God's Promise: Satan Will Flee

 

"So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  NLT

"Therefore, submit to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  CSB

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” NIV

James 4:7

    The promise that you can make the devil flee from you is unlike any of God's other promises.  It doesn't even seem like a promise, but He is giving you what you need to see His power work within you.  If you humble your heart, then you are willing to listen to instruction, guidance, and correction.  

    When you live in obedience to God, then you are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will indicate to you when there is a spiritual battle that can be avoided.  He is not asking you to fight it.  He is telling you keep your armor in good shape and flee.  I will take care of this.  Flee from temptation.  Flee from the presence of evil.  It is not your place to fight.  You don't need to live in fear, but there is no reason to fight battles that were never meant for you.

    When you feel alone remember God is there with you.  Pray that He provides a support group of mature Christians to help you resist Satan.  This is how you stay strong in spiritual warfare.  God would never leave you alone to face evil.  Satan wants you to feel isolated so you will isolate yourself and become easy prey.  Satan's game plan is not too hard to figure out if you are paying attention.

    When you learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey your life becomes simpler.  You are able to hold onto peace with confidence.  You do not live in fear of man or evil, but in what God will do to all those who ignore and turn against Him.  He has already laid out His playbook because He is not afraid of any power.  He already has given you end game.  It is your choice on how it will end for you.

    The promise in this verse is humble submission and active resistance to temptation means that Satan can't get to you in this moment.  He has no choice but to flee.  He would be wasting his time and drawing more attention from God if he kept pushing.  No matter how powerful Satan is, he is nothing in comparison to God and he knows it.  The closer you move toward God, the farther away you are pushing Satan out of your life.  

Ephesians 4:26-27, 6:11, James 4:6-7, & 1 Peter 5:9