Defeating the Devil You Know

Submit = “rank under” God

James 4:7 KJV

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

Romans 6:12–13 KJV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Resist = withstand the Devil

Ephesians 4:27 KJV

Neither give place to the devil.

Revelation 12:9–11 KJV

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Draw near to God.

James 4:8 KJV

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

1. He will pardon.

Isaiah 55:6–7 KJV

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

2. He will heal.

Hosea 6:1–2 KJV

Come, and let us return unto the Lord: For he hath torn, and he will heal us; He hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: In the third day he will raise us up, And we shall live in his sight.

3. He will draw near to you.

Zechariah 1:3 KJV

Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, And I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

Wash Your Dirty Hands

1 John 1:9 KJV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Timothy 2:8 KJV

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Purify your hearts, you double minded ones.

James 1:8 KJV

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Matthew 6:24 KJV

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Humble yourselves

James 4:9–10 KJV

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1. Be afflicted = miserable

2. Mourn = have a broken heart over your sin.

3. Weep = shed real tears

4. God will lift you up!

Conclusion:

It is your flesh that stands between you and a personal revival. Envy is a symptom that reveals the fact that you have been yielding to that flesh and severing your supply of the power of God in your life. The flesh is rooted in self service and pride. The opposite of that flesh is a spirit of humility, submitting yourself to the will of God in everything. You must take specific actions in order break the grip that your flesh has on you and unleash the life changing power of God both in you and through you.