A Protestant denomination is proposing a new liturgy for christenings. The old ceremony asked parents and godparents two questions: “Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?” and “Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbor?” The new liturgy summarizes both in one question: “Do you reject evil, in all its many forms and all its empty promises?”
The absence of “the devil” would have bothered C. S. Lewis. The well-known author wrote The Screwtape Letters to alert Christians to the reality of Satan. The demon Screwtape encourages his nephew to keep his human subject skeptical of his existence. “If any faint suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, suggest to him a picture of something in red tights, and persuade him that since he cannot believe in that . . . he therefore cannot believe in you.”
Rather than downplay Satan’s existence, it’s good to remember two facts:
• Satan is our “great enemy” (1 Peter 5:8). John symbolically describes him as “a large red dragon” whose “tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky” and who tried to kill Jesus from the moment He was born (Revelation 12:3-4). No creature is more powerful or full of hate.
• Satan is not stronger than Jesus. Jesus destroyed Satan and his power when He died and rose again (Colossians 2:15). The serpent that accuses us before God has been kicked out of heaven. He’s been defeated “by the blood of the Lamb” and will soon be “thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 12:11, 20:10).
Don’t be intimidated by the devil’s roar (1 Peter 5:8). Use his every growl as an excuse to rush into Jesus’ arms. Satan is real, but he can’t touch you there.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 1:19-34
More:
Read Daniel 10:1–11:1 to learn about the unseen battles in the spirit world.
Next:
Are you tempted more to overstate or to minimize the threat of Satan? How can you believe in his existence without cowering in fear?
Gary Shultz on June 16, 2015 at 6:10 am
This is controversial, which why it is good to focus on the subject. I really wonder what is meant when some folks ask to bind Satan? There is a lot of unusual requests and statements about Satan. It seems to me Satan does posses great power; however, he is not anywhere close to the attributes of his Creator. Saying that, Satan has a purpose, he is evil, and is a liar, murderer and so forth. Is he as an individual spirit interested in me directly? Do I really warrant his direct attention? I seriously doubt it, he has bigger fish to fry. Although the influence of that evil pulls on me each day. The choice is to go with God each day is the bigger and best goal for the soul. Thanks, this is good stuff.
praise the lord on June 16, 2015 at 3:20 pm
God created man and woman in perfection. It is hard to ignore satan because of him man and woman sinned. Genesis 3:14-15 God cursed satan and also gave us a promise of a redeemer. In Luke 4:1-13 Satan was in the desert to tempt Jesus. Satan twisted the word with Adam and Eve. He twisted it with Jesus but Jesus used the word to do battle with satan. Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. This is how Jesus taught us to prayer. Through the death, resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit we are empowered to be victorious over sin. That is why I do not have to cower in fear. Paul tells us how to do battle with the enemy.
Ephesians 6:12-17 Paul was speaking to all the Ephesians. We are all tempted and we are not perfect and we can still sin. That is why we have to put on the armor of God.
Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus commissioned us to bring others to Him. We know the outcome if they do not accept Jesus. Is that what we want for others?
When I first came to know the Lord, in a conversation satan was mentioned and the other person laughed and said, “Oh, am I supposed to believe in someone in a red suit with horns and a tail.” My response was, “no but he does exist.” I was not equipped to give any other answer than that. In Isaiah 44 :26 Who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers…….
He confirmed the message because a few days later this person read an article in the newspaper about the police investigating a satanic death. The reality hit that there really was a devil. My focus I want it on Jesus but I want to be aware of the enemies tactics and how to battle. When soldiers go to war they are equipped to battle and they don’t just do nothing or they will be dead or seriously wounded.