VB169 Satan’s Power Is Limited
Satan’s Power Is Limited
[Lk 4:13; 1Jn 2:16; 1Cor 10:13; 1Pet 5:8-9]
Lk 4:13 (ESV) –And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
The NLT, “…until the next opportunity came.”
This verse implies that Satan exhausted his arsenal of temptations on Jesus and then had to leave.
The church has unwittingly given Satan too much credit. He does not have an unlimited number of temptations that he can pull on us.
1Jn 2:16 (ESV) –For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
The three areas where the devil tempts us:
- desires of the flesh
- desires of the eyes
- pride of life
The lust of the flesh – This refers to fallen mankind’s self-seeking attitude (cf. Gal 5:16-21; Eph 2:3; 1Pet 2:11).
The lust of the eyes – The Jews recognized that the eyes are the windows of the soul. Sin begins in the thought life and works its way out to action. One’s actions develop into a lifestyle (e.g., Pr 23:7).
The pride of life – This refers to human pride apart from God (i.e., humans trusting in their own resources). This Greek word is also found in James 4:16. It has a more active meaning then mere pride: It denotes arrogance, boastfulness, the conviction of self-sufficiency.1
The word life used here is bios which refers to earthly, physical, temporal life2 on this planet (what mankind shares with the plants and animals, cf. 1Jn 3:17). These characteristics describe false teachers and unregenerate fallen mankind. God help us, they also describe carnal Christians!
The devil gave it his best shot! Jesus’ three temptations consisted of lust and pride. Most people give the enemy more place than he needs (see, Eph 4:27).
By attributing limitless temptations and abilities to Satan, many have built up our adversary to be bigger than he is. The truth is;
1Cor 10:13 (ESV) –No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
We can ask Holy Spirit, “show me the escape route you are using this time, that I may be able to endure this.” He is our guide.
Satan would like you to believe that he is tougher than he really is. One of his greatest weapons is intimidation, but he has been defeated. His teeth have been pulled. Now he can only roar as a lion seeking to devour uninformed souls who don’t know their authority in Christ.
1Pet 5:8-9 (NIV) – [8] Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [9] Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Today, realize that whatever Satan is using to fight you is full of lies, and is temporary world stuff. Don’t quit. In due season you will reap, if you faint not (Gal 6:9).
Declaration:
I walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh. Jesus is Lord of my life. I am not self-seeking. My eyes are the windows of my soul, I share the life-filled, powerful Word of God! I am not arrogant, boastful, or self-sufficient.
I depend on the Lord Jesus Christ. I depend on the Holy Spirit to guide me.
I’m usually watchful, but if I am tempted, I ask Holy Spirit to show me the way out, so that I am able to continue walking in God’s Will. If I get off track and miss the mark, I repent, and keep right on running the race.
I know better than to feed my brain on lies from so-called “World News.” I feed my faith with the Word of God – it makes me successful.
God bless you my friend,
1Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study New Testament, KJV (Chattanooga: AMG, 1992), ref. G212.
2Strong, James. Exhaustive Concordance: Dictionaries of the Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Abington, 1890; 34th Printing 1976), ref. G979.
