The devil

2/13/10 Luke 4

The devil

I often hear Christian’s blame the devil for things that occur in their lives, from the devil is really attacking me, to the devil does not wanting me to go here or there.   As I reflect on the beginning portion of Luke 4 there are some things that we can learn about the devil. 

1. The devil is real.  I am thankful for anyone who recognizes that the devil is real.  More and more people in our day have a cartoon image of the devil and this often translates into a thought that the devil is nothing more than an evil Santa Clause.  The devil is not some character who is red and has a pitch fork in his hands.  Read (2 Co 11:14)¹⁴No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  He presents himself as an angel and one of light. Light is attractive and our eyes we are drawn to the light, so just because someone say they saw a light that does not immediately mean it is the right kind of light. So be careful how you envision the devil.

2. The devil is a liar.  He will use anything with in his power to influence people away from Jesus. He is the master con artist.

3. The devil knows scripture. In Luke 4:10-11 he is quoting Psalm 91:11-12.  These verses from the Psalms explicitly speak of trust in God and the deception here is to say, “If you really trust God, then He will guard you.”  But Jesus who is the Word of God (Jn 1:1, 14) knows better and responds with Deut 6:16.

4. The devil has dominion. The devil has dominion on this earth and I believe that this is what many Christians are feeling as they blame the devil for all the opposition they feel in their lives. Some Christians are simply battling their own fleshly desire and instead of recognizing it to be from within, it is easier and less incriminating to blame someone else and there is no one better than the devil.  The question must be asked, when we blame the devil for our own fleshly desires are we not imitating him as a deceiver?  The truth is that the devil does have dominion in the world and over the world’s kingdoms, but there are a something’s that we must know about his dominion.

1. He does not have dominion over the Christian.  If you are truly in Christ, Jesus has broken the bondage and slavery of sin (Rom 6:6, Rom 8:1-14). You must live by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16).

2. His dominion is limited him.  This is the truth that resonated with me today.  His dominion has been handed to him.  His dominion is limited to this world and portions of the heavens, but does not include the universe.  The devil’s has received his dominion from someone superior to him.  God Almighty who has created everything and has allowed for a time the devil to have authority, but his dominion will end and God will redeem his creation as we read in Revelation.  Perhaps, although not provable through the scriptures, God is using this world and it’s kingdoms as an object lesson for the devil to show what an utter failure he is as a king and a ruler, and certainly as not even close to being God.