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NASB | James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 4:7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. |
Bible Question: If you feel you are being attacked by Satan, does the bible advise as to how to get him to leave you alone? I have asked God to tell satan to leave me alone; and I have also told satan to leave me alone. Which would be correct -- or is their other biblical advice? |
Bible Answer: One thing you may be sure of and that is that God will not allow Satan to tempt you beyond what you are able to stand (1 Corinthians 10.13). And it is in fact questionable whether you are being tempted by Satan himself, more probably you have been left to his minions (Ephesians 6.11-12). But this is still seen as being tempted 'by the wiles of the Devil' (6.11). Thus the command to resist him (James 4.7). We do this by submitting to God, being strong in the Lord, and putting on the armour of God (James 4.7; Ephesians 6.10 ff). But we do not resist him directly, we say 'the Lord rebuke you' (Jude 9). While he is powerful, we must not see Satan as being omnipresent (Job 1.7). And he is restrained (Matthew 12.29; Mark 3.27; Luke 10.18; 11.22; 2 Thessalonians 2.6; Revelation 9.11; 20.2). Nevertheless he is out to cause problems for God's people (1 Peter 5.8). He is probably to be associated with the Wild Beast of Revelation 17.8-14, who mimicked God by being the one who 'was and is not and will ascend from the bottomless pit and will go into perdition' (Revelation 17.8, 11; contrast 1.8, 17). He is to be allowed 'one hour' (a short time) in which to make his final attempt against God (as also in Revelation 20.3). Jesus is in contrast 'the One Who lives, Who died and Who rose again' and ascended into Heaven (1.17). The way to defeat Satan is to submit to God and thus be under His protection (James 4.7). Then we will be able to resist him from under the shelter of God's wings. We defeat him by being 'strong in the Lord and in the power of His might' and by 'putting on the whole armour of God' (Ephesians 6.10 ff), that is by using and appropriating the word of God. Martin Luther was so conscious of the Devil's activities that he threw an inkwell at him, but he was one of Gods champions. But Satan is subject to God's restraint. Nevertheless his minions wll not leave us alone. That is why we must be immersed in the word of God, and learn to cite Scriptures against him (Matthew 4.1-11). |