Spiritual Warfare By Pete BriscoeSample

Sniff out evil

Can demons hurt me?

I get asked this question often, and my answer is, “That depends.”

In 1 John 5:18, he assures us, “ We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.”

The word “touch” means to handle, grab, or influence.

If you are in Christ, you are indwelled by Christ; and because Christ lives in you, an evil spirit never will!

But just because you’ve been lost to grace and just because Jesus has won the battle, that doesn’t mean Satan will stop trying to hurt you. He looks for vulnerabilities—for opportunities to intimidate, divide, and even wound or kill. Though the evil one can injure our bodies, our spirits are off-limits to his malevolence. Even in physical death, we experience intimacy with Christ!

Still, the question remains: What do we do when we sense evil stirring?

Some of our family dinners look like Norman Rockwell paintings. Most of them don’t. One night in particular, we were having a nice conversation when suddenly someone said something, someone else took offense, and off we went. I could smell the bully in my house.

I looked at my wife and I could tell she smelled it too. So I said, “Everyone stop. Stop. Stop! STOP!” Stunned silence. “I’m going to pray for a second, ‘Lord Jesus, I know you’re here. The evil one is trying to destroy and divide. Jesus, rescue us.’”

Even in Christ, Satan keeps after us because he’s a bully. In the presence of Jesus, he’s a wimpy bully; but he’s still a bully. He loves to divide, so he goes after families and churches.

Three things to consider:

• If you’re not in Christ, you’re on your own.
• If you’re in Christ, demons can’t influence you.
• And those who are in Christ can help those who are oppressed by demons.

Maybe you feel too small or inadequate to help someone who’s being oppressed by evil. Listen, we entered the world as wimps, but Christ lives in us and He possesses authority. In the presence of a greater strength, bullies become wimps; and Jesus is that greater strength. Everywhere you go, you bring with you Authority.

Who needs the Authority living through you?

Jesus, if I’m in Christ, I am not on my own. Show me who needs my help. I know the path from oppression to freedom is a road flanked with evil, so armor up my weaknesses. Rescue me from my own vulnerabilities. Let’s loosen chains by Your authority. Amen.

Reflection:

• What have I learned about Jesus’ power and authority?
• Who may need my help in finding freedom in Christ’s authority?

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