Resist the devil and he will flee

James 4:7-8
    
    “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8). 
    The devil is a coward. James tells us plainly that if we resist him, he will flee. We also know that there is always a way out of temptation. “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” (1 Cor. 10:13). We know that temptation does not come from God (James 1:13), but even with the temptations from the serpent of old (Rev. 20:2), God does provide a way of escape. We might have to look for it, but it is there. Before you resist, there is a prerequisite that you must submit to God. We must submit to His will for our lives. We must live for Him each and every single day (Gal. 2:20). Once we’ve been crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:3-6), we are a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), that has a new purpose than the old man of sin (Rom. 6:6). Then we have the beautiful promise that not only will the devil flee the Christian who resist him, but as we draw near to God, he will reciprocate. First you must be cleansed (Acts 22:16), be purified (Col. 2:11-14), and not doubt God (James 1:5-8). I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley