Resist Satan! But, How?

1)     By being sober – translated to be sober and to watch.

2)     By being on alert – “to give strict attention to”.

3)     By realizing that he is powerful (not all powerful, but powerful).

a)     He is your adversary – an opponent in a suit of law. The Hebrew word for adversary is Satan.

b)     He is the devil – false accuser, slanderous.

c)     He is like a prowling, roaring lion – context has him roaring because he is hungry and ready to “devour or destroy or swallow” you.

4)     By being firm in faith.

5)     You are not alone in your suffering and temptation. Peter writes: “the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”

6)     Suffering and temptation is temporary. Peter writes: “after you have suffered for a little while.”

7)     God will vindicate you! Peter writes “the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself will:

a)     Perfect you – to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete; to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair; to complete; to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust; to fit or frame for one’s self, prepare; ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be.

b)     Confirm you – to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix; to strengthen, make firm; to render constant, confirm, one’s mind.

c)     Strengthen you – to make strong, strengthen; of one’s soul

d)     Establish you – to lay the foundation, to found; to make stable, establish

8)     Stand firm in God’s Grace! – Ephesians 6:10-17 “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” One writer put it, “maintaining our ground, not yielding or fleeing, is the grand aim of the Christian soldier.”

Ten Commandments from James 4:7-10

1)     Submit therefore to God.

2)     Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

3)     Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

4)     Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and

5)     purify your hearts, you double-minded.

6)     Be miserable and

7)     mourn and

8)     weep;

9)     let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

10) Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.