“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
To “stand” is to hold territory already won by Christ, refusing to surrender it.
“Overcome” – Greek: νικάω (nikaō)
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11).
This is not merely surviving; it is conquering.
Old Testament Concepts
“Evil” – Hebrew: רַע (ra‘)
Broad term meaning moral evil, wickedness, calamity. God’s people are repeatedly commanded to “depart from evil” (Psalm 34:14).
“Stand firm and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13).
This is covenantal loyalty under pressure.
Biblical definition:
Resistance against evil is the covenantal, Spirit-empowered act of standing against sin, Satan, and the world’s corruption—refusing to yield, and actively overcoming through faith and obedience to God’s Word.
2. Old Testament Foundation
The Old Testament lays a strong foundation for understanding resistance against evil as both and .
separation from sin
warfare against God’s enemies
1. The Law: Separation and Obedience
Holiness as separation from evil
“You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2).
Holiness is not only moral purity but separation unto God. Israel was to resist evil by refusing idolatry, injustice, and impurity (Deuteronomy 7:25–26; 18:9–14).
Covenant blessings and curses
Deuteronomy 28 shows that obedience brings blessing, while tolerating evil brings curse. Resistance against evil is woven into the covenant itself.
2. The Prophets: Confronting Sin and Injustice
The prophets resisted evil not only in personal morality but in societal structures:
Isaiah condemned hypocrisy and injustice:
“Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression” (Isaiah 1:16–17).
Jeremiah stood against idolatry and false prophecy (Jeremiah 23:16–22).
Elijah confronted Baal worship and the demonic systems behind it (1 Kings 18). His confrontation on Mount Carmel is a classic picture of spiritual warfare: one prophet against an entire demonic religious structure—yet God answered by fire.
3. Historical Narratives: Standing Firm Under Pressure
Joseph resisted sexual temptation:
“How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). He fled from sin and suffered for righteousness, yet God exalted him.
Daniel and his friends resisted compromise in Babylon:
Refused defiling food (Daniel 1:8).
Refused to bow to the image (Daniel 3).
Refused to stop praying (Daniel 6).
Their resistance was not only moral but spiritual—refusing to bow to demonic powers behind pagan empires.
Nehemiah resisted intimidation and distraction:
“I am doing a great work and I cannot come down” (Nehemiah 6:3). He discerned the enemy’s schemes and stood firm.
In all these, resistance against evil is rooted in covenant loyalty, fear of the Lord, and trust in God’s deliverance.
3. The Fulfillment in Christ
Jesus is the perfect model and fulfillment of resistance against evil. He did not merely teach about resisting; He embodied it and defeated evil at its root.
1. Resistance to Temptation
Immediately after His baptism and anointing with the Spirit, Jesus was led into the wilderness:
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1).
He resisted Satan’s temptations by quoting Scripture and refusing to act independently of the Father’s will.
Each temptation was a shortcut—avoiding the cross, seizing power without suffering—but Jesus stood firm. He used the Word (“It is written…”) as His primary weapon (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10).
2. Authority Over Demons and Disease
Jesus resisted evil not only morally but actively drove it out:
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
He cast out demons with a word (Mark 1:34; Matthew 8:16).
He healed “all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38).
His ministry reveals that sickness, oppression, and demonic bondage are part of the enemy’s works—and that the Kingdom of God confronts and overturns them.
3. The Cross: Cosmic Victory
At the cross, Jesus did more than forgive sins; He disarmed spiritual powers:
“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him [or in the cross]” (Colossians 2:15).
Through death He destroyed “the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).
The cross is the decisive victory. Our resistance today is not trying to win a war that might go either way; it is enforcing a victory already won.
4. The Resurrection and Exaltation
Jesus rose, ascended, and was seated “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion” (Ephesians 1:21). All authority in heaven and on earth is now His (Matthew 28:18).
He then commissioned the Church to go in His authority (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:17–18). Resistance against evil in the New Covenant is done in Christ, from a position of shared authority (Ephesians 2:6).
4. The Power for Today: The Holy Spirit and the Believer
This is critical: resistance against evil in the New Testament is impossible in our own strength. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us.
1. The Indwelling Spirit: Power Over Sin
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
The primary way to resist the flesh is not by gritting your teeth but by walking in the Spirit.
“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
Grace is not permission to sin; it is power over sin.
The Spirit:
Writes God’s law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10).
Produces the fruit of holiness (Galatians 5:22–23).
Empowers us to put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13).
2. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Power for Warfare
Jesus promised:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).
This power (Greek: δύναμις, dynamis) is not just for bold preaching but for confronting spiritual darkness:
Casting out demons (Mark 16:17).
Healing the sick (Mark 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:9).
Discerning spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Speaking Spirit-inspired words that break yokes (1 Corinthians 14:3, 24–25).
The continuationist perspective recognizes that the gifts of the Spirit are still God’s tools for resisting and overturning evil today.
3. The Armor of God: Spiritual Equipment
Ephesians 6:10–18 describes how the Spirit equips us:
Belt of truth – Counteracts deception.
Breastplate of righteousness – Guards the heart from condemnation and compromise.
Shoes of the gospel of peace – Stability and readiness to advance.
Shield of faith – Extinguishes fiery darts: lies, accusations, temptations.
Helmet of salvation – Protects the mind with assurance of salvation and identity in Christ.
Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word (rhema) of God – Spoken Word in the Spirit’s power.
