I? rebuke you Satan?
I decided to write on the topic of people rebuking the devil(Satan). I have heard of people rebuking Satan and no matter what happens negetively in their life, it is the devil! So the answer: rebuke the devil! I don't think so. I am going to dig into scripture to see what the Bible says about this topic. Should we rebuke Satan? Lets find out!
First off, I just want to raise the question about Satan. Can Satan be everywhere at once(omnipresent)? Satan is a fallen angel (Rev 12:9). We know from the bible that angels are powerful. Also, Satan is called the prince of this world (John 21.31). As Christians, what do we do about this? Does the bible tell us to rebuke the devil and do battle with him mono-e-mono? Praise the Lord NO!
The devil has power absolutely. Just look at the sinful world we live in. A few verses came to mind:
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?
These two verses really help me understand that God is greater than Satan and if God is for us(believers), who can be against us? Did you notice that Rom 8:31 is in reference to Gods power and not ours. Just because God is for us does not mean that by our own might we are ready to do battle against Satan, demons, or the spiritaul realm. If it is you(me) against the devil by our own power, we are going to loose.
God limits satans power and God will allow Satan to do certain things in this world. Will God allow Satan to test believers? Absolutely. The book of Job is a great story in how a man that was walking with the Lord was tested, it was said that Job was blameless (Job 1:1). In Job Chapter 1, notice that Satan and his demons have access to Heaven and to God (Job 1:6). God and Satan are having a conversation about Job. Satan try's to tell God that Job only follows God because He has blessed Job. God allows Satan to test Job but only allows Satan to do certain things (Job 1:12). Chapter 1 and 2 go on to tell the story about God allowing Satan to test Job. When it looks like Job has been cursed by God, Job still did not blame God (Job 1:22). Satan continues to test Job in Chapter 2 and God allows it. Job continued to love the Lord and in the end of the book of Job, God blessed Job with two fold what he had before (Job 42:10). Why did God allow this? He was doing a work in Job all along to bless him in the end. Job had no idea that a conversation was going on with Satan and God about him. God allowed it to happen in the end to further bless Job, build his faith, let Satan fail, and for God himself to get the glory.
That was only one example of how God will allow us believers to be tested and God will allow us to be tested by satan. The Bible speaks about this subject many times and all you have to do is read your bible for more examples.
So God allows Satan to test believers. Job not once rebuked Satan. Job's friends were trying to convince him of many reason of why he was going through a bad season (if you will). God in the end told Job his friends were wrong.
So what? Job didn't rebuke Satan big deal. Maybe he should of! If that is what you are thinking, I want to draw your attention to the book of Jude. This is powerful 1 chapter book. Read it slowly! Jude 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!". Wow. That is powerful.
Michael, a big huge powerful archangel, a warrior angel, is having a conversation with Satan over the body of Moses and did not dare rebuke Satan but said, "The Lord rebuke you". If you didn't know, angel are more powerful than us and Michael is probably one of the most powerful warrior angels. Even he understands that it is not by his own power but by the Lord's power.
So if we cannot rebuke the devil by our own power what do we do? I would suggest that do not be children of darkness but be children of light. Too many Christians focus on the devil and "I rebuke you satan!". I would suggest focusing on the Lord. Here is some scripture to help you out.
James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
The answer is always the Lord. Submit to God and His Word and He will be faithful. Eph 6:12 tell us:
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world force of this darkness, against spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places}.
So oh no! The bible tells us not to rebuke Satan but that we struggle against dark spiritual forces. That simply means that some things that are going on in our life might have a spiritual significance in the spiritual realm in eternity or things that we cannot comprehend or understand. Need an example? Just like in the book of Job. Job didn't have a clue what was really going on.
What should we do? There could be spiritual things going on that I cannot comprehend, I cannot rebuke the devil/demonic forces, I am powerless, and subject to the be crushed if I am left to defend myself by my own power.
The answer: Jesus!
For our power and might does not come from ourselves but from God. Just as Michael the archangel's power came from the Lord and not himself. I want to leave you with letter you know how to combat spiritual attacks.
Put on the armor of God!
Eph 6:10-19
V10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armory of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view be on alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19
What is the Armor of God?
Belt of truth (v14) - Commit to live your life God's way.
Breastplate of Righteousness (v14) - Live holy today.
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (v15) - Relish our peace with God.
Shield of Faith (v16) - Unwavering trust in His Word and promises.
Helmet of Salvation (v17) - Looking to the future in Heaven.
Sword of the Spirit (v17) - Thorough the understanding of God's word.
How do you put on the armor? V18-19 Prayer! Pray for the spiritual needs of others and the evangelistic efforts of other believers!
In a spiritual battle put on the Armor of God and who is victorious in a spiritual battle? V10 The Lord fights victoriously and Satan does not listen to us. Notice our power comes from the Lord and by his might we are victorious.
