Anyone can see that the world is getting increasingly into trouble and that things are just going from bad to worse. Bible scholars have been saying for thousands of years that this would be the case at the time of the end: “…there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time” (Dan 12.1).
It’s little wonder, then, that the devil is more desperate in his activities than ever before: “…Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Rev. 12:12).
Although Satan’s power of death was rendered powerless by Jesus at Calvary (Heb. 2:14-15, Matt. 28:18, Col. 2:13-15), he wasn’t defeated for “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Peter warns believers, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Did you notice that Peter says that the devil wants to devour us? This isn’t a little distraction or a tugging at you to go in the wrong direction. This is VICIOUS.
But don’t worry! We have been given an arsenal of weapons against him: “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).Resisting him means that we can’t be passive (See also James 4:7, Eph. 6:11). We need to be fully engaged in warfare using the complete armour of God described in Ephesians 6:10-20.
Our skirmishes with the enemy happen on a regular basis and admittingly, at times these intercepts can seem quite intimidating. Satan, however, is rendered completely powerless the moment we refute him with the power of God’s word, the sword of the Spirit.
Jesus, thank you for not leaving us defenceless. You have given us so many assurances that keep our enemy fleeing from us when we choose to conduct our lives according to your word and speak out your promises against him. Bless us with knowledge and wisdom about our enemy and help us to stand against him with confidence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.