Overcoming by submission
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
- James 4:7(NKJV)
We learnt from stories how that right from the olden times, when a nation was besieged by an oppressive or invasive military opposition, they would go, seeking help, to a more powerful nation or kingdom that had the military force to crush their assailants, they would take advantage of an interest of the protecting nation to make a treaty of tributary allegiance, or sometimes even, the hand in marriage of a local princess would be offered. In return, they could retain their land, property and freedom, as well as, military protection from their enemies. That is, the enemy would now have to confront the protector’s army to get to this nation.
Man’s defenseless and hopeless confrontation with the oppression of his innate sinfulness and the wicked ruler-ship of Satan, looks similar to these historic setings, except that we come to God spiritually dead and with no bargaining power. In actual fact, It is out of God’s mercy and benevolence, not because we asked him or deserved it, that he sent Christ to dis-harm and destroy the works of the devil.
Christ has won on our behalf the ultimate victory over sin, death and Satan; He has taken captivity captive. But without Christ, Sin is man’s task master, Satan’s agent of oppression and a wicked tyrant that wouldn’t let any man go free. When we heed Christ’s offer to help us and yield to his will, we become his own and the devil loses his legal ground to oppress us; sin looses its dominion over us. Then and only then does a man have power over sin; then and only then does a man resist the devil and the devil flees. Then and only then does a believer overcome the sinful nature and consequently sinful habits – all by Christ’s victory, and in trusting God and obeying the leadership of his spirit.
Devotional prayer
Lord I thank you today for the liberty and victory over sin and the kingdom of darkness that I enjoy in Christ Jesus. I seek your will everyday of my life and in every situation. I live in total submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ, with thanksgiving, and I go from one victory to another in my Christian walk.
