Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE GOOD FIGHT-2

Text:  1 Timothy  6:12   Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Another thing to pursue in fighting the good fight of faith is Godliness. We understand through the Holy scriptures that godliness is profitable unto all things.   *For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.* 1 Timothy  4:8.  You will reap the reward of your godliness not only when you get to heaven, but from here on earth. And this is why we are admonished to exercise ourselves unto godliness. (1 Timothy  4:7), because godliness with contentment is great gain.1 Timothy  6:6. Godliness is the practice of conforming to the image of God by reflecting the nature of the kingdom of God in the course of everyday life. In other words, godliness is living and portray...
Post a Comment
Read more

WAY MAKER-2

Text: Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing: now it shall spring forth: shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness,  and rivers in the desert. God promised that He will do a new thing for you, and that He will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. He has done this before, and He will do it again even in your own life.  When the children of Israel left Egypt, the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them, encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.(Exodus 14:9). Just like anyone would react, the Isrealites became so fearful because there is neither way forward nor back for them to escape. Before them was the red sea, behind them were the Egyptian armies. They became perplexed and began to murmur against Moses. It is possible you are also in a situation like the Israelites- No way forward, and no way behind. Things may appear like you are ...
Post a Comment
Read more

HIS VOICE- 2

Text : John 10:3. To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. We established yesterday that one thing you can't joke with as a true follower of Christ is *His Voice.* You must recognise and hearken to (obey) His voice. It is in doing this that your safety is assured.  Today, we want to see another responsibility of the Shepherd over His sheep.  To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, *and leads them out.* John 10:3.  He called you, that He might lead you. It is not enough for you to hear or recognise His Voice, you must allow Him to lead you as well.  Romans 8:14 says *For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.*   The Spirit leading you determines the family you belong to. Basically,  there are only two families in this world - the family of God, and the family of satan. In other words, we can say the Kingdom...
Post a Comment
Read more