The video above will arm you with a promise to help you stand your ground as you face spiritual warfare.
Listen to this promise in James chapter four verse seven, “Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8 CSB).
Listen to that. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 CSB).
Stand firm—strong in the strength and the might of the Lord!
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 CSB).
The reason why we often have so much difficulty with the devil is we do very little to resist him. He suggests a thought to us which is deviant, or he gives an opportunity which is perverse, or he tells us about our entitlement and how we ought not to forgive that person, or he tells us that just a little bit isn’t too bad, or he tells us that we can do it on our own, or he tells us it’s okay to be with that group.
He tells us these things and we go, “Really? Oh, okay.”
We’re like Eve in the garden [of Eden] when Satan came to tempt her and she said, “Well, God said I shouldn’t eat from that tree.” And Satan goes, “Really? Hath God really said? He’s just trying to keep something from you” (Genesis 3:1-7).
There is the great scheme of Satan—to make God look cruel and unkind and like a taker, when he’s actually the most loving, compassionate giver beyond all imagination.
“God is just trying to keep something from you.” [Satan says]. And so we agree with this in our sinful nature and our sense of entitlement, and instead of resisting the devil, we give in to the devil. Listen, we are able—because Christ is our King and we belong to him—to stand firm.
And the promise is, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 CSB).
And we have been given the person and the power of the Holy Spirit residing in us, and coming upon us with fresh power to stand.
It takes a little resolve, it takes a little bit of faith, it takes a little bit of believing the Word of God to say, “No, I’m not going to give into that. I’m not just going to do that. I’m not going to follow after my flesh. I’m going to trust God, and I’m going to resist the devil.” And he’ll flee from you.
Again, First Peter chapter five, verses eight and nine, we’re told to “be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NASB).
Don’t give in! Don’t go along! Don’t be naive to what he’s trying to do!
Stand firm. “Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NASB).