HOW TO CONQUER THE DEVIL
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

How to fight the Devil
How to Conquer the devil
How to have power over the devil, demons & evil spirits

1 Peter 5:8  "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

The devil is real, he is your enemy.  The devil wants to destroy you.

"...that through DEATH He might DESTROY him that had the power of death, that is the DEVIL:  And DELIVER them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15)

For the past 40 years, I have had the privilege of counseling people who have written, telephoned or approached me privately regarding family and personal problems or other crisis, in which they were deeply involved.

People often call, muttering on the other end of line, "Why did I do it? What makes me drink? I've got to pull myself together.  I'm losing my mind."

They often end up by saying, "I hadn't planned to do it, Pastor.  What went wrong"?  Or they might say, "The devil made me do it, the devil made me do it".

A few years ago a Hollywood comedian got a lot of laughs out of his supposedly funny quip, "The Devil Made Me Do It."  That doesn't seem funny anymore, after the movies that have stirred millions, like Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist and The Omen.

The Son of Sam, the Hillside Strangler, Charles Manson and the Sharon Tate killings, together with ritualistic killings by the occultists and devil worshippers have proved that.  Homosexual murdered like John W. Gacey, who sexually violated little boys and then murdered them, have  left a solemn imprint on us all, regarding the devil's ability to make people do his bidding.

The Bible states that some people are led by the devil, to do evil things.  Those, however, who are taken captive by him - at his will - are able to extricate themselves from his evil grasp by calling upon Jesus Christ and trusting in His shed blood for the redemption of their souls!  "And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." (2 Timothy 2:26)

Some time ago a Protestant denomination spent in excess of one million dollars to investigate and research the topic of demons and other related matters.  After a year of studies they came up with the conclusion that there is no devil.

Here is their reasoning: "If they would preach that there is a personal devil, people might become disturbed emotionally, so it's better to do away with the doctrine that there is a personal devil."   HOW ARROGANT, IGNORANT, UNCONSCIONABLE, DISHONEST & UNBIBLICAL.

Beloved, you can rely on God's Word and the truth is that there is indeed a very alive, real, personal devil that is the enemy of God and the enemy of man.  This however, does not disturb the children of God, because the Bible says:

"Greater is He that is in you, that he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

This Scripture offers great comfort to multiplied millions of Christians.  Our faith in Jesus puts the devil on notice, that we are off limit to his insidious attacks and that we have the authority to disrupt his plans and purposes.

WHEN OUR FAITH IS IN JESUS CHRIST - SATAN HAS NO POWER OVER US

The devil has absolutely no power over us when our faith is in Christ, for Jesus said: "Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)

This Scripture offers great comfort to multiplied millions of Christians! Our faith in Jesus puts the devil on notice, that we are off-limit to his insidious attacks and that we have the authority to disrupt his plans and purposes.

He has absolutely no power over us when our faith is in Christ, for Jesus said:  "Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you". (Luke 10:19)  The Bible says "Submit yourselves therefore unto God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

As the demons were afraid of Jesus and fled when He commanded them to go, they must also obey us when we speak with faith and authority in the name of Jesus.

The demons screamed out, "Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us?  I know thee who thou art the Holy One of God.  Art thou come hither to torment us before our time"? (Mark 1:24)

You may say: "But that was Jesus"!  True!  How about a Spirit-filled deacon by the name of Philip who went down to Samaria and preached Christ to them?

Philip had such a great revival that the entire city came to hear him preach and multitudes received the Lord Jesus: "For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed." (Acts 8:7)

The Holy Record reports that the devil's power was broken and evil spirits had to surrender to the commands of a Spirit-filled servant of God.  No wonder Philip had such power of the devil.  Jesus had promised: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils." (Mark 16:17)

PAUL CAST OUT THE SPIRIT OF DIVINATION

A fortune-teller troubled Paul and Silas in the city of Philippi for several days.  After the spirit of divination was discerned and cast out of her by St. Paul, she was unable to continue 'telling fortunes'.  Paul and Silas were jailed and bound in a dungeon, but God sent an earthquake to set them free.  And the jailer was converted through this great miracle.

