See also:
[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The devil has sinned from the beginning…
Be sober and self-controlled; be vigilant and watchful, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith…
For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds…
2nd Corinthians 10:3-4, Amplified Bible
Who is the devil*? Should we be frightened of him? Should we just ignore him? Can his demons live within us?
The Devil In the World
What does the Bible tell us about the worldly system we live in?
Christ “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4, NKJV). We need this deliverance because “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1st John 5:19, NASB), and the devil is working in all those who are disobedient (Ephesians 2:2). Those who openly oppose the truth need to “come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2nd Timothy 2:26, NASB). The god of this world works on the minds of those who do not believe to stop them seeing the truth (2nd Corinthians 4:4).
Those around us who are spiritually dead may be influential, powerful, authoritative, religious, wealthy, charitable, likeable and philanthropic, but they are also disobedient, held captive, alienated, blind and by nature “children of wrath” (see Ephesians 2:3). Consider this: to what extent are we influenced by the world’s opinions, practices and philosophies (the way society thinks and its use of knowledge)? In what way are we enticed by an age that’s chained to the powers of darkness?
Our spiritual enemy rules over a world that continually turns its back on the things of God. It’s a godless environment that persistently chases after the minds and affections of God’s people. But God calls us to be spiritually grounded in Him, transformed by the mind of Christ. We must think differently to the world around us. God would have us make sensible choices about our bodies keeping them as clean and healthy as possible, yet sometimes we make no effort to deal with the dirt that can quickly contaminate our minds.
Because it is spiritually dead and controlled by an evil source, the age we live in is saturated with everything that is contrary to the will of God. We must understand that those who don’t know Christ are following the ways of the world “according to the prince of the power of the air”, the evil spirit who inspires disobedience to God. (Consider Ephesians 2.) The world around us is characterised by all manner of godless tendencies that can disrupt a Christian’s relationship with Christ. And those who drift from Him will struggle to lead self-controlled lives.
When Christians are shaped by the ways of the world by allowing them into their minds and lifestyles, they are returning to the devil’s “domain of darkness” they were once rescued from (see Colossians 1:13). We will find nothing satisfying there—there is nothing of eternal value in a spiritually dead world that's ruled by the powers of darkness. Don’t let the world distract you and keep you from pressing on in Christ. This impure world will pass away. We will not.
God’s Word warns us not to cherish the world or the things in the world. If we consider the world precious and desirable we will risk loving it rather than God. Everything in the world’s system is based on the following:
The Devil In the World
What does the Bible tell us about the worldly system we live in?
Christ “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4, NKJV). We need this deliverance because “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1st John 5:19, NASB), and the devil is working in all those who are disobedient (Ephesians 2:2). Those who openly oppose the truth need to “come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2nd Timothy 2:26, NASB). The god of this world works on the minds of those who do not believe to stop them seeing the truth (2nd Corinthians 4:4).
Those around us who are spiritually dead may be influential, powerful, authoritative, religious, wealthy, charitable, likeable and philanthropic, but they are also disobedient, held captive, alienated, blind and by nature “children of wrath” (see Ephesians 2:3). Consider this: to what extent are we influenced by the world’s opinions, practices and philosophies (the way society thinks and its use of knowledge)? In what way are we enticed by an age that’s chained to the powers of darkness?
Our spiritual enemy rules over a world that continually turns its back on the things of God. It’s a godless environment that persistently chases after the minds and affections of God’s people. But God calls us to be spiritually grounded in Him, transformed by the mind of Christ. We must think differently to the world around us. God would have us make sensible choices about our bodies keeping them as clean and healthy as possible, yet sometimes we make no effort to deal with the dirt that can quickly contaminate our minds.
Because it is spiritually dead and controlled by an evil source, the age we live in is saturated with everything that is contrary to the will of God. We must understand that those who don’t know Christ are following the ways of the world “according to the prince of the power of the air”, the evil spirit who inspires disobedience to God. (Consider Ephesians 2.) The world around us is characterised by all manner of godless tendencies that can disrupt a Christian’s relationship with Christ. And those who drift from Him will struggle to lead self-controlled lives.
When Christians are shaped by the ways of the world by allowing them into their minds and lifestyles, they are returning to the devil’s “domain of darkness” they were once rescued from (see Colossians 1:13). We will find nothing satisfying there—there is nothing of eternal value in a spiritually dead world that's ruled by the powers of darkness. Don’t let the world distract you and keep you from pressing on in Christ. This impure world will pass away. We will not.
God’s Word warns us not to cherish the world or the things in the world. If we consider the world precious and desirable we will risk loving it rather than God. Everything in the world’s system is based on the following:
• The passionate desire of the godless, sensual nature;
• The passionate desire of the mind, hungry for all that can be seen;
• The pride of life which has confidence in the ways of man and self and considers them all-important and sufficient.
