SUBMIT AND RESIST-2

Text: James 4:7

Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.

The word 'therefore', in our text presupposes that there is a foregoing discourse before the verse number seven(7). To have a better understanding of our text, there is need to gloss over the preceding verses.

Verse 1 (one) read thus "What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you?"

Though the book of James was written to believers in Christ Jesus, yet there were wars and fightings among them just as we have it today.

To successfully deal with something, you have to go to the root. The root of the unending quarrels and conflicts in churches, families and market place today are cravings, which is otherwise known as lusts.

The right question to ask is: "*what are my cravings?"*

Your cravings are your hedonistic desires. That is, desires or pleasures that you are overly devoted to, which more or less control your body.

Most times, when you are caught up in the web of ceaseless arguments and quarrels, you may be tempted to point accusing finger at the other party(ies), this is only natural but not okay for believers. The enemy behind these cravings is our arch enemy, the devil. Hence, no carnal man has the wherewithal to resist the devil and the lusts within a man.

To resist the devil however, you have to grow up from being a carnal man to a spiritual man. A spiritual man is one who has died to his cravings. Such is dead to self. You must die to your selfish desires, ego, cravings etc. As a matter of fact, you must die to your rights. This is true submission to God. *It is only when you are able to put yourself under that you can RESIST the devil, and he will FLEE from you.*

Apostle Paul made it crystal clear in 1 Corinthians 9:27 saying, "...I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."

Apostle Paul brought his own body under subjection in order that he might resist all the enemies of his soul that could disqualify him.

It is your responsibility to put your body under subjection in God so that you can resist all the pranks and devices of the enemies.

Bible reading:

James 4: 1-17.

PRAYER FOCUS

1.) Heavenly Father, I receive the grace to always submit to the leadership and authority of Christ Jesus, so that I can always stand to resist the cravings of the flesh and all the assaults of the devil.

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