BATTLING THE GOD OF THIS WORLD
(This is blog 11 in the series “Names of Satan.”)
We have been looking at the names of Satan and what they show us about his person and character. He is our adversary and enemy (“Satan”), he accuses us of sin and slanders us before God (“Devil”) and he deceives and lies by appearing to be light and beauty (“Lucifer”). He wants to control the world. There is a group of names of Satan which describe his control of our present world system.
He is “The God of This Age/World” (2 Corinthians 4:4): “Whose minds the god of this age had blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” He works against the gospel, hardening hearts to God’s truth (Matthew 13:19-22). He blinds their minds (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10; Luke 8:12; Colossians 2:18). When they hear the truth, Satan tries to snatch it from their minds (Mark 4:15; Matthew 13:19). He can cause bondage (2 Corinthians 11:4), influence the mind (Genesis 3:15; Ephesians 6:10-20; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:13), control the mind (1 Corinthians 10:20; 2 Corinthians 4:4) and deceive, mislead and lie to people (1 Timothy 4:1, 6; 1 Kings 22:22-23; 2 Chronicles 18:20-23).
Demons carry out Satan’s commands and wishes. After enticing Adam and Eve to sin and getting authority over the world from them, Satan and his forces have continued trying to keep worship from God and getting it for themselves. They blind the minds of unbelievers (2 Cor 4:4) and snatch the Word from their hearts (Luke 8:12).
A name similar in meaning is “Ruler of this World System” (John 12:31): “Now the ruler of this world system will be cast out.” Jesus said this shortly before His crucifixion and resurrections. Jesus also said Satan is the Ruler of this World in John 14:30. He is the major influencer over our world. The whole world system is in his power (1 John 5:19).
Satan received this authority when Adam and Eve sinned, turning everything over to Satan. Now he and his demons do all they can to oppose God’s work (Revelation 2:13). Since they can’t attack God, they take their anger out on those who are God’s — His people (Jews and Christians today). They hinder our work (1 Thessalonians 2:18), do anything possible to defeat us (Ephesians 6:11-12),
Also, he is titled “The prince of the Power of the Air” (Ephesians 2:1-2): “You were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.”
One more name is the “Power of Darkness” (Colossians 1:13-14): “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us in the kingdom of the Son of His love.” This is also expressed in Ephesians 6:12: “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Satan and his demons influence and control the nations (Daniel 10:13, 20; Ephesians 6:12) and mislead them so they can destroy them (Isaiah 9:14). It must always be kept in mind, however, that God is in sovereign control. They can do nothing without God’s permission (Job 1:6-12).
It doesn’t take long to realize this world system is not ruled by God but by Satan. I’m not talking about nature, but about the values and priorities, the motives and goals which drive people. It is all self-centered and me-first. No wonder God’s people, both Jews and Christians, are marginalized and attacked. We bring light into his kingdom of darkness so the darkness tries to put out the light. But even nature shows us that darkness cannot overcome light. A small amount of light can remove darkness, but no amount of darkness can remove light. God’s light is stronger (John 1:5). Still Christians are attacked in all parts of the world because we are not part of Satan’s world system and he knows it.
We see increasing attacks against Christians and our values even in the USA. If we don’t agree with LGBTQ values, we are full of ‘hate.’ If we believe in moral values, integrity and honesty we are mocked and ridiculed. Meanwhile our country moves further and further from the Biblical values it once followed. Our history is being rewritten to line up with what a minority today determine is true. The media spreads that which agrees with its political agenda and twists anything opposing it. Police and other authorities are vilified and anarchy begins to take over. This is the new world, the perfect world order Satan is trying to establish where he is god he alone is followed and worshipped. The Bible tells us how this will all play out, but in the meantime, we are certainly strangers and pilgrims as we live in this world (1 Peter 2:11).
We shouldn’t be surprised at the direction the world is going. We should do all we can to change that direction, but ultimately realize it is Satan’s world and he is taking it his direction. We shouldn’t wonder what is happening when Christian values are mocked and attacked, when the church is not respected and when the Bible is condemned and even destroyed. God is still in control and will ultimately prevail. We read the back of the book and we know who wins! But until then, the battle rages on….
The only cure for this world, or sin in our life, is the blood of Jesus. Any sin you recognize in your life must be confessed (admit it is sin – 1 John 1:9). There is no other way of deliverance from demonizing caused by sin. Demons are like rats that feed on garbage. Remove the garbage and the rats will be gone!
Is there any garbage in your life? Anything you know Jesus doesn’t approve of? Anything you couldn’t share with Him were He visiting in your home? If so, remove the garbage now (literally and figuratively) and replace it with Him in your life.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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