Nothing in the world’s system comes from God. Nothing. This present evil age is controlled by the spiritual realm of darkness and its passionate desires are passing away, but those who faithfully serve and follow God will remain with Him forever. (Read 1st John 2:15-17.) Make no mistake about it—your spiritual enemy will try to use the world to bring impurity into your life. But our God is entirely pure. It's His intention that you live worthy of your calling. God calls you to purity and to "live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10, NIV).
The subtle yet powerful attraction of the world works on the minds of many Christians until they have too much in common with it. But we can move beyond the world’s influence if we fill our minds with God’s Word and live each day actively abiding in Christ. Believing in God and obeying Him will draw us away from the godless principles that govern and destabilise world affairs. Setting our minds on things above will protect us from harm.
Theodore Austin-Sparks has observed: “The whole course of spiritual experience is progressive detachment from the world and attachment to Christ.”
Jesus said: “They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world. Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth” (John 17:16,17, Amplified Bible). Actively believing God’s revelation to us will protect us from the tireless lure of the world.
Within each believer there are two natures fighting each other: one is spiritual, dedicated to hearing and following God, and the other is carnal, governed by human nature. Our old, fallen nature is dedicated to putting self first, leading us to instinctively connect with the world’s Christless characteristics.
If we are unbalanced in our daily walk with Christ, we will eventually be affected by the corrupted world we live in. If our relationship with Christ falters, the godless ways of the world will affect our thinking and behaviour. But it’s God’s will for us that we should experience His deliverance from the world’s evil influence and control. In fact He has already accomplished this deliverance in Christ. The Gospel is good news indeed!
Every Christian who actively abides in Christ has power and authority over the devil and his world. Jesus said: “All authority [power and rule] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18, NASB). In 1st John we read: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (5:4); “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (4:4, NKJV). “[Christ] gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4 NKJV).
Resisting the Devil
A lack of Christian discipline, and failing to remain daily in Christ, allow the devil a destructive advantage. In Ephesians 6 true believers are told to “Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (v.2, NASB). The devil will gain an advantage if we don’t take the time to walk in the Spirit and follow God’s commands.
James encourages us to “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (4:7, 8, NKJV). Notice that successfully resisting the devil is sandwiched between submitting to God and drawing near to Him. Sadly, some zealous believers want God’s power to overcome before they have learned to submit to His will.
In their book Roaring Lion, Robert and Martha Peterson ask a very important question: “How does Satan gain a foothold in a believer’s life? God does not leave us in the dark. Some of Satan’s stepping stones are ungoverned anger (Ep. 4:26, 27); unforgiving spirit and bitterness (2nd Cor. 2:10,11); lack of sexual self-control (1st Cor. 7:4, 5); pride (1st Tim. 3:6); listening to and obeying Satan’s lies (2nd Cor. 11:3; Acts 5:3); rebellion (Rom. 13:1, 2; Titus 3:1); occult practices, such as astrology, horoscope, witchcraft, seances, ouija board and other occult games (Gal. 4:8-10; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Revelation 21:8); idolatry or idolatrous paraphernalia (Ex. 20:3-5)…”
While drawing an important distinction between possession and oppression they say, “Oppression is a positive outward attack on the human body and mind by evil spirits to annoy and injure” (see Job 2:7; Luke 13:11-16; 2nd Corinthians 12:7). These “evil spirits” are demons and their work against us is outward.
Using the New Testament as our only authoritative source it’s not possible to reach the conclusion that these evil spirits can, in any sense, exist alongside God’s Spirit within those He has redeemed through Christ’s blood. Some who work in so-called deliverance ministries may give their personal preferences and experiences more authority than Scripture warrants. Is it wise to exceed the clear limits imposed by the fullness of Scripture teaching?
In an Old Testament context we shouldn’t draw too many conclusions from Job’s dreadful afflictions. The wandering Adversary was given permission to attack Job and plunder his life. Today our spiritual enemy is subject to the authority of Christ in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Christian’s spiritual battle takes place in that supreme authority.
Those who are secure in Christ and are fully submitted to God by faith can successfully resist the devil, something Job was unable to do. But we must remember that our battle with evil is ongoing. We must be those who are not ignorant of the devil’s strategies against us. He wants to stand in the way of those who are rooted in Christ. He comes aginst the faithful who are moving forward in God’s will. But we can withstand demonic attacks when we are dressed in God’s armour.
Only God’s people can have total victory over Satan and his demons, but “What is needed is a humble and faith-full dependence on the Holy Spirit’s guidance… We must never speak or act as if a slugging match is going on between good and evil on equal terms, and it is touch and go who will win. Sometimes it may appear so, but as Christians we believe that our Lord’s death on Calvary was the decisive battle, sealing Satan’s fate” (Howard Peskett).
