ARE you struggling to learn how to wage spiritual warfare successfully against the devil and to live a life that is pleasing to God, fool-proofed against the schemes of the enemy?
The Bible has not only promised victory, but also gives us instructions on how to resist the devil and to force him to flee from our lives.
A Christian who is interested in walking in victory cannot ignore an enemy that the Bible warns us about. Many who choose to ignore become easy targets, those who run away, “äre shot in the back” and the only way the Bible has told us to deal with the enemy and win is to resist him. We are called to wage war and win because we are fully equipped.
There is a real unseen enemy, who is actively opposing the will of God in our lives. We are in battle, whether you realise it or not!
1 Peter 5:8 asks as to “be self controlled and alert…” we re told the enemy is prowling around looking for whom he can devour. He is compared to a roaring lion- who consumes hungrily and quickly! This means
we need to know whom we are dealing with from the onset and the tactics he uses in his battle against us.
If we do not know much about Satan, then we will fear him and ascribe to him more strength than he actually has. We must know what the Bible says about the devil for us to defat him. Not knowing who the devil is will not only cause us to fear him but also run away from him and never engage him when he attacks us.
Jesus defeated the devil
Satan is a defeated enemy! Jesus defeated the devil through His death on the cross. – He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15 .He made a spectacle of the kingdom of darkness when He rose again! After defeating the evil one, He could now tell His disciples, before He ascended to heaven ,”All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” –Mathew 28:18. In Luke 10:19, Jesus tells all believers: ”I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all power of the enemy, nothing will harm you.”
It is possible to think that the Devil himself who attacks us. No, Satan is not omnipresent! He depends on evil spirits to torment, oppress and inhabit people.
The devil has ranked his wicked spirits and controls them much the same way a commander controls an army. There are those over kingdoms and territories and the foot-soldiers that inhabit and torment people.
After Jesus gave back authority to the church, there is now nothing the devil can do on earth without getting “authority from man.”
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He woos human beings with worldly things in exchange for their soul.
The devil cannot forcefully use human will. He can only tempt them to hand over “authority” or control to him by making a covenant and coming into agreement with them. He knows that God will not interfere with a covenant a human being has made with the devil until it is confessed, repented of and renounced.
God has given us the freewill to choose our actions, beliefs, thoughts. Evil spirits are capable of throwing in to our minds tormenting thoughts that are contrary to the word of God.
Once we believe the lie, he is capable of building on that lie until it becomes a major stronghold that hinders the move of God in our lives.
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Resisting the devil
The good news is that the devil is limited in power compared to God. He is an entity that can do nothing outside the will of God. Job…
He can suggest evil but cannot coerce the human will. The devil needs human consent to operate. He may spread snares and traps to ruin the children of God but cannot compel us to comply. Satan and his demons cannot defeat God and indeed, God, as some believe, uses them as instruments to correct His erring children.
Luke 22:31-32,* “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you* like wheat, 32but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.”
1 Corinthians 5:5–you are to deliver this man to Satan* for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord
1Timothy 1:20 –Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme
Isaiah 54:16 -“Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows on the fire of coals And produces a weapon for its work; And I have created the destroyer to inflict ruin
Amos 4:10-“I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord .
God is still in control, He is on the throne and He rules, His word is law and decrees eternal. Hallelujah!
In James 4:7, we are told, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This is yet another powerful instruction that gives us a threefold front for victory in spiritual warfare- submission to God, resisting the devil, and by extension, fleeing from sin.
Additionally, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 instructs us to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” These are not mere suggestions; they are keys to victorious Christian living. When embraced and practiced, these principles lead us into a life of purity, power, and purpose.
Submission to God is the foundation of true victory. The word “submit” means to place oneself under the authority or control of another. In the context of our faith, it means yielding every area of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Submission is not passive; it is a willing, active choice to surrender to God’s will, His Word, and His ways.
Submission is essential because it places us under divine protection. Just as a soldier operates under the command of a superior officer, we, as soldiers in the Lord’s army, must align ourselves with our Commander-in-Chief. Jesus submitted to the Father’s will even unto death (Philippians 2:8), a model of true submission under authority.
