I haven't written or spoken much about the devil during my years of pastoral and
internet ministry. In some churches where I have been invited to preach there
has been a suggestion that it is a taboo subject - you know "We don't talk about
that here." Well, perhaps we should, and I intend to
- controversial or not - because I experienced a major attack for the first time
in my life and I want to share that with you.
We all know about the love of God and there are some passages in the Bible about
the devil. Like 1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." God is real to
us and that is the very basis of our faith. But the devil? Does it exist or is
this symbolic or a biblical myth to scare us? Do we really understand the power
of the devil and the authority we have in the name of Jesus Christ to defeat it
and be victorious? If not, then here is a reminder.
Laying in my hospital bed in a private ward one night, recovering from surgery,
I put out the light preparing to sleep. There was still some light from the
passageway. As soon as I closed my eyes, the ward was full of horrible black
demon-like creatures, chattering and crawling toward me. I opened my eyes and
they disappeared. Closed my eyes and they reappeared. This happened several
times until I fell into a restless sleep.
The next night, on putting out the light, a dark, leering, ugly face appeared
before me and gradually got closer until its nose was touching my nose. I opened
my eyes and it vanished, closed my eyes and it reappeared. This happened several
times until I realised that for the first time in my life I was knowingly under
satanic attack. For nearly nine years I had been writing and emailing Word for
the Week and each morning Vera and I covered that program with prayer,
specifically against satanic attack. But in my hospital bed, alone in the ward,
not in the pink of condition but certainly not suffering from drug-induced
hallucinations, it was time for the devil to do the 'roaring lion' bit. Here was
Ron Clarke, recovering from major surgery and about to start writing again -
this time with a new lease of life at age 73. Someone to devour?
My eyes remained closed as I stared out the apparition. I prayed: "I come
against you in the name of Jesus Christ. Go." I waited. We stared, eyeball to
eyeball. After a few moments the face gradually moved away and finally
disappeared. I have not been troubled again and, praise be to God, He has
allowed me to start writing again.
Does the devil exist? Believe it. Do we have the power to banish the devil from
us? Believe that too, invoking that authority by calling on the name of Jesus
Christ. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you." (James 4:7)
Dwight L. Moody (1837–1899), the American evangelist and the chief spokesman for
the revivalist wing of the flourishing American evangelicals of his day, said:
"I believe Satan to exist for two reasons: first, the Bible says so; and second,
I’ve done business with him."
Have a good and victorious week, Pastor Ron NOTE: As the work of Satan and his
demons requires understanding, I have included the Bible study for all
recipients this week.
Word for the Week Page 2 LIFE ISSUES HOME BIBLE STUDY PROGRAM Relating the Word
of God to the realities of life. This week’s ‘Word for the Week’ study message:
AND THE DEVIL WILL FLEE
* Read Matthew 4:1-11 (key verse 1). Satan even tempted Christ himself. This
temptation by the devil gave Jesus the opportunity to reaffirm God’s plan for
his ministry. It also gives us an example to follow when we are tempted to give
up. Jesus’ temptation was an important demonstration of his humanness and
sinlessness. He faced temptation, but he did not give in. Satan is a fallen
angel. He is real, not symbolic, and he is constantly fighting against those who
follow and obey God. Satan’s temptations are also real. He is always trying to
get us to live his way or our way rather than God’s way.
* Read Mark 1:21-28 (key verse 27). Many psychologists dismiss all accounts of
demon possession as a primitive way to describe mental illness. Although
throughout history mental illness has often been wrongly diagnosed as demon
possession, clearly a hostile outside force controlled the man described in Mark
1. Mark emphasized Jesus’ conflict with evil powers to show his superiority over
them, so he recorded many stories about Jesus driving out evil spirits. Jesus
didn’t have to conduct an elaborate exorcism ritual. His word was enough to send
out the demons.
* Read Luke 9:37-45 (key verse 30). Jesus confronted demons with absolute
authority. These demons recognized Jesus and his authority immediately. They
knew who Jesus was and what his great power could do to them. Demons, Satan’s
messengers, are powerful and destructive. Still active today, they attempt to
distort and destroy people’s relationship with God. Demons and demon possession
are real. It is vital that believers recognize the power of Satan and his
demons, but they are powerless against those who trust in Jesus. If we resist
the devil, he will leave us alone.
* Read Ephesians 6:10-18 (key verse 12). The enemy is unseen, but the struggle
is personal. These enemies who are not “flesh and blood” are demons over whom
Satan has control. They are not mere fantasies—they are very real. We face a
powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ’s church. When we believe in
Christ, these beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us
away from him and back to sin, depression or failure. Although we are assured of
victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns because Satan is
constantly battling against all who are on the Lord’s side. We need supernatural
power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this by giving us his Holy Spirit
within us and his armour surrounding us.
* Read James 4:1-10 (key verse 7). God has already defeated Satan (Revelation
12:10-12), and when Christ returns, the devil and all he stands for will be
eliminated forever (Revelation 20:10-15). Satan is here now, however, and he is
trying to win us over to his evil cause. With the Holy Spirit’s power, we can
resist the devil, and he will flee from us.
"There are two great forces at work in the world today: the unlimited power of
God and the limited power of Satan." Corrie Ten Boom (1892–1983)
This is one of a series of weekly messages of encouragement, now in its ninth
year, originating from Snug, near Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. A companion Bible
study page is available each week. To subscribe email w4w@tassie.net.au with the
words 'subscribe word' (or) 'subscribe word and study'. Our ministry is free and
mailing lists are confidential. Tell a friend - we welcome new subscriptions.
Pastor Ron Clarke JP w4w@tassie.net.au
www.pastornet.net.au/word4week
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