Peter wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Peter chapter 5:
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Peter clearly states the devil is still active even though he was defeated by Jesus in the wilderness and at the cross. Though defeated, he and his demons seek to devour those who are ignorant of their rights to overcome any and all attempts to afflict them in any manner. If evil did not exist, FATHER’S Love and goodness could not be appreciated in comparison.
James wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 4:
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Both disciples were led by THE SPIRIT to write these commands well after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ Our Lord. We are urged to draw near and submit to FATHER so that we are equipped to actively resist the devil. He knows that as we position ourselves close to FATHER, he has no opportunity to overcome us with any of his devices. In both passages we are urged to draw near and humble ourselves before FATHER thus we must not let pride enter in which causes separation from FATHER.
Even when Jesus resisted the devil in the wilderness, it was not a one time permanent departure for Luke 4:13 says “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” This is why we must remain vigilant and sober, keeping FATHER’S Word before us on a daily basis.
The word “resist” is an active verb so we are to actively keep ourselves cleansed and purified as we draw nearer and nearer to Our Heavenly Father. The closer we are to FATHER, the less issues and greater is the peace in our lives. Why settle for less?
There is nothing you and I are dealing with that others haven’t dealt with in the past. As Peter reminds us “knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world.” Neither you nor I suffer alone. As we draw near to FATHER with cleansed and purified hearts, we will be perfected, established, strengthened, and settled thus we will be a waste of time for the adversary to afflict us. There will no longer be an “opportune” time for him. Now is the time to resist the devil.