Your Enemy Will Flee

Again this week we feature material from The Promises of God ©1998 by Discipleship Publications International. This week’s post is an excerpt from a chapter by Jimmy Allen who is an elder and evangelist in the Greater Hartford Church.

We have a common enemy that must be overcome. The devil is variously described as the accuser, the adversary, the enemy, an evil spirit, the father of lies, a murderer, the power of darkness, the prince of this world, the ruler of the darkness of this world, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience, the tempter, the god of this world, and the wicked one. Quite a list! He relentlessly attacks the world, the church and individuals. He is a great strategist, liar and cheat. You had better get ready!

In the world, Satan uses numerous tricks. He snatches away the planted Word from peoples’ hearts (Matthew 13:19). He blinds the minds of individuals (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan takes people captive (2 Timothy 2: 26), and so we have numerous addicts to everything from drugs, sports, and television to food, sex and alcohol.

Satan wants you in his devilish host, and he doesn’t care what method it takes to get you there. Loud sinning or quiet sinning—it is not a big deal which way you go. Drug addict or religious pew sitter—he’s got you hook, line and sinker either way. But there is good news. Thankfully, there is hope!

“The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4),” God says to the disciple. That is the precious promise of the Holy Spirit. Those are sweet words of victory. Colossians 1:13 cries out, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” The lion (1 Peter 5:8) had us up the tree and was moving in for the kill. But God walked in and scared the outmatched creature away.

In Revelation, Satan is seen leading “the whole world astray” (Revelation 12:9). However, he is overcome by the blood of the Lamb, hurled down and tied up by the rider of the white horse, our King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 12:9,11; 19:11-21), and his angels. Eventually, the devil (serpent, dragon and beast) is thrown into the lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 20:1-10). That seems like a good finish to me. God gives us a guarantee: If you resist the devil, he will (not might) turn tail and run (James 4:7). What a blessing and what power!!