RESISTING THE DEVIL

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7). Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Pet 5:8-9).

Devotion 5 of 15

DEVELOPING OUR STRATEGY
HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL

Some seek to resist the devil by shouting threats at their adversary. Others rely upon supposed super-saints to neutralize Satan's attacks by the laying on of hands, prayer, or another form of exorcism. God's word is clear in this matter. We are not told to stop Satan from dominating other people, but to not allow him to dominate us. Our first and foremost obligation is to keep ourselves pure, not allowing the devil to encroach upon our faith.

Submit yourself to God

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). We actually resist the devil indirectly. The secret to overcoming the devil is not having a thorough knowledge of his strategies, although we are not to be "ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor 2:11). Submittal to God is an absolute requisite to the resistance of Satan! As faith sensitizes us to the presence of the Lord, Satan's allurements lose their appeal. An appetite for God necessarily involves a repugnance for sin.

Submission to God is not understood from Mount Sinai, but from Mount Zion. Submitting to God is more a posture than an accomplishment. It deals more with the heart than with excellence in conduct. This is not a loose principle. The person submitted to God will have no desire to sin. Such submission closes the door to indulgence, but it does not open it!

The submission of which James speaks is the result of spiritual rationality and affectionate preference. We simply prefer God to Satan. It is also reasonable for us to do so. We submit to God because He has determined to bless us in Christ Jesus. We resist the devil because he has determined to drown men in perdition.

It is necessary to consider God if we are to submit to Him. It is not possible to occupy your mind and affection with the things of this world and submit to God. It is true that myriads are attempting to do this very thing, but it will never happen. God must get our attention before He will ever have our submission. The appointed means of gaining this attention is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be steadfast in the faith

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Pet 5:8-9). Here Peter is very specific. Resistance is accomplished by being "steadfast in the faith." Satan's design is to stop us from living by faith; to hinder us from being dominated by the unseen realm (2 Cor 4:17-18). Our refusal to leave the "heavenly places" where God has "seated" us is the only way to resist the devil.

Steadfastness in the faith involves setting your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth (Col 3:1-3). This is preference for the things of God, an appetite for His Word, and a desire to please the Lord. These are dominating qualities in those who live by faith. They will successfully neutralize every attack of the evil one!

The propensity of the contemporary church for the things of this world has made it vulnerable to Satan. It is impossible to resist Satan while dominated by "the fleshly mind" (Col 2:18). When an individual's religion anchors him to this world, it has thereby excluded him from heaven, and made him a vassal of Satan. It makes little difference how "nice" and palatable the religious emphasis is, if it does not make heaven primary, and see earth as cursed, it makes one vulnerable to Satan. There is no possible way for such individuals to "resist the devil."

Being steadfast in the faith is obstinately refusing to release your hold on the promises of God. Conformity to the divine image will come as we embrace the promises. They are the appointed means through which we become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Pet 1:4). Steadfastness in the faith provokes us to hold tenaciously to Divine commitments. Although faith provokes us to make good resolves, it holds to Gods commitments, not to our own.

Here is a missing element in the modern church: steadfastness in the faith. It is scarcely known in a time marked by moral inferiority, scriptural illiteracy, and mental sterility. Organizations calling themselves "churches" regularly modify their program to keep the supposed interest of the people. Whatever is "in vogue" is the emphasis of the day, whether it is a catchy little chorus, a unique governmental church structure, or a new approach to family outings. But real faith is not required in such efforts, and the people seem to sense it. The net effect of these shallow approaches is that Satan has been let into our churches--through the very doors created to supposedly do the work of the Lord. In this case, men must overcome the church structure to resist the devil. Steadfastness in "the faith," not the church program, enables us to resist the devil.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Christ, and through Your spirit, I ask for wisdom and strength to put to death the inclinations of the flesh, that I may submit myself to You, and resist the devil.

-- TOMORROW: THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER! --