James 4:7 KJV
[7] “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
It is never appropriate to brag on the devil. I have heard people testify in church about how the devil had been on their back, yet they said very little about God. God never gets glory when we magnify Satan. However, we must be aware of two things about the enemy. First, we have to remember that he is a defeated foe! God kicked him out of heaven, cursed him in the garden, and then crushed his head at Calvary! One day He will chain him, put him in a bottomless pit, and finally cast him in the lake of fire. It will be a glorious day to see him meet his final judgment.
The second thing about our enemy is that he never gives up. He may be defeated, but he will still take every opportunity to cause us to stumble. He will do anything in his power to send a soul to hell. If he cannot do this, he will constantly war against the saints hoping they will fall. He is out to ruin every one of God’s children. The question that has been asked by many is this, “How do I overcome the devil?”
The answer to this question is in today’s verse. The first thing we must do is submit to God. We all agree that we are no match for the devil in our own strength. Submission to God enables us to face the devil because we do not have to face him alone. The Lord will be our strength when Satan comes to tempt us.
The final thing we must do is resist him. I’m glad we don’t have to debate or wrestle with him. All we have to do is say no to his lies and temptations. Friend, if we do not first say yes to God in submission, then we will never say no to the devil when it comes to sin. The good news is that the Lord will fight our battles if we surrender to Him and resist Satan. That will put the devil on the run and help keep us on the right course!