Take Your Place (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9)

James 4:7 says, ''Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.''  

1 Peter 5:9 says,''... resist [the devil] steadfast in the faith,..''  

Both of these verses speak of ''resisting'' the devil, but the Greek gives a specific context to this exhortation.

RESIST - The word is used in both verses, with the same meaning. We get the English word ''antihistamine'', ( a drug used to withstand adverse affects in the treatment of allergies) from this Greek word. This is a military term meaning'' to stand against; oppose'' in an active offensive position in battle. The word is not passive, but here it is the ''active imperative'', [Meaning it is an imperative aggressive action].

SUBMIT - To some, this English word may conjure up negative images of oppressive, forced obedience, but this is not the portrayal in the scriptures. Again, this is a military word, meaning literally, ''to rank under'', or ''to arrange under'' in rank. This word is also in the imperative, expressing a note of urgency.  

The word picture presents two images:

1) Being in your place on the military line ranked under your commanding officer.  

2) Remaining in your place as a soldier, not breaking rank or leaving your position.  

FLEE - This word means to run away or escape from something that ''inspires fear'' or ''threatens danger''. [Notice that we are the ones who ''inspire fear'', or "threaten danger'', to the devil, and not the other way around!] Interestingly enough, in secular Greek, this word was used as a legal term, meaning ''to escape prosecution''. In keeping with this understanding, the Latin translation, of this Greek word, is where we get our English word ''fugitive''.  

STEADFAST - The word is used in various contexts, with the meaning of ''solid; firm; strong; immovable''. This word again finds its origins in a military context. Specifically, it portrays a body of heavily armed soldiers in ranks, hooking their individual shields together to form an impenetrable line of force.

FAITH - With the definite article, this points to ownership. In other words, '',,. the faith that you already possess...''. You are not trying to get it, you already have it.

JAMES 4:7 - There is an individual responsibility for us to not only know ''who we are in Christ'', generally, but specifically, what has our commanding officer called us to do? When we individually know our place or position on the line, and we remain in that position, under orders, we are actively standing against the devil, and aggressively taking territory that rightfully belongs to God's kingdom. It is from this perspective, that we ''inspire fear'' and ''threaten danger'' to the devil, and he, as a fugitive from justice flees to escape prosecution, which we administer through the legal dominion of God's word.

1 PETER 5:9 - Just as there is an individual authority, the greatest advancement of the kingdom, is when we corporately ''hook our shields together''; with no one breaking rank, we form an impenetrable force. However, our corporate strength is measured by the necessity of each individual to function in what they have been called to do, and as the word suggests, there is a note of urgency for individuals to function in their calling.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.