The Believer’s Victory Over The Devil
Introduction
1. For Jesus, a holy life brought conflict, and so it does for the Christian (2 Timothy 3:12). And for Jesus, living a holy life brought victory, and so it will for us (1 John 2:13).
2. Jesus draws a parallel between Himself and us in this respect, promising to him who overcomes a right to share His throne (Revelation 3:21).
3. Can believers really overcome Satan?
a. In view of Satan’s cunning and power, even when limited, we are not able to overcome him on our own.
b. Besides, Jesus has already won the victory!
4. Since Jesus has, through His death on the cross, defeated the Devil, the Christian’s victory consists of entering into the victory of Christ and enjoying its benefits. “But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
The focus of this lesson will be on the aids that God has supplied which enable us to overcome the Devil.
I. Can We Win On Our Own?
A. Jesus has indeed defeated the Devil. But we must remember that...
1. The works of the Devil have been made ineffective but not annihilated.
2. Satan has been bound and his power is limited but he is still a cunning, deceitful, and powerful enemy, “seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
B. Though Jesus has defeated the Devil, Christians are warned not to...
1. Seek justification through works of the law (Galatians 5:1-4).
2. Continue in sin that grace may abound (Romans 6:1-14).
3. Continue in sin because we are no longer under law (Romans 6:15-18).
4. Walk according to the flesh (Romans 8:1-17).
II. God’s Provision And Battle Armour
A. Jesus death on the cross has severely weakened the enemy by making all his works ineffectual (Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8).
B. God has placed a limit on Satan’s power and what he is able to do. That God is in control of such things can be seen in the following passages (Job 1:12; 2:6; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; James 4:7; 1 John 5:18)
C. Paul exhorts the believer to, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). It is in the Lord that the believer finds strength to overcome the Devil.
D. Concerning Satan, Paul says we must not be, “Ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Paul now exhorts believers to, “Put on the whole armor of God,” that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil (Ephesians 6:11).
E. Paul now identifies the spiritual enemy with whom we do battle (Ephesians 6:12): principalities, powers, rulers, and spiritual hosts. From this we gather that evil beings are organized into ranks.
F. The believers spiritual armor:
1. Truth - sincerity [NT 225]
2. Righteousness - integrity, just, holy, blameless [NT 1343]
3. The gospel of peace - the good news that God and man have been reconciled through Jesus Christ. “Here is a paradox, the Christian is dressed for war but preaches peace” (Quotes & Things, D. Collins).
4. Faith - conviction, trust.
5. Salvation - the hope of salvation.
6. The word of God - that which God has spoken and revealed in the Scriptures.
7. Prayer - all types of prayer. The time we spend in prayer is often an accurate gauge of our relationship with God.
G. God’s use of Satan for the believers own good! It may sound strange but God can and does use Satan for the spiritual welfare of His people. Let take a look and see how...
1. Job (Job 1:6-22; 2:1-9).
a. God asks Satan if he has considered His servant Job who is described as, “A blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (1:8; 2:3).
b. Satan brings his accusations against Job and God permits him, first, to destroy all that he has and, secondly, to inflict Job with great suffering (1:13-19; 2:7).
c. So how did God use Satan?
1) Hear Job’s own words, “I had heard of thee by hearing of the ear; but now mine eyes seeth thee” (42:5).
2) Here are Homer Hailey’s thoughts on this verse: “God achieved His desire in Job, and Job received what his heart yearned for: a true view of God and complete fellowship with Him. He now had something that could not have been acquired apart from the experience through which he had passed. We may read about or be told a great truth, but until we have experienced its teaching or purport in life we never fully comprehend its fulness. When we have passed through the crucible of experience, we can say with Job, ‘I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear;/But now mine eye [the eye of the heart, of faith, Ephesians 1:18] seeth thee.’ This insight remains one of the greatest blessings and rewards of human suffering.” (From, A Commentary On Job).
III. War, Death, And Glory
A. All believers are engaged in a spiritual war against, “Principalities, powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
B. In all wars there are casualties; and in the war against the forces of evil we need to be prepared to suffer and even die!
1. Satan may cast us into prison (Revelation 2:10).
2. Some may be killed (Revelation 11:7; 13:7; cp. 2:13).
C. The believer who remains faithful, even unto death, is promised a crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:18-39)
Summary
Jesus did indeed win a decisive victory over Satan on the cross but that victory has yet to be consummated at the end of the age; in the mean time, Satan, though his works have been destroyed or made ineffectual, still wields great power and influence over mankind. The descriptions of him as a, “roaring lion,” and a “great dragon,” should alert us to the fact we lack the strength and ability to defeat such a fierce and powerful foe. Thankfully, God has bound Satan, he has placed limits on his abilities to tempt and deceive, yet only those who believe and know the truth, and only those who enter into Christ may share in His victory.
Christians are called upon to put on the gospel armor, to be alert, and to resist the Devil, “and he will flee from you.” This, however, does not mean that Satan will not at times be permitted to, “overcome the saints;” yes, “All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,”and some may be called on to die for His sake. Yet, even in death there is victory because Jesus has promised a crown to all those who endure to the end: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
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