And not this part of the verse preached? "Submit yourselves therefore to God."
James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
I here a lot of Christians saying "resist the devil and he will flee." But what about submiting to God first? Wouldn't that be a very important thing to do when resisting the devil.
2007-12-06 03:18:54 · 24 answers · asked by don_steele54 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
HOW CAN WE EXPECT VICTORY WITHOUT SUBMISSION TO GOD FIRST?
2007-12-06 03:19:47 · update #1
Muslim_R...Thank you for sharing,Now if they would only do what their name means.
2007-12-06 03:28:51 · update #2
Oh, I read that wrong. I thought that we needed to resist the devil because he has fleas.
Seriously, though: How can we ever presume to resist the devil without submitting ourselves to God? Is not submitting to God the means by which we resist the devil? Submission is in direct conflict to pride which happens to have been the devil's sin. We need to learn to submit before we can reign.
2007-12-06 07:25:12 · answer #1 · answered by Caveman 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dear Don,
You make a very great point. When you look at the verse there are three things:
#1: Submit to God
#2: Resist the Devil
#3: God will help you and cause the devil to flee
I've thankfully been blessed to attend Bible teaching churches where they haven't ignored half of the verse. i am presuming that some who teach on it- are addressing the issue of avoiding sin- forgetting that the first step to avoiding sin is to submit ourselves to the Lord.
Good insight and good job breaking down the Scriptures.
Keep up the good work.
Kindly,
Nickster
2007-12-06 18:40:59 · answer #2 · answered by Nickster 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We do not have to fight the devil. Which is a good thing, because we would (SORRY TO SAY THIS) not be any match for him.
The battle is the Lord's. We are on the winning side. But all we are able to do is resist the devil (whether he flees or not is not the issue). It is all we can do, and this is our instruction! "Resist"!!!
Sadly, the devil does not obey God, so he will likely run, but there might be exceptions.
I see this as God calming a scared child about there being "no danger in the darkness", as I have done with my children, as my dad did with me when I was a child.
It is true, there is no danger there at that moment, but my fear of the dark as a child included the possibility of a danger coming later, as I slept.
If a kidnapper comes in the window in the night to steal that child, God is not promising to stop him (nor I as a father),
The bible says "He will make a way for us to escape". I like that comforting verse, but I don't think it is litterally a promise of all good and no bad. He doesn't promis that here...but does in heaven.
Perhaps the escape includes going into shock when a lion devours you. Perhaps the escape includes going to heaven after you are tortured to death. I hesitate to oversell the promises of God, like "cheap cloth" is over-sold some times (athough many have gotten rich doing that!).
I told my son "You are safe" to calm him, when he was scared of the dark at bed time, although I am not a fool...I know "stuff" happens.
I hope that we are not being placated. We need to calm down some tmes. A coward dies a thousand deaths...but even a brave man does die once!!!
I know God can't lie, but maybe at that moment it was true.
Sad to say, if a guy uses a date rape drug on you, the Lord does not spare you.
Ditto for a mugger on drugs, desperate and murderous, unable to care whether you live or die.
Sorry this answer is so honest. I just am focused on the fact that I myself tell "white lies" for a good cause, some imes, although the Word says "God hates..." and names "LIES" first and foremost.
He who is without sin can cast the first stone.
2007-12-06 04:41:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you should submit to God first because you cant fight the devil with out the power of God. Only those who truly believe in God can stand against the devil. It says in the Bible that the devil will run when some one who believes in God is reading scripture and he will not harm you because he knows the God will protect the true believers from the devil.
2007-12-06 03:25:47 · answer #4 · answered by n_mechigian 1 · 5⤊ 0⤋
James 4: 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Many preacher preach this verse to the church without knowing who this verse is written to. It is written to the 12 tribes of Israel and is doctrine for them when God deals with them in the tribulation period. James 1: 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. If you have truely believed that the Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins, then the Holy Spirit has seal you and the devil can't get to you. Ephesians 1: 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
2007-12-06 03:34:43 · answer #5 · answered by Ray W 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Just a thought....many do not understand what it is to "submit" unto God-either...(entirely) and the devil knows when you do..and when you don't...this is why most still have trouble, and do not get total victory over him...and "Again", they only know how to resist, as far as they have been "taught", and many feel as if the devil is "laughing at them" while they are resisting....as if they do not have "enough power" (you can resist improperly also..) but, this is just a thought..."Peace!"
2007-12-06 03:28:14 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. "Diamond" 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
So VERY TRUE..Brother Don! Too many ppl forget that the "Submission" to the Lord, portion is the MOST important part!
Even the Great Angels would not "stand against" the Devil...
Without the Lord......
Jude 1:9 - But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
2007-12-06 06:57:38 · answer #7 · answered by maranatha132 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When we submit to God, it makes the devil flee! Yes very important! Anytime we seek God, submit to Him, the devil has NO oppurtunity.
AMEN!
2007-12-06 05:19:10 · answer #8 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's true. You need to submit yourself to God first, then the devil will flee because the devil can't deal with you when God is on your side.
2007-12-06 03:23:32 · answer #9 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The devil doesn't flee he just trys a more appealing approach.
For he will be adorned in beauty and have a pleasing aspect to the eye.
And what pleases your eye ?A RAISE IN PAY A PROMOTION POWER WEALTH AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO ATTAIN THESE THINGS.The devil offers many roads to perdition and paves them all with "good intentions".VANITY is the original sin from which all other sins are born.It is the devils favorite sin.
If man be like unto angels then they be killer angels.
2007-12-06 03:38:49 · answer #10 · answered by bunminjutsu 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