I was listening to an audiobook recently that made an interesting assertion about Satan. The author stated that the devil does not believe the Word of God. He sincerely believes that he can figure it out, rewrite the script and defeat God.
It got me to thinking, why wouldn’t he?
He looks at “things seen” (as opposed to “things not seen” discussed in Hebrews 11:1) to bolster his confidence. Afterall, he managed to trick Adam and Eve into handing him their authority and dominion over this world. He revels in his title, “the god of this world.” Though Jesus died and rose from the grave to return spiritual authority to the church, Satan continues to bully and intimidate believers into submission to his rule. He sees that, though we proclaim Jesus as Lord, we bow the knee to him in fear. Ouch!
I’ve heard it said that Satan knows he can’t defeat God but strikes at Him by tormenting His people. If he can’t win, he can destroy God’s joy and peace by messing with His kids. But is that the truth? It seems more likely that he believes he can win the ultimate battle by winning the hearts and minds of God’s creation.
According to Wikipedia, the term “winning hearts and minds” is often expressed in the resolution of war, insurgency, and other conflicts in which one side seeks to prevail, not by the use of superior force but by making emotional or intellectual appeals to sway supporters of the other side. Sound familiar?
The Bible describes the condition of hearts and minds that will be found at the end times: “ For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV). This is a good description of the society we see all around us—and too often in the mirror. If that old devil is looking at the mounting evidence of the size of his army, he must be positively giddy!
But what about me? What about you? Do we believe God will win the victory?
Despite the many promises in His Word that He will never leave me, that He is my rock of protection, my healer, my provider, even though I have, after all, read the end of the book, I still find myself caught in a web of worry–doubting, doubting, doubting.
The list of characteristics above contains one that is especially convicting for me, “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” The New Century Version states it, “will act as if they serve God but will not have his power.” We cannot live this Christian life in our own strength! We must have the Holy Spirit and His Sword to fight the enemy and be counted on the winning side!
How do we take hold of that power? That’s a big topic. I watched a sermon series by Creflo Dollar that might be helpful in learning to live in the power of the Holy Spirit: How to Live in the Supernatural, Part 1 and Part 2.
What do you think? Could it be that Satan truly believes he can overtake God and sit on his throne? Does this make him the original narcissist? What tactics do you use to avoid his gaslighting?
Cool Like Christ 