Join Me On the Journey

I’d like to take a few minutes today to talk with you about the devil.

Now, there is a lot of incorrect teaching in the church today concerning Satan. There are some who would discount the existence of the devil, but the Bible clearly says that there is a devil. There are close to 100 references to Satan and the devil in the New Testament.

On the other hand, I would say that most Christians who acknowledge the existence of the devil ascribe him more power than he truly possesses. Satan does not have power to cause a person to sin.

A few of you may remember a comedian named Flip Wilson. (I’m dating myself here.) He created a character named Geraldine and her famous line was, “the devil made me do it.” Though it was meant for entertainment, the truth is, there are many people, non-Christians and Christians, who believe that. Oh, they may not say it out loud, but in their heart, they believe sometimes you just can’t help yourself; the temptation is too great.

Well, I’m here to tell you, the devil can’t make you do anything. Satan’s only power is to deceive.

You see, when Christ died on the cross, He descended into hell and defeated Satan for all eternity. I love this passage in Colossians 2:13-15.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (KJV)

The phrase principalities and powers refers to demonic powers and by extension the devil. Paul tells us that these principalities and powers were spoiled by Christ. The word spoiled here means “ to strip a person or place of goods and valuables; to plunder; pillage; despoil.” Satan and his demons have been spoiled.

The second half of that phrase is even more powerful. Not only did Christ spoil the devil and his demons, “He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them…” When you study this out in the Greek, this is referring to the Roman custom of capturing the enemy king or general during a battle and parading him in front of the Roman citizens. The king would be stripped naked and pulled or dragged behind a chariot so that all the citizens would see he had been totally defeated.

Another scripture that spells this out clearly is Heb 2:14b-15.

…that through death [Christ] might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death [that’s us] were all their lifetime subject to bondage. KJV

So, we see that the devil is a defeated foe. Christ defeated him and we receive the benefit of His triumph.

However, we must admit, Satan does still have influence in our lives today. Why is that?

Well, I believe it is because we missed the parade. We don’t truly understand that Satan has already been defeated and that his only power is to deceive.

Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” The word wiles means “a trick or strategy intended to entice or deceive; a scheme.” (from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

A few days ago, I asked the question: what are the “fiery darts of the evil one?” Now we can see that the only thing Satan has to throw at us is deception. By taking up the shield of faith; by understanding those things that Christ obtained for us by His death on the cross, we are able to extinguish those fiery darts that the devil throws our way.

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