1 Peter 5:9, “Resist him*~, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.”
“Satan is alive and well on planet earth” (book title by Hal Lindsey). His work is to destroy all that God has created, and he is subtle. The believer must know the tactics of the enemy and how to resist him.
The word resist means to “urgently stand against or oppose.” In James 4:7, we are told to “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” We have the authority to resist Satan, and he will flee.
First, Satan uses the alluring temptation of sensuality, fame, or greed and relies on our curiosity as long as we believe the lie that the world can satisfy our needs: “Love not the world nor the things in the world…For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (1 Jn 2:15–17).
Second, Satan attacks our marriage and family relations. God’s design is that man’s sensual satisfactions and soul-mate companionship are met in a healthy, passionate, marriage relationship for life: “The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife [sexually], and likewise also the wife to her husband…Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1 Cor 7:3,5).
Third, Satan attacks us through the false ideas, arguments, or teachings that occur to our minds. Satan is not omniscient, but he can induce ideas or concepts that appear to be reasonable, correct, or novel. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” These attacks seem reasonable enough that we begin to believe these errors that contradict God’s word: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor 11:3).
In every realm of attack, Satan seeks to justify selfishness, self-exaltation, and self-will in our lives. Satan wants us to be like him and not like Christ. We must bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). Be faithful always.
“Father, when inexplicable discouragement and depression dominate my spirit, may I recognize the influence of demons and resist them by Your authority. Thank You for this strength to reject demonic stimulus, and never lose faith in Your presence with me.”