakeholder's contract. This way, if we get caught, you get caught too because you are doing the same thing. In fact, we will say this was all your idea and we were just following you. Jeff realized that he had seen and heard too much just because he wanted to make additional bonuses like other people. At this point, to just ignore the co-worker, it would not be enough. They knew everything about Jeff and would make good on their threat. They wanted to follow up with him if he told someone or did not do the same as them, there would be trouble. Jeff had choices to make. He could tell the boss or quit the job that he worked so hard for. There was no in-between answer for him. The corrupt co-workers wanted to force Jeff to do the same as them so they had something on him in case he told on them. They figured that someone would not want to tell on themselves. It was a kind of insurance plan for them. Jeff wanted to keep his job and begin to make bonus offers on contracts. The reward did not feel as good as he thought it would. Jeff now was in a constant fear and anxiety because of what he was doing. So let's look at John 14 verse 30 to compare the verse with what happened in the story about Jeff. In John 14 verse 30, this is Jesus speaking to the disciples. I will not talk with you much more for the prince evil genius ruler of the world is coming and he has no claim on me. He has nothing in common with me. There is nothing in me that belongs to him. He has no power over me. We can see in John 14 verse 30 a list of what you are wanting the enemy to not have on you. He the devil has no claim on me. In the story about Jeff, the co-worker had a claim on Jeff. The co-worker knew Jeff was doing what he was doing, stealing, destroying his career. He the devil has nothing in common with me. The co-worker was corrupt and stealing from innocent people. Now Jeff had the same thing in common with the co-worker. He the devil has nothing in me that belongs to me. The co-worker threatened to say, this was your idea and we are just following you. The money made in this crime belonged to the devil. Everything Jeff bought with the money, even the girl that Jeff was now dating was attracted to the money. All the money made from the corrupt scheme belonged to the devil. Lastly, he the devil has no power over me. Every time Jeff wanted to back out of the extra bonuses, the co-worker reminded him of what he had done. Jeff being afraid, noun, to get in trouble, continued to have the corrupt deal occur. Let's take a moment to reflect on our own lives to see if any part of John 1430 applies to us. You see, while resisting the devil, we have to be sure that there is nothing that the devil has no claim on us, nothing in common with us. There is nothing that belongs to him. He has no power over us. We can't resist the devil if we are like the thief in John 1010. In John 1010, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Let's take time to reflect on John 1430. This sadly can apply to non-believers and those who are in some cases labeled Christian. Remember, we all have to fight the good fight until judgment day. This is the good news. There is still time to repent and turn away from the behavior. This is a part of resisting the devil so he will flee. We do not take part in what the devil wishes to claim over us. Resisting the devil starts in the heart. God judges the heart of man, the true intentions, and what is inside of you. That's in 1 Samuel 16, verse 7. Let's take a little time to pray now right where you are. Thank you, Lord, that he, the devil has no claim on me. He, the devil, has nothing in common with me. He, the devil, has nothing in me that belongs to him. He, the devil, has no power over me. What are some tools Jesus left us to resist the devil? You want to start by speaking what needs to be rather than what has happened, is happening, and will happen. Call upon those things that are not so as though they are so. We just did this by decreeing and declaring what the devil will not have over us. So let's look at Romans 4, 17. Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the non-existence things that he has foretold and promised as if they already existed? So let's try application of this exercise for homework. Focus on what you need to happen by faith. Begin to decree and declare the word of God over the situation. For example, I shall live and not die and declare the glory of the Lord. By his stripes, I am healed. You must maintain this heart posture and focus on things above. As you decree the word, God watches over his word to see that it is performed, which is in Jeremiah 1, 12. While you decree and declare God's word over you, you might encounter resistance, meaning you might sense a shift in what you are experiencing. Hold your ground. Stay the course. Continue to speak what you started to speak. Hold your ground. Do not stop or back down from what you are saying. Be solution-focused and not emotion-focused. Distractions will try to come in the form of phone calls. People suddenly want to talk. People suddenly saying the most negative things. Stay focused. Pray in tongues if you have your heavenly language. Continue for the joy set before you is the freedom that you shall obtain or achieving. To add, before you begin to