APRIL 19

James 4:7-10

SUBMIT TO GOD (I)

Pitted against God is Satan, but one is far more powerful than the other. Against one, we submit; to the other, we resist. Whom do we resist or submit to?
Answer: _______________________________________________

Let’s study two words from today’s text. They are "submit" and "resist".

To submit is to do what God wants. How do we know what God wants? The Bible tells us what God wants us to do. To submit is to obey his Word at all times, even if we get into trouble for it or when others tell us not to obey it.

In the book of Acts, the apostles obeyed the Word even though they were told not to. Peter and John were ordered by the authorities not to preach Christ after healing the crippled beggar. Instead, they replied, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20). They were put into prison. An angel of the Lord set them free. They were again arrested.Yet,they again told the authorities this:"We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

To resist means that we do not do what the devil wants. If the devil prompts you to lie to your teacher, don’t do it. If a friend asks you to keep the $2 note you have found on the ground in the school compound, you bring it to the general office. If you have a chance to peep at your classmate’s answer during an examination, don’t look.

What about Jesus? When He was tempted in the wilderness for 40 nights and days, what did he do?
Answer: __________________ Be like Jesus in resisting Satan.

Thought: Who should we resist and why?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to learn from Jesus that if we submit to You and continue to trust in Your strength, I’d be able to resist the Devil and his many tricks. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. RPG Junior 19