The subtle yet powerful attraction of the world works on the minds of many Christians until they have too much in common with it. But we can move beyond the world’s influence if we fill our minds with God’s Word and live each day actively abiding in Christ. Believing in God and obeying Him will draw us away from the godless principles that govern and destabilise world affairs. Setting our minds on things above will protect us from harm.
Theodore Austin-Sparks has observed: “The whole course of spiritual experience is progressive detachment from the world and attachment to Christ.”
Jesus said: “They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world. Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth” (John 17:16,17, Amplified Bible). Actively believing God’s revelation to us will protect us from the tireless lure of the world.
Within each believer there are two natures fighting each other: one is spiritual, dedicated to hearing and following God, and the other is carnal, governed by human nature. Our old, fallen nature is dedicated to putting self first, leading us to instinctively connect with the world’s Christless characteristics.
If we are unbalanced in our daily walk with Christ, we will eventually be affected by the corrupted world we live in. If our relationship with Christ falters, the godless ways of the world will affect our thinking and behaviour. But it’s God’s will for us that we should experience His deliverance from the world’s evil influence and control. In fact He has already accomplished this deliverance in Christ. The Gospel is good news indeed!
Every Christian who actively abides in Christ has power and authority over the devil and his world. Jesus said: “All authority [power and rule] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18, NASB). In 1st John we read: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (5:4); “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (4:4, NKJV). “[Christ] gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4 NKJV).
Resisting the Devil
A lack of Christian discipline, and failing to remain daily in Christ, allow the devil a destructive advantage. In Ephesians 6 true believers are told to “Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (v.2, NASB). The devil will gain an advantage if we don’t take the time to walk in the Spirit and follow God’s commands.
James encourages us to “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (4:7, 8, NKJV). Notice that successfully resisting the devil is sandwiched between submitting to God and drawing near to Him. Sadly, some zealous believers want God’s power to overcome before they have learned to submit to His will.
In their book Roaring Lion, Robert and Martha Peterson ask a very important question: “How does Satan gain a foothold in a believer’s life? God does not leave us in the dark. Some of Satan’s stepping stones are ungoverned anger (Ep. 4:26, 27); unforgiving spirit and bitterness (2nd Cor. 2:10,11); lack of sexual self-control (1st Cor. 7:4, 5); pride (1st Tim. 3:6); listening to and obeying Satan’s lies (2nd Cor. 11:3; Acts 5:3); rebellion (Rom. 13:1, 2; Titus 3:1); occult practices, such as astrology, horoscope, witchcraft, seances, ouija board and other occult games (Gal. 4:8-10; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Revelation 21:8); idolatry or idolatrous paraphernalia (Ex. 20:3-5)…”
While drawing an important distinction between possession and oppression they say, “Oppression is a positive outward attack on the human body and mind by evil spirits to annoy and injure” (see Job 2:7; Luke 13:11-16; 2nd Corinthians 12:7). These “evil spirits” are demons and their work against us is outward.
Using the New Testament as our only authoritative source it’s not possible to reach the conclusion that these evil spirits can, in any sense, exist alongside God’s Spirit within those He has redeemed through Christ’s blood. Some who work in so-called deliverance ministries may give their personal preferences and experiences more authority than Scripture warrants. Is it wise to exceed the clear limits imposed by the fullness of Scripture teaching?
In an Old Testament context we shouldn’t draw too many conclusions from Job’s dreadful afflictions. The wandering Adversary was given permission to attack Job and plunder his life. Today our spiritual enemy is subject to the authority of Christ in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Christian’s spiritual battle takes place in that supreme authority.
Those who are secure in Christ and are fully submitted to God by faith can successfully resist the devil, something Job was unable to do. But we must remember that our battle with evil is ongoing. We must be those who are not ignorant of the devil’s strategies against us. He wants to stand in the way of those who are rooted in Christ. He comes aginst the faithful who are moving forward in God’s will. But we can withstand demonic attacks when we are dressed in God’s armour.
Only God’s people can have total victory over Satan and his demons, but “What is needed is a humble and faith-full dependence on the Holy Spirit’s guidance… We must never speak or act as if a slugging match is going on between good and evil on equal terms, and it is touch and go who will win. Sometimes it may appear so, but as Christians we believe that our Lord’s death on Calvary was the decisive battle, sealing Satan’s fate” (Howard Peskett).
“For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
* In Scripture the enemy of the Church is called "Satan (Hebrew for “accuser”), devil (the Greek translation of Satan), Beliar, Beelzebul, the Adversary, the Dragon, the Enemy, the Serpent, the Tester, and the Wicked One" (Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible). We shouldn’t call Satan “Lucifer”. This error has its source in the 1611 King James Version translation of Isaiah 14:12 where a Hebrew word (הילל) was replaced with a Latin word copied from the Vulgate: “quomodo cecidisti de caelo lucifer qui mane oriebaris corruisti in terram qui vulnerabas gentes.” In Latin lucifer means “morning star” or “day star”. The verse from Isaiah refers to a Babylonian king.
