Know your enemy’s weakness

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.

Since the beginning of time, Satan has been very successful in causing all kinds of sorrow, suffering, and pain throughout the world. He does this by deceiving people into thinking that following their fleshly lusts will bring satisfaction and fulfillment.

He comes as an angel of light, yet only to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10.) He is described as a deceiver, a murderer, a liar, crafty, a great dragon and the ruler of the darkness of this age. In 1 John 5:19, we read: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 

To put it mildly, he is an extremely powerful being.

Yet, it is entirely possible that I, an “ordinary” young man or woman, can conquer, overpower and crush Satan beneath my feet! The key to overcoming such a powerful being, who has held the whole world in his control since he deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden, can be found in James 4:7: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” 

I find this verse to be an amazing and wonderful secret that reveals Satan’s weakness!

When I resist Satan, by answering with a radical and violent “No!” to all thoughts and inclinations that are not from God, then he loses power and flees. (Matthew 11:12.) When I resist Satan by preparing myself for battle, and by arming myself with verses that I believe in and know I can rely on, then he meets strong resistance and loses power over me and flees. (Ephesians 6:11.) When I, with the power of the Holy Spirit, obey the voice of the Spirit right in the critical moment of temptation, then Satan immediately loses his power and I can turn this whole scenario around. Suddenly this extremely powerful being that has the entire world in his sway and control, is running away from me as fast as he can run! He knows he has no chance!

The definition of “flee” is to run away from a place of danger. The fact that that powerful being, Satan, experiences a place of danger when he encounters a man or woman who resists him is an amazing thing! What a weapon to have at our disposal when we believe this verse and use it whenever he comes knocking.

Of course, Satan will come crawling back to try again. But he will be met with the same resistance again and again and will flee every time until he doesn’t bother anymore, knowing what he will face.

I am extremely thankful for the power we get through faith in the promises of God and how this guarantees full victory in every situation! Let us all believe in the word of God with a simple faith, the same as young David had when he faced the giant Goliath, so we can all say as he did, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.” 1 Samuel 17:46.

It is no wonder that Satan flees when he meets that kind of faith!