Active Resistance

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

 

Do you ever feel like you are trapped in a particular type of sin pattern?  You keep confessing and confessing but make little or no long-term progress.  It is discouraging, isn’t it?

Confession is agreeing with God that His way is right and our way is wrong. That our choice to live according to the flesh rather than according to His Spirit is an offense to Almighty God.  Confession is vital.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).

It is so necessary for us to confess on a consistent basis.  But it is only half the battle.  It’s the “submit to God” half.  Submitting to God and confessing our sin does not stop the devil from tempting and attacking.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

If we want to experience the victory won for us at the cross we must also resist the devil.  Resist is a verb, not passive but active.

“Resist” is defined as “to set oneself against, to withstand resist, oppose” and in James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5 “resist” is imperative [The imperative mood is a command or instruction given to the hearer, charging the hearer to carry out or perform a certain action.]

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-9a).

We are commanded, instructed to resist the devil. This is the second half of the battle.  We need both confession and resistance to succeed. We will not experience Christ’s victory without actively resisting the devil.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

If we gear up to submit ourselves to God AND resist the devil we will walk in the victory that is already ours.

 

This devotional was taken from America’s Keswick’s “Real Life for Real Victory Volume 3”. If you would like to order a copy of the 365 Devotional book, please call (800) 453-7942.

Written By Diane Hunt:Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and provides ministry support from her home in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.

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Think About This: “God’s delays are not God’s denials.” -Robert H. Schuller

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 53-57| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.