As new and even older Christians we have the tendency to pick a few wrong doctrines in our journey of faith. Often times we pick up doctrinal errors from some popular books, tv preachers and fellow Christians.
One of such is in the area of binding the Devil. I did that too. Then one day l thought and asked myself, “where exactly are we told to do that in the Scriptures?”
Such practice may be well intentioned and sincere, being meant to repel or restrict Satan and his activities, but it’s nevertheless an unbiblical practice. There is no example of such in Scripture. Our Lord and His disciples cast out devil’s, but there is no record of them binding Satan or his demons. Even during His temptations by the Devil in the wilderness, the Lord only resisted Satan, not bind him. And the Scripture tells us that Satan left Him for an oppotuned time or for a season(Luke 4:13).
The Bible mentions nothing about Believers binding the Devil or evil spirits. Instead we are made to understand that like a roaring lion the Devil is still on the loose, looking for whom to devour (1Peter 5:8).
However, the time will come when God Himself will give the command for him to be bond and locked up for a 1000 years and later cast into the lake of fire for all eternity (Rev.20:1 -3, 10).
The Scriptures we usually use to justify binding and loosing have nothing to do with binding the devil or evil spirits, or loosing whatever good things we desire and speak, but rather the application of church discipline and restoration of repentant erring brethren by elders of the church (Matt. 18:18 – 20).
The Bible, however, clearly and plainly tells us to resist the Devil. This is the biblical and appropriate way given to us to restrict and repel the Devil and his Minions; and we are given the assurance that if we do he will flee from us.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” 1 Peter 5: 8-9.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Ephesians 4:27, also tells us not to give place or opportunity to the devil.
We are told to resist the Devil, and we are given the assurance that when we do, he will flee from us.
Our responsibility is to resist the Devil.
In times of suffering, opposition, trials, hardships, temptations or attacks we are to resist the enemy.
RESIST implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it. (Merriame Webster).
Meaning to fight against something or someone that is attacking you. (To keep at bay, to fend off, to oppose, to try to stop, to not yield, to combat, to strive against, to set yourself against, to counter, to keep out, to withstand, be proof against, hold out against, endure, repel, be impermeable to).
It is spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:11 – 17). But our Redeemer has conquered the enemy for us. However, we still have our part of resistance to do. We are to resist the Devil, to resist evil, to resist temptations, in our Saviour’s name and the power of His Holy Spirit.
Here are 9 things we should continually do to resist the Devil.
1.We should be humble. This humility is not because the Devil is to be reverenced or even feared, but because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6 ). If you are not humble you cannot resist the devil. Pride led to the devil’s fall, it’s his property. If you try resisting him and there is pride in your life you are wasting your time, he won’t flee from you, you just gave him a great reason to stay.
Some Christians are full of pride. They mock, abuse and even challenge the devil pridefully, even calling him names, and he laughs at them. They do what the Arch angel Micheal dared not even do.
“Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” But these speak evil of whatever they do not know” ( Jude 1:8 -10).
“And especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.” (2 Peter 2:10b – 11).
We are no match for Satan. God alone has the power to rebuke and to crush him under our feet. Paul writing to the Christians in Rome said, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly”(Romans 16:20). Read also Zechariah 3:2 – 5.
2. We should live lives of submission and obedience to God(James 4:7). It’s impossible to resist the devil while living in rebellion or disobedience to God’s word in any way. We are to walk in obedience to God.
3.We should be sober (1Peter5:8), that is, to be clear-headed, thoughtful temperate, and moderate ( other synomns:sensible, solelem, grave, earnest, steady, level-headed, serious-minded, down-to-earth, commonsensical, self-controlled, restrained, conservative, strict, puritanical, factual, realistic, objective, low-key, matter-of-fact, rational, logical, straightforward).
We should not get consumed and carried away by the affairs of this world. We should be moderate, self-controlled, thoughtful and godly in all we do.
4.We should be vigilant, that is, to be constantly on guard, watchful (1Peter 5:8). In our watchfulness, we need to take heed first and foremost to ourselves (Luke 21:34,Deut. 4:9). We need to watch our own ways and way of life.
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” ( Luke 21:34).
“Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren”( Deut.4:9).
5.We should be steadfast in faith ( 1Peter 5:9). Standing firm in the faith and not compromising our biblical beliefs.
6.We should not give any opportunity or place to the Devil (Ephesians 4:27). To do this we must be watchful at all times, and not be ignorant of his devices (2 Cor. 2:11 ). Don’t be a careless, carefree, thoughtless and casual Christian.
7.We should study, memorize and hold onto the word of Scriptures – the sword of the Spirit. Jesus resisted the Devil’s temptations with the Word of God(Matthew 4:1-11 ).
8.We should draw near to God and commit ourselves to Him in prayer, asking and trusting Him for assistance, strength, deliverance and protection (Ephesians 6:18, James 4:8).
God is our deliverer.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psa 34:19)
Our dependence must daily be upon God. We resist the evil one in prayer, through prayer and by prayer. Someone rightly said that Satan fears the weakest Saint on his/ her knees. The battle is won on our knees by God’s power alone.
9.We should put on the whole armor of God: Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, Sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:11 – 17).
Our armor should never be off.
Whatever the battle that may be raging against you, may the God of peace crush Satan shortly under your feet, as you continually draw nearer to Him daily, and keep resisting the enemy in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.