Introduction
When a child becomes ill with a virus or disease, they cannot see or comprehend what is happening internally on the microscopic level to make them sick. A child can only grasp what is perceived with the five senses—what they see, hear, taste, smell and touch. Those things are real to the child, while things like germs and bacteria do not seem real in comparison. Similarly, the spiritual realm can seem unreal to us because we cannot see or hear it. We might think that the devil and his demonic forces do not actually exist or seek to harm us, but that does not make them any less real. The devil (also known as Satan) is an angelic, powerful and influential being who seeks to accuse believers before God’s courtroom in the spiritual realm. He is our formidable and unrelenting accuser. With the help of his army of fallen angels, Satan attempts to deceive the whole world. His purpose for bringing legal cases against believers in the court of heaven is to deceive us and deny us the destiny that God has for us. Satan wants to thwart God’s plan for our lives.
The great news is that the devil can and will be defeated. Ultimately, he will be defeated by Jesus Christ when he is cast down into the lake of fire. Until then, we as believers can defeat the devil in the heavenly courtroom by relying on the blood of Christ, agreeing with the Word of God and submitting to the will of Christ. When we rely on Christ’s blood, we are legally applying His blood to our case because it covers all our sins. Christ paid the penalty for our sin so that we did not have to pay it. We need to remind the devil of that fact! Satan may bring a legitimate case against us by pointing out our failures. However, we should remember and believe that the Bible says God forgives our sin and removes it as far as the east is from the west. Scripture says God has a plan for us and that He can turn evil into good. Finally, we can defeat the devil by aligning ourselves with the will of Christ. When we do that, the devil cannot deny us the fulfillment of God’s destiny for our lives. We can walk in God’s purpose and calling and thereby experience victory and blessing.
Getting Started
1. What things are real but seem like they are not real, simply because you cannot see, hear, taste, smell or touch them?
2. What are some of the most successful lies that the devil and his army have used to deceive the world?
Let’s Get Personal
1. How have you seen the devil attempt to interrupt God’s destiny for your life?
2. Are there any Scriptures that you struggle to believe will defeat the devil? Why?
3. What does opposition from the devil look like in our daily lives? If you are not experiencing opposition from the devil, why do you think that is?
Take the Next Step
1. In light of this message, what areas of your life do you need to submit to the will of Christ?
2. What are some lies from the devil that you have believed? How does the Bible address those lies? Choose a passage of Scripture to memorize this week that addresses one of the lies you have believed.
3. In 1 John 1:9, it says that God forgives our sin when we confess our sin. How much has confession been a part of your spiritual walk with the Lord? How could you prioritize confession more?
4. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Job 1:1-12; Hebrews 12:24; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 1:9.
Renew Your Mind
“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”
Revelation 12:11