In today’s devotional teaching, we are going to learn from two of Christ’s apostles, Peter and James. They are apostles of the lamb – they walked and lived physically with Jesus during life on the earth. Their thoughts and insights we will help us learn the act of spiritual warfare, master devils schemes and place him where he belongs – under our feet.
1 Peter 5: 8 – 9 (KJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Peter tells us that we have a common adversary, he calls him “The Devil”, and he describes him as a roaring lion; not just a lion, a roaring lion – a roaring lion is an angry lion looking for a prey to catch and devour.
This paints a portrait of a defeated and injured individual, who has lost a battle and is now driven by a desire for revenge. He actually lost – He lost at Gethsemane, on the cross and in the grave.
Rather than targeting the one who bested or defeated him, he seeks to attack anyone who appears vulnerable. He will take for a prey anyone that crosses his path. Hence, Peter gave us a warning; be sober and vigilant; be active, alert and alive.
How do I resist the devil? Peter provides the answer here. “In whom resist steadfast in the faith”. Your steadfastness and firmness in the faith is your resistance against the devil. Your steadfastness and firmness in the knowledge of the word, in constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit, in the community of the saints is your resistance against the devil.
The devil has no new scheme. He’s the same old serpent in Eden who beguiled Eve. He uses the same strategy. He’s not innovative. Peter informs us further that the same trials and afflictions are what other believers are experiencing throughout the world.
Paul confirms this as well …
2 Corinthians 2: 11 (KJV)
Lest Satan should get an advantage over us. For we are not ignorant of his devices.
Every child of God has protection from the enemy’s schemes, but the ignorance of devil’s tactics can lead to unnecessary suffering. The knowledge of God’s Word and recognizing your identity in Christ makes you victorious.
You must arm yourself with the truth of who you are and what you possess in Christ, or the devil will exploit your ignorance.
The work Jesus accomplished for you is both valid and eternal, but without this knowledge and living in its light, the devil will take advantage of you.
Let’s glean from James’s insight as well
James 4: 7 (KJV)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James gives us a direct requirement here. Submit yourself to God! How do we submit ourselves to God?
We submit to the authority and the Lordship of the written word. We submit to God by putting the Word first, making it a priority, not just the word committed to the memory only, but the Word living and active inside.
We submit to God in prayer, prayer born out of love, prayer as a fellowship not just for requests. Prayer as a lifestyle! The ministry of the Word and prayer is the whole amour of God the believer has to withstand the fiery darts of the enemy.
Your submission to God determines your ability to resist the devil. The devil does not just flee from you because you are a child of God; the devil submits himself to you because you submit yourself to God.
There’s a measure of authority you have in the place of prayer and the Word. The Apostles purposed to give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6: 4). This is how we resist the Devil. This is our edge against Satan and his schemes – Our submission to God and our steadfastness in the faith!
DECLARATION
I walk in the knowledge of God’s word, of who I am and what I have in Christ Jesus. I submit myself to God daily in the Word and Prayer; I remain steadfast in the faith, I am vested with the authority of Jesus, I resist the devil and he flees! Glory to God!!! (Please spend more time to pray in the Holy Ghost)
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
Ephesians 6: 11 – 12; Romans 16: 20