James 4:7
The background of James 4:7 is about Christians in the church who were at odds with one another because they wanted their own way. James says they have left the wisdom of God’s Word and gone backwards into the ways of the world. They have reverted to their old sin nature and created havoc. We will look at Resisting the Devil by Submitting to God in context of verses James 4:6-8 NIV.
James 4:6-7 NIV. “But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Our Attitude for Submitting to God
1 Peter 5:6 NIV “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
The first step in submitting to God is to humble ourselves. The word “submit” means in the Greek to subordinate or obey. To see more on submitting go to 5 Keys to Submit to God in All Our Ways.
Our Attitude for Resisting
Next, we need to draw closer to God by purifying our hearts. In this case it’s about those who are double-minded. What is that? When we are not fully submitted to God, we are still hanging on to the ways of the world. This makes us double-minded. To fully resist Satan, we need to obey God in all our ways. This can only happen with God’s strength. We have to keep our focus on Him.
1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV “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, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
In the verses above, we are told to be alert and of sober mind. In the Greek, sober: sober, to be calm and collected in spirit.
Why? Because Satan is looking for any chance to break our fellowship with God. He is very sly and can trip us up before we even know we’re being tempted. That’s why we need to be alert.
How Do We Resist?
In verse 9 of 1 Peter 5, it says to stand firm in the faith in Christ Jesus. Don’t become tied up in the ways of the world. Pray and read God’s Word for strength. Remember we are going through the same difficulties as others all over the world.
God’s Tools to Help Us Resist Satan
Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
1. Be strong in the Lord
Why? Because He has all power and strength. Satan is strong but God is stronger.
2. Put on the full armor of God
With this, we are strong in the Lord and can stand against Satan’s schemes.
3. The belt of truth
“This was the belt on the soldier’s tunic where his sword hung from and gave him freedom of movement. It was the foundation of a soldier’s armor – holding his sword and his breastplate. The belt was incredibly important.” Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove
God’s Truth should be worn close to us like the belt the soldiers wore. God does not just represent truth, He is truth.
4. Breastplate of Righteousness
Still using the imagery of a soldier in battle, the breastplate was bronze and chain mail, protecting vital organs.
The Christian’s breastplate is righteousness, certainly not our own. Our protection is Christ Jesus’ righteousness, which we receive at the moment of trust in Him.
5. With your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
“A soldier’s battle shoes were studded with nails or spikes, like cleats, to help him keep his balance in combat. He knew that, if he lost his footing and went down, it wouldn’t matter how great the rest of his armor was; the enemy had him.“ Got Questions
Our feet must be firmly planted in God’s Word so we are ready and able to carry His gospel of truth at any moment. Without this, we lose our balance and fail in our goal.
6. Shield of faith
“The Roman shield of the time was called a scutum. This type of shield was as large as a door and would cover the warrior entirely. Such a shield was not just defensive but could also be used to push opponents. Got Questions
Our faith in Christ Jesus protects us from the fiery darts of Satan. Because of our trust in Him, He gives us to ability to dodge anything Satan can throw at us.
7. Helmet of salvation
The soldier’s helmet was vital for protecting his head from injury. In Roman times, it was usually made out of bronze which was worn over an iron skull cap lined with leather or cloth. It was, with the sword, the last thing the soldier put on.
The helmet of salvation is also for the protection of the head, just in a different sense. Sin generates from our thoughts. Making Christ Jesus, our salvation, the focus of our life, can help keep our mind clear of sin.
8. Sword of the Spirit
The soldier’s armor was dependent on the weapon, the sword. Going into battle would have been futile if the sword was left behind.
The effect is the same with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. How can we defeat the enemy without a weapon? Just carrying the Word is not enough. We need to know it because it is how we know God. Without knowing God, we have no defense.
9. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions
We cannot forget about the importance of prayer in the armor. It begins with prayer and ends the same. Our strength to fight comes from the Lord. Constant communication is the foundation of our armor.
Conclusion
The important point in resisting Satan is submitting to God in all our ways. The armor of God is useless without submitting to Him.
Our protection and ability to resist Satan is based on the ultimate submission to God by accepting Christ Jesus as Savior.
If you have any questions, comment below. Thank you- Jackie.
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