The Devil You Say

        There is a devil and he is on your trail. The reason you may not be aware of it is found in II Corinthians 11:14: “…Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” Often he doesn’t look like the devil or talk like the devil. He is a master of disguises. Employing this technique he often uses the good, the beautiful, in a bad way.

        Where do you think the devil is? If you said hell you are wrong. He will be there, but that isn’t his habitat presently. He is going to eventually be thrown into hell and bound in chains, but he is still loose and at work,… full time on earth.

         After tempted Job God asked him, as if He didn’t know where he had been. “And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come? So Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it’” (Ephesians 6:11).

        He doesn’t need to do all of the dirty work of his kingdom, he is well organized as indicated by the following: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6: 10- 13). Notice that word “wiles.” 

        When Lucifer, the devil, the guardian angel of God’s throne, rebelled he was cast out of heaven. With him were one-third of all angels who became known as fallen angels. He is a strategist. For him to engage in spiritual warfare he has arrayed his allies like a military force. We need not fear them, but defend against them.

        Consider the devil’s assault forces. First there are “principalities” which translates the Greek “archon.” The title emerged in the time of Pericles. It was a reference to the most powerful leader in the land. Satan, of course, is the Commanding Officer. He has organized his demonic horde for spiritual warfare. An archon is the equivalent of a field general in charge of a certain operation. Principalities are very powerful and authoritative demons.

        Next are “the “Rulers of Darkness of this age.” This is the translation of “Kosmokrator.” The word comes from two words combined. Kosmos means world or universe and Krator meaning ruler. These are the devil’s special forces. Their mission is to work on world rulers and important people in society..

          “Spiritual wickedness in high places,” actually means “the spirits of evil in the heavenlies.” This is the massive horde of demons that is still working on all of us. This is the rank and file of demons that perpetually work on all believers.

        Colossians 2:15 tells us that Jesus disarmed principalities and powers at the cross. Therefore, our victory is rooted in what Jesus did, not in what we do. It isn’t that there is no doing on our part – but our doing is the appropriation and application of what Jesus did.

        You are to “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). This is the sure way to deal with his iniquitous influence and dastardly deeds. Don’t “…give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27).