CHAPTER IV
HOW TO OVERCOME SATAN BY FAITH.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
The New Testament describes the Christian life as a
spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this face
by admonishing us: "Put on the whole armour of God, that
ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places" (Ephesians 6:11-12). Scripture abound in
references to such a spiritual conflict which is to be
waged against an evil, cunning, wicked, powerful Adver-
sary who rules over a vast, highly organized kingdom con-
sisting of principalities, powers, rulers of this world,
and spiritual wickedness in high places, together with an
innumerable host of demonic spirits.
The Bible predicts an increase in demonic activity at
the close of the present age prior to the Second Advent
(cf. I Timothy 4:1f.; II Timothy 3;1f.; II Thessalonians
2:1f.). Our age is characterized by an ever-increasing
flood of Satanic wickedness ranging all the way from
psychic afflictions to moral aberrations. This rapid
expansion of the work of the kingdom of darkness, affect-
ing and influencing the entire world, its governments,
society, the Church, and the life of the believer, is
clearly seen in the almost fantastic increase in crime,
lust, deceit, moral depravity, suicide, war, homosex-
uality, fear, worry, anxiety, atheism, disease, psychic
disorders, demonic possession, drug addiction, and
alcoholism, together with the growth and intensification of
spiritism, occultism, false cults and the doctrines of
demons.
Inasmuch as these forces against which the believer
and the Church must contend are spiritual, they can only
be effectively withstood and overcome by spiritual armour
and spiritual weapons. The importance of faith together
with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the manifestations
of the gifts of the Spirit cannot be overemphasized there-
fore. For without faith and the empowering of the Spirit
the Church is practically helpless and defenseless, being
unable to cope with such a foe with its mere carnal wea-
pons of theological education, medical science, psychia-
try, psychology, human methods, techniques, and religious
and social institutions or organizations.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after
the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds)
." declared Paul in II Corinthians 10:3-4. Victory in
spiritual warfare is achieved "Not by might, not by power,
but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zech. 4:6),
and by faith: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adver-
sary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith"
(I Peter 5:8-9).
Personal resistance to Satan's oppression, temptation,
affliction, and all his work, whether he assaults your
mind or body, family, or church, is a spiritual warfare
of faith. He can be effectively overcome and defeated by
the use of the spiritual weapons and armour made available
to the believer who is to use them in faith ("whom resist
stedfast in the faith"). How is this to be accomplished?
When the Enemy attacks, take the offensive against him by
faith in the following manner.
1. CLAIM YOUR AUTHORITY OVER SATAN BY FAITH.
The Christian has this authority by virtue of his
relationship to Christ. In II Corinthians 5:14 we are said
to have died with Christ (cf. Col. 3:3); in Ephesians 2:5
we were made alive with Christ; and in Ephesians 2:6 we
are said to have been raised up with Him and ascended into
the heavens with Him and made to sit together in heavenly
places with Christ Jesus!
Where is Christ? The question is significant, for
wherever Christ is we are also with Him with respect to
our position of authority. Christ is enthroned at the
right hand of God "Far above all principality, and power,
and might, and dominion" Ephesians 1:21). Paul's prayer
is that we might recognize this fact and appropriate this
great power and authority, for the believer's position is
exhalted with Him far above all things. Read Ephesians 1:
15-23. Note especially verse 19. See also Colossians 2:
13-15.
This means that Christ not only gained victory over
Satan and his kingdom at Calvary, but that He rules sover-
eignly over him and that Satan has absolutely no power
over Him whatsoever. Therefore, since the believer's
position in Christ is the same, then he too has gained
this victory and position of authority over Satan. We must
then, first of all claim our authority by faith over the
Enemy before we can effectively command him to obey.
We are authorized by virtue of our heavenly position
to put up a bold resistance in the Name and authority of
Jesus Christ against Satan and he must obey! (Mark 16:17; Luke
9:1). Cease wasting efforts contending for victory
over Satan--you should be waging a warfare from your pos-
ition of victory which you already possess if you will
claim it in faith!
2. CONFESS VICTORY THROUGH JESUS'
BLOOD BY FAITH.
Boldly confess the efficacious power of Jesus' blood,
for the strength of our authority rests in this alone.
Our work and testimony is effective only to the extent
that we know and confess this. "And they overcame him
(Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony" (Revelation 12:11). Always fearlessly go
against demonic oppression, for example, by boldly confes-
sing the power of the blood of Jesus over Satan's work in
the person affected. Satan always gives way before the
faith of one who courageously pleads the power of Jesus'
blood.
Satan's temptations, oppression, and work can be
effectively defeated, whether in your personal life, your
home, the church, or in the lives of others, by this
appeal to the blood of the Lamb, either by song, praise,
testimony, confession, or in the exorcism of demons. We
have actually heard evil spirits say they hate the blood
and the word of faith. This is because they know that this
has power over them.
3. COMMAND SATAN TO DEPART IN JESUS'
NAME BY FAITH.
Satan will not depart, nor desist in his destructive
work by a polite request for him to go. The Scriptures
teach that demons are to be cast out, not requested to
leave. "And these signs shall follow then that believe;
In my name shall they cast out devils" (Mark 16:17).
