“5 Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?
6 But He gives more grace. Wherefore He said, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:5-7
It is the Will of God for His Children, those who are Born Again and Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, to possess the entirety of His Promises. The Promises of God are yes and amen to those who are in His perfect Will.
God’s promises are conditional. They are conditional of the Believer’s faith being placed solely and exclusively in the Cross of Christ Jesus, not our works. We are unable to resist the devil and the devil will not flee until we are submitted unto God’s Will.
The Holy Spirit Who dwells in those who have been born of His Spirit (hence the term “Born Again” [John 3:3]), “lusts to envy” those things which hinders our progress with the Lord. He wants to expel that from our hearts if we will give Him latitude to do such. The problem is we hinder Him; we hinder the work of the Holy Spirit when we rely on our will power, intellect, talent or abilities to overcome that which only the power of the Holy Spirit can utterly expel. The weekly motivational speeches given behind many a pulpit propagate such activities and the Believer continues in their own efforts a vain attempt to resist the devil…and to be sure, he will not flee. The devil is not scared of our vain, religious philosophies to overcome him. To be sure, he’s the very author of such nonsense.
“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
If we will allow Jesus Christ to author and finish our faith in WHO He is and WHAT He has done to pay the penalty of sin AND break the power of sin, we give the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which only HE is commissioned to do and can do to break the power of sin in our lives.
The Promises of God are for whosoever will Believe. The condition is we must believe that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him. We must believe that He is able to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory BY Jesus Christ. Jesus IS the Way, the Truth and the Life. It is by and through Jesus and Jesus alone that we are afforded the Promises of God. Look to Him.
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 