Active Resistance

Posted on February 20, 2019 by America's Keswick in Victory Call

Submit yourselves therefore 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 thoughts! And see if there be any grievous 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’s only half the battle.  It’s the “submit yourselves therefore 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 the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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[i]” 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.[ii]]

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith… 1 Peter 5:8-9

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

Come on sister, let’s gear up to submit ourselves to God AND resist the devil and walk in the victory that is already ours.

Blessings, Diane

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.

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 9-11, 1 Thessalonians 1| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “If you find a reluctancy to go into the presence of God, there may be unconfessed, unrepented sin in your life. Part of your quiet time is to get your heart clean and pure. Each of us needs to take ourselves by the nap of our necks and confess and repent before we come into God’s holy presence to fellowship.” – Adrian Rogers

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You,that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple. – Psalm 65:4

 

 

[i] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G436&t=ESV accessed 2.19.19

[ii] https://www.ntgreek.org/learn_nt_greek/verbs1.htm accessed 2.19.19