Text: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
1 Peter 5:8-9.
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man/woman truth with his neighbour; for we are members one of another (believers). Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place unto the Devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)
Many of my regular Christian readers will have noticed that I try to write a capital D when I make mention of the Devil. I do that for a reason: the Devil is so subtle an enemy that he insinuates himself into every aspect of our lives, if we but relax our vigilance. Therefore, even in my writing about this foul being, this sly and subtle snake - I put a capital D on the word, to enable me to keep an eye on this foul tempter. The Devil is well worth the watching!
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against Spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day…” (Ephesians 6:10-13)
Hear what the great Puritan, William Gurnall (1616-1679) says in his wonderful book The Christian In Complete Armour:
“The Nature of Evil Spirits (’spiritual wickedness’) The inherent nature of the devils themselves, as well as the character of their works, is included in the description, ’spiritual wickedness’.
“A literal rendering of the passage reads, ’against the spirituals of wickedness’…the passage also refers not only to the spiritual nature of devils but also - in fact, chiefly - to the nature and kind of sins they perpetrate. These sins are the apples of temptation which they most often use to poison the saints. Such sins are the ’spirituals of wickedness‘. Not gross, fleshy sins which ignorant sinners, like swine, wallow in - but spiritual sins, which are much more subtle and perhaps even more despicable.” (The Christian In Complete Armour, Banner of Truth Trust, P.O. Box 621, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013, U.S.A. p.186-187)
The Lord Jesus, in today’s two-verse Bible reading, refers to the Devil as ‘…the prince of this world…’ (V.30); and the Lord knows and has revealed to us, that this is the exact identity of this foul angel. The Devil, Satan, that old Serpent - is a prince among his disobedient angels; a deadly and ruthless foe against the very souls of mankind. Christian, be vigilant!
But, praise God, we KNOW the Devil’s eventual fate! We Bible-believing Christians have read the end of God’s Book! Hallelujah!
“And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil (capital letter!), and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:1-3)
“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison (the bottomless pit), and shall go to deceive the nations (the rebellious against Christ)…and fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them. And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:7-10)
That old Serpent, Satan, the Devil is an Eternally defeated foe! Fear him not! We vigilant Christians are protected under the Blood of the Lamb!
“…Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you…Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” (James 4:7-10)
Thought: Oh yes, there is a literal Devil - Christ
teaches this fact - but Christ has defeated him once and for all time at the
Cross of
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