Daily Devotional For Saturday, May 11, 2024

Well, Super Saturday is finally here and maybe you will be able to catch your breath and even get some things accomplished you wish to do. Yesterday, we talked about how some people underestimate the devil and other overestimate him. Some people do not believe evil exists in a spiritual being while others are quick to blame all suffering and wrong own the devil. When we do not believe such an enemy exists, or can hurt us, we are very vulnerable. America woke up on 911 when we were attacked. We had always assumed with oceans on either side, we would see the threat coming and be able to neutralize it before it got here. That assumption cost us thousands of American lives that day.

The Bible says this in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one” (NLT). The reason I believe the devil exists and is the cause of most of the evil in the world is because Jesus did. The devil loves to remind God how sinful, fallen, and disappointing we are. He loves to remind God how Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was a waste. How do I know that? Revelation 12:10 — Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.*  For the accuser of our brothers and sisters* has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night” (NLT). 

The devil here is given a label — accuser. The Greek New Testament word used here is [katēgōr, kategor]. It means “one who brings accusations against in a trial.” The prophet Zechariah referred to this in Zechariah 3:1, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and satan standing at his right hand to accuse him” (ESV). The devil and his demons loves to go before God and accuse us being worthless sinners that do not deserve His love, grace, forgiveness and mercy. As redeemed believers, there is nothing the devil can slander us with since the blood of Christ covers us. Why does he do this? Pastor and author Chuck Swindoll gives us some insight on this:

"satan hates us. Never forget those three words if you love and follow Christ’s teachings. satan wants nothing more than to sabotage our love for God and for others, to tempt us into a moral catastrophe, and to see us choose a lifestyle of sin rather than a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. When we falter, he stands ready to accuse us before God. When we pass the tests of temptation, he looks beyond that and is already strategizing his next attack. Satan’s hatred of us is relentless.

Most often, his methods are indirect—establishing and fortifying moral pitfalls in the world to lure, snare, and destroy unsuspecting victims. All he has to do is sit back and laugh as people wander headlong into his sinister traps. Sometimes his methods are more direct—bringing made-to-order temptations into our lives to deceive us. The truth is that, if God were to allow it, satan would unleash his entire arsenal against humanity, marching both spiritual and physical armies across the face of the earth to destroy all men, women, and children.

satan’s ultimate evil empire has been spreading its influence for millennia. Masquerading as an attractive angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), satan rarely exposes his demonic empire to the light of truth. But a day is coming when God will remove His restraining power from the earth, and satan will be allowed to run amok for a brief season. Paul writes about this future removal of God’s restraining force in 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8: “And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed”  (NASB). At that time, deception, destruction, and despair will ravage the planet. But even then, Satan’s acts will be those of a desperate villain who knows his time is short” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, “Revelation,” pp. 179-180).

This is probably why former atheists turned Christian apologist C.S. Lewis wrote these words:

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight” (Source: C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, p. 3).

All of this means we must put the devil or satan in his “place.” He is not omnipotent — meaning, the devil is not all-powerful. While that is true, the devil or satan is also not powerless to tempt us and cause us to stumble and sin. The devil wants to establish his own kingdom on this earth so that he can unleash his anger and grudge against God on us. Yet, his attempts are efforts in futility. He will have some success, but for now, God holds him back. The Book of Revelation lets us know that one day God will allow the devil to attack the world with no restraint during the seven years of Tribulation before God crushes him at the coming of Christ during the Millennial Reign of Christ.

Understanding that satan is neither all-powerful nor completely powerless will help us come to terms with the real challenges we face as we do battle with satan’s evil empire in its current form. I say “current form” because it’s important to understand that satan’s ability to unleash his fury on God’s people is limited in the present age. However, one day Satan’s empire will be allowed to strike the world in full force before crumbling at the coming of Christ.

The name devil is not found in the Old Testament, but the figure of satan is specifically mentioned in 1 Chronicles, Job, and Zechariah. Satan is used as a proper name only in 1 Chronicles 21:1, “Then satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel” (ESV).   The Hebrew used here for satan is [שׂטן, satan] and without the article before it, this makes it a proper name. In each book, the satan is presented as an accuser of God’s saints, such as David, Job, and Joshua the High Priest.

The origin of satan as a perfect angel who rebelled against God before creation may be found from a theological reading of Isaiah 14:12–15:

 “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. (13) For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. (14) I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ (15) Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths” (NLT).

The origin of satan and his fall is not directly discussed in the New Testament, but may be alluded to in a few passages: John 8:44, Luke 10:18, 1 Tim 3:6–7, Rev 12:3–4. In the New Testament, the devil’s main objective is to thwart the sovereign plan of God: (Luke 22:31–32 Eph 6:10–12; 1 Pet 5:8; ; Rev 12:10). The Devil is characterized as:

• Ruling over a kingdom Matt 12:24; Luke 11:18; Eph 2:2; Col 1:13).
• blinding the minds of unbelievers (2 Cor 4:4).
• having the power over death (Heb 2:14).
• having the entire world lying in his lap (1 John 5:19).
• being crushed under God’s feet (Rom 16:20).

The devil’s time is short (Rev 12:12), as Christ has defeated him and rendered him powerless through condemning him at the cross (John 12:31; 16:11; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Rev 12:7–9). After Christ’s return and His millennial reign, the Devil will be thrown into the lake of fire, where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Matt 25:41; Rev 20:10).

(You may wonder why I do not capitalize the name of satan. Yes, it is a proper noun but I do not want to give him any honor or respect by capitalizing his name.)

Questions To Consider

1. Why do you think some people underestimate the devil, his demons and their evil in the world?
2. Why do you think some people overestimate he devil, his demons and their evil in the world?
3. What do you do to be prepared for the devil and his demons attacks on you?
4. Do you believe in spiritual warfare? If so, why? If not, why? 
5. Do you just assume that because the devil is already defeated, that he is no threat to you at all? Why or why not?

Scripture To Meditate On: Revelation 20:10, “Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, thank You that the enemy of my soul, the devil, is powerless against Jesus Christ who lives in me. Help me not to underestimate my enemy nor overestimate him. I ask that Your Holy Spirit convict me when I am tempted to give into his evil plans for my so that I sin against You. Since Scripture is what defeats him, convict me to be in Your Word, memorize and use it against him. I asked this in Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! — Pastor Kelly