pray, tell the people in your home to not disturb you. Lock your door. Shut off your phone. Press into the things of the Lord. Take note of who is suddenly calling, texting at that moment. These people might have been assigned to distract you. Be sure to remind yourself and build your faith by the word. Psalms 91, Luke 10, 19, 2 Thessalonians 3, 3, Yet the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil one. Deuteronomy 31, 6 Be strong, courageous, and firm. Fear not, nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Psalms 34, 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him. Who revere and worship him with awe, and each of them he delivers. So this is all very good, but we have to stay focused on it, believe it, do it, say it. Learning different ways to continue to resist the devil so he will flee from you. We just talked about calling upon those things that are not so, as though they are so in Romans 4, 17. How do we continue to call upon those things that are not so, as though they are so? Like in 4, 17. Well, let's take a look at Colossians 3, verses 3 to 5. For as far as this world is concerned, you have died, and your new real life is hidden with Christ in God. Focus on this part that just said your new real life is hidden in Christ. This is your new identity, who you are now. Let's continue with Colossians 3, 4 to 10. When Christ who is our life appears, when you also will appear with him in the splendor of his glory. So kill, deaden, deprive of power, the evil desire lurking in your members, which is what we just finished talking about. Verse 5, those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin. Sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetedness. For that is idolatry, the defying of self and other created things instead of God. Colossians 3, 8. But now put away and rid yourselves completely of all these things. Anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slanders, and foul mouth abuse and shameful utterances from your lips. Verse 9. Do not lie to one another for you have stripped off the old unregenerated self with its evil practices. Verse 10. And have clothed yourself with a new spiritual self, which is ever in the process of being renewed and remolded into fuller and more perfect knowledge upon knowledge after the image and likeness of him who created it. Colossians 3 verses 3 to 10 shows us that by remaining hidden in Christ, the devil can have no claim on us. For example, many people have phones that you can put on a location button that shows where you are located. When you do not display that button, your location does not show according to the display. If that person was hiding from a abusive person who wanted to cause evil, they would not display their location to anyone. This reminds me of being hidden in Christ. When we are doing the things the devil would do, we are on display for the devil and not hidden in Christ. When we do what the Lord says to do, we remain hidden and are not going back and forth. When we're not hidden, we are not found in Christ. We are found in the devil. This leaves you open to attacks. You have no way to clean things if you are doing the same as the devil. The first thing we want to make sure that we are saved as in John 15 says, remain in Christ. Then understand that as Jesus is, so are we in this world. And that's in 1 John 4 17. It says, in this union and communion with him, love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment with assurance and boldness to face him, because as he is, so are we in this world. This means that what Jesus did, we do also. This keeps us hidden in Christ. John 14 30 talks about what the enemy seeks to do, but the verse after lets you know what Jesus has already done to resist the devil. Let's look at John 14 31, which is the verse after John 14 30. This is Jesus speaking to his disciples, but Satan is coming and I do as the father has commanded me so that the world may know, be convinced that I love the father and that I do only what the father has instructed me to do. I act in full agreement with his orders, rise, let us go away from here. So in that verse, it says, I do as the father has commanded me. So we as disciples of Christ have to do what the Lord has commanded us to do. This keeps us hidden in Christ when we're following what Christ has done. In that same verse, it says, the world may know, be convinced that I love the father. So when we're out in the world, we do as the father does so that the world may know and be convinced that we love the father. The verse also says, I do only what the father has instructed me to do. So when we're going about doing good, we want to only do what the father tells us to do. There's things out there that might seem popular. There's things out there that maybe popular churches are doing, but that's not what we're called to. We're not called to be popular. We're called to be disciples of Christ and to do what the father has done and what the father has told Jesus to do and what Jesus did. Lastly, I act in full agreement with his orders. We have to be in full agreement with the orders of Jesus Christ and the father so that we are one with God when one with Jesus, so that we are all doing what the father tells us to do, because this keeps us