Ready to Resist the Devil
James 4:7
The devil’s attacks do not end because he quits. They end because somebody resists.
James 4:7 (NIV)
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1. Resistance Begins with Submission
James 4:7a (NIV)
Submit yourselves, then, to God.
James 4:6b (NLT)
As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5b–9a (NIV)
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.
Submitting to God’s authority is resisting the devil.
The more submitted you are to God’s authority, the more resistant your life is to the devil’s attack.
1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
2. Resistance Requires Resolve
James 4:7 (NIV)
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil...
Many Christian are losing battles against the enemy because they are standing casually when they should be braced intentionally.
> “If you succumb, Satan does not flee; he sits on the couch with you. And since sin has pathways, failure to resist on one occasion makes it harder to resist the next temptation and harder to submit to God...”
—Daniel M. Doriani, New Testament scholar
Reliantly
Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Confidently
John 8:44 (NIV)
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Radically
Mark 9:43 (NLT)
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands.”
> “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.”
---John Owen
Stop asking, "How close can I get and still be okay?"
Start asking, "What do I need to cut off so I can be free?"
3. Resistance Guarantees the Devil’s Retreat
James 4:7b (NIV)
Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
The Christian life is not one act of resistance.
It is a lifestyle of resistance.
1 John 3:8b (NIV)
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
