Submit To God

James 4:7 AMP “So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.”

We are all called to be in submission to God as addressed in James 4:7. James conveys the idea that when we submit to God, we are committed to Him and we will be able to withstand the temptations the devil, and the devil will “flee from us”. A place of submission to God is a place of power, provision, and protection. Resisting the devil must be preceded by submitting to God. Believers who are not obedient or submissive to God will not be able to resist the devil so he can flee (run away) from them. To resist means to withstand, strive against, or oppose in some manner like in resisting or withstanding the temptation to sin and resisting the devil in afflicting us. We cannot be disobedient to God and expect the devils to be subject to us at His Name. The seven sons of Sceva attempted to cast out an evil spirit in a man only to receive a resounding beating (Acts 19:16). Why? They were not submitted to the authority of Jesus they were using! The words of believers, who are submitted to God resonate God’s authority in the spirit realm. We must realize that the enemies we are up against are not humans, but real forces that come from the powers of darkness. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12 NIV ^“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” The Bible assures us that we need only to put on the full armor of God to be fully protected from evil and to actively resist it. There is nothing more frightening to Satan and his kingdom than a believer who is submitted to God and fully equipped with spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:14-18).