Today, I want to dive into a powerful passage that has the potential to transform our lives if we truly grasp its essence. It’s a call to action, a spiritual battle plan, and a reminder of the authority we have in Christ. Let’s unpack the wisdom embedded in Ephesians 4:27 (NIV): “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Do not give the devil a foothold.”

Closing the Door on the Enemy

How do we do that? By submitting ourselves to God. The concept of submission, as explained in a Greek military term, is about arranging ourselves under the command of our divine leader.

Jesus marveled at the centurion in Luke 7:8, whose faith was unparalleled because of his submission to authority. Our level of faith is intricately linked to the depth of our surrender to God.

The War Within

James 4:1 reveals the root cause of conflicts: our internal battles, driven by selfish desires and unmet expectations. Sometimes, we may not even be aware of the war raging within us. What happens within you dictates the war outside of you.

The desire for worldly things, the pursuit of success, and even our interactions with social media can become battlegrounds. As the saying goes, “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” It’s a challenge to assess where our true allegiance lies.

Aligning Our Will with God’s

The purpose of prayer is not to bend God to our desires but to align our will with His. Prayer is a partnership with God to accomplish His will on earth. It’s about understanding that God opposes pride and gives grace to the humble.

The passionate plea is to submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to Him. In this surrender, there is cleansing, purification, and a humble acknowledgment of our need for God’s exaltation.

Unveiling the Power of Submission

Submission, as explained in military terms, is the arrangement of troop divisions under a leader’s command. It’s the soil in which faith’s roots thrive. As our submission deepens, so does our faith.

To resist the devil is to stand against, oppose, and defy his operations. Our faith, depicted as the shield, mirrors our level of submission. The shield is only as effective as our trust in it.

Giving It to God

The next step in this spiritual journey is to give it all to God. Identify areas where you’ve become friends with the world, write them down, and take them to the cross. This act of surrender is a powerful step toward breaking any foothold the devil might have in your life.

In conclusion, let’s heed the call to submit, resist, and draw near to God. God is passionate about you and unwilling to share you with the world. Let’s live a life that reflects this divine passion, aligning our will with His and experiencing the transformative power of submission.

– Pastor Joe