"And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most High God, which shows unto us the way of salvation.  And this did she many days.  But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.  And he came out the same hour." (Acts 16:16-18)

The Scripture says: "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul.  So that from this body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." (Acts 19:11-12)

When the exorcists heard of St. Paul's success in casting of demons in Jesus' name, seven sons of a certain religious man tried unsuccessfully to duplicate that miracle.

"Then certain of the vagabond Jews, Exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus saying, We adjure you by Jesus Whom Paul preacheth.  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know: but who are ye?"

"And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." (Acts 19:13-17)

The evil spirit within this possessed man cried out to the seven sons of Sceva.  "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye"?  The original Greek actually reads: "Jesus I know, and Paul I am beginning to know".  Words had sprung through the devil's kingdom, and demons everywhere were talking about Paul's revivals.  They knew Jesus and they were beginning to know Paul, but who were these seven sons of Sceva?  They had no faith in God; they had no standing of righteousness, and the devil would not obey them.

The Bible records: "And when He (Jesus) had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases." (Matthew 10:1)  The Scripture declares that no only do we have power against unclean spirits, but we also have power over them.  "And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;"  (Mark 6:7)

Our Lord Jesus gave the apostles power to cast out devils: "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:  freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:7-8)  The Holy Record states: "And they cast out devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." (Mark 6:13)

JESUS GAVE THE 70 HIS POWER TO CAST OUT DEVILS

"After these things the Lord appointed another seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come." (Luke 10:1)  The Bible says that they returned with great joy, and said: "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name." (Luke 10:17)  To this Jesus answered: "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10:18)  Jesus was saying - I was there when the devil was defeated; I saw him cast out of heaven - I saw him fall as lightning to the earth.  I saw his power broken and his works destroyed.

WE ALSO HAVE POWER OVER THE DEVIL, DEMONS & EVIL SPIRITS

Yes, we also have power over the devil.  We have POWER OVER THE DEVIL and POWER AGAINST THE DEVIL.  The Bible says, "Behold, I give unto you power to: tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  (Luke 10:19)

Satan had to obey when Jesus spoke to him!  Demons screamed out in terror when Jesus came near.  The devils trembled and feared and obeyed the command of the Master.  The devil, demons and evil spirits must also obey us, when we use the name of Jesus in faith.

JESUS CAME TO DESTROY SATAN'S WORK

The Bible says: "As He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)  NOW - TODAY.  We have His power today!  "Now are we the sons of God." (1 John 3:2)  We are children of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.  "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:17)

JESUS SAID: "HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME, THE WORKS THAT I DO SHALL HE DO ALSO"

No wonder Jesus said: "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father." (John 14:12)  Yes, my beloved friend, you and I as Christians have power over the devil, we have power against the devil to bind him, to cast him out and to destroy the works of the devil.

The Bible says: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)  Jesus said: "The thief (the devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)  No wonder St. John said: "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)

Not only did Jesus come to this earth to destroy the works of the devil, but to destroy Satan himself.  The write to the Hebrews (probably St. Paul) states unequivocally: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through DEATH He might DESTROY him that had the power of death, that is the DEVIL; And to DELIVER them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14, 15)

SATAN - THE DEVIL IS THE HATED ENEMY OF GOD & MAN

Satan is the hated enemy of God and man, but our Lord has given His children power over him.

"There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh unto thy dwelling".  Jesus declared: "Nothing shall be any means hurt you".  "That wicked one cometh and hath nothing in Me."   St. Paul said, "Sin shall not have dominion over you."

THE DEVIL - SATAN HAS NO POWER OVER US

And our Lord stated, "I give unto you power over all the power of the enemy."  Jesus has given us power against all unclean spirits, to cast them out.  SATAN IS POWERLESS OVER US.

The Bible does not say that Satan has power over us; to put disease upon us, to make us fearful, to hurt us or to injure us.  A THOUSAND TIMES NO.

The Bible says: "Submit yourself therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)  "The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.  Whom resist steadfast in the faith." (1 Peter 5:8, 9)

IT IS TRUE - YOU AND I AS CHRISTIANS HAVE POWER OVER THE DEVIL

Jesus said: "I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)  St. Paul declared: "Nay, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:37)  The Apostle to the Gentiles cried out: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)

The Word of God says: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)

The Bible speaks of Satan's total defeat: "At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)  Praise God.

