Resist the Devil

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

Through a friend, a prisoner emailed me some time back to make this point: Demons are real and spiritual battles rage continuously. He made his point in a very vivid way and it has set me to thinking about how to resist the devil and his demonic army.

Often times when reading about war and military actions the word resistance comes up. And it usually carries the implication of conflict or the meeting of opposing forces. I looked the word resistance up online and found this definition: “the act of opposing.” Similarly, a quick search on the word resist yielded: “to oppose actively.” These definitions make an important point; to resist, or the act of resistance is not passive. Resistance is active.

So, to resist is to actively oppose or engage. Likewise, in the case of our verse today, to resist the devil would mean to actively engage and oppose him. Rather than being passive against evil and the power of the devil, James is telling us to actively oppose him and the result will be that “he will flee from you.”

I have a passing interest in Civil War history because troops from the North and the South spent a lot of time, and often fought, right here in our backyard. One day while I was reading from Shelby Foote’s Civil War about some troops stationed in Tuscumbia, I came across a rather brash quote from a young General that is meaningful to our discussion of active opposition. In a message to Jefferson Davis, John Bell Hood wrote this: “You may rely upon my striking the enemy whenever a suitable opportunity presents itself, and that I will spare no effort to make that opportunity.”

Now think about the parallels for a moment. Hood was engaged in a physical battle. Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle. Hood vowed to strike (actively oppose) his enemy. Christians are commanded to resist (actively oppose) our enemy; the devil. Hood vowed to strike whenever he could. Does James indicate that Christian resistance is part-time? Finally, note that General Hood vowed to “spare no effort to make that opportunity.” May I suggest that we are to do the same? Spare no opportunity to resist the devil.

Followers of Christ can anticipate, even expect the devil to be lurking around every corner. The bible says he is like a “roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8) Why then should we spare any effort to expose him? Why should we spare any effort to reveal the devil who is camouflaged, hidden in the shadows, ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness? The answer is obviously that we shouldn’t. We must spare no effort to fight and resist the devil. And what is our chief weapon? The sword of truth; God’s word—keep it at your side and in your heart.