|
"Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may
devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
Every Christian has an enemy. Although unseen by the
natural eye, this adversary is not imaginary nor a
mythological character. Satan, the Devil, is a real
person... a spirit being, with intelligence, tangible
characteristics, and whose incessant goal and ambition
is to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10).
Around the clock the enemy is on the prowl, seeking to
cause mayhem and destruction to all believers and the
work of Jesus Christ throughout the world. With
military-like strategy and ruthless hostility, the devil
aggressively searches for weakness in our faith and
spiritual life, hoping to devour us with deception,
temptation, or oppression. He is the personification of
all that is evil and is the author of every despicable
work.
Regardless of whether you realize it, Satan has targeted
you as a victim. He knows your name and address, your
strengths and weaknesses. Somewhere in the shadows, he
and his forces lurk, waiting, planing for the moment
they will strike when you're caught off-guard. He
desperately hopes that you will, as many Christians,
remain ignorant of his reality so that you'll blame his
assaults on somebody or something else.
His method of operation is almost always "undercover."
Subtly, he manipulates hindering circumstances and
inspires evil thoughts or temptations, disguising his
activities behind the shroud of people or things. He
will always seek to divert attention and blame for his
actions upon others. But make no mistake, he is the real
enemy, not your husband, wife, employer, government or
Christian brethren! "For we do not wrestle against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places"
(Ephesians 6:12).
Satan has no Rightful Authority over Believers!
The good news is that, although the Devil is described
"like" a "roaring lion," in reality he has no actual
authority over believers. He is not really a lion, but
roars "like" a lion would to bluff his victims into fear
and intimidation. Satan is a liar and deceiver and uses
deception as his weapon to gain advantage over those who
are ignorant of the limitations of his power.
When Jesus gave his life on the cross as the sacrifice
for the sins of the world, He also redeemed us from
Satan's power and dominion over us. "Having disarmed
principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of
them, triumphing over them in it" (Col. 2:15). "...For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He
might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).
Praise God! Satan is already a defeated enemy! His legal
authority was neutralized by the finished work of Christ
on the cross.
Every Believer has Authority over Satan!
So if Satan is already defeated, why then is he still
able to cause trouble? Because, even though Christ broke
Satan's legal power, the Lord has left it up to us to
"enforce" the Devil's defeated condition. It's our
responsibility to use the authority that Christ has
given us to put Satan in his place.
As a believer, you need not fear Satan, but realize and
exercise the authority which God has given you over the
Devil. Every person whose name has been recorded in the
"Lamb's Book of Life" (all those who are saved) have
been given authority over the power of the Devil.
"Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents
and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and
nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19).
You have the right to use the authority of the name of
Jesus to repel and drive Satan out of your territory and
to break his grip over spiritual strongholds (2 Cor.
10:4). When you recognize Satan's activity and covert
operations, take authority over him in the name of
Jesus! Just as Jesus and the early apostles did, command
Satan to leave (Mark 16:17).
The Devil hates the name of Jesus and detests an
atmosphere of praise and worship which exalts the name
of Jesus. Christ said, "For where two or three are
gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of
them" (Matt. 18:20). Be assured, the presence of Christ
will expel the presence of Satan. Lifting up Jesus in
praise will send the Devil running
!Slam the Door on the Devil!
The name of Jesus will drive Satan away. But it would be
futile to order Satan's departure if we leave the door
wide open for him to flourish. The Bible tells us to not
"give place" for the Devil (Eph. 4:27). That is, provide
no area of your life where Satan can be comfortable or
establish strongholds.
The enemy can always be found working in those who
entertain sin, disobedience, rebellion or a self-willed
nature. Unforgiveness toward others is another area
which Satan flourishes (2 Cor. 2:11). Furthermore, any
area of your life which is not submitted to God is
considered open territory to the Devil, and he has the
right to bring his expanding influence to those areas.
This is why the scripture says, "...submit to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
The only way to actually resist Satan is to submit
yourself fully to God. This was what Jesus was referring
to when He said, "...the ruler of this world is coming,
and he has nothing in Me" (John 14:30). Jesus had
submitted himself to God, and although the Devil would
try Him, there was nothing for the Devil to use to gain
an advantage.
Rejoice Christian! God is in you, and YOU have been
given power over the Devil! By submitting to God, and
exercising your authority in the name of Jesus, you are
more powerful than the enemy. "...He who is in you is
greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
|