Jesus called the devil Satan, which means the ADVERSARY, and Satan is the adversary of God and the devil Satan is the adversary of man.  HE IS OUR GREATEST ENEMY!  The devil is responsible for sin, sickness, disease, fear, depression, torment and death.  Satan (the devil) conspired against God.  The devil led a revolt against the Almighty.  Satan (the devil) is indeed the adversary.  St. Peter said: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

The Scripture tells us about a man who planted good seed in a field and in the morning, tares had sprung up among the wheat.  The husbandman said: "An enemy hath done this." (Matthew 13:28)

YES - THE DEVIL IS YOUR WORST ENEMY

Yes, my beloved friend, the devil is your enemy!  The devil works through the flesh, through the world through his evil emissaries, the demons.  Satan (the devil) is highly organized; the devil is out to defeat the purposes of God even though he knows he has NO chance of succeeding, for he has been defeated.

On Calvary's cross Jesus cried, "It is finished." (John 19:30)  The Greek word that Jesus used here is tetelastai.  Tetelestai means that the work of Christ to redeem lost mankind has been completed.

Jesus cried out "Tetelestai", bowed His head and gave up the ghost.  At that moment the veil in the temple in Jerusalem was torn from its top to the bottom, opening the way to God through His Son's vicarious death on the cross.  The word 'tetelstai' comes from a Greek verb teleo, which has three essential meanings:

to finish something
to fulfill something
to pay what is owed

Jesus Christ had just completed the plan of the ages, the salvation of the human race.  He had fulfilled every Old Testament Scriptures that the prophets had written about the coming Messiah, and He had paid our sin debt in full so that we could be saved.

Three days and three nights later, God raised Jesus Christ from the dead for our justification, and forever sealed the doom of the devil in the lake of fire. (Acts 2:31-34;  Acts 3:14-15;  Acts 4:1, 10;  Romans 1:4)

SPIRITUAL WARFARE - THE BATTLE WE ARE FIGHTING IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE

The Bible reveals that the battle we are fighting is NOT CARNAL.  It is not a natural, ordinary battle, but is of a spiritual nature.  We have God's weapons and we have power with God over the devil.  "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itseldf against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4)

We have power over the devil (Luke 10:19) for we are ambassadors of the kingdom of God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)  We are servants of the living God; (Romans 6:22) sons and daughters of God; (2 Corinthians 6:18) heirs and joint-heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17)

We are bone of Jesus' bone and flesh of His flesh; (Ephesians 5:30) our bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost, (1 Corinthians 6:19) and we are members of the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

Sin does not have dominion over us. (Romans 6:14)  Satan (the devil) does not have power over us.  We have power over the flesh, the world and the devil, because we are God's people.  We are God's children. (Galatians 3:26)  As He is, so are we in this world! (1 John 4:17)  The Bible states that the 'Old Man' is dead and that we are "hid with Christ in God"! (Colossians 3:3)

The Scriptures reveal that there are demons who work against God's children and against God's will: "Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words."

"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia." (Daniel 10:12-13)

I believe that Satan is highly organized and has some powerful generals, captains, lieutenants and others in his diabolical army, whose duty is to harass, tempt, condemn, seduce, deceive, destroy, steal, kill and murder God's children and try to thwart the purposes of God and do harm to His kingdom.

The Bible says: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5)  We can have the mind of Christ.  "Let the word of God dwell in you richly." (Colossians 3:16)  Jesus is the Living Word and the Bible is the written word.  When we read the Bible and allow God's Word free course, Christ dwells within us.  Upon receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, Christ is formed within us and we are born again.  The Bible says: "If any man have not met the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." (Romans 8:9)

When we receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, however, the Holy Spirit fills us and takes up permanent residence within us.  Jesus said: "He is with you and He shall be in you."  The Bible says: "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost..." (Acts 2:4)

Even though the devil is highly organized and seeks to destroy us, and even though he is constantly try to afflict, depress and torment, we can drive him out: "Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you."  When you draw nigh to God and God draws nigh to you, you receive power over the devil.  The Bible says: "If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him..." (1 John 3:21-22)

The Scripture says: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)  Sin is what destroys the confidence we have in God.  Sin is a faith destroyer.  Sin destroys our confidence in God and in ourselves and allows the devil to slip in with his evil, devious, wicked and sinister devices to harass us, stop us, or destroy us.

