1 Satan and Demons: The Basics

When do we become obsessed with them, and when do we pretend they do not exist? Where’s the balance? Most importantly, what does the Bible say about them?

After all the data points in this post, let’s end by reflecting on theology and the Bible’s teaching on them. What does it mean to us?

I.. Introduction: Summary Table

A.. Brief intro.

The names vary, but they all express evil and opposition to God’s rule. Cumulatively, these names reveal his evil character or nature and his evil activities

Introduction: Summary Table
1	Opening Statement	Let’s first understand the basics from the Bible about Satan and demons, and our victory over them.
2	Basics	Satan and demons are evil spirits that tempt believers and unbelievers away from God, moral law, and righteousness. They are intelligent and have a small measure of free will, but they are limited in their power and influence. They are completely evil and have no conscience. They can infiltrate the church with false doctrines. They can put evil and false thoughts in people’s minds. They hate people, God’s highest creation on earth. They can afflict people with diseases and physical ailments. They can work signs and wonders.
3	Comparison with God	Satan is not the equal opposite force against God, for God is infinitely powerful and omniscient and omnipresent. He is eternal. Satan is none of those things.
4	Future	Fire is prepared for Satan and his angels, who are demons. They lose.
5	Warning to Christians	Demons can harass, attack, influence, and tempt Spirit-filled believers, particularly when they indulge in habitual, unconfessed sins, but demons cannot totally possess or take complete ownership over them.
6	Victory of Christians	Being in Christ and submitted to God and in Jesus’s name, believers can resist and defeat them and break their hold over their lives.

II. Names of Satan

Cumulatively, these names reveal his evil character or nature and his evil activities.

Names of Satan
	Basic Definition	Satan is an evil spirit who does not have a body as humans do. Pagans thought demons were lesser spirits or deities that can dispense good or evil, but Jesus and apostles prove they are malevolent spirit beings. They have no conscience and cannot do good.
1	Satan	Adversary (Job 1:6)
2	Accuser	Points sins and weaknesses (Zech. 3; Rev. 12:10)
3	Devil	Slanderer (Matt. 4:1-11)
4	Deceiver of the whole world	He plants deception and lies in people and entire systems and even nations (Rev. 12:9).
5	Ancient serpent	This image comes from the temptation in the Garden of Eden (Rev. 12:9; 20:2; Gen. 2).
6	A spirit now at work in the disobedient	He plants disobedience against God, his moral law and righteousness (Eph. 2:2).
7	Ruler of kingdom of the air	This is not the natural air but an invisible realm under God’s realm or heaven. Satan’s realm gives him access to people (Eph. 2:2).
8	Tempter	This name is derived from his activity in tempting Jesus, so he is called the “tempter” (Matt. 4:3). And Paul calls him by the same name, because Thessalonian new believers might fall away from Paul’s gospel (1 Thess. 3:5).
9	Evil One	In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus called Satan the “evil one” (Matt. 6:13). John calls him by the same name (1 John 2:13).
10	Beelzebul or Beelzebub	It originally meant Baal-Zebul (“Exalted Baal,” a false god), and the word “Beelzebub” is a mockery of this false god and means “lord of the flies,” taken from a garbage heap, where flies were attracted (Matt. 12:24)
11	Belial	This name comes from Hebrew for “scoundrels” or “troublemakers” (belliyya’al) (Deut. 13:13), which was later used for Satan. (2 Cor. 6:15).
12	Murderer from the beginning	Jesus called him that (John 8:44), and no doubt this refers to Cain, when he killed his brother. Satan inspired him. Wanton death and destruction comes from Satan (John 10:10).
13	Father of lies	Jesus said the truth is not in Satan, and he speaks his native language—no truth, but falsehoods (John 8:44). “Father” speaks of Satan procreating and leader of lies.
14	Prince or ruler of this world	John 12:31 says now is the time for the prince of this world to be driven out because Jesus was about to die on the cross. John 14:30 says the prince of this world is coming, but he has no hold on Jesus, because Jesus does exactly what his Father has commanded. But what has his Father commanded? His death on the cross.
15	Prince of demons	The Pharisees gave the devil this title (Matt. 12:24), but it reflects the truth that Satan leads the demons, so there is a hierarchy of sorts.
16	God of this age or world	Satan is referred to as a god (2 Cor. 4:4). Satan is behind the worship of gods. Satan has a certain rulership of the worlds (Matt. 4:8-9).
17	Angel of the abyss	The abyss is an underworld cavern, which some believe is bottomless, but it is not. “Abyss” means it has no artificial bottom (Rev. 9:11). 2 Peter 2:4 says fallen angels were not wiped out into nonexistence, but were chained in gloomy darkness to await judgment.
18	Abaddon or Apollyon	This is a personification of destruction (Rev. 9:11; Prov. 15:11), and Apollyon means “Destroyer.”
	Summary	The names are found throughout key verses in the OT, but mostly in the NT, where the revelation about them becomes clearer and fuller.

