The Devil Is Defeated, Despite What You See
The devil tries everything he can to make us feel defeated. For years, he’s pulled the same old tricks. Despite what you see and feel, trust God because we have victory through Him.
Satan targeted Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, and the other disciples in trying to trip them up. Jesus told Peter how he would fall, yet he still fell.
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31-32
Immediately, Peter came to his own defense. He let Jesus know under no circumstance would his faith fail. He would stand firm in his commitment to Jesus even unto death.
Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you. Luke 22:33
And why wouldn’t Peter think in those terms? He closely followed the Lord for over three years. He saw and experienced some fascinating things during that time, including the following.
Peter’s Experiences with Jesus
- One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Luke 9:1
- Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. . . . Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. Luke 9:28-30
- Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? Matthew 16:9-9
- Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water. Matthew 14:28-29
Jesus then revealed to Peter how his faith would falter. When we get on the defensive, we have a way of tuning out what others say. Maybe he didn’t hear what Jesus said to him next.
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Luke 22:34
Jesus revealed Satan’s plan to infiltrate the inner circle of His followers. Satan focused his attack on Peter. Getting Peter to turn his back on Jesus would’ve severely stained Christianity.
I find it interesting that Jesus revealed Peter’s downfall instead of doing something to stop it. We would react to news like that by commanding Satan to stay away. But Jesus didn’t do that.
God Permitted Satan to Sift Peter
Did you catch how He knew what Satan wanted to do? The Lord said, “Satan has asked to sift each of you.” It reminds me of what God allowed Satan to do to Job in the Old Testament.
So, obviously, God permitted Satan to sift at least one of the disciples. Since Jesus knew the devil and his defeated future, He only pleaded for Peter’s faith when he prayed.
I don’t doubt Peter’s sincerity in his commitment to going with Jesus to prison and even dying for Him. Peter, however, underestimated the tactics of the one wanting to sift him.
Satan used an unknown man and two servant girls to turn this dedicated apostle against his Lord.
The devil felt for sure that he had defeated Peter upon his third denial of Jesus.
Through intimidation and fear, Satan won a small victory that night when Peter denied the Lord. Jesus looked at him as soon as he did what he thought he would never do.
The Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. Luke 22:61-62
The Defeated Devil Tries to Defeat Us
The defeated devil tried his best to bring Peter down through imprisonments and beatings during his ministry. Peter repented after the Lord’s resurrection and never turned away from Him again.
His experience impacted him so much that the apostle warned others about it in his epistle.
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9
How much more do we need to guard our relationship with the Lord? How much more do we need to stay tuned to Him daily?
The devil thought he had defeated one of Jesus’ faithful followers. But because of Jesus’ love for Peter, he became a valuable asset. He strengthened the brothers just as Jesus had prayed for him.
Once, as a teenager, when going through a hard time, I needed the encouragement of another Christian. So I went to see one of my neighbors and asked her to pray for me.
As soon as I asked her, she burst into tears. Feeling sorry for herself, she wondered how God could possibly use her. The devil almost defeated her by making he feel worthless.
That day, God sent me to her, and she prayed. God lifted my burden and revealed His purpose to her. We both realized the value God had put on our lives.
Our salvation makes each of us a valuable asset to God’s Kingdom. Even though we may stumble or fall, we can call on Jesus to pick us up, and He will.
No Matter What, The Devil is Defeated
God has the same love for us that He had for Peter. I wonder how many times the enemy has asked permission to sift us? How many times has the old devil thought he had defeated us?
And maybe he did momentarily. But when we get up and turn back to the Lord, we remind that defeated devil of his future.
In fact, we can read about the enemy’s fate in the last couple of chapters of the Bible. It doesn’t matter about his title of Satan, the devil, or the enemy, Jesus defeated him at the cross.
Jesus said, “I am the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” The devil rose up against him, and from that day, he became defeated and sentenced to eternal damnation.
Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10
Lord, when the devil tries to sift us, help us to guard our faith. If we falter, we ask that you pick us up as we repent and return to you.
The enemy isn’t winning because God Is Still Out There, No Matter What Others Say.
A related post you may be interested in is called Now That Is Bad – To Be Banished From God’s Presence.
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