How Do You Resist the Devil?
Dear Phil,
James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” How does one resist the devil?
A student
James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” How does one resist the devil?
A student
Dear Student,
Effective resistance depends largely on proper preparation. If you wait until temptation strikes, you will be easy prey. Instead, you must do several things in preparation to resist the enemy.
First, you must submit yourself to God. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” You can’t resist the devil unless you are in submission to God, for an unyielded will leaves you open to the attacks of your roaring adversary (1 Pet 5:8). You have submitted yourself to God if you are walking in full obedience to God’s word, are willing to do whatever God wants you to do (John 7:17), and have cast all your anxieties upon him (1 Pet 5:6–7).
Second, you must know God’s word. You put on the whole armor of God through regular reading, memorization, and meditation on His Word. Most know that Jesus quoted Scripture when Satan tempted him (Matt 4:3–10). Few know that Jesus quoted only from Deuteronomy (Deut 8:3; 6:16; 10:20). Apparently Jesus had memorized large portions of Deuteronomy, perhaps all of it. How much Scripture have you memorized? I would encourage you to begin with Matthew 22:37–40, and then identify passages that discuss the virtues you know God wants to build into your life. If you struggle to memorize scripture, work at it. Read it repeatedly. Paraphrase it. Talk about it with your friends. Engrafting God’s Word into your heart will arm you against the foe.
Third, you must know yourself. Knowing yourself involves recognizing your areas and times of weakness, i.e., where and when the devil is most likely to attack. Romans 13:14 commands, “Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” You prepare to resist the devil by avoiding known areas of temptation and making yourself accountable to trustworthy fellow believers.
Fourth, you must know your enemy. The devil is a liar, a thief, and a murderer (John 8:44; 10:10). All his temptations distort the truth. That’s why it’s so crucial to know the truth of God’s word. The devil’s tactics commonly include questioning God’s goodness, love or wisdom, enticing you to satisfy a legitimate desire outside of God’s boundaries, focusing on the negative aspects of your circumstances, and trying to get you to compare yourself with others. Although some have claimed that the devil does not know our thoughts and does not have access to our minds, I know of no biblical basis for this claim, and the testimony of believers throughout the ages contradicts it. The mind, in fact, is the battleground of the soul. It is where the enemy most often aims his fiery darts (Eph 6:16).
When an attack begins, you resist the devil first by asking God to rebuke the devil. Man was made a little lower than the angels (Heb 2:7, 9). On your own, you are no match for Satan or his minions. It has been common in some circles to talk about “giving the devil a black eye” or to call the devil abusive names (e.g., “ol’ split hoof”). In Jude 1:9, we learn that Michael, an archangel, did not dare to rail on Satan, but instead appealed to God to rebuke Satan on his behalf: “The Lord rebuke you.” In the next verse, Jude compares men who revile (fallen) angelic beings to unreasoning beasts. It is, therefore, foolish for a Christian to rail at the devil.
Next, you resist by using God’s truth to expose the enemy’s lie. To Satan’s whispered, “No one will ever know,” you reply, “No creature is hidden from his sight” (Heb 4:13). Do not argue with the devil. Those who pit their minds against the devil usually lose; and none are better for it. A Scriptural response should be followed by focusing your mind on God and what is true, honorable, pure, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8). You don’t resist the devil by focusing on him or his temptation. Replace evil thoughts with good. Have a ready store of worthy thoughts prepared for times of temptation.
Finally, stand firm in faith that God’s word is true, and sooner or later the enemy will flee!
Blessings,
Phil
Effective resistance depends largely on proper preparation. If you wait until temptation strikes, you will be easy prey. Instead, you must do several things in preparation to resist the enemy.
First, you must submit yourself to God. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” You can’t resist the devil unless you are in submission to God, for an unyielded will leaves you open to the attacks of your roaring adversary (1 Pet 5:8). You have submitted yourself to God if you are walking in full obedience to God’s word, are willing to do whatever God wants you to do (John 7:17), and have cast all your anxieties upon him (1 Pet 5:6–7).
Second, you must know God’s word. You put on the whole armor of God through regular reading, memorization, and meditation on His Word. Most know that Jesus quoted Scripture when Satan tempted him (Matt 4:3–10). Few know that Jesus quoted only from Deuteronomy (Deut 8:3; 6:16; 10:20). Apparently Jesus had memorized large portions of Deuteronomy, perhaps all of it. How much Scripture have you memorized? I would encourage you to begin with Matthew 22:37–40, and then identify passages that discuss the virtues you know God wants to build into your life. If you struggle to memorize scripture, work at it. Read it repeatedly. Paraphrase it. Talk about it with your friends. Engrafting God’s Word into your heart will arm you against the foe.
Third, you must know yourself. Knowing yourself involves recognizing your areas and times of weakness, i.e., where and when the devil is most likely to attack. Romans 13:14 commands, “Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” You prepare to resist the devil by avoiding known areas of temptation and making yourself accountable to trustworthy fellow believers.
Fourth, you must know your enemy. The devil is a liar, a thief, and a murderer (John 8:44; 10:10). All his temptations distort the truth. That’s why it’s so crucial to know the truth of God’s word. The devil’s tactics commonly include questioning God’s goodness, love or wisdom, enticing you to satisfy a legitimate desire outside of God’s boundaries, focusing on the negative aspects of your circumstances, and trying to get you to compare yourself with others. Although some have claimed that the devil does not know our thoughts and does not have access to our minds, I know of no biblical basis for this claim, and the testimony of believers throughout the ages contradicts it. The mind, in fact, is the battleground of the soul. It is where the enemy most often aims his fiery darts (Eph 6:16).
When an attack begins, you resist the devil first by asking God to rebuke the devil. Man was made a little lower than the angels (Heb 2:7, 9). On your own, you are no match for Satan or his minions. It has been common in some circles to talk about “giving the devil a black eye” or to call the devil abusive names (e.g., “ol’ split hoof”). In Jude 1:9, we learn that Michael, an archangel, did not dare to rail on Satan, but instead appealed to God to rebuke Satan on his behalf: “The Lord rebuke you.” In the next verse, Jude compares men who revile (fallen) angelic beings to unreasoning beasts. It is, therefore, foolish for a Christian to rail at the devil.
Next, you resist by using God’s truth to expose the enemy’s lie. To Satan’s whispered, “No one will ever know,” you reply, “No creature is hidden from his sight” (Heb 4:13). Do not argue with the devil. Those who pit their minds against the devil usually lose; and none are better for it. A Scriptural response should be followed by focusing your mind on God and what is true, honorable, pure, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8). You don’t resist the devil by focusing on him or his temptation. Replace evil thoughts with good. Have a ready store of worthy thoughts prepared for times of temptation.
Finally, stand firm in faith that God’s word is true, and sooner or later the enemy will flee!
Blessings,
Phil