III.. Activities of Satan.

A.. Brief intro

Cumulatively, these activities reveal his evil character and strategies.

Activities of Satan
Past Activities
1	He was originally created good, as all angels were.	Gen. 1:31
2	He led a revolt of angels in heaven. Traditional theology teaches that Satan and demons were once good angels, but they rebelled and were thrown down from heaven, some to chains in gloomy darkness and others to a spiritual dimension, invisible to us, below God’s heaven. They seem to exist in a hierarchy, with Satan being at the head. Now Satan is a fallen archangel, and the lesser angels are demons.	2 Pe. 2:4; Rev. 12:7-8
3	He tempted Eve.	Gen. 3:1-7
4	He incited David to sin.	1 Chron. 21:1-2
5	He attacked and afflicted Job.	Job 1:6-19; Job 2:1-10
6	He tempted Jesus.	Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
7	He was involved in putting Jesus to death.	Luke 22:2; John 14:30-31
Present Activities
8	He afflicts people with illness.	Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38
9	He steals, kills, and destroys, though the context says religious leaders do this. But I think we can expand the meaning to see Satan behind the verse.	John 10:10
10	He is the father of lies.	John 8:44
11	He does evil to people.	Matt. 13:38-39; Luke 13:11; Luke 13:16
12	He tempts believers to sin.	Matt. 16:33; Acts 5:3; 1 Thess. 3:5; 1 Pe. 5:8
13	He tries to keep people from true worship.	Matt. 13:19; 1 Pe. 5:8-9
14	He thwarts the spread of the gospel.	Matt. 13:19; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; 1 Thess. 2:18
15	He wants people to worship him.	Matt. 4:9; Luke 4:5-7
16	He masquerades as an angel of light to deceive people.	2 Cor. 11:14
17	He uses many schemes.	2 Cor. 2:11; Eph. 6:11
18	He persecutes the church.	Rev. 2:10; Rev. 12:13-17
19	He works through false teachers.	2 Thess. 2:9-10; 1 Tim. 4:1-2
20	He tries to separate believers from Christ.	Rom. 8:38-39
21	He (temporarily) holds the power over death.	Heb. 2:14-15
22	He empowers people to work signs and wonders to empower a lie, to deceive people.	2 Thess. 2:9
23	He inspires people in the church to teach false doctrines, called “doctrine or teachings of demons.”	1 Tim. 4:1
Future Activities
24	He will be totally bound and in chains and prison, during the millennium, if one believes in a literal millennium.	Rev. 20:2-3
25	He will be set free at the end of the millennium, if one believes in a literal millennium.	Rev. 20:7-10
26	He will empower an antichrist or man of lawlessness to work signs and wonders to empower a lie, to deceive people	2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 13:2-4

B.. Summary

Satan will be active for all of our lives until the Second Coming, when he too will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:7-10)

IV.. The Devil’s Playground

A.. Brief intro

Satan rules over the invisible kingdom of evil. Sometimes he manifests this kingdom to our human spirits, minds, and eyes. There are ways to protect yourself. Let’s learn how.

