Posted on 08/03/2022 4:23:55 AM PDT by metmom
“And He said to them, ‘Go!’ And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters” (Matthew 8:32).
Our Lord Jesus will always have the upper hand over demonic forces. But we should never forget that demons, as fallen angels, still possess tremendous power and strength (cf. Dan. 10:21; Rev. 12:4). For example, when God sent an angel with a message for Daniel, a demon named “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” delayed the angel for three weeks, and God had to send Michael the archangel to help the other divine messenger (Dan. 10:13).
Wicked angels are superior to humans in many ways: intelligence (Ezek. 28:3–4), strength (Mark 5:4; Acts 19:16), powers to do “signs and false wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9), and in experience (having existed much longer than mankind). As spirit beings, they are not bound by time, space, or form. Thus only Christ has sufficient power to bruise Satan’s head and cast him and his forces into the lake of fire and brimstone forever (Rev. 20:3, 10). It required tremendous supernatural power to expel so many demons from the two men and into the pigs, yet He accomplished the feat in an instant.
Knowing all this, we as God’s children must remember that only with His armor, especially the shield of faith, can we withstand attacks from demons (Eph. 6:16) and be victorious over their schemes.
Ask Yourself
How have you been taught to deal with the forces of darkness and evil? By taking them on in direct spiritual confrontation? By ignoring them or acting as if they don’t exist? Let Jesus be your total confidence in all such matters of warfare.
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.
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Studying God’s Word ping
Good post.
And it’s good to remember to never let your guard down once you’re free from their influence because, if you do they will certainly return and will be more wicked than when they left.
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Matthew 12:43-45
English Standard Version
Return of an Unclean Spirit
43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”
When I pray I ask in Jesus Christ’s name for satan and his followers to flee in HIS name . Everyday I give my thanks for all of the protection and blessings God has bestowed upon me (a sinner) and I simply give thanks and pray for the continuance of his blessings. Evil is real and can wear a person down if allowed to fester, ask God for guidance and pray and he will be there as always. Glory to God and his love.
Here’s an over 2-hour long video of prayer against demonic attack I play often. It’s very helpful.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MB0RQQoJIJ0&t=3698s
WADR.....The examples given, while from our Lord, they were all pre-Calvary. In James 4:7 the Lord’s (half) brother said, “(You) resist the devil and he’ll flee from you.” While Christ was in hades He stripped satan of all power or authority. Satan now has only the use of bluff, tricks and lies. He can play on our human emotions and entice us to react unwisely. But neither he nor any of his imps any longer have any actual POWER over a Spirit-filled Believer.
The resist the devil passage comes after the “Submit yourselves therefore to God” part.
People can’t just willy nilly try to resist Satan. Only believers who have the presence of Christ can handle that. Jesus is the only reason anyone can resist Satan.
Yes Mom,
I agree with your input, and emphacise again; neither the devil nor any of his imps have any real power over A SPIRIT-FILLED BELIEVER who resists them.
Blessings.
[For example, when God sent an angel with a message for Daniel, a demon named “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” delayed the angel for three weeks, and God had to send Michael the archangel to help the other divine messenger (Dan. 10:13).]
I have always considered that passage to be an astounding bit of Scripture. Sobering.
The prince of Persia IMHO, is more than likely still on the job. For now.
Iran is still here.
No doubt the prince of Persia is still active, considering what kind of shape that country is in.
I agree about that passage, BTW.
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