HOW THE DEVIL RAVAGES US

HOW THE DEVIL RAVAGES US

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The secular world scorns the idea of the supernatural, especially the idea of the devil and his demons. However, to refuse to acknowledge this reality is to fall prey to its deceptions.

When we think about how the devil might take charge of our lives, we usually think of involvement with occult or demonic practices. However, there are many other ways that we can open the door to the devil and demonic activity. We make ourselves vulnerable through any sinful practice:

∑       Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:26-30 ESV)

When we sin, we “give…opportunity to the devil.” Paul provided several example of how we open the door to the devil through sinful anger, stealing, and “corrupting talk.” However, any sin sends him an invitation. If we do not repent of sin, Paul argued that we “grieve the Holy Spirit.” When we grieve Him, He withdraws His protection from us, but when we honor the Lord, He honors us. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us:

∑       “Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:7; James 4:8)

When we sin and refuse to repent, our Lord removes His protection. I think that is what Paul meant when he commanded the Corinthian church to hand an unrepentant sexual offender over to Satan:

∑       When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5)

I don’t think that Paul had instructed the church to call Satan into their midst to transact a deal. I think it is more likely that when the Church exercises its authority to bind and loose sins (Matthew 18:18; 16:19; John 20:23), it is declaring the judgment of God. Excommunication is therefore meant to reflect the fact that God too has excommunicated the unrepentant, and this makes him vulnerable to Satan.

It is important to understand that this also represents love, not only to protect that Church against the spread of sin (Galatians 5:9), but also to the sinner so that he might repent and be restored (1 Timothy 1:18-19).

How do we resist Satan? First of all, it is important to understand how he is able to take us captive. Primarily, it is through deception, taking advantage of our “own evil desires”:

∑       Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (James 1:13-14)

He deceives us by appealing to our desires (Genesis 3:1-9), not by implanting his own desires. The devil didn’t instill Eve with the desire to be like God. Instead, he appealed to her desire. Just take a look at his hubris – he even tried to deceive Jesus by saying, “If you are the Son of God” (Matthew 4:3, 5). Paul therefore warned that the devil could even pose as a caring friend:

∑       …Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness… (2 Corinthians 11:14-15; Romans 7:11; 1 John 5:19-20)

By deceiving us, he is able to lead us into sin, and sin hardens our conscience so that we can no longer see properly:

∑       And even if our gospel is veiled [by Satan], it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; John 3:19-20) 

What will free us from Satan’s deceptions? The “Light of the Gospel”:

∑       For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

This is not just a matter of book-learning. Instead, this primarily requires God to open our minds through His Word:

∑       And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26; 1 John 5:20; John 17:26)

The “knowledge of the truth” is available to all, but we have hardened our heart against it. Therefore, God has to grant us a repentant heart so that we can apprehend the truth, which we had long rejected. This is why the deliverance ministry is not enough. Jesus explained that unless our minds are fortified against the deceptions of the enemy, we will again be taken captive by Satan (Matthew 12:43-45).

However, if we are willing, God is able to guide us away from deception. As a young Christian, I met a beautiful young woman in the midst of a divorce. We knew enough to know that we shouldn’t get involved, but we were very attracted to each other. However, we decided to just be friends. We saw each other again and decided that we could handle the attraction.

Nevertheless, I began to experience something that I had never experienced before. I felt that my prayers were hitting the celling and would go no further. No matter what I’d do, this uncomfortable awareness remained. I told a friend about it, and she immediately told me to stay completely away from this young lady. “Perhaps she is right,” I thought and began to consider breaking off our “friendship.” Immediately, my sense of alienation from God disappeared!!

Our Lord guides us, but do not become presumptuous and forsake His Word because of this. On this occasion, the Lord graciously condescended to help me in my naiveté. However, He requires us to be on-guard against satanic deception through His Word, and if we refuse to cloth ourselves with His armor, we will be vulnerable.

New York School of the Bible: http://www.cbcnyc.org/nysb