Lesson 4: God’s Power Destroyed Satan

1 John 3:8 - "Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

One of the biggest reasons why Jesus came to this earth was not only to save us from our sins, but to also come and destroy the one who instituted sin, satan. This is the great news of the cross of Jesus Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, He not only secured the possibility of forgiveness of our sins, but He stripped the devil of his power.

When it comes to the devil, we usually fall into two traps. One is to overemphasize him by blaming him for all our troubles. The other trap is to de-emphasize him by thinking he does not exist at all. The Bible is very clear. There really is a devil and he not only wants to kill you, he wants to deceive you all the way into hell.

Colossians 2: 9-10, 15 - "For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority…He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him."

The Bible is clear: Jesus stripped the devil of his power. The Lord exposed him, shattered him, and defeated him on the cross. You might be asking, "If the devil is defeated then why do we still get attacked?" As you read the Bible, you see that the devil is currently on death row awaiting his final sentence in the Lake of Fire. He only gets to do what God allows him to do. His sentence is final! This is why he is so furious in these last days! In fact, the proper Biblical way to think of satan is as a fallen creature with the head of a lion but a tiny rat body. I did not say that; the Bible did.


1 Peter 5:8 - “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

This is all part of satan's lies. He tries to get us scared of him and his big roar, thinking he has big power like God, but he does not. In comparison to God's power, the devil is just a tiny rat! In fact, the great preacher Charles Spurgeon says the same thing:

"What a remarkable picture to behold all the enemies of Christ totally disarmed. And satan has nothing left now with which he may attack us. He may attempt to injure us, but wound us he never can, for his sword and spear are utterly taken away. Be very courageous, remembering that you have to fight with a stingless dragon. He may hiss, but his teeth are broken, and his poison fang extracted. You have to do battle with an enemy already scarred by your Master's weapons. Every blow you give him takes its toll upon him, for he has nothing to protect him. Christ stripped him naked, divided his armor, and left him defenseless. The enemy may rush in upon you with hideous noise and terrible alarms, but there is no real cause for fear. Stand fast in the Lord. Rejoice in the day of battle, for it is not the end for you but the beginning of an eternity of triumph.”

I say that anyone who could reduce the devil to nothing but a roaring rat must be powerful. Do you agree?

* What lie from satan is the hardest for you to overcome?