Just after Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1).  Satan tempted Him three times on that occasion, but Jesus overcame them easily (Matthew 4:1-11).  Afterward, the devil left Him until an opportune time (Luke 4:13).  After Satan’s third attempt to cause Jesus to sin, Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan!”  There was no hesitation with Jesus.  He did not even contemplate giving in to the devil.  He simply told him to be gone, or, as we might say today, get lost.

We should take our Lord’s approach when the devil comes knocking on our door.  We should dismiss him immediately and tell him to get lost.  Of course, we cannot have a verbal conversation with the devil, but we can say in our hearts.  The point is our general attitude should be, “Satan, get lost!”  James describes this as resisting the devil (James 4:7).  How can we tell the devil to get lost?  James tells us.

• We can submit ourselves to God (James 4:7).

The Bible Expository Commentary says this about the word submit “It is a military term that means ‘get into your proper rank.’ When a private acts like the general, there is going to be trouble!”  Any area of our lives where we are unwilling to submit to God will be exploited by the devil.  We will find ourselves in a constant battle, wrestling with one temptation after another in those areas of life.  It is much easier to make a decisive decision to submit, determining to obey Him in all areas of our lives, and telling Satan to be gone.

• We can draw near to God (James 4:8).

While there are many ways we can draw near to God, the primary way referred to in the Bible, is through the power of prayer.  

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The Hebrews writer was speaking of prayer.  When the devil attacks, we need God’s help, and prayer is how we seek it. In Hebrews 10:19 we are told to boldly enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus.  The “holiest” is a reference to heaven, of which the holiest place in the temple was a type.  The best way to tell the devil to get lost is to have a consistent prayer life.  Jesus told His apostles, “Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).

• We can repent when we sin (James 4:8).

James said, “Cleanse your hands, you sinners.”  Unlike Jesus, we sin from time to time.  John tells us that if we deny this, we are deceiving ourselves (1 John 1:8-10).  The only question, when we sin, is what are we going to do about it?  The devil has won a battle against us, but it is up to us not to allow him to win the war.  We prevent his total victory by repenting of the sin we commit.  Jesus said, “…unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

If Satan was bold enough to tempt Jesus, we know he is going to tempt us as well.  Let us approach it the same way Jesus did, that is, by telling him to get lost. 

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.