NOT A GOD

The Devil does not have power like God’s, for example, the Devil does not know anything more about the future than either you or I. Anything like horoscopes, fortune telling or consulting spirits is a lie; the demonic forces do not know any more about the future than what’s prophesied in scripture.

The Devil is a created being only, created by God. Yes it’s true that he was an angel however he blew that because of pursuing evil. Even still, angels are created beings too, they are not uncreated gods to be worshiped either.

Also an important thing to remember is that the Devil (unlike God), is not omni-present, he’s not everywhere at the same moment. God can be; He can work in and through anything He wants to, the Devil cannot; he can only be in one place at a time. However always be aware and on your guard for the Devil is a good trickster. He’s good at coming across as perfect or even convincing people that he doesn’t exist, and therefore won’t be blamed for any upset he’ll cause.

WHY IS HE HERE?

God did not destroy the evil influence in the very beginning I believe for two reasons, firstly because mankind’s loyalty to God needs to come from free-will decisions on our part, not just following because we have no other choice, and secondly because ultimately it would glorify God more by banishing him to the world and keeping him on a short-leash.

NO ULTIMATE AUTHORITY

However it is because of the fact that the Devil is created by God, God’s constant influence in the world, and God’s restrictions on him that the Devil does not have ultimate authority, he only has a limited amount that he can do.

The book of Job talks about the Devil’s lack of God-like power and his respect to who God is when he was brought to account before God. The Devil has no choice but to submit to God’s over-whelming authority.

When Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee to the region of the Gadarenes, He found a man possessed by many demons, (other minor angels who were cast out for following evil). The moment Jesus turned up the demons recognised both who Jesus was and the authority He carried, and they begged Him not to dismiss them to the abyss. They knew He had the authority over them.

THE AUTHORITY GIVEN TO GOD’S PEOPLE

The other day I heard an account of when, during a time of prayer, a demon directly attacked one of the Christians in the group. This person was knocked to the floor, and all the Christians around were praying against the evil spirit.

According to scripture, this is not the correct attitude, we are told to resist the Devil and he will flee. So the right thing to do here would be to remember that God has ultimate authority, the Devil only has a limited amount that he can do and must respect God, and that the Christians, with the Holy Spirit living in them have authority over the Devil! After the Devil runs, it is the right time to pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon the attacked person and be filled by Him, this then will protect and strengthen them against and further attack. Whoever the Holy Spirit fills and saturates, He leaves no room for the enemy.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

What we’re saying is that the Christian person should recognise the Devil is not a god. He is the ruler of nothing. Hell is not his kingdom; it is his eternal punishment. Stand in the authority of God against the Devil. Finally remember he has not won the victory in the battle of good versus evil he was defeated by Jesus, and he is limited on what he can do.