Resist The Devil

JAMES 4:7 NKJ “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

 The Greek word for resist literally means to stand against. It means to withstand and oppose. The English word resist means to stand against; to strive against; to obstruct; to act in opposition to; to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat; to refuse to give in. The opposite of resist is to agree with and to yield. This scripture is written to believers. It does not say the devil will flee from you whether you resist him, or not. Rather, you must actively resist the devil if you do not want his plan to steal, to kill, and to destroy, in your life. We are to yield to God in all things but yield to the devil in nothing. God and the devil do not come to us in person. Rather they come to us through thoughts which originate from either God or the devil. We choose which one we yield to and which one we resist by how we respond to the thoughts and ideas that come our way. We yield to God by making His word the final authority in our lives. We resist the devil by refusing to think, speak, or act in accordance with his suggestions and ideas. We choose rather to think, speak, and act in line with God’s Word, the Bible. Refusing to accept less than the perfect will of God is resisting the devil. Standing against sin, sickness, poverty, and fear is resisting the devil’s agenda.  Walking in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), is resisting the devil. Spending time in prayer and fellowship with God is resisting the devil. Being thankful is resisting the devil. Praising God and talking of His goodness and faithfulness is resisting the devil. The devil cannot overcome you if you continue to resist him, in faith (Ephesians 6:16, 1 Peter 5:8-9).