The Devil’s Playground
Scriptures Say No to the Devil’s Playground
1	Divination	Using dark ways to guess about the future and your life; it is linked with superstitions (Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 19:26; Is. 2:6)
2	Sorcery	Using spells and oaths to control. God promises to testify against sorcerers. (Deut. 18:10-11; Mal. 3:5)
3	Interpreting omens	Reading strange objects like animal entrails or bird flights or bird songs (Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 19:26)
4	Witchcraft	Much like sorcery, witches are generalists who occupy a hierarchy and practice all the dark arts (Deut. 18:10-11)
5	Casting spells	Speaking out verbal formulas to exert power over nature and people’s minds (Deut. 18:10-11)
6	Mediums and spiritists	They stand between the spirit world and the human and contacts evil spirits, which they are deceased relatives. God says he will cut people off from his people, if they seek mediums and spiritists who are in league with the god Molek, bloodthirsty satanic spirit. (Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 19:31)
7	Consulting the dead	Necromancy (Deut. 18:10-11)
8	Dark magic	Using signs and wonders to maintain a lie that deceives people (Deut. 18:10-11)
9	Magic spells	In each case Isaiah the holy prophet said that they ultimately cause terror, but they are destined to burn like stubble in the fire (Is. 47:12-13)
10	Astrology	Reading signs in the nighttime stars and planets (Is. 47:12-13)
11	Stargazing	Reading stars (Is. 47:12-13)
12	False prophets, diviners, false interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers	God says not to listen to them. They serve the king of Babylon, and Babylon represents the headquarters of evil. (Jer. 27:9)
13	Death penalty or salvation (see below).	Yes, the Old Covenant Scriptures (Old Testament) says to put these practioners of the dark arts to death, but this penalty is designed to teach us how seriously God takes these issues and opposes these practices (Ex. 22:18; Lev. 20:27). The NT offers a better solution (see below).
Purpose of the Dark Arts
14	They are calculated to figure out the future.	Gen. 44:15; 1 Sam. 38:5-7; Dan. 2:27; Dan 2:27 But only God has the future in his hands, so depend on him.
15	They are supposed to control the future.	Gen. 30:14; Num. 23:23 But depend on God, not the dark arts.
16	But the ultimate goal is for Satan to exercise as much power over people’s minds and souls as possible. Satan is referred to as a god	2 Cor. 4:4 We need to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus and live in him. God promises to destroy Israel’s witchcraft and the casting of spells. Darks arts can destroy people today, too. (Mic. 5:12)

V.. Terminology of Oppression

A.. Brief intro

I use the Greek lexicon of the New Testament called BDAG, which is an abbreviation for the four main editors who added to it over the decades: Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich. Many consider it authoritative. It is a remarkable achievement in any case.

B.. Eight Key words

1.. Diamonizomai: this verb is pronounced dye-mo-NEE-oh-my.

It is used 13 times,12 times in the synoptic Gospel, and once in the Gospel of John (10:21). Greek has the ability to add the suffix -ize- to a noun or adjective and turn it into a verb. Borrowing this ability from Greek, we can also do this in English: modern to modernize and theology to theologize. The Gospel writers attached the suffix to daimōn (pronounced dye-moan), which means “demon” or “evil spirit.”

Now let’s go for a more formal definition. BDAG defines the verb as follows: “be possessed by a hostile spirit.” Simple and clear. However, if you’re not satisfied with this definition because it is too narrow, then translating the verb can be difficult, but in my own translation of Matthew through Acts, I used “demonized” in order to allow the reader to sort out the degree of the control or oppression or possession or attack. So I simply duplicated the Greek by adding the suffix -ize- to the noun “demon.”

Here is an extreme example.

The most terrible case is the Gerasene demoniac (Matt. 8:28-34 // Mark 5:1-20 // Luke 8:26-39). He was totally possessed to the point of bruising himself with stones (self-harm), running around naked, breaking chains, living in the tombs, and scaring passersby. He was possessed by a legion of demons. This legion owned him. People stayed away, but Jesus approached. Mark and Luke say the man ran right up to Jesus but fell at his feet, shrieking. Jesus set him free.

The other cases of being demonized vary in different degrees. Only the context can determine the meaning of daimonizomai, but the context is not always very helpful. The victims often shriek and fall or throw themselves on the ground or sometimes into the fire or water (Mark 9:22). Thus the term is so broad that it is difficult to know with precision how deep the demonic control is. Sometimes the Gospels portray severe control, by which the human loses his ability to stop it on his own. The demon manifests itself, and a severe reaction occurs beyond the victim’s control, yet he is not as bad off as the Gerasene demoniac, who was possessed or owned by a legion of demons. So his extreme case does not seem to represent others.

Further, it is hard to sort out how the spirit world interacts with the mind, which is ensconced in the brain (body), though ultimately separate. What is the interaction between a spirit being, the mind, and the physical brain?