Equipped to resist the devil
Without submission, there is no authority to resist the devil effectively. Authority flows from alignment with God. It will involve knowing what is right, desiring what is right and doing what is right. We submit by finding out, through God’s word, what He desires of us. We gain understanding through His word, the Holy Spirit guiding us into all truth.
The devil loses tremendous influence when the desire of what is right becomes our day to day lifestyle- we gain self control and power over the enemy. It is not what we know or desire but what we do that eventually matters. James 1:22 states, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Choose to do God’s will.
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Victory over the devil is doing what God has commanded you to do, every temptation being a chance to override the will of the adversary.
Submitting to God takes away the legal rights of the enemy. In biblical terms, a legal right is any ground, agreement, access or entry point that allows Satan and his demonic forces to operate in a person’s life, family, territory or generation. Satan is a legalist, of course he cannot override God’s justice, but he takes advantage of every open door to torment our lives.
Remember Job 1:10-12 – Satan needs permission, he could not touch Job without permission, He is not all powerful. He operates by accusation and legal permission. If he accuses, he is seeking legal ground
Once we are submitted to God, we are well equipped to resist the devil. We are able to oppose or stand against his evil schemes.
Resisting the devil is not a one-time event; it is a dynamic process of spiritual warfare. Make a declaration today that you will resist every attempt by the devil to keep you under bondage!
We must make a conscious effort to live as people who have been set free through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Galatians 5:1- states, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.“
The devil is master deceiver
It is important to understand that the devil is a master deceiver (Revelation 12:9), a liar (John 8:44), and a tempter (Matthew 4:3). He seeks to exploit our weaknesses and lure us away from the presence of God. But remember he is also a defeated foe. Jesus conquered him through the cross (Colossians 2:15), and as believers, we share in that victory.
Jesus resisted Satan by declaring, the word of God “It is written” (Matthew 4). The Word of God is your greatest weapon against the devil. Make every effort to declare the word of God, by faith, over every situation even if the circumstance speaks otherwise.
The words you are going to speak from now, believing them to be true , will be the game changer in the battle ground.
Speak of things that are not as if they are (Romans 4:17). To win in warfare you will need a renewed mind according to (Romans 12:2). Chart a new life path through your words.
Proverbs 23:7- “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...
Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit
Joel 3:10 –Let the weak say, they are strong…
James 1:9-11 – Let the Poor Say, “I Am rich…”
We resist the enemy by making faith declarations in constant prayer. When you pray believe that you have received. (Mark 11:24). This keeps you spiritually alert and connected to God’s power (Luke 22:46). Faith declarations will also help to guard your thoughts – Temptation always starts in the mind. Take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ according to (2 Corinthians 10:5).
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The more submitted you are to God, in thoughts, speech and action, the more resistance power you have against the devil. He may come with lies and accusations, but he has no power over a believer standing in truth and righteousness.
Spiritual intelligence
Compromise is a door opener. It often begins subtly. What starts as a small excuse can become a gateway to demonic bondage. The devil doesn’t always tempt with obvious evil; sometimes, it’s the “gray areas” that lead people astray. God calls us to holiness—set apart, undefiled, and reflective of His character.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 commands us to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” This takes our responsibility a notch higher—not only should we avoid sin, but we must also avoid situations, conversations, and environments that even look sinful.
Why? Because our witness matters, and integrity is key. Joseph in Genesis 39 is a perfect example. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, he didn’t try to “manage” the temptation—he ran! That’s not weakness; it’s wisdom. Fleeing isn’t cowardice; it’s spiritual intelligence.
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When you submit to God, you come under His covering. When you resist the devil, he has no choice but to flee. When you flee from sin, you protect your witness and deepen your intimacy with the Lord. These principles Work together to keep us spiritually strong, pure, and ready for every good work.
The enemy prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). But lions don’t devour everyone—they seek the vulnerable, the isolated, and the distracted. Stay alert. Stay submitted. Stay on fire for God and become undevoured.
Child of God, you are not powerless. You are not alone. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. You have the authority, the strategy, and the backing of heaven to walk in victory every single day.
So, when the enemy whispers lies, speak God truth, submit to Him. When temptation knocks, resist the devil. When compromise tries to creep in, flee—even from the appearance of sin. Let your life shout the testimony of God’s transforming power. Let your walk reflect the purity of Jesus. Let your stance cause the devil to tremble.
