All of us have problems that come into our lives, and many times we don’t understand why this is happening to us. But when we look at Job’s life, we get an insight into how Satan and his demons can attack us, even when we are doing our best to live a Godly life. God allowed Satan to test Job’s faith, but Job’s faith in God never faltered. Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing (Job 1:22). Job withstood Satan’s attacks and the criticism of his wife and so-called friends, and God blessed him. Peter said, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed” (1 Peter 3:14).
Peter wrote, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Satan and his demons are always on the attack, and we need to know how to deal with these adversaries that can cause us so many problems.
Satan uses all kinds of schemes to get us to fall into his traps; he even sometimes masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 2:11, 11:14). Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against Satan’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11). It is only by God’s power that we can withstand attacks from Satan and his demons.
Satan said to Jesus, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread” (Matthew 4:3-4). Satan is tempting Jesus to use His divine power to satisfy His fleshly desire for food. Jesus answered, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). How do we handle our own fleshly lusts? Knowing God’s Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to rule our life (cf. Galatians 5:16).
Satan had Jesus to stand on the highest point of the temple and Satan said, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said, “It is also written: ‘do not put the Lord you God to the test’” (Matthew 4:5-7). Satan is tempting Jesus to use His divine power to get people to praise Him for a spectacular feat. How do we deal with our fleshly desire for praise? “Humble yourself before God and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).
Satan took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And Satan said, “All this I will give You, if You will bow down and worship me.” And Jesus said, “Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’” (Matthew 4:7-11). Satan is tempting Jesus with worldly possessions. How do we apply this to our desire for worldly possessions? Jesus tells us that if we seek to please God in everything we do, then God will provide everything we need for this life (cf. Matthew 6:31-33).
As Daniel was seeking to understand God’s plan for the future, a heavenly Being appeared to him. Then an angel informed Daniel that God had sent him to show Daniel the future, but the prince of the kingdom of Persia had withstood this angel for 21 days until the angel Michael came to help him. This prince of Persia is not a person, but a fallen angel that is under the direction of Satan (read Daniel 10 for the complete story). This is a glimpse into the spiritual warfare that goes behind the scenes in world affairs. From this we learn that there is an angelic influence in the political and social conditions of the world. Good from holy angels under God’s control, and evil from angels under the control of Satan. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:16).
Satanic demons can possess a person’s body and influence their actions. Jesus met a demon-possessed man that was going around naked and lived in caves. This man had been possessed by many demons and Jesus cast them all out (read Luke 8:27-30). A slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination was following Paul around, and saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” Paul turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour (Acts 16:16-18). Some other men tried to cast out demons like Paul did, but they caused themselves a lot of problems (read Acts 19:13-16). Casting out demons should not to be taken lightly; it is serious business.
The Bible says that attacks from Satan and his demonic forces will grow stronger. Paul said, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons…For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:3-4). Peter tells us that these scoffers will follow their own evil desires and Jude tells us that these Godless people want to change the grace of God as a license for immorality and deny that Jesus Christ is our only Sovereign Lord (2 Peter 3:3, Jude 1:4). As we start this New Year, are you going to follow your own fleshly desires and satanic forces, or are you going to follow Jesus Christ. The choice you make has eternal consequences!