LIKE A ROARING LION

                                                 

 “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion

looking for someone to devour.”

Many believers recognize the power of Satan in the world and feel that they are absolutely no match for his craftiness, power, or persistence. If Satan was clever enough and strong enough to get sinless Adam and Eve to listen to him (Genesis 3:1-7), how can we expect to be able to resist him ourselves? Satan was also able to cause

Peter to challenge Jesus right after he had made a resounding confession of faith in Him (Matthew 16:21-23). Later, Satan led Peter to deny that he even knew Jesus at the very time when everyone else was also forsaking Him (Luke 22:31, 54-62). Satan was also able to get Judas, one of Jesus’ chosen disciples, to betray Jesus in a way that led to His death (Luke 22:3). And in the early church Satan tempted Ananias and Sapphira to lie publicly to the Holy Spirit, bringing shame and dishonor to the early believers (Acts 5:3-11).

Already in the Old Testament Satan was also active in tempting, luring, and leading some of the strongest believers into folly, sin, and shame (See, for example, the failures of David in 2 Samuel 11:1-27 and 2 Samuel 24:1-17) and those of Solomon in 1 Kings 11:1-13.) And when an angelic messenger was sent by God to Daniel, one of Satan’s fallen angels was able to delay this messenger for a total of 21 days (Daniel10:12-13).

Since Satan is so strong and we are often so weak, it may seem that Satan is able to keep us from walking with the Lord or living a life that is pleasing to Him. And what is worse, we may feel that there is nothing we can do about it. But this is absolutely not true! It is true, of course, that Satan can tempt us to disobey or distrust God. And it is also true that he and his fellow demons will try to make us sin and fall. But he definitely cannot make us disobey God or live contrary to His will.

Consider thoughtfully the following passages.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. . . . You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:3-4

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. . . . so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. . . . In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. . . . And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Ephesians 6:10-18

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him;

he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:913

“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of

God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.” 1 John 5:18

These passages do not teach that believers will never fall into sin, but they do clearly teach that victory over sin and Satan is always possible if we sincerely and humbly seek the Lord’s power to resist temptation and earnestly desire to do His will. Satan would like to have us believe otherwise. He would be pleased if he could get us to believe that it is impossible for us to resist him or to win a victory over temptation.

God, however, has given us abundant reason to believe that victory is possible. And he has also promised that walking with Him and living for Him will always bring us greater joy and blessing than any sin could ever provide.

Some people may also refer to other passages in the Bible which may at first seem to teach that we can never be victorious over sin and evil. However, all such passages should be interpreted and understood in the light of the many positive passages which assure us that God wants us to walk with Him and enables us to do so.


Happy reading.
Ref: Christian Leaders Institute.