Victory over Demons

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

–James 4:7

How can we have spiritual victory over demons? Let me give two suggestions from the Bible.

First, be alert to Satan’s attacks. A lot of Christians walk around in a spiritual stupor, not aware that they are in Satan’s crosshairs. But those who are not alert to the attacks of Satan and his demons become spiritual roadkill. That’s why 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Be alert to his attacks.

Second, be aware of God’s provision. We don’t have to feel paranoid about Satan and his demons. God has made provision for us to have victory over Satan and his forces. We would love to think there is a prayer or ritual that will remove Satan’s power over our lives forever. That’s why many people are attracted to the idea of exorcism. However, in the Bible, the gift of exorcism is attached to Jesus and the apostles. There’s no passage indicating that Christians as a whole are supposed to engage in exorcism. Any verses suggesting otherwise do not appear in the earliest manuscripts, so we would be wise not to base our actions on them.

Our responsibility is not exorcising demons from other people or ourselves; it is exercising the spiritual power God has already given to us in order to resist Satan and his demons.

James 4:7 says, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Submitting your life to God and resisting the devil are related. Any area of your life that has not been submitted to God is open to Satan’s influence. To neutralize demonic forces, diminish their real estate in your life. Submit to God in your moral life, your family life, your work life, and your finances. The more of your life you submit to God, the less of a foothold Satan will have.

An acquaintance once told me, “For so many years of my Christian life, I was trying to live according to my plan and my agenda, and it was like swimming upstream. Everything was so hard. But then I discovered the secret of submitting to God and His will. It has not eliminated my problems, but it sure has made life easier.” Submitting to God’s will for your life is the only way to emerge victorious in this cosmic battle.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “What Every Christian Should Know About Angels and Demons, Part 2” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2022.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.