The Bible says, “Therefore submit yourself to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James.4:7a) To submit oneself to God is to always be in the presence and total control of God. Submission comes through repentance and obedience. Repentance is the first step to submit to God because it is through the spirit of repentance that one submits to God and God is able to correct his misbehaviour. Unrepentant heart is traced to pride and God resist the proud. (1 Peter.5:5b) The proud arrogantly rely on his self-righteousness and refuse to obey God even when he is aware that it is through repentance that he can receive forgiveness of sin and be cleansed from all unrighteousness. (1 John.1:8,9) Those who are arrogant will not put themselves under the control of God and will not be able to resist the devil.

To be under God’s control is to be in good standing with God. To be in good standing with God demands one to embrace the conviction of sin by which he realises his sin for the purpose of repentance and seek for forgiveness through which one is justified by faith and be able to operate in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. (Rom.5:1) To be under God’s control is the acknowledgement that one cannot exalt himself on the basis of his work, knowing that God is able to save those who trust and obey Him. It is therefore the responsibility of every believer to submit him or herself to God. The devil has no power to keep believers away from God if they desire to be under God’s control.

“Resist the devil” is a commanding word to believers of Christ. It is a command because God has given His believers the power to be able to resist the devil. The power is not the believer’s own natural power, but the power of Christ working in him. The power that enables Jesus to overcome the temptation of the devil. (Matt.4:1-11) God has not given such power to the devil, so, devil does not have the power to voluntarily subject believers to his antics. It is believers that give place to the devil. (Eph.4:27) Believer’s give place to the devil when his heart is tuned towards unholy desire. The devil then takes advantage of the mindset and tempt him to sin. So, temptation to sin begins with unholy desire and lust by which one is enticed and drawn away from God. (James.1:14) It is therefore the responsibility of individual believer to enforce the power of Christ in him to be able to remain under the control of God at all times in order to be able to overcome any temptation that may hinder him from submitting to God.

We have been told that devil has no power to voluntarily subject us to his will, but we give place to the devil. We have been reminded also that it is our unholy desire and lust that renders us powerless to overcome the antics of the devil and subject us to bow for him. We must now change our thinking and behaviour from the spirit that lust for the things of this world by which the devil controls our desire. Jesus overcame the devil because He refused to bow to the devil antics. It is time for us as believers to unleash the power of Christ in us through prayer, through consistent study of the word of God and obedience to the word. It is then we can overcome the antics of the devil and the devil will flee.

May the Lord help us to change our thinking and behaviour from the spirit of lust by which the devil controls our desire in Jesus Excellent name. Amen

Evangelism The power of Christ in His believers is the Holy Spirit. Tell someone today to accept Jesus as the Lord and personal Saviour to receive the power.

Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre