Resist The Devil Resist the devil and he will flee from you James 4: 7

Second half of one short verse : James 4: 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 1. Command : “Resist” {anthistemi} 1 to oppose, withstand Romans 13: 2 – Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God 2. Promise : “he will flee” {pheugo} 1 to seek safety by flight

We must be aware that Satan is real. Luke 10: 17-18 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”

Isaiah 14: 12-15 How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' ( NKJV)

Satan is called the evil one because he maliciously seeks the destruction of souls. “The devil hates you and has a horrible plan for your life.”

I John 3: 12 – we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. I Chronicles 21: 1 –Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. I Peter 5: 8 – Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The devil has great power, but his power is not unlimited. Matthew 25: 41 Then He will also say to those on His left, ' Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

Ephesians 6: 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

II Thessalonians 2: 9-10 … the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

II Corinthians 4: 3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

I Corinthians 10: 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

So, how does one go about resisting this powerful adversary?

declare allegiance to God. I. The first step is to choose a side, i.e., to publically declare allegiance to God.

There is no middle ground. Matthew 6: 24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. ( Matt. 12: 30 For or against )

James 4: 4 – You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Romans 6: 17 – Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

to be able to use the word to God. II. We must equip ourselves to be able to use the word to God.

God has given us His word as our primary weapon in the war against Satan. Ephesians 6: 17 And take the …, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The effectiveness of even the sharpest sword depends upon the skill of the one wielding it.

Matthew 4: 6 – ( The devil ) to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning You'; and 'On their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.'" Matthew 4: 7 – Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Psalms 119: 10-11 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

II Timothy 3: 16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ( NIV )

James 1: 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

III. Prayer is essential to overcoming Satan’s temptations to sin.

Prayer unleashes the most powerful force in the universe. Ephesians 3: 21 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.

Mark 11: 23-24 Have faith in God. 23 "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”

Some evils can only be overcome by the power of prayer and fasting. Matthew 6: 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.   Some evils can only be overcome by the power of prayer and fasting. Matthew 17: 21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

IV. We must learn to take sin seriously.

The Apostle Peter instructed us to consider sin very seriously. I Peter 5: 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The Apostles Paul instructs us to keep on the alert against sin. I Thessalonians 5: 8-9 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

V. There are times when we must retreat in the face of strong attacks.

God provides a way of escape. I Corinthians 10: 13 God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it

II Timothy 2: 2 – Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, I Corinthians 6: 18 – Flee immorality. I Timothy 6: 11-12 – But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness,. I Corinthians 10: 14 – Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. ( Col. 3:5 … greed )

We have observed 5 ways : 1. Make a public commitment 2. Develop skill with God’s word 3. Prayer provides power for victory 4. Sin must be taken seriously 5. It is sometimes wise to flee.

You’re not the worse sinner of all. You don’t have to stand against the devil alone. Everyone struggles. You are not unique. You’re not the worse sinner of all.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. I Corinthians 11: 26

Never Forget ! “The devil hates you and has a horrible plan for your life.”