The Devil, Pt. 2

Do you really believe the old saying “Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.”? We all know that we say it as an encouragement to stay persistent during tough times and on the surface, it does seem to carry apparent wisdom.
But do we REALLY believe it? Sometimes we see this wisdom as circumstantial ( for bad circumstances); like when a relationship fails or you have to work three more years to compensate for a devalued 401K. It’s the kind of thing that sounds good but it’s hard to be encouraged when you’re in the middle of a trial. Which is exactly my point: It’s interesting that when we see things as overwhelmingly hard, we see the devil as being a powerful force of resistance or ruination. If we’re inclined to consider the devil at all, his power and influence waxes and wanes based on how we’re affected in a situation.

John 10:10 says, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly – and most times we see the “thief” in this verse as The Devil, although it doesn’t particularly single him out. In context, it’s talking about anyone who would seek to influence or lead sheep astray from the truth – the Truth as presented exclusively by the True Shepherd. When it comes to the actual Devil or Satan, that old serpent: We need to keep it in context.

Here’s The Word;

Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

John 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Job 1:12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

When you check the Scriptures and are enlightened by The Spirit with wisdom from above to understand, you see that the devil is a lot of things, but autonomous with the power to enact his will freely is definitely not one of them.
Even though He walks about, seeking whom he may devour, he can only do what he’s authorized to do. This is a wide range of affects but it’s not carte blanch. You can protect yourself and prevent his ability to affect you. Not in a way that will make your life totally free from ALL troubles and suffering…but the devil isn’t responsible for all suffering in the world. Sometimes The Father’s chastisement of His children is painful but that’s not the devil’s blame.

If we believe that the devil has power, we also must believe that what The Bible says about God’s power and since 2 Peter 2:9 says that it is His will that none should perish, but that all would come to repentance – it stands to reason that the devil is not just God’s “stick” to punish the wicked. He also uses the devil to prove us. This is evident in Job where God already knew Job. He knew Job’s heart, his resolve and what his response would be. But it’s likely that Job didn’t know these things, and obviously, the devil didn’t know either. So in the testimony of Job – God taught an incredible lesson… First to the devil, then to Job and ultimately to us

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one

So if you ever thought to yourself "The devil is trying to kill (or crush) me", of course, he'd like to but he surely can't do it because he wants to. And it doesn't look like permission is given to him freely when it comes to the Saints. Looks like our main concern would be to keep ourselves out of the place where the devil's given authority would allow him to devour us (which I don't believe applies to TRUE believers). After that, any and everything else may cause severe pain and tribulation, but it can't kill us - and by extension then, can only make us stronger. This makes sense as God is re-making us... not in a decaffeinated "Christ likeness", but full strength!


In Him,
Cros