Let’s keep going to see if we can have more clarity.

2.. Echo: This verb is pronounced eh-khoh,

It is the extremely common verb meaning “have” or “hold,” appearing 708 times. However, in the context of “have a demon,” it is used in Mark and in Luke and Acts 10 times: Mark 3:22, 30; 7:25; 9:17; Luke 4:33; 7:33; 8:27; Acts 8:7; 16:16; 19:13. The two verbs “demonized” and “have a demon” are used interchangeably in Luke 8:27, 36, for example. So it looks like the two terms are synonyms. Therefore, I see no substantive clarity between the two verbs to describe the degree of demonic influence or control. Context will have to guide us.

3.. Katadunasteuō: this verb is used only twice: Acts 10:38 and James 2:6.

It is pronounced kah-tah-doo-nah-STEW-oh. The prefix kata denotes a downward action and often adds a negative nuance when it is a prefix. Example: the verb for “judge” is krinō (pronounced kree-noh), and the verb for “condemn” is katakrinō. The main part of the verb, –dunasteuō, has some rich cognates with revealing definitions, such as “able to,” “ability,” “capability,” “power,” “might,” “strength,” or “force” (etc.) But let’s not over-apply those definitions from the related words to this one verb. I note them just to see the range of definitions of the entire word group.

Instead, let’s define katadunasteuō more strictly. BDAG says it simply means: “oppress, exploit, dominate.”

Acts 10:38 is relevant to this post because Peter summarizes Jesus’s entire deliverance ministry as “healing” all those who were “oppressed” by the devil. The NIV has “under the control of.” The Holman translation says “under the tyranny of.” Most of the others say “oppressed.”

Since the verb appears in a summary of Jesus’s whole ministry, the context of the Gospels still has to determine how deep the control went in each demonized human. Possession? Oppression? Control? Attack? The contexts often portray severe control, but not as bad as the Gerasene demoniac, which looks like a special case of a legion of demons. But beyond this one case, it is difficult, with this verb, to be precise about the severity of the control in the other ones.

4.. Plēroō: It is a common verb for “fill” and is pronounced play-RAH-oh.

It is used in Acts 5:3 when Peter asked Ananias, “Why has Satan filled your heart?” BDAG has many definitions, but relevant to Acts 5:3 is “fill.”

Since it occurs 86 times, it appears in many different contexts and can also mean “fill” with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52; Eph. 5:28) or with joy (2 Tim. 1:4). The boy Jesus was “filled” with wisdom (Luke 2:40). Its most common usage means to “fulfill” (as in Scripture is “fulfilled,” found in many verses). Another definition is “complete” (2 Cor. 10:6).

Back to Acts 5:3. Evidently, Satan filled Ananias’s heart to overflowing to lie to the Holy Spirit. The question remains: was he converted or saved or born again when Satan filled his heart? Does “fill” = “possess”? If so, how can Satan do this when the Spirit occupied Ananias’s born-again heart? He certainly does not seem as bad off as the other cases who were oppressed by the devil in the synoptic Gospels. He was not thrown into a fire or water (Mark 9:22). No, Satan’s attack compelled Ananias to act deceitfully, so his mind was under the influence of Satan; the man was filled by the evil spirit to lie to the Spirit.

Why Did Ananias and Sapphira Drop Dead?

5.. Deō: This verb is used 43 times and pronounced DEH-oh.

BDAG defines it as follows: “To confine a person or thing by various kinds of restraints, bind, tie.” Second definition: “To tie something to something, to tie to an animal” (e.g. Matt. 21:2, Mark 11:2, 4; Luke 19:30). Third definition: “To constrain by law and duty” (Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:27). This third definition refers to marriage. Fourth definition: “bind and loose” (Matt. 16:19; 19:18), which means to permit or prohibit.

For this post, Jesus met an older woman in a synagogue. Satan bound her for 18 years with a disabling spirit or a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11, 16). The first definition is relevant to the older woman bound by Satan, and BDAG confirms this by referencing this case under the first definition.

In various other contexts it can mean “bind up” the strong man (Matt. 12:29 // Mark 3:27). It is used in “binding” and loosing (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). Authorities can “bind” a prisoner with chains, as they did to Peter (Acts 12:6) and Paul (Acts 21:33; 22:29). Paul was “compelled” by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22). It can mean the “tie” of marriage (1 Cor. 7:27, 39). Satan is “bound” for a thousand years (Rev. 20:2).

