Artificial trans fats are bad. According to today's news, more and more restaurants are pledging to stop using them. Kentucky Fried Chicken announced yesterday that it would switch to a cooking oil which contains no trans fats. Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Long John Silver's are considering a similar switch. Wendy's and McDonalds are eliminating them as well.

All this would be helpful if I knew what a "trans fat" was. So I looked it up: "fats that are artificially created through a chemical process of the hydrogenation of oils. This solidifies the oils and limits the body's ability to regulate cholesterol." Now I'm dumber than I was 30 seconds ago. I guess I don't have to understand trans fats to avoid them.

It's the same with spiritual warfare: we don't have to understand demons to avoid their disastrous effects in our lives, if we know where they are and what they can do. So far in our study we have seen that demons are real; they are evil; they are stronger than we are; they always seek to destroy; and they are after us. But there's good news: we can defeat them in the power of the Holy Spirit. We can refuse their temptations and defeat their strategies each and every day. Here's how.

First, receive Jesus. Make him your Savior and Lord. As he defeated demons in the first century, so he has power over Satan and his temptations always. Make him your Lord, and he will help you win the battle over temptation and sin every day.

Second, recognize temptation. When sin knocks at your door, demons are hiding behind it. And that sin will always take you further than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay. Know that every sin is part of a demonic strategy to ruin your witness and life.

Third, run to the Spirit. Every time you are tempted, go immediately to the Spirit for his help. Don't try to win this battle on your own, because you cannot. 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that God will not allow a temptation in your life which you cannot overcome in his strength. There is no sin which you must commit.

But there is no temptation you can defeat without his help. Demons won't waste their time on sins they know you will resist. So every temptation involves something you cannot overcome without God's strength. Take your next spiritual attack to your Father in prayer immediately. Ask for his power and it will be yours. Let's continue tomorrow.

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