Jesus and the apostles rebuked the evil spirits and com-
manded them to leave regardless of the nature of their
oppression, whether a spirit of infirmity (Luke 4:38-39;
Mark 9:25); an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23-27); temptation
(Matthew 4:10); hindrance (Matthew 16:21-23); or inter-
ference (Acts 16:16-18).
Some Christians, ignorant of their authority over the
Enemy have fearfully said, "I would be afraid to say
anything to Satan. I would just rather ignore him!" This,
of course, gives him complete liberty to work unmolested
in such a life. You, as a believer, have the authority to
set yourself and others free from his bondage, but Satan
will only leave by a direct command of faith in Jesus'
name. Satan and the demonic hosts know they have been def-
eated by Christ and that His followers have authority over
them. Our victory comes when we come top know and believe
this to the extent that we act on it (James 2:19; Luke 10:
17; Mark 16:17).
4. USE THE SHIELD OF FAITH AND
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.
Jesus overcame Satan's temptations with Scripture say-
ing: "It is written " (Matthew 4:1). Paul admonishes us
"Above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked"
(Ephesians 6:16). Notice that one is a defensive weapon
(the shield of faith), and the other an offensive weapon
(the sword of the Spirit, Hebrews 4:12). The two together
can effectively meet and overcome the Enemy's assaults
against us. If, for instance, you have claimed on the
authority of God's Word healing for your body, then boldly
confess by faith (the shield) the Scripture promises (the
sword) on divine healing, e.g., Isaiah 53:4; Psalm 103:3;
Mark 16:17-18; James 5:15, etc. Maintain by faith your
confession of what God's Word promises and Satan will be
compelled to remove his work of oppression in your body.
5. RESIST SATAN IN THE FAITH.
Remember we are in a spiritual warfare! Therefore, the
Scriptures admonish us to "resist (Satan) stedfast in the
faith" (I Peter 5:9). to "watch and pray, that ye enter
not into temptation" (Matthew 26:41); to "resist the
devil
and he will flee from you" (James 4:7); to "walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh"
(Galatians 5:16); to "neither give place to the devil"
(Ephesians 4:27); to "stand against the wiles of the
devil" (Ephesians 6:11); to "put on the whole amour of
God" so that we can "wrestle" with the Enemy
victoriously
(Ephesians 6:11-18); and to overcome him by the word of
our testimony (Revelation 12:11).
Satan's temptations and work are not to go unchall-
anged and unopposed. We are commanded to resist him, to
stand against him, to give him no place, and to wrestle
with him by prayer and faith. The Devil was defeated at
Calvary and has no rights whatsoever in your life, home,
or church to oppress, afflict, hinder and defeat. Tell him
he is trespassing on God's property, resist him, and
demand that he depart. Resist him stedfast in the faith
and he will be unable to invade your domain or cause harm.
6. KEEP CLOSE WATCH ON YOUR HEART AND MIND.
Absolutely, refuse entrance into your heart and mind
anything of a negative, contrary, resentful, base or
depressive nature. Guard your heart and mind for this is
where the Enemy usually strikes. "Keep thy heart with all
diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs
4:23). Refuse every thought that is critical, impure,
offensive, unjust, evil, detrimental, or unkind. Refuse to
entertain in our heart pride, hate, resentment, slander,
doubt, unbelief, anxiety, indifference, wrath, envy, and
self-pity.
Failure to guard the heart and mind against Satan's
depressive, sinful, carnal or negative thoughts and
suggestions is one of the major causes for oppression,
sickness, disease, fear, discord, strife, dissension,
mental illness, depression, despair, pessimism, frust-
ration and failure in the lives of Christians. The battle-
ground where much of the spiritual warfare is waged is the
beliver's own heart and mind. There is a real warfare
going on continually between Christ and Satan for control
of the mind. If Satan can gain ascendancy here, them he
well knows that he can very largely determine the course
of events in your life and limit or destroy your effect-
ivness in God's Kingdom.
This is true "because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7). This is obvious; for
the mind filled with carnal or negative thoughts of the
nature mentioned cannot at the same time be subject to
heavenly influences such as love, truth, purity, holiness,
and peace. This is why the Scriptures admonish the Christ-
ian to "keep thy heart with all diligence," and to
"be
ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).
Many illnesses, for example, are psychosomatic and
result from harboring thoughts of hate, doubt, resentment,
self-pity, depression, and such like. Never allow Satan
a moment's access to your mind. If Christians would center
their attention on Christ and seek to have His mind
created in them, a large part of their present difficult-
ies and problems would dissolve. Reckon the old man, both
in mind and body, to be crucified with Christ (Galat-
ians 2:20; 5:24; Romans 6:6), confess it by faith, and
walk in that faith. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee"
(Isaiah 26:3).
We should remember one caution in conclusion--do not
confess Satan's power. This means that it is not necess-
ary to rebuke Satan or plead the blood against him concer-
ning every unwanted thought, temptation, or difficulty.
Satan achieves a negative confession from us of his power
and importance if we constantly rebuke him for everything
unpleasant instead of dismissing the thought from the mind
by an act of the will, overcoming the temptation by pres-
enting our bodies as living sacrifices, or resolving the
difficulty by faith. Do not keep the name of Satan on
your lips and in your mind, but the name of Christ. Resist
the Devil and he will flee from you. Command him only when
necessary.