OVERCOME THE DEVIL BY GOD’S WORD (2)

“…and the SWORD of the Spirit, which is the WORD of GOD” – Ephesians 6:17b

To OVERCOME THE DEVIL by GOD’S WORD is not an elective option for Believers in Christ: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the SWORD of the Spirit, which is the WORD of GOD” (Eph.6:17). The Believer is commanded to TAKE – lay hold on – the Sword! The Word of God is vital to salvation! His Word is the primary divine weapon by which we can overcome our spiritual enemy – Satan. The Word is the Living Seed that produces the New Birth: “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the WORD of GOD which lives and abides forever” (1Pet.1:23). After spiritual rebirth, God’s Word is also like milk that helps the baby believer to grow: “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1Pet.2:2).

The Word is the wonderful weapon that God has given His children to resist and overcome the attacks of Satan and his hordes of darkness. But not all Believers have learnt to maximise the use of this divine weapon. Some believers are discouraged because they don't know how to use the Sword of the Spirit when Satan attacks with discouragement. Others live under condemnation and feelings of guilt. They feel uncertain whether God has accepted them; whether God loves them; whether God has forgiven their sins, and whether God still remembers or holds their past against them. Such feelings do not come from God, but from the accuser of the brethren (Rev.12:10). It’s sad to see Satan harass or weigh believers down with negative emotions, like guilt, that they should not be bearing.

Whatever feelings that come to draw us away from God – discouragement, condemnation, guilt – can be overcome if we can take the Word of God as a weapon. We do not defeat the devil through reasoning or academic arguments. We are not called to argue with Satan. That ancient serpent is far too cunning than to succumb to carnal arguments. When Satan tempted Jesus Christ, saying to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones to become bread", he was questioning Jesus – Are You really the Son of God? (Mt.4:3). If he could put such a question to Jesus Christ Himself, will Satan not try doubt-injecting questions with us? Of course, he will. He will try to make us doubt whether we are God’s children! What we need is the Word of God: “The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (Jh.6:37).

We overcome the devil by standing on the authority of God’s Word! Because we’ve come to Christ Jesus, He will certainly not cast us out! We give no room for doubt, but simply take God at His Word! There is a certainty about our redemption. We do not overcome the devil with logic, philosophy, psychology, or any such thing. We’ve got to confidently quote and boldly declare the Word of God from a heart of faith. Jesus boldly declared: “It is written…” (Mt.4: 4,7, 10). Although Satan also quoted scriptures in response, our Lord Jesus had the final Word. Every single time, in those three temptations in the wilderness, Jesus overcame Satan only by quoting Scripture – no discussion, no debate, no argument. Eve was the one who discussed and argued with Satan and we know what happened to her – she fell (Gen.3: 1-6).

Satan may come to us with torturing thoughts of diverse nature, aimed at keeping us far away from God. Who we believe is entirely our choice – Jesus or the devil! We don't have to believe the devil's lies anymore. Whoever wants to continue to believe the devil cannot be helped by anyone. But if we will believe the Word of God – take up that Sword and wield it with our tongue – the devil will flee from us: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jam.4:7). The whole Armour of God that the Believer is admonished to put on consists mainly of defensive weapons, but God’s Word – the Sword of the Spirit – is for both defence and attack (vv.14-17).