How powerful is the devil?


The devil is only as powerful as Christians allow him to be. Our battle with the devil is not to gain a victory, but to maintain the victory that Jesus has already won for us. Christians, as described in the Bible, are part of the army of God.

It's important to recognize that we are not an invading army trying to win, but we are an occupying army enforcing the victory, which Jesus acquired through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Notice what Jesus did: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (Col. 2:15). The Amplified Bible states it this way,
[God] disarmed the principalities and powers ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].
(Col. 2:15)
When Jesus died on the cross, He disarmed principalities (another name for the devil which means archangel). He stripped Satan of his authority over mankind. Then Jesus made a public example of the devil and his cohorts.

The Greek language actually paints the picture of one king defeating another, chaining the defeated king, and parading him throughout the victor's kingdom. This is what Jesus did with the devil after His resurrection. Every spirit being, good or bad, witnessed this great event.

Since the devil has been disarmed, we have the right to take authority over him and he must listen. (James 4:7 supports this as it states, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.")

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