Over the past four days, I have answered four separate questions related to Satan’s influence in the life of the one who follows Jesus Christ. Today, in the final article in this miniseries, I answer the question, How do you resist Satan and his kingdom’s influence in your life?
Related to the rest of the miniseries, I have answered four separate questions related to the devil’s role in sin.
- Where do temptations to sin come from? Answered in Part One
- Can Satan indwell a follower of Christ/child of God? Answered in Part Two
- What is the difference between Satan’s control and influence? Answered in Part Two
- What does Satan do? Answered in Part Three
As we have for each of the previous four questions, for today’s question, we turn to the biblical text as the authority for our answer. Personal experience must be evaluated by the biblical text. As followers of Christ, we start with the Bible and then consider our experiences; we do not start with our experiences than try to determine what the Bible means. Often in consideration of Satan and the devil’s work in our lives, people refer to experiences first rather than the Bible.
Resist Satan’s Influence
Peter reminds us to be constantly aware of Satan’s influence. Notice his sobering words:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Pet 5:8-11)
In the midst of life’s pressures and often suffering, Peter tells us to resist the devil. The context of Satan’s work revolves around suffering. When life’s circumstances press on us, discouragement easily follows. Discontentment. Disillusionment. Despair. Circumstances often complicate our view of the graciousness, providential care, and loving plan of God. When these things happen, we must be aware of the Satan’s influence.
Anger Opens the Door to Satan’s Increased Influence on Us
In the process of traversing through trials, if we respond in ungodly anger, we open the door for Satan’s increased influence. Paul warns:
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26)
The shelf life for godly anger is very short. When disappointed through suffering, we can easily fall prey to anger. We might get angry at other people, a hard world full of tough circumstances, or even God. In these cases, we must immediately recognize that our anger fails us quickly. It opens the door to more sin, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking, with all malice (cf., Eph 4:31).
When angry, quickly assess about what it is you are angry, who the object of your anger is, and whether or not your anger is godly. If your anger is not, then quickly repent, seek forgiveness for your ungodly anger, and turn toward contentment in Christ.
Again, be very careful with your anger because it opens the door for further influence from Satan.
Suffering in the Midst of Circumstances often Reveals Our Desires
In the first article, we discussed how sin comes from desires that exercise control over the heart in the middle of pressure-filled circumstances. Typically, suffering brings with it disappointment, which is quite normal. We are disappointed because we did not get what we wanted.
In order to resist the devil’s influence in life, we must exercise extreme caution anytime we feel disappointed. Why? Because sin enters our lives at the desire level (cf., James 1:2-18). Whereas suffering, disappointment, and various pressures should build our faith when our desires are anchored in the hope of honoring God; instead, we get tripped up by them.
Our inordinate desire turns into a demand. Demand moves us toward destruction (cf., James 4:1-10).
James reminds us, “God resists the proud but provides grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The proud is the one who wants his or her own personal will more than God’s will in any particular situation.
God’s solution? The solution begins by submitting to God and resisting the devil.
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:7-10)
A heart of true humility seeks to desire God’s will more than want or desire anything different – whatever battles against the soul. As you in humility seek God’s will more than anything else in your life, you will resist Satan.
How do you resist Satan’s influence?
If we are told to resist the devil and he will flee from us, then how do we actually resist Satan?
1. Draw near to God.
Read, pray, meditate on what you have read, listen to sermons, memorize Scripture, and practice what you read (James 1:22-25). As you do these things, you draw nearer to God. What happens next surprises you. The louder you make God’s voice in your life through the daily disciplines, the more joy you will have in fellowship with God (cf., 1 John 1:5-2:2).
2. Preach the Gospel to Yourself Daily.
The more you intentionally remember the Gospel, the better and greater you will do in resisting the devil (cf., 2 Peter 1:3-11; 2 Cor 5:14-15). The heart of the Gospel is the cross of Jesus Christ and the selfless, sacrificial, substitutional love of Jesus that demanded it. As you keep that in your heart and mind, your motivation builds to honor the God in gratitude.
3. Put on Christ.
As you learn, love, and enjoy walking with Christ, put the attributes of Christ on as your own (cf., Rom 13:14). Study the attributes of Christ – HIs love, patience, gentleness, holiness, and His other attributes. As you do, intentionally seek to imitate Him; that is, to become a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. It is essential to keep your eyes on Christ! Many people get carried away looking for Satan and His influence, which is very harmful. Why? Because the time you spend talking about Satan, worrying about Satan, and looking for Satan’s (or demon’s) influence is wasted time and energy. Instead, keep your mind, attention, and passions on Christ!
4. Make No Provision for the Flesh.
As we seek to put on Christ, we must also make no provision for our flesh to fulfill its desires (Rom 13:14). Again, this will take intention. As those who have experienced salvation, focus on honoring Christ instead of just following your desires.
5. Diligently Strive for Godliness.
Seek. Pursue. Fight the good fight. Practice. Abound. Many terms in the Bible stress the diligent work of living for Jesus. We place our efforts to become more like Jesus Christ in our desires and in our actions (cf., 2 Peter 1:3-11; James 3:13-18; Ephesians 4:1-6; et.al.).
Testing Satan’s Influence
Let me suggest three ways you can test Satan’s influence in your life as you seek to resist Satan.
First, how much sin is in your life? Take a moment to read 1 John 3:7-12. Recognize that if you practice sin continually, you are heavily influenced by Satan. If all you do is sin, you may not be a follower of Jesus Christ. If you struggle, then simply understand that Satan has a foothold.
Second, how much joy to you experience in your relationship with Jesus and His children? For this test, take a moment to read 1 John 1:5-2:2. If you do not have joy in your life with Christ and other believers in Christ, this points to the influence of Satan in your life. Unless you walk in the light as God is in the light and other believers are in the light, then you will not have joy.
Third, who do you blame for your sin? For this test, take a moment to read 1 John 2:15-17. If you blame your temptations to sin or actual work of sin on Satan, the world system, your biology, or others, you place yourself in a weak situation and very open to the influence of Satan. You sin because you get drawn away and enticed by your own passions and desires. You pursue the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life.
Did the devil make you do it? No.
How do you resist Satan and his kingdom’s influence in your life? You resist it through diligent effort in Christ by and with the strength of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in you.
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