top of page

THE FOE, AVENGER, ACCUSER, DECEIVER, DESTROYER - THE DEVIL

Writer's picture: Olufunmilayo AdekusibeOlufunmilayo Adekusibe
 

Today’s Reading:

Ps. 8:2; 27:2; 30:1

Matt. 10:36

1Thess. 4:3-8;

Rev. 12:10-1

Matt. 27:62-64

2 Jn. 7-8

 


What do these terms have in common?  They are names the Bible used for the devil our No. 1 enemy.  Recognising that the times are wickedly evil, and for every Christian not to beat about the bush fighting the wrong enemies in 2024 and beyond, it is important for us to know our enemies. Paul rightly reminds us in Ephesians 6:10-18 that, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.  It is to prayerfully pull down strange altars and strongholds of arguments and everything that raised itself against the move of the power of God (Jud, 6:25; Jere. 1:10; 2 Corin 10; 4).


Below are brief explanations of the terms as it affects Christians:

  • The foe is the devil, a personal, superhuman evil, created being, and a fallen angel, without bodily material form.  Always seeks a human body to inhibit and perform his evil works. He is referred to in the Scriptures as the highest of all created archangels before his fall (Eze. 28:12-15).  He is man’s ancient enemy; he is always seeking to work his victim's woe.  His craft and power cannot be equal on earth, and he is armed with cruel and deadly hatred against man, especially against Christians (Ps. 8:2; 27:2; 30:1 AKJV). He is behind all who hold personal enmity, grudge, hatred, and malice towards others. But God is a mighty fortress and a bulwark to reckon with that can never fail those who trust in Him.

  • As the avenger, he is behind all who take revenge (Nu. 35:19; De. 19:12; Jos 20:3; 2 Sam. 3:27). The offender would be handed over to the devil to avenge a death, any other offense, or false accusation.  A person who inflicts punishment on an evil-doer for a wrong experienced, by himself, (Ps. 8.2), or by someone else, to redeem (Nu 35:12).

  • As a false accuser, Satan is behind all those who give false accusations against another, the accuser of believers (2 Tim. 3:3; Tit 2:3; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:10). He accuses brethren before God (Job 1:6, 2:1-8).  But in the face of satanic accusation, and based on His sacrificial death (Rom. 8:14) our Redeemer, Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God interceding for us so that the accuser will not succeed in condemning us. 

  • As the deceiver, the devil is behind those who deliberately misrepresent the truth about someone else, especially in moral and spiritual matters, to mislead others about such a person.  He is behind craftiness, betrayal, treachery (1 Sam. 19:17; 2 Kgs 9:23; Mk. 7:22; Rom. 1:29). The cheats, seducers of immoral behaviours and deceitful riches (Mt. 13:22), deceives with vain words (Eph. 5:6; Heb. 3:13); deceitful lust (Eph. 4:22). All of these lead the victim astray, or into error (Mt. 24:4-5, 11-24).  The source of all deceit and the chief deceiver is the devil, which is deceiving the whole world (Rev. 12:9; 20:3, 8, 10).  The ultimate goal is to align the false prophet into a union with the Beast to further the work of deception (Rev. 13:14; 19:20; 20:10).  The Antichrist himself, the man of lawlessness, will be energised by Satan to deceive many people through signs and false wonders (2Thess. 2:3-4, 8-10). Already, many deceivers are in the world who do not acknowledge the truth about Jesus Christ (2 John 7).  John calls them the forerunners of the real Antichrist, who is to come (1 John 2:18; 2 Jn 7).  Paul also warned that there are false apostles, deceitful workers who masquerade as apostles of Christ (2 Corin. 11:13; 2 Tim 3:13; Tit. 1:10). Also, in the latter days many will be deceived from their faith by deceiving spirit, and the doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1; NASB).

  • As the Destroyer, the devil aims to steal, kill, and destroy good things in a believer’s life.  At times God uses it as a weapon of punishment (Jud. 6).  For example,  a) the angel of death who destroyed the firstborn born of the Egyptians (Ex. 12:23; Heb. 11:28);  b) in connection with David’s sin for taking sensors in Israel (2 Sam 24:15-16);  c) in smiting the camp of the Assyrians (2Kgs. 19:35); and in the smiting of Herod in Acts 12:23.


With this information about the foe, what do I do?

  1. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ (Jn 3:3-5).

  2. Rely only on the Holy Spirit to strengthen you (Acts 1:8 AMPV; Eph. 6:10-18)

  3. Stand always in the victory won by our Lord Jesus Christ in spiritual warfare (Col. 1:13; Heb. 4:15; Rev. 20:10)

  4. Forgive those who offend you, take a bold step of faith to intercede for their salvation, and as much as possible be at peace with all (Rom. 12:18)

  5. Memorise Bible passages (warfare, praises, promises of God), they are your defensive and offensive weapons.  Read, Study, and meditate on the word of God (Jos.1-7)

  6. Be a prayer addict, pray all manner of prayer, pray in tongues (Phil.4:6-7; 1Thes 5:16-18); intercede for children, youths, and young adults; If your health permits, add fasting

  7. Have pity, show love to perishing souls, intercede for them, those in captivities and in bondage)

  8. Intercede for the Church leadership, the ministers, workers, and Christian families;

  9. Intercede for those in authority in Nigeria, and in all nations of the world.

 

To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud: Father, thank you for Jesus Christ. Forgive my sins, take control of my heart, and lead me in your righteous path by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  Thank You, Lord. Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor, or priest.

OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE


 

Prayer:

  1. I give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good, and His mercy abides forever.

  2. My soul and all within me will forever bless the holy name of the Lord, and I will not forget his benefit, goodness, and loving-kindness, in Jesus' name.

  3. Father, keep me and my family from the path of the foe, the avenger, the accuser, the deceiver, and the destroyer. Keep us always in Your secret place and You will forever be our God.

  4. Lord have mercy on me and my family, do not deliver us to the will of our enemies, because false witnesses have risen against us, and they breathe out cruelty

  5. Lord deliver me; deliver my family from the snare of the fowler, from the noisome pestilence.  Keep us from the path of the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by the day, the pestilence that walks in darkness, and the destruction that wastes at noonday, in Jesus' name.

  6. Lead me O Lord, because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me, in Jesus' name.

  7. Holy Spirit fill me afresh to overflowing, empower me, fill me with Your fire, and grant me Your enablement, Your anointment for your service, in Jesus' name.

  8. Father, rescue, save, and deliver all that are perishing, in captivities, and bondages, in Jesus' name.

  9. Father, thank you for Your intervention in the leadership of our nation and for giving a new lease of life to the poor, the orphans, the helpless, and the hopeless, in Jesus' name.

  10. Christ let Your kingdom come, let Your rule begin, and break with Your iron rod the tyrannies of sin.

8 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page