Garwood Presbyterian Church

God's Promise of Victory Over Evil

The Power of God's Promises

Luke 10:18-20, I Peter 5:8-11, Rev. 12:7-12

1. As a Christian, We Should Not Be Afraid of Satan
   1. He is a created being, powerful, but finite and limited.
      1. God, though, is the Creator, and all powerful, all loving, and all holy.
      2. The devil began as beautiful, but turned bad through his pride, and wanted to be in charge of and to decide everything.
      3. Who is in charge of and decides things in your life, you or God?
   2. What he decided was that justice should prevail.
      1. Does this sound familiar? Do you demand justice in your life?
      2. Justice sounds good. We have a justice system on earth of courts, judges, and juries.
      3. However, if Satan had his way and God gave us justice, we would all be condemned in this life to misery, and to hell in the life to come.
2. God Made a Different Decision - That Mercy Would Triumph Over Justice
   1. The cross on which Jesus died shows us that God is a God of justice.
      1. Justice was served as Jesus paid the price for everyone's sins.
   2. But the cross also shows us the love of God.
      1. There He sacrificed Himself for the forgiveness of all of our sins.
      2. There He also provided for our healing, "and by His wounds we are healed".
   3. At the cross, Jesus also triumphed over and defeated Satan.
      1. Col. 2:15 and I John 3:8.
3. Therefore, We Can Live In the Victory of God Over the Devil. Here's How:
   1. First, be a Christian.
      1. I John 5:18, I John 4:4, and Luke 10:19.
   2. Be self-controlled, I Peter 5:8.
      1. Instead of out of control. This leads to feeling like a failure, which Satan uses to cause us to feel defeated.
   3. Be alert, I Peter 5:8.
      1. This means spiritually alert, & especially in prayer. We should pray Mat. 6:13 every day.
   4. Resist the devil, standing firm in your faith, I Peter 5:9.
      1. Confirm that your faith is in God, not in the devil.
   5. They overcame him by the word of their testimony, Rev. 12:11.
      1. Giving your testimony solidifies & strengthens your faith by which you defeat the devil.
   6. Do not fear death, Rev. 12:11.
      1. Replace your fear with your faith that God has given you eternal life.
   7. Do not be prideful.
      1. This was the main cause of Satan's downfall. See Ezekiel 28:12-17.
   8. Forgive
      1. Staying angry gives the devil a foothold in your life. See Ephesians 4:26-27.
      2. Forgiving gives us the victory over Satan.
   9. Put on the armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-17.
      1. Each piece, every day.

God promises Christians victory over Satan and all his forces of evil if we do what He says. God wants to give you victory over evil, and He will if you will follow after Him.