The Believer's Victory Over The Devil

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).