The familiar saying “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” has been the subject of several sermons and messages from the pulpit, and often only half the truth as expressed in the Bible is exposited on. The Bible says that “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). The Aramaic Bible in Plain English version, renders this same verse as follows : “Submit therefore to God and stand against Satan, and he will flee from you.”

Notice, how it is important for us to first submit ourselves to God and only then stand against the devil. Standing on our own strength against a mighty and cunning foe who seeks to devour us, without submission to the Almighty God is futile. In order to stand against the devil, we must first kneel before God, humbling and submitting ourselves into his hand. Jesus prayed, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (like 23:46) and we must do so likewise as well, for Jesus assured us that no one, absolutely no man can snatch us out of the Father’s hands.” (John 10:29). Once we have submitted ourselves to God, we can rise from our knees to stand with the spiritual armor of God, against the devil and when we use wield the weapons of spiritual warfare, he will flee from us, as he did when Jesus resisted and rebuked him (Matthew 4:1-11).

“The half truth is “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. The truth is “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” In other words, submit first to God and then stand against the devil and when you stand, stand adorned with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. To stand against satan, we first need to stand on our knees with a heart of humility and submission before God.

James 4:7
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (KJV)
7  Submit therefore to God and stand against Satan, and he will flee from you. (Aramaic Bible in Plain English).

John 10:27-30 (KJV)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.