This post is Day 23 in a series of studies about “James”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

James – Day 23

We must recognise who the enemy is. It is not a member of your family, neither is it your boss, your neighbour nor your pastor or your priest. Those people who bother you are being used by demons to frustrate believers. James tells us to resist satan and he will flee.

James 5:11

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

The Thought

Perseverance is not one of those things that we like to hear about or have to do, but much of the fourth chapter of James is about persevering, and being patient. There are several challenging verses in that chapter, followed at the beginning of chapter 5 by serious criticism of the rich who have not used their wealth correctly (James 5:1-6).

Then after another farming analogy, James reminds us of Job, known for his patience.

I am always slightly shocked at the fact that satan still has conversations with God (Job 1:6-12), and just in case we are tempted to think that is Old Testament only, we must remember that Jesus himself was tempted by the devil (Luke 2), and later Jesus told Peter that satan had asked to have him too (Luke 22:31)!

We must recognise who the enemy is. It is not a member of your family, neither is it your boss, your neighbour nor your pastor/priest. Those people who bother you are being used by demons to frustrate believers.

James tells us in an earlier verse to resist satan and he will flee (James 4:7). It is up to us to recognise and banish demons from our lives.

Be patient and persevere and you will see God come through for you, as He did for Job, with much more than we could imagine. He is still the Lord full of compassion and mercy.

Action

Read James chapter 4 today and let it speak to you throughout your day.

Praise God that He is the one and only compassionate merciful God.

Ask Jesus to help you resist all demonic attacks.