Overcoming Satan

One of the messages that I enjoyed and found very helpful recently is on God, Man, and Satan. The special emphasis on knowing Satan gave me a new light in dealing with him as God is still using Satan as an ugly tool to fulfill His need on this earth, especially in dealing with a naturally good man like Job, to strip him completely so as to rebuild him with Himself anew.

Who is Satan? Why is there Satan? What Satan has? These are questions that have been answered in the Bible. With this knowledge of Satan, we must also know that Satan has already been defeated by Christ.

Through His ministry on earth and His death on the cross, the Lord Jesus was victorious over Satan—1 John 3:8; Matt. 27:51-53; Col. 2:14-15; Heb. 2:14.

He who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

And behold, the veil of the temple was split in two from top to bottom, and the earth was shaken and the rocks were split, And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection and entered into the holy city and appeared to many. Matthew 27:51-53

Wiping out the handwriting in ordinances, which was against us, which was contrary to us; and He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. Stripping off the rulers and the authorities, He made a display of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:14-15

Since therefore the children have shared in blood and flesh, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death He might destroy him who has the might of death, that is, the devil. Hebrews 2:14 (Excerpt from the Crystallization-Study of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, Message Two)

But that's not enough. If the defeat of Satan were merely in doctrine it would not benefit the believers at all.  The general concept is that except for the Lord Jesus Christ no one can defeat Satan. Yes, that's true. But the full truth is, the Lord Jesus Christ as the life-giving Spirit is in the spirit of the believers. Therefore, by living in the mingled spirit, the believers can overcome Satan as well. This a great news and a big revelation!

I am glad that I was assigned to review this message. It helped me in studying the truths and this is also what I need to fully understand to experience it in my Christian life. I shared the same point when I was asked to give the strengthening word after the video training last Saturday.

Knowing the Believer’s Victory Over Satan  

As believers in Christ Jesus and children of God, we need to learn to be victorious in Christ over Satan—Eph. 6:12; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; 1 John 5:18.

We should not be ignorant of Satan’s schemes—2 Cor. 2:11. 

We need to put on the whole armor of God so that we may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil—Eph. 6:11. 

We need to be watchful against our adversary, the devil, who “as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking someone to devour”—1 Pet. 5:8. The word watch in 1 Peter 5:8 implies fighting; we are involved in a warfare, and we need to be vigilant.  If we are vigilant, we will withstand our adversary, being firm in our faith—v. 9: 1 Pet 5:9 Him withstand, being firm in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished among your brotherhood in the world.

The best way for us to be victorious over Satan is to live in the mingled spirit—1 Cor. 6:17; 1 John 5:18.

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.  1 Cor 6:17 

We know that everyone who is begotten of God does not sin, but he who has been begotten of God keeps himself, and the evil one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18  

There is only one place that Satan cannot invade—our spirit—2 Tim. 4:22. Whether or not we are under Satan’s authority is not determined by the things we do; rather, it is determined by whether we are in the spirit or in the flesh—Gal. 5:16-17. As long as we remain in the mingled spirit, we will be kept, and Satan will have no way with us—1 Cor. 6:17; 1 John 5:4-5, 18-21.  (Excerpt from the Crystallization-Study of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, Message Two)

This is the secret to overcoming Satan! 

Besides, we must also know the local church’s victory over Satan.  

Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Rom 16:20 

The crushing of Satan is related to the church life—the strongest means by which God overcomes Satan—vv. 20, 1, 16b. The Greek word rendered “your” in Romans 16:20 is plural; this points to the Body—12:5.  Romans 16 does not refer to the Body in a universal sense but to the local and practical expression of the Body. Dealing with Satan is a Body matter, not an individual matter. Satan can be crushed only under the feet of the practical expression of the Body in the local churches—12:5; 16:1, 4, 16b. It is only when we have a proper local church as the practical expression of the Body that Satan is crushed under our feet—v. 20. (Excerpt from the Crystallization-Study of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, Message Two)

Therefore, as we exercise to live in our mingled spirit where we are one with the Lord, the life-giving Spirit, we must also be in the practical church life in our locality, in oneness with the believers, standing together as and for the Lord's testimony. By these two simple ways, we can practically overcome Satan in our daily living. 

Hallelujah! Christ is Victor! And we are victors in Christ in the spirit in the church life!