The Devil Made Me Do It (Part 2)

For we are not ignorant of his [Satan’s] designs.

2 Corinthians 2:11

The devil wants us to pretend that he doesn’t exist. If we attempt to ignore his influence on our lives, he will multiply destruction in our families and communities. (John 10:10) Christians are most effective against the strategies of Satan when we are adequately prepared to deal with him. Our best defense is a great offense of knowledge and faith in God’s word to know the truths and lies.

Lie: Satan is a figment of our imagination and can’t really do us any harm.
Truth: Satan is a formidable foe to believers, and he doesn’t fight fair. (Ephesians 6:12)
Satan is real, and he will do whatever it takes to stop the Gospel from being preached. He knows that he is condemned, and he will attempt to deceive as many people as possible. Christians of all ages, races, and backgrounds are on his target list. He knows that it only takes a few of us to dismantle his plans of destruction. Yet because of Christ, his power has been diminished; and we will always be the victors against him.

Lie: Satan knows everything.
Truth: Satan is limited in his knowledge of the future. (1 Corinthians 2:8)
The devil knows that his days are limited. His action of crucifying Christ resulted in the resurrection and sealed his defeat by empowering believers to overcome him. When we submit to God in prayer, Satan’s kingdom is destroyed; and he knows it (Matthew 16:18).

Lie: Satan has all power over the world.
Truth: Satan has limited power on earth, but no power over God’s people. (1 Peter 5:8)
John wrote that we have overcome the evil one and that the God in us is greater than the devil (1 John 2:13-14, 4:4). While Satan can cause us frustrations and delays in the faith, he is absolutely and completely defeated. His power is limited and is soon to end.

When the devil reminds believers of their past sins, we need to remind him of his future “to be thrown into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night forever.” (Revelation 20:10) It will most certainly happen. We are soldiers of Christ who preach the Gospel until everyone has heard so they can be free from the snares of Satan and death.