“Resist the Devil, and he will Flee from You” [podcast]

Satan had no power over Adam and Eve until they sinned and so he seduced them to do so as he tries to do with us (Colossians 2:4; 1 Peter 5:8, etc.). The enemy was allowed to tempt the first man and woman and when he did, they took the bait and sinned against God, consequently being separated from Him, from His blessings and protection (Genesis 3). From that point, separated from God in sin, the curse ensued and Satan was the “god of this world” who had/has legal right to rule over any person not literally submitted to God in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4; James 4:7). Such submission to the LORD begins with true repentance with the manifested fruit of a changed life – initially and ongoing, as needed (Matthew 3:7-10).

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Peter 1:13

Submission to God – on His stated Terms, is the Key to Victory Over Sin and Satan

Here’s how we submit to God:

WANT the devil our of your life? – SERVE him out! Yes, serve him into vanquishment! When you serve God on HIS stated terms – the cross prescription, economy – victory will engulf your personal life as He liquidates it and raises you out of that grave! Lay down your life today – deny yourself, take up the cross, and follow Jesus, just as He prescribe you do (Luke 9:23-24). The death and burial of the old man guarantees the resurrection action of the Almighty (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). The LORD is intending, anticipating, and expecting you to be crucified with Him – so that He can raise you upward in His power, grace, and glory!

Satan has access and will evilly influence and torment any and every life where there has unconquered, unvanquished sin (James 4:7). And, the putting under of sin can only transpire via the cross life – “For he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:7)

“But I keep under my body (the cross), and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

Say this out loud: “For he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:7)

WHO is “freed from sin”? – only those who are doing things God’s way which means they are truly, authentically submitted to Him – on HIS stated terms, which is the cross (Luke 9:23-24). There are no shortcuts to this resurrection victory God has ordained that you walk in and there is no resurrection victory without the cross. Here’s how it works:

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

Submitting ourselves to God means laying down that life – in surrender – crying with Jesus “Father … not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42) Crying with John the Baptist “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) Crying out with our LORD on the cross “Father, into thy hands I commend (submit) my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

So, we as usual always interpret Scripture with Scripture – stack one verse of truth upon another, collate the whole of Holy Writ (1 Corinthians 2:13). As we do in this case, we see that submitting to God is submitting to the cross, the crucified life and as we do, Jesus, “the resurrection and the life,” will raise us upward reciprocally!!!! (John 11:25; Romans 8:11)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he WILL flee from you.” James 4:7

No one can “resist the devil” if he isn’t presently submitted to God. And that begins with true repentance and the crucified life.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Those who have sin have Satan and submission to the Savior is the only salvation from it (James 4:7; 1 John 3:1-10, etc.).

BEWARE OF THE GIMMICKS, THE CLICK BAIT TITLES: Authority in Christ directly involves your personal submission to Him – much more than repeating a certain prayer, using the exact, the perfect wording, etc. Take a close look at the verse above, James 4:7. Memorize it.

Those who preach on the biblical topic of spiritual warfare and aren’t constantly calling men to repent, to lose their lives in this world, and submit themselves to God, are great deceivers.

Much of the teaching we hear is more like a formula but God always works through relationship. This is especially true with the witchcraft that is pawned off as spiritual warfare. Anyone not truly submitted to God will not be possessed by divine power and so they are wasting their breath. Anyone can spout a prayer. The LORD’s is looking for the humble and contrite heart that is truly submitted to Him.

As was the case with Judas when he chose to sin, the devil jumped in on the wings of it and participated. “Satan entered into him.” (John 13:27) See also 2 Timothy 2:24-26. Judas was not submitted to God and had no divine power working in him to “resist the devil.” (James 4:7)

Satan has legal right to anyone living in sin. Here’s the proof. Read is closely:

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2

Satan cannot enter or control the true disciple, who has truly repented and in genuinely submitted to the LORD.

The only way to give no place to the devil is by repenting and obeying the LORD. Unless there is repentance, there is no submission to God, no salvation, no relationship with the LORD, and that person is still under the domain of Satan, not God. It all begins with true repentance. Jesus says:

“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3

“And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:18-20 

Our names are written in Heaven only by the saving mercy and grace of God in Christ, in His perfect “It is finished,” paid in full sacrifice (John 19:30).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

While instructing believers not to lie, be angry, steal, or slander, etc., the Holy Spirit commands God’s people to … “Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). So, we deduce that when we sin, we “give place to the devil.” In other words Satan gains and retains legal right into our lives until we submit ourselves to God in repentance. It’s only then that the LORD’s power and grace working in us shuts out the enemy.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

The only way to “resist the devil” is to “submit” ourselves to God!

Sin gives way to Satan!

Repentance needed.

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