Back to the older woman. Somehow Satan got ahold of her body and bent it forward. He controlled it, bound it, but does this mean the demon also controlled her mind? Possibly. She certainly must have been deeply discouraged. But she does not seem to have been as bad off as other cases, which portrays the victim as losing control of his body like convulsing or throwing him to the synagogue floor or even into fire or water. So once again, it is difficult to be precise since the cases are different and yet often severe.

6.. Kolaphizō: this verb is used 5 times and is pronounced koh-lah-FEE-zo.

BDAG defines it as follows: “To strike sharply, especially with the hand, strike with fist, beat, cuff.” Second definition: “To cause physical impairment, torment” which is used figuratively of an illness. The BDAG editors say that in Paul’s case (see below), the verb describes “painful attacks of an illness, described as a physical beating by a messenger of Satan.” Scholars have guessed what the disease is, one guess being a speech impediment. But no firm conclusion has been reached.

In the other four contexts, Jesus was beat with fists (Matt 26:67; Mark 14:66). Paul was brutally treated (1 Cor. 4:11); Slaves can receive an unjust beating from a harsh master, even when they do well (1 Peter 2:20).

The relevant verse is 2 Corinthians 12:7, which says that Satan beat or tormented Paul’s body. So does this mean illness? BDAG, as noted, concludes that it does and cites many cases of physical illnesses in Greek writings, all outside the New Testament.

However, while it may be true that BDAG says Paul’s body was struck by a physical ailment of some kind, but what if the term could mean constant, severe persecution? The context from 2 Corinthians 11 seems to indicate this. Also, Paul refers to his torment as a thorn in his flesh. The nations that harassed Israel were thorns in its side (Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:13). Paul could have borrowed from those two verses in the Old Testament. Recall that Paul said he had been brutally treated (1 Cor. 4:11). So the thorn could mean severe persecution.

Yet the bulk of the evidence seems to suggest a physical ailment. Maybe Paul did have a speech impediment. After all, Moses did (Exod. 4:19). However, Paul was the main speaker instead of Barnabas (Acts 14:12). So this is probably not the right answer. Yet physical ailment keeps commending itself because Paul said he had one when he arrived in Galatia (Gal. 4:14). In this verse there is no doubt what the Greek says: fleshly / bodily infirmity / weakness. Something was bothering his body.

So which is it in 2 Corinthians 12:7? Physical illness or persecution? Satan can attack or beat or torment the body either by persecution and brutal beatings or by a bodily weakness, an illness. Yet because of Galatians 4:14, the scales tip slightly in favor of a physical infirmity or bodily weakness which Satan had weaponized against the apostle.

7.. Katalambanō: this verb is pronounced kak-tah-lahm-bah-noh and is used 15 times.

BDAG defines the verb as (2) “to gain control of someone through pursuit, catch up with, seize.” It is mostly used of evil taking over some, seizing with hostile intent. In Mark 9:18, right after the Mount of Transfiguration, a demon seized a boy and threw him to the ground. He foamed at the mouth and gnashed his teeth and became rigid. This looks like full possession. Jesus set him free.

8.. Lambanō: it is a very common verb (used 258 times) and is pronounced lahm-bah-noh.

It’s basic meaning is to take, but it can also mean arrest or seize. In Luke 939, again right after the Mount of Transfiguration, the same boy was seized by an evil spirit. The boy screams and throws him into convulsions, so that he foams at the mouth. The demon was destroying the boy. This looks like full possession. Jesus rebuked the spirit and healed the boy.

B.. Summary

The common belief that there is only one verb (daimonizomai) for oppression or possession or control or attack is inaccurate. There are at least seven more verbs. Also, in some cases possession is a legitimate translation of daimonizomai and “have a demon.” The Gerasene demoniac is the case in point. Other cases seem severe enough to also be called possession or ownership. Yet it is easy to dispute with this latter conclusion because the human does not seem to be totally owned in other cases. It is difficult to know where to draw the line.

No doubt there are other verbs than the ones discussed here. What do possession, oppression, control, influence, seize, or attack mean in all the verses in the Gospels and Acts and 2 Corinthians?

