The Good News

We do not need to be afraid of the Devil or his angels. “In all these things, we are more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37). God does not lose any battle, and he is fighting for us. There is no temptation that can win out over you if you rely fully on the Holy Spirit. God will make a way of escape, that you will be able to bear it (1 Cor. 10:13). And we also have the body of Christ to help by keeping us accountable and lifting us up in prayer.

Jesus did not come to give us bad news. When Jesus was starting his ministry, he gave an “inaugural address” of sorts in the synagogue of his hometown in Nazareth. “The Spirit has anointed me,” he said reading Isaiah 61, “to proclaim good news” (Luke 4:14-21). Some of that good news was “to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

God is on our side. There is no battle we cannot win. If Satan is oppressing us, demonizing us, the power of Jesus can set us free. As we have seen, every demon Jesus cast out was an indication that the kingdom of God was arriving on the earth as it is in heaven (Luke 11:20). Every victory reflected the fact that Satan was being dethroned as the prince and “god” of this age (Luke 10:18; 2 Cor. 4:4).

Satan has no power next to Christ. “In Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Col. 2:9). He has triumphed over all powers and authorities, making a spectacle of them on the cross (Col. 2:15). He is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Eph. 1:21-23).

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4). There is no addiction, no temptation, no oppression, no lie of the Devil that cannot be overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not have to live lives of spiritual defeat. We have the Holy Spirit at our side and the body of Christ to war with us. Far greater is the one who is in you than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Jesus has given us an astounding authority on the earth in the church. Jesus said to his disciples, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:19). This authority is not just for the twelve disciples but for all who follow Christ. Believers have been given authority in Jesus' name to stand against the works of the enemy.

We have seen that God has given us the armor of God also for this fight. Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the full armor of God, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. God has equipped us to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Meanwhile, both Christ and the Spirit are interceding for us in the battle. Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us. Jesus himself is actively advocating for us. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is interceding for us with groans that could not be captured in human language (Rom.8:26).

And the Spirit is with us. John 14:16-17 speaks of the Holy Spirit as the Helper, Comforter, and Spirit of truth who dwells within us. The Holy Spirit guides, teaches, and empowers us to live victoriously. We have the power of prayer to access him. James 5:16 reminds us that “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Prayer is a vital tool in spiritual warfare.

Ultimately, Christ will return and put a final end to the oppression of Satan and his demons. The forces of evil will finally be at an end. So shall we ever be with the Lord.