What Jesus said about ... (series)

 

What Jesus said about ... the devil.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

Let us make one thing clear. The devil exists all right. He is not a euphemism for "evil". He exists and is a malevolent spirit. We cannot possibly believe in God and not believe in the devil. But he is cunning in camouflaging his existence from a sophisticated modern world which does not know what to believe any more. Satan and his demons are roaming free throughout the world causing trouble everywhere they go; but, (this is important), they do so within strict limitations by God.

The devil tried to tempt Jesus, (Matthew 4:1-11), so we should not be much of a challenge to him. Jesus cast out Satan from many people who were possessed by the devil and his followers. Jesus was accused of having the power of the devil in casting out demons.

In Matthew 12:22 we read as follows: 

“A blind and mute man possessed by a demon was brought to Jesus and He healed him, He drove the demon out of him.

“When the Pharisees saw this, they said, ‘Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.’ In other words, they accused Jesus of being one of Satan’s demons.

“Jesus replied that a kingdom divided against itself would fall, and every city or house divided against itself would also fall, so how could it be possible that Satan would drive out demons out of a man? Surely his kingdom would also fall.

“Then Jesus adds, ‘If I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive out demons?”

And on another occasion, when seventy-two of Christ's disciples reported "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven." Luke 10:18.

In referencing Satan’s fall from Heaven, Jesus was quoting Isaiah 14:12, “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!” 

The fall of Satan that Jesus saw happened after Lucifer’s sin, before Adam and Eve’s temptation in the Garden of Eden. In his pride, Lucifer had lifted himself up, but God had cast him down out of his original place in heaven. Jesus’ statement in Luke 10:18 speaks of Jesus’ pre-existence and the Lord’s defeat over the power of Satan in a general sense. 

In summary:

The devil, (Satan), exists. He is a spirit who is intent in derailing us away from God through temptations and lies. He knows our weaknesses and plays with our minds when we least expect it. His greatest trick is to lead us to believe that he does not exist, He is a liar. The best way to stand up to him is through prayers.

"Get behind me, Satan!" Matthew 16:23

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