Devo for 07/27/2025 service- Message by Pastor Jared Gregory

What a great honor to hear from Pastor Jared Gregory from Hilltop church in St. George Utah!  He brought a message of walking in freedom and challenged us with this question:

Are we really living in the freedom God promised us?

Paul begins Galatians chapter 5 with this declaration: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.”  We should all take a good look at ourselves and ask God to reveal areas in our lives that we are not walking in freedom, so we can work them out.

But we also know that satan is actively working to derail any semblance of freedom we may walk in.  I think we also all know that the works of satan have already been defeated by Jesus’ time on earth.

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

So why do we, so many times, complain that satan is messing with us?  We know he is going to, so we should not be surprised.  Additionally, I think many times we just accept that satan is not only going to mess with us, but we assume he is going to influence us.

The fact is, satan cannot influence us unless a) we let him, or b) he tricks us.  The pathway to overcoming both of those is knowing the Word of God and focusing on God’s truths and promises in all that we do.  Here is some scripture showing the truth:

If we submit to God, the devil has to flee if we tell him to!  

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Knowing satan and his minions will be attacking us, don’t give him a chance!  

and do not give the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:27

Jesus tells us we have the authority to overcome the evil schemes of the devil!

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Luke 10:19

God gives us the tools to stand against the works of satan, if we “put them on!” (Read Ephesians 6:10-20)

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil Ephesians 6:11 

Jesus used the word of God to battle satan when he went into the wilderness for 40 days and nights.  As satan tempted Him, He was steadfast in God’s will and relied on the Word to overcome the evil one.  As satan tempted, Jesus replied, “It is written” and followed it up with scripture.  We can do the same!  

I encourage all of us to have scriptures in our hearts (and memorized!) that we can go to when satan attacks. For example, here are four verses you can start your day with (and not even give satan a chance to start lying!)

• Wake up and spend time in God’s presence, humble yourself before him and submit to His ways (James 4:7)

• Say NO to satan before he has a chance to lie to you! (Ephesians 4:27)

• Thank God for the authority He has given you to overcome the evil one and the evilness of the world, then commit to walking in that authority! (Luke 10:19)

• Put on the Full Armor of God each day! (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Don’t forget to invite God into your day!

Topic for Study

• Full Armor of God

• Ephesians 6:10-20

• Hebrews 4:12

• 1 Peter 5:8

July Memory Verse: 

Ephesians 5:21

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”