“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NIV
During my study time the other day, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that when we agree with sins and sinful lifestyles in the name of “tolerance,” we align ourselves with the evil spirits behind those sins. Instead of “submitting ourselves to God” and “resisting the devil,” as the above verse commands, we get into agreement with the devil and his lies saying that there is nothing wrong with these sins – and he doesn’t have to “flee” from us. Instead, we literally open the door to Satan and his dark forces who come only to “steal and kill and destroy,” as Jesus warned us. (John 10:10) And we suffer in ways that we could have completely avoided if we hadn’t been disobedient.
Right before the Scripture tells us to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, it says: “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4 NLT) Agreeing with the world and its “socially acceptable” sins puts us at odds with God. On the other hand, agreeing with God and His Word puts us at odds with the world. Jesus said: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” (John 15:18-19 NLT) We cannot think that we can play “both sides of the street” with God. Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me.” (Matthew 12:30 NKJV) And He meant it. He also said that simply calling Him “Lord” was not going to get us into the Kingdom of Heaven, but only doing the will of His Father would. (Matthew 7:21-23) On Judgment Day, there will be many people who expected to go to Heaven who will hear from His lips, “I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].” (v. 23 AMP)
I will be honest and tell you that one of the primary reasons why I live in agreement with God’s Word is found in Proverbs 28:9 (NIV): “If anyone turns a deaf ear to My instruction, even their prayers are detestable.” The Message Bible says it this way: “God has no use for the prayers of the people who won’t listen to Him.” I decided long ago that my prayers are too important to me, and I am not about to compromise with the ungodly, no matter how socially acceptable their sins become. Today, I urge you to stay in agreement with God and His Word, and out of agreement with the devil and his lies. As you do, nothing and no one will be able to keep God’s very best blessings from you!
Lord, today, I surrender every aspect of my life to You, and I choose to submit to Your will and Your Word in every area. Make me a powerful witness for You. Remind me often that You are continually asking, “Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?” (Psalm 94:16 NASB) Teach me how to love others Your way, while submitting to You, and resisting the devil at all times. Help me to take to heart Your command which says that I must “keep [myself] uncontaminated by the [secular] world.” (James 1:27 AMP) Thank You that as I live my life in obedience to Your Word by the power of Your Spirit, I will live the exceedingly blessed, abundant life You came to give me!
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