Satan is a defeated foe

BY Argie Simonis

 

"And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season."

Luke 4:13

In our well-known Bible story about Satan's temptations to Jesus, let us take a closer look at what is happening. Satan attacked Jesus with his only weapon since the time of Adam and Eve: temptation.

So when Jesus resisted his temptations and lies, he had to leave. Notice that Jesus did not tell him to leave. The devil just left because there was nothing else he could do.

"There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1Cor. 10:13

The devil knew that Jesus as his Creator was far superior to him. So when the Lord took human form, he saw it as an opportunity to tempt Him.

It is wrong to give the devil so much credit. He is a defeated foe, a fraud with a very limited space of action. According to the Bible, there are only 3 areas that the devil can tempt us:

"the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life..." 1John 2:16

1- The lust of the flesh = temptation to satisfy hunger by turning stone into bread,

2- the lust of the eyes = temptation to acquire all the glory of the kingdoms of this world by worshiping satan, and

3- the pride of life = temptation to “show off” His power by having the angels come to His rescue.

When we resist the devil, we put on our armor and hold our ground (Ephesians 6:13). The only power he has over us is that he can tempt us, and then he must leave (1 Corinthians 10:13; Galatians 6: 9)

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

Amen?