A Disarmed Enemy

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Some Christ followers become preoccupied with battling Satan. In Christian circles it’s called “Spiritual Warfare.” Yes, I believe in spiritual warfare, but preoccupation with it may deceive us to invest time and energy attempting to do something that Christ has already done for us.

Search the Scriptures diligently and you will not find where any Christ follower is called on to “defeat” Satan. In fact, although it is popular among some, Christ followers have not received a mandate to bind Satan. God has already set the boundaries on Satan’s power—the extent and duration of his freedom. And here, a loud shout out of “Praise the Lord” is appropriate because Christ’s death and resurrection decisively and thoroughly trounced our ancient enemy. Therefore, our primary responsibility is to trust Christ’s victory already attained, and resist him with the overwhelming truth of his defeat.

What then are we to do when we find ourselves in a battle with the master “deceiver?” The best thing I know to do is acknowledge his utter defeat at Calvary and resist him. James, the Lord’s brother, said, “Resist him [Satan] and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Furthermore, God has provided you with a suit of “spiritual armor” that is sufficient to weather any onslaught of Satan (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Dear Christ follower, you have nothing to fear. To fear Satan is to fear a prisoner of war. Apply the power of Christ’s victory in every area of your life and you will be VICTORIOUS!

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in His cross. (Colossians 2:15)