The term resistance movement is frequently used to describe conflict situations where oppressed people
rise up against their oppressors. Those who are part of resistance movements take the stance, “I'm not going to
stand idly by and allow this evil to continue. I choose to resist the wrongs that have been and are being perpetuated
against me and those I love. Whether I live or die in resisting my oppressor, I will no longer live as I have been
living.”
A seldom-recognized fact about resistance movements is this: they succeed. If people genuinely have been oppressed
and the resistance movement has identified and targeted the true oppressors, the resistance movement nearly always
achieves its goals. The oppressors are overthrown. That is not to say that new oppressors might not arise. What
it does say is that when enough people say no to evil with a loud enough voice for a long enough period of time,
evil is overcome. Those who are evil lose power, retreat, or withdraw when faced with sufficient resistance.
Throughout history, we have many examples of people who resisted evil in ways that were not militant, vengeful,
or violent. In fact, most of the Christian martyrs through the ages were people who took a stand against evil,
resisting all attempts to get them to deny the Lord Jesus, turn their back on their faith, or expose their fellow
Christians to harm. Their resistance made a difference, and in the end Christ has proved victor. Christ's kingdom
on earth expands; the human-made kingdoms of oppressors fade into history.
Resistance is the biblical approach to confronting and overcoming the devil. Peter wrote, “Resist him, steadfast
in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9). James echoed this teaching: “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from
you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7–8). Both Peter and James make clear that we are
to actively resist evil.
Active Resistance
On the surface, resistance may appear to be passive. In practice, it is anything but passive. It is an active
stance that is intentional and powerful.
Think for a moment about what you would do if you saw a large person running directly toward you at a rapid
pace. Imagine that there is a sheer wall to your right and a sharp drop-off to your left. There's no way you can
turn and outrun this apparent adversary who is coming at you like a bowling ball headed straight for the only pin
left in the lane. What do you do? You very likely brace yourself for the hit. You plant your feet squarely and
lean forward, probably with one shoulder and leg a little ahead of your other leg and shoulder. You grit your teeth,
tense your muscles, and prepare for the blow, fully expecting that your adversary will bounce off you rather than
knock you down. You are in a position of resistance.
Think for a moment about what you would do if a weight began to press against you in an attempt to push you
off a position that you knew was rightfully yours to occupy. How would you resist? You would lean into the weight
and press back. The pressure you would exert would be as much as the pressure being exerted against you. That's
a posture of resistance.
Resistance is when we row against the tide of the culture and refuse to adopt evil practices just because the
majority of people around us appear to be adopting them.
Resistance is when we do the right thing, solely because it is the right thing to do.
Resistance is refusing to go along with those who invite us to participate in activities that bring no glory
to God and are contrary to His commandments.
Resistance is saying no to offers of drugs and other harmful substances.
Resistance is holding the line for a good cause.
Resistance is first and foremost a firm decision to engage in the struggle against evil, rather than turning
away, backing off, or retreating from the devil's attack.
• Can you recall an experience when you were required to engage in active resistance?
• How do you feel about the Bible's admonition to resist the devil?
Resistance and Patience
Resistance takes strength and courage. It also takes patience.
Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts.
(James 5:7–8)
Not only are we to be patient with ourselves, but we are to be patient with our fellow believers. We must look
with hope to the future that the Lord has for each one of us. The good work that He is doing in us, He is doing
in others around us—perhaps in different ways and at a different pace. If we become impatient with our spiritual
growth or that of others, it is easy to become angry, frustrated, and unloving. Such attitudes give an opportunity
for Satan to work. They are not attitudes of resistance. Resistance is patient.
What the Word Says
Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.… My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke
in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You
have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate
and merciful (James 5:9–11)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Love suffers long and is kind … bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1
Cor. 13:4, 7)
What the Word Says to Me
• What new insights do you have into overcoming your enemy?
How to Resist
Peter and James point to two key words that are at the heart of our ability to resist the devil: submission
to God and faith.
Submission. Submission to God is saying, “I can't. You can.” In our resistance against the devil, we
might say, “I can't defeat the devil on my own. But with You, I can.” Certainly this is the position the apostle
Paul took when he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
James described submission in part as occurring when we seek to develop a closer relationship to God: “Draw
near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
How do we draw near to God? The number one way to get to know God and to know how He wants us to overcome
evil and experience blessing is to spend time with God. It's virtually impossible to have a close relationship
with someone if you have no communication! We draw near to God in prayer and in time spent reading God's Word.
We draw near to God when we set aside time solely to listen to God and to wait upon Him for direction and guidance.
We draw near to God when we periodically shut ourselves away with God, closing off all other influences that might
distract us from knowing Him better.
