Resisting the devil!
I took my Jack Russell (Maxine) for a walk the other day and this scripture popped into my head ‘Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’. James 4:7b
This got me thinking about the incredible stories I have heard, and experienced firsthand, of God’s power to deliver His people from bondage, slavery, addiction, depression (demonic), demon possession/operation etc. God’s power is limitless and His willingness to set His people free endless, ‘The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil’. 1 John 3:8
The reason Jesus came was to set the captives free (Luke 4:18) and those the Son sets free are free indeed (John 8:36).
I have seen God’s power of deliverance at work personally and when I have ministered to others in the name of Jesus. Jesus’ ministry continues to be about setting the captives free. He commands us ‘heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give’. Matthew 10:8
I also began thinking of those I have prayed for and not seen them delivered and how some still live in bondage to various shall we say, ‘works of the devil’, as Christians. I am not talking about everyday struggles, I am talking about bondage, slavery, addiction, fear, anxiety – the stuff that rules our lives and prevent us from living ‘normal’, attractive, effective and fruitful Christian lives. I have already mentioned John 8:36 that says: ‘So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’. If the Son sets you free, then what? YOU ARE FREE INDEED!
Then why Lord are there still ‘believers’ bound in chains, trying to resist the devil, getting no closer to being free with each passing day?
This is what I believe the Lord wanted me to share with you. The reason why they are still bound. They are not ‘SUBMITTED’ to God!
Yip, there that word is again: ‘SUBMIT’.
What comes before resisting the devil? Submit yourself therefore to God! James 4:7
Submit first, then resist, then the devil will flee from you. You might be saying but I am submitted. Are you really? Am I, really? Listen to the following verses:
James 4:4-6
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’.
On reflection of these things and thinking of people who are still bound, I can confidently say ‘submission to God’ is the hindrance to their deliverance. I am not talking about the unsaved, I am talking about professing believers, those who testify to being Christ followers. Those who talk the talk, but remain bound. You will find these are people who don’t take counsel, they aren’t teachable, who don’t ‘like’ going to church, life group, worshiping. They don’t want the whole package and they don’t want to give it all, but they do want to be saved…
‘Submit yourselves 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. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you’. James 4:7-10
YOU CAN BE FREE!