We have power over him, however, for the Bible says: "They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11)  We can stop the devil, for the Bible says: "When the enemy, (the devil) shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of God shall lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19)  The standard that the Holy Spirit lifts up stops the devil and he can proceed only so far; he can go no further.

The devil complained to God: "You have put a hedge around Job.  You are protecting him."  And that's true, God has placed a hedge around His people, and I believe that when the devil comes in like a flood to destroy, kill and murder, the Spirit of God raises up a standard to stop him. We are surrounded by the power of the Lord.

We are covered with His blood and filled with His Spirit.  The Word of God is within our hearts.  We have the name of Jesus on our lips, the angels protect us and we have brothers and sisters in Christ who pray for us and stand with us.  These are some of the agencies God used for our benefit.

Yes indeed, when the enemy - the devil - shall come in like a flood to devastate and destroy, the Spirit of God will lift up a standard against him and stop him! The devil is like a dog on a leash, with only limited capabilities.

SATAN CAN ONLY GO SO FAR

If God hadn't allowed the devil to attack Job, Satan couldn't have touched him.  God gave the devil permission to touch Job's cattle, and his body, but not his life. (Job 2:6)  Satan had to leave the presence of God to smite Job with sore boils.  The Bible instructs us to remember the patience of Job and the end of the Lord.  Job was sick for approximately six months to a year, and then God healed him. He lived for another 140 years and never had another boil, as far as the Scriptures record.

God gave Job twice as much as he had before the devil afflicted him.  Many people laughingly speak about Job's boils and say that Christians have to suffer similarly, but the Bible records the "patience of Job" and it also speaks about "the end of the Lord". (James 5:11)  The end of the Lord was blessing, prosperity, healing, health, joy, peace and power over the devil.

St. Paul wrote to Timothy: "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)  Evidently, Timothy was afraid and St. Paul writing to his son in the faith saying: "You don't have to be afraid, Timothy.  God hasn't given us a spirit of fear."  Fear is a spirit and fear hath torment. The Scripture says: "Perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:18)

Fear is an evil spirit.  God has not given us any evil spirits; He has given us power over evil spirits.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but God has given us a spirit of power:  Power over fear:  power of sin:  power over the devil:  power over sickness:  power over disease and even power over death, which is the last enemy.

It seems that Timothy had gotten cold in his soul, because St. Paul wrote: "...that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands...Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner:  but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God." (2 Timothy 1:6,8)

Apparently, Timothy had become ashamed of St. Paul and he was afraid of persecution; afraid that he would also be persecuted.  Paul said: "You don't need to be afraid; God didn't give you that; the devil put that on you.  God has given you power, love and a sound mind."  Hallelujah.

BE PREPARED FOR BATTLE - - PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD

Writing to the Ephesians, St. Paul stated. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;"

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is he word of God;  Praying always with al prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Ephesians 6:10-11)

Satan is organized and has power, but God has all power.  God is omnipotent.  The devil has wisdom, but God has all wisdom.  He is omniscient.  The Wicked One, Satan is strong, but God has all strength.  The Adversary (Satan) has many demons working for him, but God has more angels than Satan has evil spirits.  Satan has many lost souls in his camp, but God has hundreds of millions of believers across the world, that are equipped with His mighty power.  And one man with God's power is a majority.

JESUS GAVE US POWER OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY (THE DEVIL, SATAN, DEMONS, EVIL SPIRITS)

Jesus Christ said, "Behold, I give unto you power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  The Scripture says that 'one day' an angel will come from heaven and bind Satan, casting him into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.  It won't take ten thousand angels; it won't take a hundred angels' it will take one angel to bind the devil and cast him into the pits of hell forever.  (Revelation 20:1-3)  Hallelujah!  Amen.