40 Days of Prayer Blog: Day 6

Resisting Satan Through Prayer 

We see instruction on the defeat of Satan from Genesis to Revelation. In Genesis 3 we see that God cursed the Devil after the fall of Adam and Eve. Ultimately Jesus would crush Satan at the Cross. This speaks to the authority of God and that God will protect us and that Satan has NO authority over us. 

Jesus wouldn’t even let the demons speak in;

Mark 1:32-34 

When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city had gathered at the door. And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. Jesus did not allow them to speak. 

When Satan is attacking, he spews words of deceit, confusion and even violence. There are many teachers and preachers who will pray that God rebukes the enemy and forbidding him to speak or interrupt, causing disturbance or confusion. A simple and very effective prayer, just like Daniel in the Loins den. Lord, shut the mouth of the lion, please do not allow him to hurt your people.

God puts the devil in his place in more than one instance. 

Zechariah 3:2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

As you pray remember that Jesus came to defeat the devil and did so on the cross. 

1 John 3:8 

“...the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil”.

We know that we are in a spiritual battle…Ephesians 6 is where we find the armor of God and see that we are to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. 

Ephesians 6:12 

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.

There are many people who spend way to much time talking to and rebuking the devil, when really we should be praying to God that HE rebuke the Devil. We are told in scripture, not to rebuke Satan, but rather to resist him. 

The Bible does not give a Christian instruction or authority to rebuke the devil, we are however told to resist him. 

James 4:7

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

As we saw earlier in Zecheriah God is the one who rebukes the enemy, at a time when even one of the most powerful angels relied go the Lord to rebuke him. Where does this leave us as Christians? Satan we know is looking ultimately to steal, kill and destroy, but he will subtly step in and cause confusion. Instead of focusing on defeating the devil with a personal rebuke, our first response should be prayer, and our first prayer should be to Christ, asking that He rebuke Satan and that He would give us strength.

Hebrews 12:12

Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

Trust and know that Satan is a defeated foe, he has no authority over you. 

Prayed for you all this morning! 

Much love and blessings, Pastor Scott