Christian Devotionals

Satan Is Defeated (1)
'...the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.' 1 John 3:8 NKJV

Have you ever watched one of those TV shows where the police show up, surprise the criminal and say, 'You're busted,' then put them in handcuffs and take them off to jail? That's what Jesus did to Satan. This word 'destroy' implies 'to come un-glued,' or 'to fall apart'. Imagine the mortar crumbling and the wall coming down, or the spool running out of thread so that when the garment is picked up it falls apart. On what basis would you like to fight Satan? By the power of your own intellect, or by the power of God's Word? By your own will, or by knowing God's will, standing on it and enforcing its terms? Ever turn on the lights in a dark room and watch cockroaches run for cover? You didn't do anything, you just turned on the light! Every wall Satan builds to keep you locked in crumbles when exposed to the light of God's Word. Satan's act literally comes un-glued. And it happens fast, because light travels at over 299,000 kilometres per second. Satan's greatest weapon is your ignorance of God's Word. That's why he will fight you over Bible reading more than most other things. Jesus said, 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' (John 8:32 NIV) The truth itself doesn't set you free; it's 'knowing' the truth, standing on it in times of trouble and trusting God to do what He has said, that empowers you not only to survive Satan's attacks, but to triumph over him.

Satan Is Defeated (2)
'You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' John 8:32 NKJV

Satan is a deceiver, but Jesus is a revealer. So any time you bring Jesus into the situation, Satan is unmasked and his plans for your life are exposed and foiled. Satan is referred to in Scripture as 'darkness' and Jesus as 'light'. (Acts 26:18) The moment the light moves in, the darkness has to move out. So your first priority is not to conquer Satan, but to move closer to Jesus; to line up your will and your word with His will and His Word. Instead of just lying down, taking it, and saying, 'I guess there's nothing I can do about this,' rise up in faith and say, 'Satan, it is written...' Faced with a level of temptation none of us will ever be exposed to, that's what Jesus did to Satan in the wilderness. The Bible says, 'Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.' (Matthew 4:11 NKJV)

In recent years we've witnessed bankers and brokers take people's money, lose it, then later come back and say, 'Here's another good plan; invest in it.' But now we know better, don't we? We no longer believe an investment is good just because somebody says so. Don't miss the spiritual analogy here. When you know the truth of God's Word and you use it as a weapon, Satan's walls crumble, his plans for you come un-glued, and his schemes fall apart. When you understand who you are 'in Christ', you are more than a match for the devil and he can no longer control your life.

Satan Is Defeated (3)
'...He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.' Hebrews 2:15 NLT

For many of us, death is our greatest fear. One comedian quipped, 'I don't mind dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens!' But we can't joke away the sobering reality the Bible describes as 'the last enemy'. So what's the answer? Jesus! '...only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.' (Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT) Until Jesus came, Satan used the threat of death. Until then we all lived in fear of it. But because of the resurrection, all Satan has left are the lies he can tell about death. The word 'destroy' implies 'to reduce to zero' (1 John 3:8). Wow! By His death and resurrection, Jesus reduced Satan's power to zero. And today Jesus says to you, '...Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.' (Revelation 1:17-18 NKJV) After destroying the prison of death, Jesus came out and said to Satan the jailer, 'I'll take those keys,' then He went back to Heaven.

We grieve the loss of a loved one, and that's a healthy thing to do. But you can handle the grief when you know you can live through it, and that you'll be reunited in Heaven with your loved ones. So even in death, we win and Satan loses.

Satan Is Defeated (4)
'...He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them.' Colossians 2:15 NKJV

Standing on the deck of a US aircraft carrier at the end of the Pacific war, in an historic moment never to be forgotten, General MacArthur walked over to Tojo, the Japanese leader, and publicly stripped him of all his symbols of power. And that's what Jesus did for you at the cross. 'Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them.' First, Tojo wanted peaceful coexistence, then compromise, then concessions. But he got none, because he was powerless. In a card game an opponent with an empty hand will try to bluff and bully you. But when you know you have a winning hand you can face him down, because knowledge is power. And your power over Satan comes from knowing that he's a defeated foe. He was once known as the anointed cherub, but now Christ is the Anointed One. He was once known as an angel of light, but now Christ is the Light of the World. He was once known as the morning star, but now Christ is the Bright and Morning Star. He was once a heavenly worshipper, but now Jesus says, 'In the presence of the congregation, I will sing Your praises.' (Hebrews 2:12 NIV) He was once known as one of the sons of God, but now Jesus declares, 'I am the Son of God.' Satan is called the prince of this world, but Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Satan is called a roaring lion, but Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has prevailed over him (Revelation 5:5). Rejoice, Satan is defeated!

Satan Is Defeated (5)
'The serpent...asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat?"..."Of course we may..."' Genesis 3:1-2 NLT

The only power Satan has over you is the power of persuasion. 'The serpent...asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat?"..."Of course we may"... "You won't die...God knows that your eyes will be opened...and you will be like God"...The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some...Then she gave some to her husband...At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame...When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" He replied, "I heard You walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked."' (Genesis 3:1-10 NLT) Never forget that story! And keep this in mind also: Satan is a talker, and you'll never out-talk him. The power of persuasion is an incredible thing. The fashion industry can persuade you to take a wardrobe you paid a small fortune for last year, and replace it with what they're selling now. Clothes you felt good about then, you don't even want to be seen in now. The trouble is, in a few years' time the clothes you wore last year will be back in fashion; you'll be poor, and the fashion moguls will be rich. Temptation is all about persuasion. But if Christ has already persuaded you, Satan can't make you do anything.