Many Christians have a morbid fear of the Devil. Remember, he is a created being who is already under the wrath of God, defeated at Calvary by Christ, and whose doom is already announced in the Bible.
(Google image, Spiritual warfare)
As a created being, he is limited in power (only God is all-powerful), limited in knowledge (only God has all knowledge), and limited in presence (only God is everywhere present).
1. Satan is limited in authority. Only God is sovereign. Satan can act only within the limits God has imposed on him by the way God originally created him and by God's command.
Satan could not touch Job (Job 1 and 2) or Peter (Luke 22:31), and he cannot touch you without God's permission. God tells him "Thus far and no further." God will not let him touch you unless it would open the possibility of spiritual growth, blessing, and eternal reward for you.
2. Satan is limited in knowledge. Only God is infinite in knowledge. Satan often knows more of the future than you do, but often he does not know enough to decide wisely. He frequently does not know what people will say or do.
He makes repeated mistakes. He has to depend on his demons to relay him information, and he has taught them to deceive. Undoubtedly, they often deceive him.
Satan cannot feed his false prophets correct information that he does not have, so they often make false prophecies. All fortune-tellers, astrology experts, and followers of the occult are repeatedly deceived.
3. Satan is limited in presence. Only God has all power. Satan has great power, but all God needs to do is to assign more angels to handle him (Dan. 10:13). "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Those who are with us (the angels) are more than the demons who are against us (2 Kings 6:16).
Satan does not have enough power or authority to make a promise. God is the God of promise. There is no power in Satan's name. We have divine power in Jesus' name.
4. Satan is limited in presence. Like all other created beings, Satan is never in more than one place at a time. Only God is everywhere present. Since Satan cannot be present with you often, if ever, he has to depend constantly on his demons. They have less power than he does. Each demon also can only be in one place at a time.
Perhaps you will go through a whole lifetime with Satan personally never being near you (his demons will, but you are not important enough for Satan himself to spend his time by you or watching you).
At worst, he will be by you only occasionally. But God is always with you. God's angels far outnumber the demons. So you always have angels available to help or protect you.
Satan's doom is certain. Every day it is nearer. Satan is well aware of this fact, which makes him and his demons all the more frantic and desperate. But we have adequate resources to defeat Satan.
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Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana, (with Jean's impressions added)
Mighty Prevailing Prayer
#122 The Limitations of Satan
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 231-233) Zondervan
Prayer-
Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) "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.
(John 15:7 (KJV) "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Today's quote-
God is in us to the degree that His Word is in us. God and His Word are One!
God’s Word is His will! A prayer accurately formed and stated from the Word of God will absolutely move heaven, earth and things under the earth on our behalf!
What is our responsibility, when praying? Can we actually make God's Word "cause things" to happen?
First, let's remember that God's Word is everlasting and cannot be changed and altered. When we claim a given promise to apply it to someone or a situation, He's attentive and will make things happen. Next, we need to remember that His will may not be just what we asked for, but as He sees the Big picture, He'll know how to handle the situation that brings Him glory, and the best outcome for all involved.
Father, may we not entertain any fear of Satan whatsoever, but remember that he is a created being who is already under Your wrath, having been defeated at Calvary by Your Son, Jesus!
As You are all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present, help us remember that Satan is none of these, and therefore cannot be as wise, or everywhere or even near us individually.
His demons are loose to torment us, but You're in control of their attempts to destroy us, and You will defend us, not letting them touch us, unless it would be to our advantage for spiritual growth, a blessing or an eternal reward for us through our overcoming it.
May we keep our eyes on You, Lord God, and remember that there are limitations to what Satan can do. We ask for guidance in our daily living, that we may honor and serve You, keeping eternity in mind, and what it will be like there without Satan and his demons!
Amen.
As You are all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present, help us remember that Satan is none of these, and therefore cannot be as wise, or everywhere or even near us individually.
His demons are loose to torment us, but You're in control of their attempts to destroy us, and You will defend us, not letting them touch us, unless it would be to our advantage for spiritual growth, a blessing or an eternal reward for us through our overcoming it.
May we keep our eyes on You, Lord God, and remember that there are limitations to what Satan can do. We ask for guidance in our daily living, that we may honor and serve You, keeping eternity in mind, and what it will be like there without Satan and his demons!
Amen.
Today's Bible verses-
Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) "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.
(John 15:7 (KJV) "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
God is in us to the degree that His Word is in us. God and His Word are One!
God’s Word is His will! A prayer accurately formed and stated from the Word of God will absolutely move heaven, earth and things under the earth on our behalf!
His Word works and knows no time or distance, it is spiritual law. It is more powerful than the law of nature or the law of gravity. It does not fail! It will not change! God’s law will not fail and will not change!
God’s Word never changes, but it changes things!"
Today's popular post:
Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: "Unite in making your very own a specific promise for the specific needs.
5). Agree in claiming an appropriate promise. You need more than mental assent that the promise is indeed God's word."
Today's questions-
What is our responsibility, when praying? Can we actually make God's Word "cause things" to happen?
First, let's remember that God's Word is everlasting and cannot be changed and altered. When we claim a given promise to apply it to someone or a situation, He's attentive and will make things happen. Next, we need to remember that His will may not be just what we asked for, but as He sees the Big picture, He'll know how to handle the situation that brings Him glory, and the best outcome for all involved.
Upcoming posts-
God's Refining Fires
24th- Saturday's post by James H. Cagle
#123 Prayer the Nemesis of Satan
27th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#124 Our Holy Prayer Warfare
29th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
God is Able
July 1st- Tuesday's post by Herald of His Coming
Jean's blog
(Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
(Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
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31-day Devotional
+ Jean's testimony
[Maybe just choose a title each
day that interests you]
Sample verses from pp. 82, 83-
The Vision That
I Had One Day
"It's true that through my life I've sought
Some folks with truth to share.
To many questions I'd been taught;
The answers just weren't there.
Most every time I heard God's Word
The scriptures I did search.
I tested each message I heard
Regardless of the church.
I'd felt somewhere Truth could be known
And would be shared with me.
I did long for it to be shown
And the Truth I could see."
(Published by Lighthouse Publishing
of the Carolinas. Used by permission).
A great gift for someone who may need help
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
marriage, wanting some helpful advice.
Very important words to really hear and keep in mind.
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