The Gadarene demoniac was possessed by a legion of demons. The other cases varied widely, but not too widely for us to draw firm lines between them. The synoptic Gospels indicate cases of severe attacks, like victims losing control of their minds and bodies and being thrown down to the floor and convulsing or even being thrown into fire or water. This looks like possession to me. However, in the case of the woman with a disabling spirit, who was bent double, demonic affliction was physical. She may not have lost control of her mental faculties, but she surely must have been discouraged.

The summary verse of Acts 10:38 seems to bundle all of the demonic cases in the synoptic Gospels under the long verb katadunasteuō. So how is this verb distinguished from the other verbs? Since it appears in a summary verse, the answer is not clear (to me at least).

Sorry I can’t give you the Grand Answer that clarifies all questions about possession or oppression or control or influence or attack. Maybe the answer is the one I have alluded to throughout this post. Let the context decide.

The interaction between (1) the body, (2) the mind which is temporarily ensconced in the brain (body), and (3) an evil spirit is mysterious. We have all felt some sort of a demonic attack on some level, at some time during our lives (I certainly have). Defining the terms is difficult for Bible teachers, for answers are hard to come by.

And so the bottom line is this: in terms of practical ministry, what is more relevant than sorting out the nuances of the verbs is the soul and body of the person being attacked by a demon or demons and how deep the attack goes because the person gives the demon or demons access.

The most important point is to set demonized people free in Jesus’s name, as Christians did in Acts.

VI.. Satan Communicates with Jesus

A.. Brief intro.

The Spirit led Jesus out to the wilderness for the purpose of being tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1-11 // Luke 4:1-13). A little theology, Jesus was tempted in his human nature, not his divine nature (Jas. 1:13).

B.. Verbs in each Gospel

So what verbs are found that express Satan communicating with Jesus? I won’t go into the Greek, since the verbs are so common.

1.. Matthew’s Gospel:

Said, took him to a high place and stood him there, showed,

2.. Luke’s Gospel:

said, led, stood him, showed.

C.. Interpretation

Clearly Satan had access to Jesus’s mind on some level. Satan had the power to show him all the kingdoms of the world. So there was an effort to influence, that is, tempt Jesus. Of course he successfully resisted the temptations.

D.. Some humility

Since I am not clear in the details about the metaphysics of these communications, that is, how an evil spirit being can communicate with the sinless Son of God, I cannot offer any more clarity than the words “influence” or “tempt.”

E.. Application

All I can say is that if Satan communicated to the sinless human mind of Christ, then Satan can sure communicate with our sinful minds. He can sure tempt and influence our minds.

VII.. Our Victory over Satan

A.. Brief intro.

This table summarizes the victory of God through his Son that we have over Satan and his demons.

We Already Have Victory over Satan
1	God has power over him.	Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-6; Luke 22:31-32
2	Christ’s disarming Satan was prophesied in Eden.	Gen. 3:15
3	Christ came to destroy him and his works.	1 John 3:8
4	Satan’s destruction is demonstrated in Christ’s victory over Satan’s temptation	Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
5	Satan’s destruction was demonstrated by Christ’s driving out demons and by his victory on the cross.	Luke 4:40-41; Luke 10:18; Luke 11:20-22
6	Christ already bound the strong man (Satan)	Matt. 12:29
7	The cross of Christ guaranteed or sealed his defeat.	John 12:31-33; Col. 2:15; Rev. 12:11
8	We must pray daily for deliverance and protection.	Matt. 6:13; Luke 11:4
9	We must serve the Lord.	1 Tim. 5:13-15
10	We must resist his temptations by being in Christ.	1 Cor. 7:5
11	We must submit to God and then resist the devil.	Jas. 4:7
12	We must raise up the shield of faith.	Eph. 6:16
13	Repentance and knowing the truth about Jesus and the gospel takes us out of the snares of the devil.	2 Tim. 2:24-26
14	We have overcome (past tense) the evil one.	1 John 2:13
15	We overcome him by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony about Christ.	Rev. 12:10-11
16	Christ prays for the victory of our faith.	Luke 22:31-32
17	Certain fallen angels were put in prison.	2 Pe. 2:4
Final Victory over Satan
18	Satan’s defeat was prophesied by Paul.	Rom. 16:20
19	Final defeat at Christ’s return and judgment.	Matt. 25:31; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10; Rev. 20:14
20	Satan and his demons will be thrown in the lake of fire.	Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:7-10

B. Summary

We do not need to fear Satan or demons. Our victory is assured both now in our life and by God, in the future.

