Many people look at the world and see and experience evil.  Many assume everything they are facing is an act of God.  Don’t be deceived!  God is a giver, not a taker.  Ephesians 2:2 states: “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil–the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.”  We have all seen and experienced the work of Satan in this world.

Temptation is real.  Even Jesus was tempted by Satan, but because He was the son of God and knew the word of God, resisted temptation.  His identity prevented Jesus from giving into the Devil.  We all have this same choice to overcome temptation and the pressures of this world just like Jesus did.  We must respond to evil with the word of God in our mouth to every obstacle and pressure we face. Just speak the truth; arguing with others over what you believe will not get you any where. Others will see through you that following God is truly a better way to live.

There are many forms of evil that we see displayed in our society. It goes back all the way to the Garden of Eden where Satan was present and where evil originated.  We also must remember that the earth is under a curse as well after the fall of Adam.  When you combine these together, it creates a most difficult atmosphere to live where Satan can take advantage easily.

To better understand, we need to hear the words of the Master Jesus Himself and what He says about Satan in John 10:10. Three words are mentioned in this passage.  The first word is steal.  Steal means taking away God’s word from the one who hears it and not from the ones who don’t hear it.  The second word is kill.  This word in the original text means to have a person not active in advancing the kingdom of God because Satan is after the word that a man possess.  The third word is destroy.  This implies that Satan will kill a person at any cost.  When you put these three together, Jesus said the enemy (Satan) wants to take a person down in three stages until he goes to the grave.  In the second part of John 10:10, Jesus came to do the opposite.  He said, “I have come to bring the God kind of life so you can live it to the fullness that was intended.”

Let’s look at Satan’s origin.  We will find Isaiah 14:12-16 says:  “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!  How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low?  You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high:  I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.  But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” Also Ezekiel 28:12-19 describes in details Satan’s beauty and splendor.  God also reminded Satan of his separation that is still to come in the future.

In many different ways we see how God created Satan to serve Him.  Satan was beautiful and the highest angel in Heaven.  Satan’s qualifications were so high that he led worship in Heaven.  Jealous of God’s glory, Satan thought to himself, “I want to overthrow God.”  God was not about to let that happen.  God cast Satan out of Heaven to the earth. That is why Satan is in a rage to do whatever he can to take as many people he can with him by deceiving, confusing, and possessing them.  His ultimate goal is to take as many people with him as possible no matter what the cost is.

In 1 Peter 5:8, it tells us Satan roars like a lion seeking those he may devour.  It’s important that we do not take him likely.  There are more scriptures that affirm his influence.  Satan is called the prince of the air.  Jesus came to destroy every work of the devil.The Bible affirms Jesus’s mission.  The Act 10:38 states: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

While Satan is more powerful than we humans, God promised not leave us defenseless (Ephesians 6:10-11). At the Lord’s rebuke, Satan and his demon’s must flee (Jude 1:9, James 2:19).  Jesus Christ died and He overcame Satan and all of his demons (Colossians 2:15).  We must remember that in the authority of Jesus’s name, only a believer can stand against the devil.  That is why Jesus said you must be born again (John 3:3).  Satan is powerless against those who are born again, but he can confuse them.

We must learn God’s word and continue to learn to use God’s word so we can have the victory. A person saved by Jesus’s death on the cross is guaranteed His protection and salvation.  Those who are not saved, will have to face Satan’s power alone.

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