Jesus. Jesus and you!

Resist the Devil

Most Christians know the verse in James 4:7 that says " Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Many quote this scripture over and over again, fighting against the devil, and yet often the devil does not flee from before them! What is wrong. Is the bible verse incorrect, or are the christians who are ineffectively quoting this scripture missing the point somewhere.

In Acts 19:13 "Then some of the itinerant exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ' We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." These Jewish exorcists had no relationship established with the Lord Jesus Christ. They had never accepted Jesus into their lives and had never accepted Him as their personal lord and Saviour.

They had, however, seen some of the power that was in the name of the Lord Jesus, and they then decided that they were going to try and tap into some of that power for free and for their own gain. Verse 15" And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"  

Unfortunately, the same thing still occurs today. No, the scripture in James 4:7 does not say, "Resist the devil and he will flee." Read the whole scripture carefully. It says, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Submit to God is a prerequisite of the power of God in your life. If you have not submitted to God and formed a relationship with Him, then you become just like the Jewish exorcists, and the devil will turn around and laugh at you, saying, "And who are you?"

Matthew 6:33 "But seek thee first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Unless you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, and then developed a relationship with Him that is bonded in Love, you can not walk in the power of Jesus.