VIII.. Reflections

A.. No fear

Now you can grow in Christ is not to obsess over the spirit world or be frightened of Satan and his demons. You can have victory over them in every moment of every day.

B.. Follow Jesus

The best way is to follow Jesus’s example, when he was attacked (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). He used Scripture. When I was repeatedly attacked, I did not rebuke Satan at every minute, though sometimes I did have to rebuke a spirit. The real victory came when I submitted to God (Jas. 4:7) and quoted Eph. 6:16, which speaks of a shield of faith that quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy. So every day I quote it and pray like this: “Lord, today I lift up over my mind a shield of faith, which quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy.” Then I may tack on “particularly against spirits of despair, anxiety, discouragement, fear” (and other things). And it works! The Satanic influence on my mind is minimal, barely and rarely felt. You cannot fight Satan by natural methods, like intellectualizing the thoughts you have. Fight like Jesus! Use Scripture and submit to God’s will.

C.. Follow these more detailed steps.

1.. Repent

If there is sin in your life, you need to repent. Pray this prayer: “Father, in Jesus’s name, I renounce and repent of my involvement in darkness and spirits and occultic practices. I renounce and repent of my habitual involvement in other sins.” Name your sins specifically.

2.. Surrender to Jesus’s Lordship.

Causing Satan to leave is through your discipleship. You first need to receive Jesus Christ into your heart. Pray this prayer: “Father, in Jesus’s name, I repent of all my sins. I confess that Jesus is Lord. I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. He has all authority. He has all authority in my life. I surrender my entire life to his Lordship. I now choose the light of Jesus and oppose the darkness of Satan.”

3.. Command Satan or a demon to leave.

Pray this prayer: “In Jesus’s name I rebuke Satan and evil spirits plaguing my mind. I command them to leave. In Jesus’s name, go! But sometimes when a wicked thought crosses your mind, ignore it. You don’t have to rebuke every thought; otherwise you will become self- or demon-focused. Bad idea. If the though won’t go, however, find a mature believer and seek a prayer of deliverance with him.

4.. Pray to receive the power of the Spirit (Luke 11:11-13).

You can even ask God to give you a prayer language (Acts 2:1-4). Pray this prayer: “Father, in Jesus’s name I receive the fullness and baptism in the Holy Spirit. Fill my heart and give me the gift of your prayer language.”

5.. Memorize some key Scriptures.

Start with this one, and pray it out loud: “Father, I lift up over my mind ‘the shield of faith, which quenches the fiery arrow of the enemy’” (Eph. 6:16).

Scripture is better than consulting servants of Satan.

¹⁹When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. (Is. 8:19-20)

Stick with God’s word (v. 20).

6..Share your faith

Now go out and share what God has done for you to a mature believer, like a pastor or Bible study leader.

7.. Church

Go to a good Spirit-filled, Bible-teaching church that preaches the Word of God. Attend regularly.

8.. Life of purity

This will go a long way to keep your heart intimate with God and your mind from being doubled or split. If you have one part of your mind in the world and Satan’s kingdom and the other half in God’s kingdom, then you will live a confused life.

D.. Important Scripture

⁷ Submit to God; resist the devil, and he shall flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he shall draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinner, and purify your hearts, doubleminded. (Jas. 4:7-8)

Those two verses teach us to submit to God, then resist the devil. If you are not surrendered to God, then Satan has easier access to your mind. This explains why unbelievers are constantly attacked. Now, however, thanks to the cross of Jesus, you are free from demonic oppression and the power of sin, and you are liberated to live for Christ and be more like him.

2 Satan and Demons: Questions and Answers

LONGER POST

20 Demonology: Doctrine about Demons

ARTICLES IN CONCISE THEOLOGY

Introduction to Concise Theology

The Bible: Basics

General and Special Revelations and Moral Law

1 The Trinity: The Basics

2 The Trinity: Questions and Answers

3 Scriptures on the Trinity

God the Father

One Hundred and Fifty-One Biblical Descriptions of God