This is definitely one of those entries you should pour a cup of coffee for and set aside a moment to read. It’s a little lengthy :) I do feel like God has placed this on my heart to share with you all and has revealed a lot to me as I started digging deeper for more clarity and answers.
Last week, during Life Group, we discussed the power of the devil in our own actions and our thought life. As we discussed, something was just not setting well, but I couldn’t put it into words. I believe I said, “We just need to be careful not to limit God” and that was it. Sometimes, especially lately, there will be something that just doesn't set well within me, but I can't put a finger on why. Since that night I have been reading and researching, trying to gather the thoughts I feel like the Holy Spirit was stirring.
As I was working out last week, I was praying, and I heard God tell me, “We are supposed to speak the power of the word of God out loud. By continually placing so much blame and giving so much credit to the devil we are speaking out the power of the devil and not of God.” I sat there for a second just to digest this idea and how this plays out in my own life. This revelation from God started my journey of reading more about the devil, his influence, and so on.
One of the first items I came across is how God carries the divine attributes of being omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (He is present everywhere). The devil doesn't have these divine attributes and while God can be everywhere at once Satan can only be one place at a time. Thus, being one way or reason his demons are used. However, according to Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, “The power of the demons is limited. After rebelling against God they do not have the power they had when they were angels, for sin is a weakening and destructive influence. The power of demons, though significant, is therefore probably less than the power of the angels.”
Our universe was upheld and created by the Word of God (John 1:3, Hebrews 1:3). Therefore, hell must break the power of the Word of God if it wants to win. This is why we find ourselves fighting an enemy that constantly seeks to alter our perception of reality. However, “the Word came to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). “The Word” is Jesus. The devil and his stronghold over believers was absolutely destroyed with the cross. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15). “‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
All of this being said, the devil and his demons definitely influence and help to cause destruction in our lives. Wayne Grudem goes on to say, “Not all sin is caused by Satan or demons, nor is the major influence or cause of sin demonic activity, but demonic activity is probably a factor in almost all sin and almost all destructive activity that opposes the work of God in the world today. In the lives of Christians, the emphasis of the New Testament is not on the influence of demons but on the sin that remains in the believer’s life. Nevertheless, we should recognize that sinning (even by Christians) does give a foothold for some kind of demonic influence in our lives. Thus Paul could say, “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26). In order to not give the devil “opportunity” we need to rebuke Him with the word of God and often times very directly.
For example by saying, “Spirit of fear, in Jesus’ name, I command you, go away from here and don’t return”, we are rebuking any evilness that may be working on influencing us. When, Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he repeatedly quoted scripture in response. We need to remind ourselves of the truths in Scripture, which tell us, “You are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4) and “God, did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of POWER and LOVE and SELF-CONTROL” (2 Timothy 1:7). This is what I feel like God was telling me that day when I was working out. Yes, we need to recognize that there is a spiritual war going on around us, but even more than that we need to recognize the power of God and speak it. While the devil is to blame for many temptations and influences in our lives He is not to blame for all of them. Instead of speaking the power of the devil too often we need to speak out and put on the armor of God.
In Ephesians 6:10-17 it says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 it says, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to DEMOLISH strongholds.”
Further emphasis on the power of God is seen in Jude 6 when it says, “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” He has the power to bind the demons. Nothing happens to us that doesn’t go through the hands of God first. That being said, when I am afflicted by something, I try to remember that God is also allowing it. What I am currently experiencing, God could be using to refine me into the person He wants me to be, ultimately bringing Him glory. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3).
All of these thoughts, quotes, and scriptures are not to say that Satan is not incredibly powerful and that his demons don’t try to influence our lives. This definitely happens every day, each moment. However, instead, it is to say that “for He who is IN you is GREATER than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). It’s important to recognize the power of Satan, but also to know that we must “submit to God and resist the devil” and by doing so “he will flee from you” (James 4:7). To submit to God and resist the devil we must remember and speak out the power of the Word and believe it.
Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California says, “The devil was soundly defeated at the cross of Calvary. Colossians 2:15, speaking of what Jesus accomplished at the cross, says, ‘Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.’ At Calvary, the devil lost his foothold and stranglehold on the life of the human race. This means that each of us can be set free by the power of Jesus Christ.” I LOVE this. This is where our main focus and hope needs to be found. Although we need to recognize the power of the devil, we also know how it does not even compare to the power of God and His omnipotent and omniscient will for our lives. Instead of proclaiming the power of the devil SHOUT OUT the praises and the power of the one who already defeated him.
No comments:
Post a Comment