The closer we draw to God, the better we know Him. And the better we know Him, the more we see His awesome power,
experience His vast love, learn from His wisdom, and grow in our faith. We come to an even greater realization
and conclusion: “Yes, God can defeat the devil on my behalf. Yes, God will win in any conflict with
the devil. Yes, God does want me to be able to overcome my adversary and to live in victory in Christ Jesus.”
Those who submit their lives to God are humble. Humility and submission cannot be separated. The truly humble
are those who recognize that they are totally dependent upon God, and that only God is God. The person who believes
the truth about God with all of his or her heart receives an abundant portion of God's grace (James 4:6).
• Have you totally surrendered your life to Christ? Have you completely submitted your will and desires to
God?
• How does total surrender and submission feel? If you have not surrendered or submitted your entire life
to Christ, how do you feel when you hear the words surrender and submit?
Faith. Faith is saying to God, “I believe You will.” In our battle to overcome the enemy, our faith might
be stated this way: “I believe You will defeat the enemy and cause him to flee from me as I resist him and put
my trust in You.” Again and again, David made this declaration of faith to the Lord: “O my God, I trust in You.”
(See Pss. 25:2; 31:6; 55:23; 56:3; 143:8.)
Each of us has been given a measure of faith from our birth (Rom. 12:3), but this does not mean that we automatically
have an active, vibrant, or mature faith. Our faith can lie dormant in us, for the most part unused. It also can
remain a weak or immature faith. Jesus referred to “great faith” and “little faith” (Matt. 6:30; 8:10, 26). The
disciples asked specifically that Jesus increase their faith (Luke 17:5). The implication is clearly that our faith
is capable of growth.
Our faith becomes alive and active when we recognize who we are in Christ. “Christ in me” is one of the most
powerful statements of faith a person can make, for Christ has far greater power than any force of the devil. (See
1 John 4:4.)
How do we grow in faith? By using our faith. By trusting God in situation after situation, circumstance after
circumstance, relationship after relationship. We develop a personal history in which we have been faithful in
our obedience to God and He has been faithful in His loving care of us.
Much of what is said about faith in God's Word is couched in terms of our walking in faith or standing in faith.
Faith is to be applied. It is to be exercised and developed. When we stand in faith, we are saying, “I am
fully persuaded that God is God and I cannot be moved from that position.” When we walk in faith, we are saying,
“I have every confidence that God is with me wherever I am, and that He will remain with me forever. I am fully
convinced that He is working all things together for my eternal and highest good.” (See Rom. 8:28.)
Remaining steadfast in our faith—staying grounded, keeping our resolve, refusing to give in to doubt or fear—is
an act of our will. We must choose to remain steadfast in faith. The Holy Spirit will help us in this if
we ask for His help. He is the One who gives us the power to endure the assault of the enemy against us, even to
the last moment of our lives.
• In what ways are you being challenged in your spirit regarding your faith?
The Bible has much to say about both submission and faith. As you read through the selected verses below, relate
them to the concept of resistance.
What the Word Says
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Rom. 12:1)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly
to the LORD
(1 Chron. 29:9)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which
He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God (2 Chron. 30:8)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Then the priest says, “Let us draw near to God here.” So Saul asked counsel of God (1 Sam. 14:36–37)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
It is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your woks (Ps. 73:28)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus … let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with
pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (Heb.
10:19, 22–23)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble (James 4:6)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight in faith, lay hold on
eternal life (1 Tim. 6:11–12)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt … whatever things
you ask in prayer, believingly, you will receive” (Matt. 21:21–22)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established
in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving (Col. 2:6–7)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body
of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue
in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard (Col.
1:21–23)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (2 Tim. 1:13–14)
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58)
What the Word Says to Me
• What new insights do you have into the importance of submission to your ability to overcome the devil?
• What new insights do you have into the importance of your faith in overcoming the devil?
Faith, Submission, and Resistance Are Connected
In the battle against our adversary, our faith in Christ Jesus, our submission to God, and our resistance against
the enemy are closely connected.
You can resist the devil only if your faith is strong. It is impossible for you to resist the devil for very
long if you do not believe that Christ Jesus in you can and will defeat the devil.
Furthermore, you can be firm in your faith only if you are completely submissive to God. That means you submit
all areas of your life. When you do not submit an area to God you are saying to God, in effect, “I can handle this.
I don't need Your help.” That's precisely the place the devil will attack you!
The good news is that God has given each of us a measure of faith to develop. We are capable of submitting.
And therefore, we are capable of resisting the devil.
When we do, he must flee.
• Recall an experience in which you resisted the devil and he did flee. To what degree were humble submission
and steadfast faith involved?
• In what ways are you being challenged in your spirit?
From Overcoming the Enemy: Discover God's Plan for Winning Spiritual
Battles by Charles Stanley. Copyright 1997 by Charles Stanley.
