Continually study God’s Word.
If you’re ready to resist satan and find freedom from spiritual bondage, your greatest need is to study God’s Word continually. Meditate upon the Bible day and night to put on God’s whole armor that you may be able to overcome the forces of evil effectively. Jesus answered the enemy with the Word of God (Luke 4:1-13). You have the power to do the same.
Praying God’s Word is a powerful weapon against the forces of evil. It is the truth going out. It reminds us that God knows our way and understands what we face today.
Know the truth and practice it.
Knowing the truth and continue practicing it is the key to freedom from satan. Unless we see the truth and apply it, the knowledge we possess is useless and worthless as it accomplishes absolutely nothing in us. Knowing that medicine will cure you of some illness is virtually empty if not taken or swallowed: Truth must be learned and applied. The key is not to make learning the supreme objective but living the truth, the supreme goal. Those who fail to walk in faith do not enjoy the freedom they have in Christ; instead, they remain enslaved to their sinful desires. It’s important to remember that Jesus set us free from the bondage of sin and death.
Minster the Word.
Spiritual liberation comes through the ministry of the Word into people’s lives. Jesus declared this reality: “You are truly my disciples if you abide in My Word, and you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). The keyword here is “abide.”
In this verse, Jesus tells His followers precisely in what discipleship consists, abiding in His Word. Jesus said He is the truth and the life. When people consistently ingest the Word of God into their lives, it goes to work effectively in their hearts, liberating them from bounding them.
Renounce.
To “renounce” means to “give up, refuse or resign by formal declaration.” Whereas repenting is directed towards God, renouncing is directed towards the enemy. We are revoking any words that contradict God’s Word. We are making a formal declaration that will no longer align ourselves with things that oppose God. We are canceling any agreements with the enemy. We must shut the door on the devil, refusing to walk in the ways of the past. Renouncing is how we cut off any right for satan to bind us or torment us. This is the way we resist them.
Pray without ceasing.
Paul’s command in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray without ceasing,” can be confusing. It can’t mean we are to be in a head-bowed, eyes-closed posture all day long. Paul is not referring to non-stop talking, but rather an attitude of God-consciousness and God-surrender that we carry with us all the time. Every waking moment is to be lived in an awareness that God is with us and that He is actively involved and engaged in our thoughts and actions. When our thoughts turn to worry, fear, discouragement, and anger, we consciously and quickly turn every idea to prayer and every prayer into thanksgiving.
Humble yourself before God.
One thing that disconnects many believers from God is pride. It makes us vulnerable to satan’s attacks. Since pride was the devil’s downfall, he also wants it to be ours. He will do everything in his power to use it in his warfare against us. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” Yet, James teaches us the opposite. One great reminder from James is “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Therefore, it’s so important to humble ourselves before God. Those who put the world first don’t think sin is a big deal. As a result, satan can play a significant role in their daily lives. This is why we are encouraged to take sin seriously and kneel before God.
Stand in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus calls us to stand in the Holy Spirit’s power, from whom we receive all that we need to reject satan and the ways of the world. James 4:4-10 calls believers to “resist the devil,” promising that, when we do, “he will flee from us.” This is why it’s crucial that we led by the Holy Spirit as we fight the fight of faith against the devil. Experiencing the Holy Spirit is a privilege given to those who place their trust in Jesus Christ. Once you accept Jesus Christ in your heart, you will receive it. With this privilege comes great responsibility. With the Holy Spirit guiding us, we must seek earnestly to remove ourselves from a context of sin and obey God’s commands. Our thoughts and our actions should build up the Kingdom of God.
Repent.
Repent means being “re-penitent” or “again humble.” One who is penitent expresses humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses. To repent means to come back to that place of humility and sorrow over sin. We are coming back to the One who grants forgiveness. We are not trying something new. We are reaffirming our need for the Savior, deliverer, and redeemer: Jesus. If there is no repentance, we will continue to walk in darkness, deceived by the enemy. If we continue to be deceived, we remain in bondage.
