ROAR, ROAR! The devil is ROARING. As Christians, we believe in God, and we also think that there is a devil. The devil is a real and powerful enemy who seeks to destroy our lives and our relationship with God. He is not a myth or a symbol, but a fallen angel who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. He is the leader of a host of evil spirits who work with him to tempt, deceive, accuse, and oppress us in an effort for us to lose our faith and not be a part of the church resulting in us being cast in Hell. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
Christians often attribute their situations to the attack of the devil, they believe that individuals are filled with demons and are being used by these evil spirits to try and harm them. Ephesians 6: 12 “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”. It is a fact that individuals practice Witchcraft, obeah, and sorcery, which refer to different forms of magic and spiritual practices involving the use, of natural or supernatural forces to influence events, people, or nature. Depending on the cultural and historical context, these terms have different meanings and origins.
Witchcraft is a broad term that can describe various beliefs and practices that involve the manipulation of magic, often for benevolent or malevolent purposes. Witchcraft can be found in many cultures worldwide, such as Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Witchcraft can be associated with religion, folklore, mythology, or occultism. Some examples of witchcraft are Wicca, Paganism, Shamanism, and Hoodoo.
Obeah is a specific term that refers to a series of African diasporic spellcasting and healing traditions found in the former British colonies of the Caribbean. Obeah derives much from traditional West African practices that have undergone cultural creolization. Obeah can be used for good or evil, depending on the intention of the practitioner and the client. Obeah often involves using herbal and animal ingredients, charms, fetishes, and rituals. Obeah can also incorporate elements of Christianity, as well as other Caribbean religions like Vodou and Santeria.
Sorcery is another general term that can mean the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others or gain an advantage. Sorcery can also be found in many cultures and traditions, such as ancient Mesopotamia, medieval Europe, Native America, and Polynesia. Sorcery can involve spells, curses, hexes, potions, talismans, or incantations. Sorcery is usually considered a negative or evil form of magic and is often opposed by religious or moral authorities.
Are we helpless against the devil and his demons’ devices? No, we are not. God has given us weapons and strategies to overcome the devil and his schemes. One of the most effective and essential weapons is prayer. Prayer is not just a way of communicating with God, but a way of engaging in spiritual warfare. Through prayer, we can resist the devil, claim God’s promises, receive God’s protection, and release God’s power.
In this blog post, we will explore how to fight the good fight of faith with the armor of God and harness the power of God through prayer to win in this spiritual warfare. We will overcome the devil in three areas: our minds, our hearts, and our actions.
Our mind
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” The devil often attacks our minds with lies, doubts, fears, and accusations. He wants to fill our thoughts with negativity, confusion, and condemnation. He wants to make us doubt God’s love, goodness, and faithfulness. He wants to make us feel guilty, ashamed, and unworthy.
To overcome the devil in our minds, we must put on the helmet of salvation. The helmet covers over head which represents our mind. This means that we must believe and know that we are saved regardless of what we are experiencing. We also need to pray with the word of God. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, which can cut through the lies of the enemy and expose his deception. The word of God is also the truth that sets us free from bondage and fear. The word of God is the light that dispels the darkness and reveals God’s character and will.
We need to pray with the word of God by:
– Memorizing and meditating on Scripture verses that counteract the enemy’s lies and affirm God’s truth.
– Declaring and confessing God’s word over our lives and situations.
– Asking God to renew our minds and transform our thinking according to his word.
– Thanking God for his word and his promises.
Our heart
The devil also attacks our hearts with bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, and resentment. He wants to fill our emotions with hatred, hostility and hurt. He wants to make us hold grudges, seek revenge, and harbor malice. He wants to make us bitter against God, ourselves, and others.
To overcome the devil in our hearts, we must put on the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate covers our vital organs such as the heart, (Proverbs 4:23 In-Context 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 24. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.) so, guard our hearts, to do this we need to pray with the love of God. The love of God is the bond of perfection, which can heal our wounds and restore our relationships. The love of God is also the power that drives out fear and casts out evil. The love of God is the fruit of the Spirit that produces joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We need to pray with the love of God by:
– Forgiving those who have hurt us and asking for forgiveness from those we have hurt.
– Blessing those who curse us and praying for those who persecute us.
– Asking God to fill our hearts with his love and compassion.
– Thanking God for his love and his grace.
Our actions
The devil also attacks our actions with temptation, sin, and compromise. He wants to fill our behavior with disobedience, rebellion, and lawlessness. He wants to make us yield to our fleshly desires, worldly values, and demonic influences. He wants to make us stray from God’s path, disobey his commands, and dishonor his name.
To overcome the devil in our actions, we need to pray with the power of God. The power of God is the authority that Jesus has given us over all the power of the enemy. The power of God is also the strength that the Holy Spirit provides us to overcome sin and do good works. The power of God is the victory that Jesus has won for us on the cross and in the resurrection.
We need to pray with the power of God by:
– Resisting the devil and submitting to God.
– Repenting of our sins and turning away from them.
– Asking God to fill us with his Spirit and enable us to walk in his ways.
– Thanking God for his power and his presence.
Conclusion
The devil is a defeated foe who has no authority over us as children of God. But he is still a dangerous enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy us. We need to be alert against his schemes and tactics. We need to put on the whole armor of God and stand firm in faith. And we need to harness the power of the word, prayer, and spiritual warfare to overcome him in every area of our lives. Remember: Greater is he who is in you than in the world (1 John 4:4).