Christian Resistance
The Bible says,
- “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 bibrefjames4 bibrefjames4v7 ESV)
- “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8 bibref1peter5 bibref1peter5v8b–9a ESV)
- “stand against the schemes of the devil…withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:11–13 bibrefephesians6 bibrefephesians6v11 bibrefephesians6v12 bibrefephesians6v13 ESV)
Three different apostles, using the same underlying word for what to do against the devil and evil. Oppose him.
We acknowledge that the devil is not everywhere at the same time, and because the power of the gospel has born fruit all over the globe, the devil doesn’t have time to get into everyone’s business. But even if we’re not up against the devil himself, we do face his schemes and spiritual forces of evil.
Resist. Oppose. Set yourself against him. Do not listen, do not seek common ground, do not give in, do not go over.
Since it’s probably not the devil himself, and since the devil probably wouldn’t show himself as the devil even if it was, is the imperative to resist a tool you should have that you should probably just not plan to ever need? No, there is application to oppose all that hell promotes.
Resist lies, watch for deception, oppose self-will. Guard against doubt (rather than faith), be vigilant against grumbling and division (rather than fellowship).
Just as the imperative is repeated to resist, so remember what James said: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”