Before I became a Christian, I thought the world consisted of what could be seen and touched. Later, I learned how wrong I was. Now I know we live in a spirit world, which is why we need to know how to resist the devil.
When it comes to the devil, many Christians err with one of two extremes:
1) The devil is around every corner and under every bush. We need to be ready to attack him.
2) The devil is more fantasy than reality. So, just ignore him, and he’ll go away.
The truth is, the devil is real. He’s at work. And he has plenty of help.
For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.
Ephesians 6:12, The Living Bible
HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL
Jesus called Satan “the father of lies” (John 8:44, ESV). The devil always lies or deceives. In fact, we often miss him, “for Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14, HCSB). That means sometimes he tempts us not with immoral/evil things, but with things that appear good. And at other times he simply offers us something good in place of what’s best.
Every lie or deception is designed to make us doubt the truth of the Scriptures and put our faith in something—anything—but God.
We don’t have to go out swinging to fight the devil. All we have to do is resist his lies and tactics.
Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
KNOWING HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL BEGINS WITH UNDERSTANDING HIS LIMITATIONS
There’s no need to panic. The devil is real, but God is in charge.
We’ll never have the confidence to resist our spiritual enemy unless we first understand that God has complete authority over Satan. Once we know that, we can learn how to resist the devil with confidence.
The truth is:
1. Satan answers to Jesus.
Jesus Christ is seated in power above everything and everyone in heaven and on earth. There is no one outside His authority. No president, no king, no world ruler, no pastor, and neither you nor I can do anything without answering to Him. Neither can the devil.
He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Ephesians 1:20-21
2. God’s plans can’t be thwarted.
Satan is a fallen angel and he was created by God. When he went rogue, did God lose control? Absolutely not. God is using everything-including invisible forces of evil-to fulfill His ultimate plan of glory and redemption.
For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:16
3. God and Satan are not opposites.
Hot and cold are opposites. So are black and white. But God and Satan are not opposites. They’re not in a tug-of-war. Satan is not all-powerful, and he’s neither omniscient (knows everything) nor omnipresent (everywhere at once). God has full and final authority over Satan.
4. Satan’s power is limited.
Not only is the devil’s power limited, but he’s on borrowed time.
Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power.
1 Corinthians 15:24
5. Those who are in Christ can have victory over Satan.
No doubt Satan is at work and he’s powerful for now, but the Bible is clear that we can resist him and win. We have all the spiritual armor we need.
But our victory doesn’t depend on what we do.
It depends on what Jesus has already done.
HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL WITH STRENGTH
Satan is powerful. He’s under God’s authority, but he’s been given permission to operate on earth for a limited time.
He has an organized army that operates with intelligence and purpose. That’s why we don’t stand a chance on this spiritual battlefield without the strength and power of God .
We fight spiritual enemies with spiritual powers. That’s why we need the strength only God can provide.
The Bible says we have access to God’s strength because it’s a part of our inheritance.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
Ephesians 1:18-19
HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL BY STANDING
The Bible doesn’t tell us to go out and look for demons everywhere. That’s a popular notion in some Christian circles, but nowhere in scripture is there a call to attack.
Instead, we must stand against his lies.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
When we learn how to put on the armor of God ,we can stand with courage when the enemy attacks.
1. Stand on the unchanging truth of the gospel.
Gospel means “good news”. The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s a factual account of historical events that actually happened. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is our eternal hope. To stand on it means to believe it.
Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand.
1 Corinthians 15:1
2. Stand alert
That doesn’t mean be panicky. It means be aware. Be knowledgeable. Use your mind. Look for deception.
Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.
1 Corinthians 15:13
3. Stand in faith
We can’t afford to let our guard down. Not for one minute.
Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9
HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL WITH PRAYER
If we’re prayer-less, we won’t win the battle for our faith. Overconfidence (the root of prayerlessness) will sink us. Remember, God’s strength comes when we admit we’re weak.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul says to be praying always.
Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere.
Ephesians 6:18 TLB
That means by yourself, with others, silently, or out loud. While walking, driving, crying, or kneeling. With eyes closed or open. In other words, in any place, with any posture, and with anyone. And, for the record, the simplest and most powerful prayer we can pray is “Help me.”
HOW TO RESIST THE DEVIL WITH CONFIDENCE
We live in a spirit world. There’s an invisible enemy who’s waging a battle for our souls and who wants us to live defeated lives. But the Bible tells us how to resist the devil. And God has equipped us with spiritual armor for our protection.
We don’t have to panic.
Satan is defeated. He’s on a short chain for now with limited power. And God has given us the truth of His Word to resist every lie or deception the enemy throws at us.
We can resist the devil with confidence. We can stand against him because our position in Christ gives us all the strength we need. And we can pray for help at all times and in every place.
Below you’ll find Bible verses about how to resist the devil. They’re also available as a free printable along with some other items in my resource library.
BIBLE VERSES ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Know your enemy
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. (Ephesians 6:12)
We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
The devil lies
[Satan] was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)
But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)
Satan answers to God
And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13)
“Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! (Matthew 25:41)
I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (John 17:15)
Satan has already been defeated
[Jesus] gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. (Galations 1:4)
The one who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works. (1 John 3:8)
Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows his time is short. (Revelation 12:12)
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil— (Hebrews 2:14)
Satan has influence
…you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. (Ephesians 2:2)
For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:16)
Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)
Christians are expected to learn how to resist the devil
Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9)
and having prepared everything, to take your stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
…and don’t give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:27)
Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
(Scriptures taken from Christian Standard Bible)
