“I shook hands with the devil. I have seen him, I have smelled him and I have touched him. I know the devil exists.” (Romeo Dallaire, the Force Commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda during the genocide)

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters)

Main Old Testament references and allusions to Satan: Genesis 3:1-15, Job 1-2, Zechariah 3:1-3

Selected New Testament mentions: Luke 4:1-13, John 8:44 and 10:10, Acts 10:38, Romans 16:20, 2 Corinthians 11:14, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9, 1 John 3:8, Revelation 12:7-12 and 20:7-10

Mentions in Ephesians: 1:21, 2:1-3, 4:26-27, 6:10-18

Without telling us every detail that would satisfy our curiosity, and without any hysteria or fear-mongering, the Bible tells us that there is a spiritual enemy who is opposed to God and wants to destroy us. His weapons are sin, the Law, and death – we all succumb to temptation to sin, are condemned by God’s Law, and therefore cannot escape death. Jesus triumphed over all of these weapons, turning them against the enemy and using them for our good: He obeyed God perfectly and was tempted but without sin, the Law commended Him as faultless and He died to take the Law’s curse of sinners, and He laid down His life only to take it up again in triumph.

In the present time, when God is graciously allowing people to come to Him by faith, Christians should consider themselves to be in a warzone and should think and act accordingly. The enemy cannot defeat God’s purposes but he has two tactics he can use: deception and accusation.

Paul uses the picture of a Roman soldier’s armour to explain how God provides the protection we need. Every item refers to something that God has done for us.

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Questions:

• Why are the two dangers C.S. Lewis identified – disbelief and excessive interest – both dangerous? Which of them are your friends more likely to be at risk of?
• How does the summary of the devil’s tactics as “deception and accusation” agree with your own experience?
• In what ways do you think you are especially vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks?
• What have you found to be the best ways to grow in your confidence in the gospel?
• Along with believing and applying the truths of the gospel, what are the practical things we can do to help ourselves be less vulnerable?

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Recommended Resources:

• C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
• David Holden, Battle For The Mind
• David Devenish, Demolishing Strongholds
• Freedom in Christ course
• John Piper, The Fall of Satan and The Victory of Christ