Sermon by Thulane: How to Resist the Devil?
Beloved, tonight we will explore the tried and true Godly ways of resisting the devil. To find answers, let us turn our hearts and minds to the book of James, Chapter 4, verses 6, 7, and 10: “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
In these powerful words, Scripture not only provides us the principles for resisting the devil but also practical steps to combat this adversary who seeks to deceive God’s children. The Word commands us to submit and humble ourselves before God. The term “humble” appears twice in verses 6 and 10, emphasizing its significance. God does not repeat Himself without purpose—He wants to help His children, which includes each one of us.
When we humble ourselves before God, the grip of the deceiver weakens. Pride is the primary weapon the evil one uses to ensnare the saints into darkness. Thus, the Scriptures underscore the necessity of submission and humility in order for the devil to flee from us.
We draw inspiration and strength from our Master, Jesus Christ, who exemplified how to resist the devil during His temptations before beginning His ministry. In the Gospels, we see that Jesus responded to the devil’s challenges by quoting Scripture as His defense strategy.
For instance, when the devil said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread,” Jesus replied, “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
The devil then escalated his efforts by quoting Psalm 91, saying, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you.” But Jesus responded again, declaring, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Deuteronomy 6:16).
Finally, the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, promising, “All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus firmly replied and declaring a scripture, “go away, Satan; for it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.” ( Deutronomy 6 v 13-14)In that moment, the devil left Him, and angels came to minister to His needs.
Through these encounters, our Lord demonstrates the power of Scripture in dismantling and exposing the lies of the enemy. This is a vital example for us to follow. Furthermore, Jesus submitted to God by fasting for 40 days and nights, illustrating that humility and reliance on God to thwart the enemy’s advances.
Let us also learn from other great figures of our faith who resisted the devil through humility and submission to God. For instance, in Acts 10:25-26, when Cornelius fell at the feet of Peter and worshiped him, Peter lifted him up and said, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And when Paul addressed divisions in the Corinthian church, he reminded them not to submit to human leadership but to remain unified in Christ. These faithful servants of God understood that they were simply instruments of Christ’s service, which left no room for the devil to deceive God’s people.
Finally, beloved, the key to overcoming the devil in our lives is through humility and submission to God as our Lord Jesus Christ put it briefly and succinctly “Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” (13 v 16) . Let us strive to embody these qualities, following the example set by Christ and His faithful servants. When we do, we not only resist the devil, but we also position ourselves to receive God’s grace and support. Amen.
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