In the end, whatever you are going through, put on the armor of God, pray, read your bible, give all the glory to God.
Give glory to the Lord,
do all things unto the Lord, and
praise his name in all things!
First off, I just want to raise the question about Satan. Can Satan be everywhere at once(omnipresent)? Satan is a fallen angel (Rev 12:9). We know from the bible that angels are powerful. Also, Satan is called the prince of this world (John 21.31). As Christians, what do we do about this? Does the bible tell us to rebuke the devil and do battle with him mono-e-mono? Praise the Lord NO!
The devil has power absolutely. Just look at the sinful world we live in. A few verses came to mind:
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?
These two verses really help me understand that God is greater than Satan and if God is for us(believers), who can be against us? Did you notice that Rom 8:31 is in reference to Gods power and not ours. Just because God is for us does not mean that by our own might we are ready to do battle against Satan, demons, or the spiritaul realm. If it is you(me) against the devil by our own power, we are going to loose.
God limits satans power and God will allow Satan to do certain things in this world. Will God allow Satan to test believers? Absolutely. The book of Job is a great story in how a man that was walking with the Lord was tested, it was said that Job was blameless (Job 1:1). In Job Chapter 1, notice that Satan and his demons have access to Heaven and to God (Job 1:6). God and Satan are having a conversation about Job. Satan try's to tell God that Job only follows God because He has blessed Job. God allows Satan to test Job but only allows Satan to do certain things (Job 1:12). Chapter 1 and 2 go on to tell the story about God allowing Satan to test Job. When it looks like Job has been cursed by God, Job still did not blame God (Job 1:22). Satan continues to test Job in Chapter 2 and God allows it. Job continued to love the Lord and in the end of the book of Job, God blessed Job with two fold what he had before (Job 42:10). Why did God allow this? He was doing a work in Job all along to bless him in the end. Job had no idea that a conversation was going on with Satan and God about him. God allowed it to happen in the end to further bless Job, build his faith, let Satan fail, and for God himself to get the glory.
That was only one example of how God will allow us believers to be tested and God will allow us to be tested by satan. The Bible speaks about this subject many times and all you have to do is read your bible for more examples.
So God allows Satan to test believers. Job not once rebuked Satan. Job's friends were trying to convince him of many reason of why he was going through a bad season (if you will). God in the end told Job his friends were wrong.
So what? Job didn't rebuke Satan big deal. Maybe he should of! If that is what you are thinking, I want to draw your attention to the book of Jude. This is powerful 1 chapter book. Read it slowly! Jude 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!". Wow. That is powerful.
Michael, a big huge powerful archangel, a warrior angel, is having a conversation with Satan over the body of Moses and did not dare rebuke Satan but said, "The Lord rebuke you". If you didn't know, angel are more powerful than us and Michael is probably one of the most powerful warrior angels. Even he understands that it is not by his own power but by the Lord's power.
So if we cannot rebuke the devil by our own power what do we do? I would suggest that do not be children of darkness but be children of light. Too many Christians focus on the devil and "I rebuke you satan!". I would suggest focusing on the Lord. Here is some scripture to help you out.
James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
The answer is always the Lord. Submit to God and His Word and He will be faithful. Eph 6:12 tell us:
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world force of this darkness, against spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places}.
So oh no! The bible tells us not to rebuke Satan but that we struggle against dark spiritual forces. That simply means that some things that are going on in our life might have a spiritual significance in the spiritual realm in eternity or things that we cannot comprehend or understand. Need an example? Just like in the book of Job. Job didn't have a clue what was really going on.
What should we do? There could be spiritual things going on that I cannot comprehend, I cannot rebuke the devil/demonic forces, I am powerless, and subject to the be crushed if I am left to defend myself by my own power.
The answer: Jesus!
For our power and might does not come from ourselves but from God. Just as Michael the archangel's power came from the Lord and not himself. I want to leave you with letter you know how to combat spiritual attacks.
Put on the armor of God!
Eph 6:10-19
V10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armory of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view be on alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19
What is the Armor of God?
Belt of truth (v14) - Commit to live your life God's way.
Breastplate of Righteousness (v14) - Live holy today.
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (v15) - Relish our peace with God.
Shield of Faith (v16) - Unwavering trust in His Word and promises.
Helmet of Salvation (v17) - Looking to the future in Heaven.
Sword of the Spirit (v17) - Thorough the understanding of God's word.
How do you put on the armor? V18-19 Prayer! Pray for the spiritual needs of others and the evangelistic efforts of other believers!
In a spiritual battle put on the Armor of God and who is victorious in a spiritual battle? V10 The Lord fights victoriously and Satan does not listen to us. Notice our power comes from the Lord and by his might we are victorious.
In the end, whatever you are going through, put on the armor of God, pray, read your bible, give all the glory to God.
Give glory to the Lord,
do all things unto the Lord, and
praise his name in all things!
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