How to Fight the Devil and Win

Daily Devotional – Friday, June 30, 2023
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

A religious leader recently led his followers in a bizarre ritual of fighting the devil. He directed his followers to use brooms, sticks and other crude weapons to lash out at the imaginary Satan. It was both a hilarious and sadden occurrence.

Battling the Evil One

Why would sane human beings, professed Christians, fight a spiritual being with physical weapons? Well, these people were acting according to the image of the devil that church had taught them to hold. Hence, they were fighting the goat-like, long-tailed and horned creature called Satan! How happy the devil must have been watching the presumed battle against him!

In contrast, if only we modelled our lives on Jesus, we would avoid such ridiculous and unfortunate practices. Christ taught is how to fight the devil. Immediately after John baptized Jesus, the latter went into the wilderness where he fasted for forty days. Satan took advantage of Jesus’ weakened situation and tempted the Lord.

It Is Written

Thrice, the devil attempted to sway Jesus from His mission on earth. Three times Jesus responded to Satan by stating, “It is written.” (Matthew 4:4, 7 & 10). Jesus fought Satan by quoting and relying on the word of God. He drew strength and motivation from a deep understanding and application of scripture.

Thus, Jesus set us an example. Victory over Satan and is only possible to those who feast on the word of God daily. In the Bible, we find guidance, warning, instructions and encouragement. Scripture exposes the tricks of the evil one and equips us to resist him. When we listen to God regularly, we will know better than to use sticks to fight Satan.

How to Fight the Devil and Win

Notice, though, that in Matthew 4:5, Satan also quotes scripture while tempting Jesus. Indeed, the evil one knows how to twist scripture and mix truth and error to make us doubt God. That is the wicked strategy he used against Eve in Eden and won. Thus, without Jesus and the wisdom and power He gives us, we cannot defeat Satan.

Even as we use the divine power enshrined in scripture to wage spiritual warfare, we must be weary of having a superficial understanding of the Bible. Jesus wants us to be doers, not just hearers, of His word. We can only learn how to overcome the devil and succeed at it by a life of prayerful study, meditation and living by the teachings of the Bible.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, inculcate in me a profound desire to read, meditate on and practice Your word every day, that I may gain the power to fight Satan.