Praying in the Spirit – Constant, Spirit-led intercession.
This is not poetic language; it is a spiritual reality. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to use each piece in real battles.
4. Authority of the Believer
Jesus said:
“Behold, I have given you authority… over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19).
“In my name they will cast out demons” (Mark 16:17).
Authority (Greek: ἐξουσία, exousia) is legal right to act in Jesus’ name. Power (dynamis) is the ability. The Spirit supplies both:
We resist the devil not as beggars, but as ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).
We command demons to leave in Jesus’ name, expecting them to obey (Mark 1:27).
5. Expecting God to Move
Faith is essential:
“Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9).
“This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).
We must:
Expect the Spirit to give timely Scriptures.
Expect gifts of the Spirit to operate in warfare.
Expect God to confirm His Word with signs (Mark 16:20).
Expect real deliverance, real freedom, real transformation.
The Holy Spirit makes resistance against evil supernatural, effective, and victorious.
5. Practical Application: Walking in Resistance Against Evil
Here are five concrete steps for a believer to walk in this truth.
Step 1: Submit Fully to God
James 4:7 gives the order: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Yield every area (habits, relationships, finances, media, secret thoughts) to God.
Renounce any known sin, occult involvement, unforgiveness, or compromise.
Pray something like:
“Lord Jesus, I submit every part of my life to Your Lordship. I renounce all sin, all darkness, and every agreement I’ve made with the enemy. I belong to You alone.”
Submission is the foundation of authority. You cannot effectively resist an enemy you are still secretly agreeing with.
Step 2: Saturate Yourself in the Word
Jesus resisted Satan with “It is written” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). You must know the Word specifically in areas of battle:
If you battle condemnation: learn Romans 8, 1 John 1:9.
If you battle fear: learn Psalm 91, 2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 41:10.
If you battle lust: learn Matthew 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5, Job 31:1.
Practical suggestions:
Memorize key verses related to your struggles.
Speak them aloud when tempted—this is wielding the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17).
Meditate daily; let the Word reprogram your thinking (Romans 12:2).
Step 3: Walk in the Spirit Daily
Galatians 5:16 is a promise: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Begin your day by consciously yielding to the Holy Spirit:
“Holy Spirit, I welcome You. Lead me, fill me, empower me today.”
Pray in the Spirit (in tongues) regularly (1 Corinthians 14:4; Ephesians 6:18). This builds you up spiritually and sharpens your discernment.
Stay sensitive to His checks and promptings. When He warns you about a conversation, a website, a relationship—obey quickly.
Step 4: Use Your Authority in Christ
You are not called to be a passive victim of demonic attack.
When you sense oppression, confusion, or torment, speak out loud in faith:
“In the name of Jesus, I command every unclean spirit of fear/oppression/torment to leave me now. I belong to Jesus. I am covered by His blood.”
Resist temptation by speaking truth:
“I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).
If necessary, seek help from mature, Spirit-filled believers for prayer and deliverance (James 5:16; Mark 6:13).
Expect the enemy to flee—not because of your feelings, but because of the authority of Jesus’ name and the power of His blood (Revelation 12:11).
Step 5: Stay in Fellowship and Light
Isolation makes you vulnerable; fellowship strengthens resistance.
Walk in the light with trusted believers (1 John 1:7). Confess struggles; don’t hide them.
Receive prayer and accountability (Hebrews 3:13; James 5:16).
Stay planted in a Spirit-filled, Bible-honoring church where the gifts of the Spirit operate and the Word is preached without compromise.
The early church “devoted themselves” to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42). This environment is hostile to evil and nurturing to holiness.
6. Key Scriptures and Brief Commentary
1. James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Order is crucial: submission, then resistance, then victory. This is a promise, not a suggestion. The devil will flee from a submitted, resisting believer.
2. 1 Peter 5:8–9
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion… Resist him, firm in your faith…”
We are called to vigilance and resistance, not fear. The key is being “firm in your faith”—anchored in what Christ has done, not in what you feel.
3. Ephesians 6:10–13
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might… that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil… and having done all, to stand firm.”
Our strength is in the Lord, not in self-effort. The armor is God’s own provision. The repeated emphasis is on standing—holding ground Christ has already won.
4. Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Resistance is not only defensive; it is offensive. We defeat evil not just by saying “no” to sin, but by actively doing good—love, generosity, forgiveness, blessing.
5. Galatians 5:16–17
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
The flesh and Spirit are in conflict, but the promise stands: walking in the Spirit is God’s way of overcoming the flesh. This is daily, practical resistance.
6. 1 John 4:4
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
Our confidence in resisting evil is rooted in Who is in us. The indwelling Holy Spirit is greater than any demonic power or worldly pressure.
7. Revelation 12:11
“And they have overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
Three keys to overcoming Satan:
The blood of the Lamb – Christ’s finished work.
The word of our testimony – our spoken agreement with that work.
A laid-down life – no idol of self-preservation.
Conclusion
Resistance against evil is not a grim, uncertain struggle; it is the joyful, Spirit-empowered enforcement of Christ’s victory. Rooted in the Old Testament’s call to holiness, fulfilled in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and applied by the Holy Spirit today, believers are called to stand, resist, and overcome.
As you submit to God, saturate yourself in His Word, walk in the Spirit, use your authority in Christ, and stay in fellowship, you will find that evil does not have the final word. The Kingdom of God advances, and the works of the devil are destroyed—through Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).