Steadfast In The Faith

1 Peter 5:8–9
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Resist him, steadfast in the faith…


When I was a teenager, I was taught that if I wanted to resist the devil, I must rebuke him. So whenever an evil thought came to my mind or I was tempted, I found myself saying, “I resist you, devil, in Jesus’ name! I bind you, devil! Go away from me, devil! I rebuke you in Jesus’ name!”

This went on until God showed me one day that though I had “resisted” the devil, I had spent more time talking to him than to God! I was more conscious of the devil than of God throughout the day.

I checked the Word of God and realised that we resist the devil not by focusing on resisting him, but by being established in the faith that we are made right with God through Jesus’ blood, and that we are the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Yes, the devil will continue to remind you of your mistakes, failures and sins. And he will tell you that because of these things, you cannot receive your healing, that something will happen to your family and that you will have to pay for your mistakes. He will accuse you, condemn you and try to persuade your heart to believe that he can do bad things to you.

But the truth is that the devil cannot enforce anything in your life if he cannot persuade your heart. And your heart cannot be persuaded if it is “steadfast in the faith” — established in righteousness. God says that once you are established in righteousness, “You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.” (Isaiah 54:14)

So now that my heart is established in righteousness, I can tell the devil, “Yes, I have all these problems in my life but I’m not guilty in God’s eyes. I’m justified in God’s eyes by faith because of what Christ has done. I’m righteous by Jesus’ blood!” My friend, that’s how you resist the devil and become undevourable!