His Satanic Majesty

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

I think it is imperative to realize that underlining Satan’s manipulations of humanity is his insatiable desire for worship and thus, he craves usurping God’s position and dares to defy His authority. He desires dethroning God and ascending to the majestic throne himself. He is striving viciously for victory over God and we are mere means to this end.

We learn that Jesus’ birth activated Satan’s egregious cruelty of mass murder to get Him out of the way. The thousands of male infants killed were of no concern, mere disposable means to an end, which failed.

Then we notice Satan’s attempt again when he encounters Jesus in the wilderness and offers Him the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship his satanic majesty. That is the issue, "if you will bow down and worship me." Again, he failed. He engages a melange of strategies but the goal is always the same. His satanic majesty wants us to recognize, acknowledge, honor and worship him thereby assisting in his great efforts to thwart God’s plan and purpose.

Satan is intelligent, powerful and throne thirsty. And, he has noted something interesting about man. He has observed that man is weak and abject. He has tempted man long enough to know that man can only take so much and then he crumbles. He reaches his breaking point. He collapses under the strain and gives in to temptations and frustrations of life. He loses his equilibrium and falls by the wayside. Our streets are cluttered with the remains of the broken. Satan and his colleagues know our fallen nature very well and have a blueprint pinpointing all of our weaknesses.

Satan therefore, targets our weaknesses, which he knows better than we do, and uses them to make his assault, to tempt us into abandoning our faith. It is said that every man has his price for which he will sell out Jesus. This is not true, but Satan does not believe it and it is his business to prove it. He uses a variety of enticements to lure his prey because the price for one may not work for another. One man may not forsake Christ for a thousand dollars, but he may for a million. Another person may not surrender his soul for money at all, but the same person may be enticed by sex or liquor. Thousands may not succumb to lust or appetite, but pride and ambition will lure them away. There are those who do not have lust or appetite, ambition or pride, but vanity and pleasure draw them away from the glory of God.

Many of God’s people sell out to his satanic majesty. We know that David, Samson and Solomon, were enticed and fell sadly into Satan’s trap as has millions before and since. Yet, Satan tempted Joseph but he did not take the bait. Daniel and the Hebrew children were tempted, but they refused to bow to his satanic majesty.

We do not have to submit to the wiles of Satan. God has given us all we need to defend ourselves against his temptations through Jesus Christ. James tells us to resist the devil and he will flee. Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God. Any place in our nature that is unguarded is a feasting ground for Satan and his demons. All believers must be cautious and not take our faith for granted because Scripture warns, “Let him who thinks he stands beware, lest he fall.” Matthew instructs us to, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41.

Peter tells us, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Who can better tell us about Satan than Peter? Satan got hold of him one day and carried him on a tumultuous tour of hell. Satan not only poisoned his spirit, he confused his mind. He lulled him to sleep in Gethsemane and maybe worst of all, Satan deceived Peter into denying the best friend he ever had. He made him miss the crucifixion, convinced him it was over, that the drama had ended, that Jesus was dead.

Christians must always be on guard. Regardless of how high we may think we have climbed spiritually, we must keep a vigilant watch, be careful and remain humble. While we are climbing the ladder of spiritual heights, we must watch our spiritual footing, because, let me tell you, even the road to spiritual heights is slick and slippery.

Do not underestimate the power of his satanic majesty. Satan has wrecked families’ system of values, paralyzed spirits, clogged reason, dulled consciences, and reduced many churches to wastelands of chaos and discord.

Satan is always seeking to destroy. His temptations are infidelity, self-righteousness, hypocrisy, ambition, lying, cheating, pride, envy, idleness, drugs, alcohol, greed, lust, nasty mouth, slander, and a multitude of others. He is the father of lies, the greatest deceiver of this world.

John tell us, “woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

Know this: Satan hates God, God’s children and every principal of right. He does not love; it is not in his nature. He tortures men physically, mentally and spiritually. Thank God, that His love is stronger than Satan’s hate and greater is He that is in you and me, than he that is in the world.

It is disconcerting that so many believe the lies of Satan because of a lack of faith and trust in God to keep His word. So many live defeated lives burdened down by feelings of loneliness and despair, helplessness and apathy, depression and pathology. Much of the mental disturbance and emotional instability is the result of folks living by Satan’s lies rather than God’s truth, preferring Satan’s darkness to God’s light.

But it is never too late. We can still procure the victory over Satan and his demonic entourage. He can be driven from our lives. But it is only possible by accepting the power of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid it all. He has already overcome the devil. Remember what John said, “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 4:4. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Our faith in God through His Son is our power to conquer our sinful natures through which Satan tries to defeat us. Scripture affirms, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5.

Perhaps you remember the story of a man who was a helpless slave to alcohol. Repeatedly he tried to free himself. His family and friends tried to help him but nothing worked until one day, he encountered Jesus. He converted and changed almost overnight. People could not believe the difference and wondered if it was even the same man. An old friend said to him one day, “Well, praise God, you finally got mastery over the devil at last.” “No, the man said, “but I have the Master of the devil in me.”

That is the key beloveds, of victory over Satan. Christ is the Master of Satan. Satan is mighty but our God is Almighty. Satan is potent, but our God is omnipotent. Make sure you have the Master of the devil in you.

So, now, “but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”