hidden in Christ. And it keeps us from not doing what the devil is doing, because you're either doing good or you're doing what the thief does in John 10. Let's look at John 14, 11 to 18, Jesus speaking, Believe me that I am in the father and the father in me, or else believe me for the sake of the very works themselves. If you cannot trust me, at least let these works that I do in my father's name convince you. Verse 12, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do, and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the father and I will do, I myself will grant whatever you ask in my name as presenting all that I am so that the father may be glorified and extolled in through the son. Verse 14, yes, I will grant, I myself will do for you, whatever you shall ask in my name as presenting all that I am. If you really love me, you will keep obey my commands. Verse 16, and I will ask the father and he will give you another comforter, counselor, a helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener, and standby that he may remain with you forever. So we've been given the counselor, the helper. Jesus asked this for us, and this is another tool in resisting the devil. Verse 17, the Holy Spirit, that's what this verse is talking about. The spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, welcome, take it to heart, because it does not see him or know and recognize him, but you know and recognize him, for he lives with you constantly and will be in you. So those who belong to God have the Holy Spirit in us. We don't have the devil in us, we have the Holy Spirit in us when we do what the father tells us to do. Verse 18, I will not leave you as orphans, this is Jesus speaking, comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless. I will come back to you. Let's look at John 14, 26 to 27. But the comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener, standby, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, in my place to represent me and act on behalf. He will teach you all things and he will cause you to recall, will remind you of, bring to your remembrance everything I have told you. Peace, I will leave with you. So we have the Holy Spirit that's helping us to resist the devil and now the Lord Jesus is telling us that he's also leaving us another tool, which is peace. Peace, I will leave with you. My own peace, I now give and bequeath to you, not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. So Jesus is leaving us instructions. He's telling us, do not let our heart be troubled. Do not let our hearts be afraid. Let me continue in the verse. Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled. So Jesus left these instructions for us. Amen. Although Jesus did not mention holiness in John 14 verses 26 to 27, we need to acknowledge it because it is helpful in resisting the devil. The role that holiness plays in resisting the devil. Let's talk about that. Let's look at 1 Peter 1 verse 16. For it is written, you shall be holy for I am holy. Verse 17. And if you call upon him as your father, who judges each one impartially according to what he does, then you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence on earth, whether long or short. That is so good. I used to love watching water that had oil in it. There was something about dropping liquid soap in the center of water with oil. As soon as the liquid soap hit the water, you would see the oil shrink back with no hesitation. When we commit ourselves to the Lord in all our ways, trust in, lean on, acknowledge the Lord, he can direct our paths. And in this way, we're hidden in Christ and we can repel the devil, resist the devil in the same way with the water, with the oil. And when you put liquid soap in it, it immediately responds and repels the oily water. I always think that a dirty floor can't be cleaned with a dirty cloth. We need to have a clean cloth to wipe away the dirt on a floor. A dirty cloth will only make things dirtier. Dirt can never clean dirt. If we are doing the things that the devil does, we can't become clean by doing more things that the devil does. That's sin on sin. There must be a cloth that is clean so it can absorb all the stains and dirt. This is who Jesus was for us. He was a lamb without blemish for us. He wiped away the sins of the world. When a person is not working toward holiness, it means the devil might have something in them. So if somebody is not working towards being cleaned and starting and desiring to be like that clean cloth to clean things, they're not working towards the holiness. We want to be able to say that the devil has nothing in me, no claim to me, nothing over me, nothing in common with me, no power over me. Remaining in Christ and holiness are very helpful when resisting the devil. So he will flee from us. When the enemy has nothing he can find, he will flee from your lives. We just have to stick with it, press in, and continue as a way of life. Not for a moment, not for a couple of seconds, but you have to hold your ground and you have to be in Christ. And that means it's a lifetime of being in Christ, not just a couple of moments to see if God is going to work for you, but that you are with him for a lifetime. It's a commitment and it's a union in Christ. Amen. Amen.